Slade's Disappointment

Walking in the halls, Sebastian was heading toward his next class, Beast Hunting. It's been a few weeks since Sebastian arrived at Celestial Academy and it seemed like they were teaching everyone at a fast rate.

Those who couldn't keep up were left behind and those who could keep were students that received better treatment. A lot of commoners dropped out as they couldn't keep while some proved to be strong enough to survive. 

Each hurdle that was thrown at Sebastian was easily overcome by him. Some nobles tried to sabotage him as they didn't like that he was better than them but each time they did, he would lash out at them and nearly beat them to death.

When people saw him in the halls, they made sure to steer clear of him. Around him were a few nobles and commoners. Since he arrived, he figured he could create his own gang and use his overwhelming strength to keep them in line.

Upon arriving at the Beast Hunting class, one of his minions opened the door. Entering, a teacher could be seen tapping their foot and showing their disappointment.

"Antares, what are these rumors about you creating a gang within the school?" Slade asked.

Staring past Sebastian, Slade saw a few students behind and noticed some were nobles. Although he didn't for nobles, it would cause some problems with the nobles' parents and cause trouble for the academy.

Grabbing him by shoulder, he pulled Sebastian in and forced him to sit in the center of the class.

"Alright class! As you know, Beast Hunting is a job in the future you can take. Brave hunters known as adventurers go and kill these beasts to ensure the survival of those who can't fight them.

Although beast hunting isn't the only way you can become an adventurer, it's the most popular one. Before one goes hunting for a beast, they need to ensure they're ready and check in with a beast scholar. A beast scholar is a person who holds information about many beasts but some specialize in certain fields. 

They hold the most information about beasts and are recommended to consult before going on a hunt. Last but not least, it is recommended that you don't go alone on beast hunts and always create a party." Slade announced.

Using his hand to support his head, Sebastian was slowly falling asleep. He didn't need to know all of this as he already hunted beasts in the past. Another reason is because Jack taught them everything they need to know about beasts or at least the basics of beasts.

"Since we're a few weeks into the academy, I think it's about time we go hunt some beasts. We're gonna be heading to the Frail Whispering Forest. You'll need to go to the academy's beast scholar and ask for information about the beast there."

For the first few weeks of the beast hunting class, Slade was explaining the basics of the beasts and teaching students how to observe them, and find their weaknesses. 

After thirty minutes had passed, everyone left but Sebastian. Obviously Slade didn't like the ways Sebastian had hinted at the beginning of the class.

"Why must you waste your energy on those weaklings? You can learn new skills and techniques, and become an example to those wishing for strength." Slade said.

"I can't learn any more skills or techniques. Like my profile said, I don't have mana to use magic. All I can do is hone my skills and techniques to perfection." Sebastian replied.

"Why don't I become your master? Obviously your previous masters didn't teach you fully or did teach you but left you to learn on your own." 

What Slade said was right. Bastian only taught Sebastian some techniques and left to learn on his own while Jack did train him but didn't focus much on him with techniques.

Reason being, Jack's area of expertise was magical swordsmanship. He couldn't teach Sebastian much sword techniques compared to Sebastian's friends. Although he still teached him some techniques, they weren't as effective in combat.

"When I was young, I focused myself on honing my swordsmanship and told myself that I would become the strongest swordsman in the world. I haven't achieved that goal yet but I already knew the journey wouldn't be easy." 

The classroom began to change into a small dojo. Kneeling, Slade was waiting for Sebastian.

"Before I can teach, I must learn about your skill and techniques so don't hold back." 

Hearing his words, Sebastian replaced his sword with a spear and surprised him. He didn't know Sebastian had multiple weapons as he only saw him carry one weapon on him during his stay.

'This should be interesting.' Slade thought.

Being the first to move, Sebastian thrust his spear forward. Reacting, Slade lifted his sword and stopped his thrust. Pulling it back quickly, Sebastian spun his weapon around and slashed toward Slade's body.

Slade took a step back and took a defensive position. Currently, he decided to take the job and defend against Sebastian's attack. He needed to know first hand about Sebastian's strength and techniques.

'What immense strength!' 

Slashing, Slade wanted to see how quickly Sebastian would turn from offensive to defensive but that's when something strange happened.

Instead of dodging, Sebastian moved slightly out of the way and Slade's weapon slightly skimmed along his skin. Thrusting forward, Sebastian expected Slade to be impaled but he suddenly disappeared.

Another attack was incoming from behind and Sebastian quickly pulled out a shield from thin air. Slade's weapon collided with the shield and felt an incoming weapon from behind the shield.

With not enough time to dodge, Slade activated his magic and erected a flame wall.

'Perfect!' Sebastian smiled.

A large lance thrusted through the flames and slightly cut Slade's abdomen. Upon seeing another weapon, Slade began to wonder exactly how many weapons did Sebastian have.

A red hue appeared on the lance and quickly swiped to the left and nearly cut Slade again. With the fire wall obstructing Slade's vision, Sebastian pulled a halberd out of his ring and swung down through the wall of fire. Taken by surprise, Slade pulled his weapon up and stopped the attack.

'He's faster than I had thought.'

Lunging forward, Sebastian pulled on the shaft of his halberd and used it as a speed boost forward. His lance held to the sky, Sebastian was searching his surroundings for Slade and noticed he had disappeared.

"Over here!"

Above, Slade came swinging down and this time, his weapon was on fire. Pulling his weapon up, Sebastian expected to block Slade's attack but his body turned to smoke, and felt a stab in his thigh.

"That was a flame clone. Although my flames may look red, it's actually one of the hottest flames in the world. The color of my flames used to be black until my mastery over flame got to the point where I could hide the true color of my flames." Slade explained.

A staff appeared in Sebastian's left hand and swung it down with all his might. Slade put his sword up to block until an instinct told him to use both of his hands to block.

Bang!

The strength behind the attack greatly surprised Slade. The strength behind it made his hands become numb and nearly drop his sword.

'Why didn't he use this strength in the beginning or does this staff have some kind of enchantment?'

Suddenly the staff split into three different sections and the top section of staff hit Slade in the back of the head, forcefully chucking his head forward. Sebastian used his right hand and pushed Slade's head into his knee, flinging his head up.. He combined his hands together and slammed them down on his face.

Bang!

Slade's body slammed into floorboards and shattered them . This surprised Slade as he didn't know that Sebastian's staff could split into three different sections and the damage was more than he thought. 

'If I were to use world energy against Slade, I don't think he'll live.' Sebastian thought about using a skill he learned from one of his masters but remembered the danger level.

Instead he flash-stepped behind him and stomped his foot on the ground, and felt his energy transfer from his leg to his fist.

Bang!

Upon impact, a strong wave of energy entered Slade's body and started to disrupt his internal organs. The attack sent Slade flying through the air and slamming hard against the dojo wall.

While this was going on, someone was watching from outside the dojo. It was the headmaster and he had requested Slade to hold Antares back.

'Even if Slade is holding back, Sebastian certainly is damaging him.' The headmaster thought.

When he started to observe the fight, he thought Sebastian wouldn't be able to touch Slade but after seeing his weapons he had other thoughts.

Sebastian pulled out a giant war hammer and flash-stepped forward, and quickly slammed it against the wall. He had thought Slade would say something but instead he felt something stop his weapon.

He looked toward Slade's location and saw a burst of flames surrounding his weapon. He immediately put his weapon away to counter and ensure his weapon was undamaged.

"I never thought I'd be excited by someone weaker than me." Slade said.

A strong magical force pushed Sebastian back and the intense heat caused him to sweat. He felt a hidden fear arise in his heart as he felt an immense pressure from Slade.

"I'm not exactly human you know? I'm one of the dragons in the world that can fully transform into a human."

That's when Sebastian noticed something. Slade's entire arm had turned into a large dragon claw and his fire intensified the moment it happened.

An invisible pressure forced Sebastian to kneel and Slade noticed it. He didn't think anything of it when he first saw Sebastian but now the sensation returned.

'That should be impossible though…'

His arm slowly turned back to normal and the invisible force disappeared. Sebastian himself wasn't a fan of what happened and noted it down in his mind.

"I think I got a gist of your power. Although, I know you're still holding some information back but I won't ask for it." Slade said.

"Bravo! Bravo! Your fight was amazing!" The headmaster congratulated Sebastian.

In an instant, Sebastian pulled out his katana and used one of the enchantments on his blade, and appeared by the headmaster's side with his blade against their throat.

"You will not speak of this to anyone. If you do, then I'll come for your life." Sebastian replied.

"Now, that isn't the way you should be talking to your headmaster, is it?" The headmaster said, in a serious tone.

Sniff!

"You're a vampire?" 

"Indeed, I am. I used to be the punisher of them or I should say the hidden one that kept them in control until I gave up that job. Now I'm a headmaster and the protector of this academy and an ally of the people of the central continent." The headmaster revealed.

The world of Mythralis was split into several different continents. The western continent, northern continent, eastern continent, elven continent, central continent, demon continent and the hidden continent.

Many people didn't even know if the hidden continent existed or not since only a few people made it back alive but even then, their memories weren't exactly intact. Some speculated that it wasn't a continent but an island and only thought to be a continent since the people on it were powerful.

'Central continent? Isn't the true empire of werewolves located there? I heard we, the western continent, had an abundance of beast and material compared to the other continents so they sent their best here to claim land.' Sebastian thought.

On the topic of the continents, the demon continent was the worst continent to be on. Their ability to adapt and become tuned with magic nearly matched the elves. Depending on their training, they could easily become the strongest race of them all.

Their physical capabilities were on par with werewolves and dwarves and their magical capabilities were on par with both vampires and elves.

In the past, they would do mass kidnapping but it all stopped when all five races came together and put their most powerful adventurers at the harbor connecting both the central and demon continent. Every now and then, they would send raid parties on boats and target other continents though it was mostly the elven continent.