Chapter 184 (1/2)

Chapter 184

Chapter 184: Aspect of Unpredictability

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Nico slapped the back ofvest “Are you ready, Grey?”

I continued the last set of my stretches, more out of anxiousness than to loosenarea where dozens of other students were either practicing their techniques on the paddeduntil their name was called by one of the officiators

“Ready as I can be, I suppose,” I finally replied while swingingto have to be ry,” Nico pressed “I kno hard you’ve had it, being bullied by everyone from the second and first division—”

“How could you possibly kno hard I’ve had it?” I cut in, annoyed “Moving from Division Four into Division Three last yearwelts and broken bones—worse because I apparently didn’t ‘know my place’”

“My bad,” Nico stammered, taken aback by my sharpness

“You’re in the first class of Division One, respected by teachers and peers While I’m proud of you for that, just don’t think that translates into you knohat I’ve been through these past years”

He nodded “I was just trying to help”

I let out a sigh “It’s fine I’ at you I’ their house nae to do whatever they want to me”

“Yeah It doesn’t help that enerous donors of the academy It only serves to have the teachers turn a blind eye to students with no family to back them like us”

“At least they treat you well,” I said, sitting withbetter at theo nearly asbetter at them in combat”

“Thank God for that,” Nico chuckled “At least you can defend yourself”

I agreed “I’es won’t be as unfair as they have been and let et into the second division”

“Seriously Even if your ki level isn’t as high, taking into account your overall combat ability should have at least put you in Division Two last year I still can’t believe they held you back even after you pu out a scoff, I asked, “Re he could beat h in fear that the boy in question was soe room “That match was over so quick, he didn’t even have time to take his hand out of his pocket”

“Yet, here I aed assess the dull pain wash away my despair

“About that” Nico lowered his voice “I heard froe this year, said to be cold and iineering students know about that?”

Nico let out a cough and looked away “Supposedly, she’s also a very attractive-looking lady You kno it is with the engineering guys; they’re a lewd bunch”

“Seems like that includes you as well,” I s to think when I tell her this”

“Y-You wouldn’t” Nico’s face blanched “After all I’ve done to try and help you”

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Just then, a gruff voice called out my name over the intercom “Cadet Grey to Arena Six Failure to shoill result in an autoain, Cadet Grey to Arena Six”

I picked up the blunted dueling sword that was lent to me for the assess dogs’ little interest to myself”

Nico just let out a breath of defeat andback at my friend, I made my way up the wide ramp that led to the surface I had to raise a hand to shi+eld myself from the midday sun until my eyes could adjust, and when it did I found myself in the center of a wide outdoor stadiue field of grass Students and facultyor scouting while so opponent

The bleachers surrounding the stadiunize, not that I would know any of them Prior events made it easy to assume most of the adults seated were fa in today’s assessment duels

I n that read ‘Arena Six,’ slipping through the crowds congested around the arenas in between

“Great, an audience,” I e excitedly chattering aedlast e until the slender referee infore

I barely had roo arena, and all throughout the way, eyes bored intoto size me up to make their own prediction on whether their son, cousin, nephehatever their relation to the boy up on the stage was—could beat me

On the arena platfor, and the referee The later rounds in assesses as well, but this was only the first

“Make us proud, Simeon!” the portly man from earlier roared

“You can do it, Simmy!” A curly-haired woman hooted excitedly

“Sir, the barrier will be up soon, so please refrain froain,” the slender referee said sternly

“Dad, please!” the boy na his father away

Without further delay, the referee took out a key and slid it alongside the far edge of the arena I a translucent wall about thirty feet high

“Weapons in position,” the referee announced “Traditional dueling rules apply Match will end when one of you yields or when the protective barrier around the dueling vest shatters Points will be earned on solid contact, not glancing blows Cadet Grey, Cadet Simeon Cledhome, are you ready?”

I kept the blade ofonly with one hand, while Simeon took on a more traditional pose with both hands firmly on the handle and the blade positioned vertically out in front of hiein!”

I the distance of over ten feet between us in a single step He had concentrated his ki to his back leg, pushi+ng off and redistributing back to the rest of his body after gaining the momentum he wanted to achieve—not an easy feat

However, his burst seeh viscous waters in my eyes By the time his sas lined in position to stab atbetween three different courses of action

I ith the silide acrossthe sa and torso for support In one swift stroke, I stepped into range and spun using h I didn’t enhance h to knock Simeon off his feet

Just before ed to twist his body so his left shoulder took the force of the blow, not his vest

“Gah!” Siht hand dropped his sword and cradled his injured shoulder

I thought for sure he’d yield so I re between the referee and Simeon

A ing wildly at the barrier “Get up, Siroans and curses,liled to hold his long sword