A Month Later

Vincent entered his room after a tiresome day of learning about [Dark Beasts] and the first thing he saw was the package on his bed.

"Is this-"

He guessed what it was and when he opened the package it proved his guess right.

He laughed as he held the content of the package.

"So we meet……"

"[Firestorm]"

/////

[Firestorm]

[Made by the best female blacksmith in Migas.

This sword was made with the picture of a powerful fire and destructive lightning in mind, making this sword an excellent booster for fire and lightning techniques.

Firestorm was meant to be a [A-Rank] sword, but the blacksmith enchanted it slightly making it an [S-Rank Low] sword.

A gift for a flatter.

Effect

40% Increase in Fire Techniques Strength

40% Increase in Lightning Techniques Strength

Increases control and fluidity of Fire and Lightning.

Reduces Ether Cost of Fire and Lightning attacks.

Auto-Mending [Mid]

"Wow!" Vincent said in awe as he finished reading the [Status] of the sword.

"A sword truly deserving the name [Firestorm]"

[Indeed, Aemplefort's Blacksmith Prime is quite the talented one]

[I wonder how powerful her S-Rank weapons are]

"So do I"

Firestorm was a silver sword.

Its blade is strong, with a slightly curved edge. It had mysterious engravings running across it.

Firestorm had an elaborate guard, a solid silver grip, and a crimson gem set in the front side pommel, and a green gem set on the other side.

It is lightweight, perfectly balanced, and is to be used in the right hand.

The scabbard accompanying it is made of brass with sapphire trimmings.

Vincent fell in love with the sword as he ran his hand through the engravings.

"It's good that I got this sword today, It would be a great help for tomorrow's class"

"Tomorrow, I'll show the school a reason to promote my rank," He said with determination as he kept Firestorm into his closet and went off to sleep.

The Next Day

Vincent woke up, freshened up, and wore his school uniform.

Pleased with his reflection in the mirror, Vincent walked up to his closet and strapped to his waist an important thing for today.

[Firestorm] would be helpful for today's class and event.

[Dark Beast Practical Training] was the class and [Power Assessment] the event.

[Power Assessment] is an event held annually but because of the incoming [Dark Beast Hunting] coming two months from now.

The school wishes to witness the overall strength and potential of students. If the overall strength of students is too low, then the event would be called off.

Therefore, the assessment shall begin today.

While the rules nor structure of the [Power Assessment] were relayed to the students, Vincent had an assumption that it would either be a tournament or an overall day-by-day assessment.

Either way, he doesn't care as long as he could get more clearance in the library then he is satisfied.

He then went to the A-Rank Class and was led with his fellow students to a large field enclosed with glass outside the school.

Along the way students, the [A-B Class] and [A-C Class] were merged with them, and they all entered into the large dome.

As they entered, the entire [A-Rank Class] were amazed by how large the inside of the dome was.

Seats were arranged across the field with another immediate row of seats above It.

The layout went on until there was a small space between the last row of seats and the walls of the dome.

The students were further led to the center of where they were given the orders to line up for a briefing.

The briefing began when Instructor Pryde and two other Instructors came before them.

"Greetings Students", He began. "My name is Pryde, and I'll be the Instructor of the Dark Beast Practical class today."

"Today, the practical class will not only serve as a way for you to become familiar with the dangers of [Dark Beasts]."

"It will also serve as one of the mediums through which the various Instructor of Aemplefort shall assess you, to deem you valid for the Dark Beast Hunt happening 2 months from now."

"I hope you all take this class with seriousness."

"While indeed the [Dark Beast] used in today's class are mostly docile, Be careful when dealing with them lest you lose a body part." He said with a serious tone.

His words caused the students to become more serious.

Pleased with the serious faces of the students, he continued to relay more information.

"Ok, We'll begin by diving the ranks of students into 3 separate sets"

"The [A-C] set, [A-B] set, and the [A-A] set"

"My colleagues at my side, Instructor Byrne and Instructor Olva will handle the [A-C] set and the [A-B] set respectively. While I will be in charge of the [A-A]."

The two instructors at Instructor Pryde sides left with their classes to another entry field, leaving the [A-A] set in the dome

After the A-C A-B set departed from the A-A set, Robust cages held up by an invisible force were sent before the A-A Rank students.

In each of these cages were [Dark Beasts] each giving off the breath of a B-Rank Danger Threat.

Students with no experience on [Dark Beasts] gasped in surprise as the monsters of different shapes and sizes were brought before them.

Some were scared of their wits, shaking in fear.

Instructor Pryde then spoke out, "A [Dark Beast] for a student, Today's class would be about how you can handle [Dark Beasts]without any prior experience."

"You have 10 minutes to get ready before the class starts"

After saying that, he walked out of the dome. Students began prepping for the class, They brandished their weapons and items then put on armors that their parents had sent to them.

Vincent didn't have any armor to use as the rest of the students, yet again he didn't need it.

At his current point of strength [B-Rank Threat, Dark Beasts] were babies to him.

Instead, he began to use his time to go about what he had gained in the past month.

'A month has passed and I have become a little bit stronger than before'

'I've finished the A-B section of the library and half-finished the A-A section.'

'Also, I've become more familiar with Authority of Lightning and Authority of Fire."

"I've been training every day at night with the rest of the [Elemental Planar Giants] on combat techniques.'

'The space they reside in also acts like [Yggdrasil]. Because of that, I've been able to train [Portal Maker] and raised my proficiency to 2. It's a small number but it was hard to get there'

'The Planar Giant space was a great help If only I could train [Thundra Possession] at its fullest there.'

"Another great thing that happened was that I can reach [Akashic] from my room."

"With [Akashic] I managed to get the answers to my question on Alchemy and Blacksmith'

'For Alchemy, my best choice was an Alchemy skill book which according to [Akashic] I'll encounter on one of my missions this year.'

'Not too specific so I'll have to keep an eye out.'

'For Blacksmith, The school offers extra vocational classes. An answer I could have gotten if I had asked an instructor so I was mildly disappointed.'

'*Sigh*, Even though I'm strong. I still have a long way to go.'

[AN: Thundra Possession uses natural lightning, Made lightning can still be used but it's not as potent]

Some students glanced at Vincent who stood on his own as he stared into space, They wondered why he didn't wear any armor.

Taudar saw this as a chance to insult Vincent, so he gave an order to his lackey to spread a rumor about Vincent being poor.

'He doesn't have money to get a measly armor'

That was the message the Lackey sent around

At the thought of this, the rich noble boys of the A-A Class felt proud of themselves and disdainful of Vincent.

Since Vincent had started attending Aemplefort he has always been at the top whether in academics or strength or beauty.

Now today they found out that they were better than him at something.

Money

At this, they felt pride and laughed as they thought within themselves, 'You are just a pretty boy with no money.'

Amongst the girls, They gossiped to each other about Vincent as the rumor got to them

"Looks like S-Rank brother doesn't have money to get an armor". One girl whispered to the other

"Really?" She answered back.

"Of course, think about it, we are fighting [Dark Beasts] here."

The rumor went on to move until it reached a certain person's ears.

"Amelia have you heard the rumor, They are saying that student Vincent cannot afford an armor"

"Lena, They are just baseless rumors," Amelia replied as she brandished a long sword to her side.

"But what if it's true?" Lena retorted.

"It's not"

"And what makes you so sure?" She raised the question

"Because he is bored."

"What?"

"Lena, There is only one reason a man stands bored before a battle"

"It's because the battle is not worth his time"

After the 10 minutes expired, Instructor Pryde strode back to the class

"Ok, let's begin."

"Amelia Maeth, come forward, Your fight shall be against Taurus."

"Students stand back" He warned

Amelia strode out of the crowd, She was a beautiful girl on her right with long blue and silver hair tied in a ponytail.

She had glasses that failed to hide the sharp gaze she held.

She wore a basic female silver armor and in her hand, a beautiful silver longsword was carried.

"Lena, There is only one reason a person stands bored before a battle"

….

"It's because that battle is not worth his time"

After the minutes were up, Instructor Pryde walked back to the class

"Ok, let's begin."

"Amelia Maeth, come forward, Your fight shall be against Taurus."

"Students stand back" He warned

Amelia walked out of the crowd, She was a beautiful girl on her right with long blue and silver hair tied in a ponytail.

She had glasses that failed to hide the sharp gaze she held.

She donned a basic female silver armor and in her hand, a beautiful long sword was carried.

Taurus was a [Dark Beast] that stood on its 4 Feet. It stood 2 feet taller than Amelia with four silver horns, an overly muscular body, and a menacing gaze.

Taurus is a [Dark Beast] close to becoming an A-Rank Threat.

Amelia was one of the few students in the A-A class that caught Vincent's interest, not because of her beauty but of her strength.

[Amelia Maeth Mammoth

Race: Mammoth Migas

Innate: Water Manipulation, Ice Manipulation.

Skills: Ice Dance, Cold Resistance, Ice Bolt, Ice Wave, Ether Manipulation, Ether Control.

Bio: Amelia Maeth Mammoth, The fourth young mistress of the Maeth Clan of the side branch, The niece of the clan head.

She lives amongst the main branch as they groom her talent for the use of the clan.

She wishes to escape a fate she accidentally overheard. Furthermore, she yearns to escape her uncle and clan's reach.

For that she needs strength.]

Taurus was a [Dark Beast] that stood on its 4 Feet. It stood 2 feet taller than Amelia with four silver horns, an overly muscular body, and a menacing gaze.

Taurus is a [Dark Beast] close to becoming an A-Rank Threat.

It charges at its opponent with no relent, with the force of a wrecking ball.

Alternatively, it also uses its sharp silver horns to dig into its opponents and tear them apart.

As Amelia walked toward the caged Taurus, It immediately became aggressive in its cage.

Since when it had been captured it has either been in a dark place or front of Migas with strength that suppressed it forcing it to be docile.

Now that it smells a 'weak one' walking to it with the intent of battle and no one restraining it.

Hunger flashed through its eyes making everything red, It went on slamming against its cage in excitement.

Before the menacing Dark Beast, Amelia didn't flinch nor falter in the slightest.

Instead, she drew out her long sword and slipped into an attacking posture.

Then she signified for the cage to come down, when it did Taurus rushed out at Amelia with the intent to ram and crush her.

But she was already prepared.

As Taurus got to her, she quickly swiveled to the side and countered by cutting at its side leaving a deep gash on the skin of the [Dark Beast], A testament to the sharpness of her long sword.

Taurus halted to a stop as it didn't feel the impact nor the wail of its prey, instead, it felt pain from the said.

It became angrier, making its muscles bulge until it came to be another foot bigger than Amelia.

But in front of this beast, she showed no fear. Rather, she knew she couldn't hold back anymore.

Taurus roared as it charged madly at great speeds towards Amelia. In front of the bull, Amelia touched the ground and said in a cold tone.

[Ice Wave]

Whoosh.

At blinding speed, Over 100 m of the field floor was covered by ice, making the air colder.

The icy floor made Taurus lose its footing, and it slammed onto the ice at high speed, making it tumble towards Amelia.

As the Tumbling [Dark Beast] met Amelia, She quickly pressed her feet and jumped over Taurus, making Taurus slide past her harmlessly and hit the wall of the dome.

Most of its bones were broken, Blood dripped from its wounds, its two horns were broken with the remaining cracked and bloodied.

But Amelia wasn't done yet, As she landed she cast another skill.

[Ice Bolts]

5 Thin long Icicles manifested from the cold air and rushed towards the downed [Dark Beast] and pierced through it without restraint.

Taurus struggled for a while before the light in its eyes dimmed, and it fell dead.

Instructor Pryde checked for its breath upon finding none, He announced to the class

"Taurus has been killed by Amelia!"

The students of A-A, Held their breath for a while before they began to cheer for Amelia.

Throughout the battle, they saw how Amelia handled and killed the dark beast in a few moves.

Watching such a battle was exciting for them.

Amelia strode back to the group, as she passed Vincent's side she heard him whisper.

"Good Job"

"Thanks," She whispered back impassively.

"Next Taudar Maeth" Instructor Pryde.

'Mm it looks like stick head is up next, Let's see how strong you are Taudar'

////