Chapter 5: Weakling

It seemed like Liz was toying with Alex and had decided to get serious. The truth was that this was just a test for Alex to show his skills to the Academy, if it was a real battle, Alex would have lost from the very beginning.

The way he awkwardly deflected the bone shards, his footwork, and his coordination they all screamed that he was a novice and had no skill whatsoever. How could he have skills though? All his opponents were imaginary and he had no teacher in swordmanship. This was also the reason he needed to join an Academy. If he couldn't, his future in Clodia would be at the bottom as he had no strength.

Liz steadily increased the number of bone shards from one at a time to two and then three. The sides of Alex's wooden sword were being chipped off as he luckily deflected the shards.

His hands were beginning to feel numb and his clothes were soaked from rigorous sweating of his body.

One of the bone shards nicked him on the shoulder making blood slip through the cut. Alex held his scream back in bitting his lip and instead released a low pained grunt.

"Is that all you have to show?"

Alex heard Liz speak. Her question sounded genuine and sincere but he couldn't help but feel like she was mocking him.

"I still have some skills to show. You've not tested my close combat skills" Alex replied forcing a smile.

Liz looked at him for some time as if waiting for something. She nodded and flipped her palm making her bones grow out. It took longer than it did before and also grew longer.

Looking at the scene, a sickening feeling was spread in Alex's tummy. Watching a bone emerging from a person's body wasn't the best sight to see even if there was no blood, he could hear the cracking sound as the bone emerged.

It elongated, becoming half a metre in length. Its edge was jagged but the tip remained sharp. When she was done, she held it in her palms and walked forward closing the distance.

"Okay, let's see your close combat skills"

She charged at Alex, slashing the long bony shard like a sword. Alex raised his wooden sword diagonally and blocked the attack making him grit his teeth as the force travelled from his arms to his shoulder causing a biting pain where he had been injured.

'shit! How can a girl have this kind of strength?' Alex cursed. His sword was being pushed back by Liz and he was losing his footing.

When he was about to take a step back, Liz kicked his tummy and sent him flying backward.

Alex groaned but he didn't have time to let the pain subside. He was close to the edge of the platform and Liz was coming at him again with renewed force.

He hurriedly stood to his feet, his back curved inward due to the pain in his tummy.

'Think think think. She's coming at you...' Alex tried to think of a way out of his predicament. He was a few steps away from losing his chance to join an Academy, once he fell out of this platform, it would be over. He hadn't displayed any skill whatsoever.

Panic seeped into his heart and bones, coupled with the countless thoughts running through his mind. He reacted on instinct and threw his sword at Liz who was a few centimeters away. The side of the wooden sword hit her legs sending pain through her bones. Liz stumbled forward and fell face flat before Alex.

She never expected Alex to throw his sword at her, and Alex never expected his instinctual attack to work.

He stood there slightly stunned at Liz on the floor, as she was about to stand, he snapped back to his senses and rushed for the bony sword belonging to Liz. It had slipped from her hand when she fell. He picked it up and then kicked Liz at the side.

"That's payback for kicking my tummy," Alex said with a grin on his face.

Liz held the pain in and rolled, facing up, she was about to stand when Alex pointed the sword at her face.

"Forfeit, I've won"

Liz smiled at Alex, from a smile, it became a smirk. A sinister light flashed across her eyes making Alex feel uncomfortable.

"Such a novice, no skills. Forfeit before I make you." Liz said

Alex looked at her like she was crazy. How could she tell him to forfeit? He was the one standing while she was at his feet. He was armed with a weapon but she wasn't. It made no sense.

"Did you hit your head too hard on the floor?" Alex asked keeping a brave front. He couldn't help but feel uncomfortable, especially with the look Liz was giving him. It made him feel like an ant in front of an anteater.

Liz didn't respond, rather she kicked Alex at the side of his leg while still lying on the platform, making Alex kneel with one leg. Then she skillfully stood up by moving her weight towards her hands, her legs rose up and then she pushed against the platform with her hands propelling her body upward.

Alex got up, turning around to face Liz. He immediately slashed at her with frightening speed. To his amazement, Liz managed to dodge the strike and retreated. They were both at the edge of the platform so it was sensible.

Alex gave chase not wanting her to get a moment of reprieve. His wooden sword was left on the floor, he preferred the long bony shard to it.

He rushed at Liz who attacked first with a flying kick.

*Bang!*

Alex's back hit the platform with a banging sound. Liz was strong, her kicks were powerful. Coupled with the fact that Alex was rushing toward her, the force of the kick was doubled.

Liz walked up to Alex and looked down at him, for some reason she felt furious. She was a student of the most prestigious Academy in Lurora Empire and yet she couldn't deny the fact that Alex was a headache. Despite that strong kick, he was still conscious even though she had gone easy on him.

"Weakling."

Liz said as she grabbed Alex by the collar of his shirt and threw him out of the platform recklessly.

Alex hit the ground and his consciousness was flickering like a flame about to quench as the sound of Liz's voice echoed through his very being. Indeed he was a weakling.

While Liz had been testing Alex's capabilities, on the other platforms most of the tests had ended and a new set had taken over.

Trent, the said guy with a Pure grade elemental ability had stepped out and also wished to join Royal Academy. His opponent was a male, tall and lanky like a pole. Most in the crowd changed their focus from Alex's platform to that of Trent, watching intently to see how he would fare. For Alex, they had believed the rumour that truly he didn't have an ability.