"Alright! I''m sure you all have been itching for a battle after all of the sses you''ve been attending. You''ve all been going through theories after theories and I know how many of you would like to put it to practice." The masculine voice of the man standing in front of a group of students echoed loud enough for everyone present to hear.


    The students currently standing, dressed in sleek ck leather bodysuits packed with shoulder and chest guards. Each bodysuit had a number on them, each varying without a match among the other students.


    Even the man standing in front of them had a simr butrger bodysuit donned on him. However, his own suitcked any protection and only had the number "000" on the topmost part of his left chest.


    The students remained attentive as they listened to everything the figure had to say to them. "These are the newly created battle wears created by the academy and I must say, they''re better than the previous ones. I''ve tested them personally." The man said with a grin. He was slightly over six feet with ck spiked hair and brown eyes. His beard was neatly trimmed and the sides of his hair were blended into a soft fade.


    The man also held a beautifully crafted and polished spear in his left hand as he spoke. The metal head of the spear glinted under the rays of sunshine that shone on it making it hard to stare at.


    "Excuse me, Instructor Kade. Your weapon keeps reflecting light into my eyes." A student said, his hand raised to signal he was the one speaking. His gray hair and blue eyes stood out amidst the group of students.


    The man, instructor Kade as addressed by the boy, stared at the boy for a few seconds before speaking. "Student Damon, my deepest apologies for that oversight."


    Instructor Kade twisted the spear slightly to the side, the reflection now directed toward the ground.


    "Thank you." Damon said with a polite bow and a smile.


    "Now, back to our discussion. In response to your fervent prayers for abat training, the higher-ups have decided to bless you all with this chance. A realbat training where you all can fully disy whatever you''ve learnt during your stay in the academy." Instructor Kade began taking short strides around the students, inspecting them one by one with a subtle grin.


    Inspector Kade could see the beaming smile on many of their faces as he exined to them that they would be training in closebat today and it seemed to stir up something in him.


    A wicked grin formed on his lips and walking back to the front of the group he thought,


    ''I was once like you all. I got a reality check after the first realbat and I''m sure you all will too. You won''t be battling humans after all.''


    Instructor Kade arrived at the front of the group and olpped his hand lightly to silence the growing noise and capture the attention of the students.


    Seeing that risngmotionhad died down, instructor Kade resumed speaking onceagain. "As for your opponents, they''re not humans but rather mana beasts."


    "What?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Mana beasts? Isn''t that a little too early?"


    "How can we even fight them with no experience at all?"


    "You''ll gain experience while facing them." Instructor Kade''s voice cut through the murmurs, his eyes scanning the area for students who had remained unfazed by his revtion. There was quite a handful.


    Instructor Kade nodded, picking up from where he''d stopped. "You all will be facing the lowest possible ranks within the ranks of mana beasts to avoid any excessive danger, Grade Seven mana beasts."


    "Excessive? Did he just say to avoid excessive danger?" A young boy with ck flowing buy short hair and crimson red eyes asked with mixture of fear and confusion written all over his face.


    "Doesn''t that mean these ones might still be dangerous regardless?" Another kid inquired.


    "Just moments ago, you were all excited having been given the chance to engage in closebat and now you''re whining about dangers? That''s pathetic!" The statement came from a student at the back and before the others could turn to identify who''d spoken, the instructor cleared his throat.


    All eyes returned to him, all of them eager for more information about whatever it was that they were about to venture into.


    Would it be dangerous?


    Would it be fun?


    Would there be a death?


    Instructor Kade could hear the questions behind their closed mouths.


    "I believe all of you were ced in this ss because you''re the best of the best. There are others who didn''t get to join you all and were added to lower sses. If you''re whining this much, what do you think they would do?"


    Before anyone could answer, the instructor continued. "Don''t think too much about it. They passed their ownbat training. Although there were a few casualties, none was fatal."


    Instructor Kade looked at every one of them, pointing at a few. "You all are even stronger than the other and so, it''ll be a breeze for you." He smiled and then he added under his breath. "I think."


    None of them were able to hear that part of his statement though. "There''ll also be a reward for the top five participants of this training. As for the rewards? That''ll remain a secret till it''s all over."


    At the mention of rewards to give individual participants, silence took over the group and the murmurs simply ceased to exist.


    Seeing them straightened up by the revtion of rewards the instructor nodded. "Good! Now that you students are ready for your firstbat experience and encounter with the mana beasts, I''ll exin a few more things."


    "First, it is a one against one battle and there are only three different beasts you can choose from. Eachbat sessionsts for five minutes and will end either with you ying the beast orsting for five minutes against the beast of your choice."


    "Second, be careful as they are indeed dangerous. The might not be life threatening but they can definitely inflict injuries on you."


    "Thirdly? Fight with all you''ve got. Don''t hold back against them. You''ll be graded based on performance and the top five will be rewarded after all."


    Having exined all that needed exining, he beamed a smile at them. "Who''s going first?" Instructor Kade asked with a mix of anticipation and excitement in his voice.