The next class, the students got together in the academy's training yard. The yard was roomy and had see-through energy barriers around it, with each training group separated from the others. This prevented the effects of their attacks from spreading beyond the designated area.
Dan stood at the edge of the area for his class, his arms folded, silently watching the man who had just entered.
"That face..."
Dan immediately recognized who he was.
The teacher he had seen killed by the Void Assassin... along with Teacher Serena. The scene of their dead bodies was etched clearly in his memory.
The professor was a tall, solidly built guy with black hair tied back. His eyes were sharp and focused, and his voice was deep and confident.
"Good morning, students."
Everyone was quiet, like he was casting a spell of silence.
"I'm Professor Jack, and I'll be overseeing your practical training. I won't go into too much detail here, since you're not really here to hear me talk, but to get a hands-on experience."
He glanced at their faces, then continued:
"This training ground is for assessing your level and learning how to fight in conditions similar to real life."
He took a step back and said:
"We're going to start today with some individual tests. I'll keep an eye on how each of you is doing, if any of you think that words aren't enough to prove what you can do, you can ask for a real fight."
When he said his last words, Ziegler smiled and didn't wait any longer.
He raised his hand and said loudly:
"If that's the case, I'd like to request a duel with Dan Noctain."
The students started whispering, just like they did in class .
Professor Jack looked at Ziegler , then at Dan.
"Dan Noctain, are you up for the challenge?"
Everyone looked at Dan, who hadn't moved yet. But he wasn't surprised. He didn't need to hear the name of the challenge; he'd felt it coming from the moment he entered the arena.
He finally lifted his head and looked at Ziegler , then said quietly:
"I accept."
The students moved away from the center of the arena, leaving enough space for the fight. The energy barrier started to glow a faint blue, which meant it was starting to activate.
Ziegler stood opposite Dan, smiling sarcastically.
"I always wanted to see if you really had something worth all the talk."
Dan didn't respond , just got ready for the fight.
Professor Jack stood on the edge, watching without getting involved, and then said in a clear voice:
"We'll be using wooden swords in the fight. Each of you will carry a sword of this type. Don't underestimate them. They're made of a special material that mimics the weight and strength of real swords, but they're less harmful.
He picked up one of the swords to show them. It was a deep brown color, with a little shine, and it had complex engravings on the handle.
"The rules are simple: whoever knocks their opponent to the ground or disarms them wins. No mana or skills are allowed, only physical skill and fighting spirit."
He looked at Dan and Ziegler, and motioned for them to come forward.
"Are you ready?"
Dan kept moving forward, and his opponent couldn't help but show off his smug smile.
He whispered as he adjusted his grip on the sword:
"I'll make you regret all those arrogant looks you give me."
Dan said nothing. He met Zeigler's eyes for a moment, then let out a slow breath, steadying himself for what was to come.
The crowd in the arena went quiet, the tension built, and everyone's eyes were on the two of them.
Then...
"Begin."
The opponent was the first to act, lunging forward with high speed. His wooden sword looked like it was flying through the air, and it made it seem like he had a lot of training. Dan blocked the first hit pretty easily, but he stumbled back half a step and almost lost his balance.
His opponent laughed lightly, then said sarcastically as he attacked again:
"Really? Is that all you've got?"
Dan didn't say anything, but he was moving, slowly but surely, keeping his eyes on his opponent's moves more than on responding.
Time and again, he dodged blows from unexpected angles, raised his sword from unusual positions, and moved slowly before suddenly lunging... But even so, he wasn't the better fighter.
It became painfully clear—Dan was still rough around the edges when it came to close-quarters combat. He could've moved better, and he needed to work on his sword skills. Every time he blocked, you could see he had a weak spot in his defense.
The opponent laughed, then said in a voice that everyone could hear:
"Hey, is that the guy who made it through the creature of the void? It doesn't look like he'll survive my first lesson."
But Dan didn't say anything, just breathing steadily, his eyes still on the ball, as if he was waiting for something...
But then, the moment of truth arrived.
He took a direct hit to the side, but he didn't try to dodge it.
There was a loud crash, followed by a terrible crack.
Some students gasped:
"Did he break his rib?!"
Dan bent over in pain and fell to his knees, breathing heavily. It looked like it was over.
His opponent raised his sword, ready to deliver the final blow.
But Dan... moved.
He lunged forward, ignoring the pain, and slid half a meter across the floor. Then he spun around, hitting his opponent's leg from the side, knocking him off balance and to the ground.
Before his opponent could get up, Dan raised his wooden sword above his neck.
Everyone was quiet.
Then professor Jack spoke up and said:
"The winner... Dan Noctain."
Everyone started, surprised, some in tense silence, others in shock.
Dan paused for a second, then slowly lowered his sword, pressing on his injured rib, but he... smiled.