Chapter 7: Improper Beating
Eight minutes remain. The first two were used to move forward and make way near the instructors and now they were face-to-face with one.
Keth quickly got back on his feet however he felt significantly held back by the burns. If it wasn't for Kairi helping and tending to the wound he'd have been in far worse shape.
"Tch just a scra-"
"A minute? Come on Riné with this guy I think we'd only need thirty seconds while the others deal with the instructors."
Mime cracked his knuckles as he stepped forward to Riné's side. However, he hadn't gotten to know the others for a long time, but he had made a genuine connection with them. He was upset at the sudden serious attack that had injured their teammate.
Riné gestured for Kairi and Keth to move forward without them as the two swallowed their pride and left the other two to fight their battles.
"Getting too big for your britches ain't cha? Sending off two of your friends isn't a good idea, minus ten points."
Instructor Kenn's voice rang out as the middle-aged man's athletic build strained as he drew a wooden blade. The instructors were all told to hold back but Kenn wanted to show his strength. If a student got hurt so what, that only meant they weren't Sophis material.
Kenn closed his eyes for a second.
'I swear these kids each year get more and more precocious. If I wanted to test city rats I'd-'
Kenn suddenly flew back as a shoe hit his face causing him to stumble back a step. Looking down on the object confused about what was thrown he noticed the dirty shoe on the ground in front of him as he looked toward the two in astonishment he noticed one standing oddly.
Mime was noticeably missing a shoe.
"You-you.."
"Whoa, how'd my shoe come out?"
Mime hid behind Riné feigning innocence as Riné stood at the ready wielding his saber toward Instructor Kenn.
In an instant, the Instructor closed the distance between the two as his blade, a cold, faded silver short sword, began to glow orange, similar to a blade taken from a forge.
I'LL TEACH YOU MANNERS!"
The blade was cloaked in explosive magic as Riné and Mime jumped out of the way of his blade rolling in a different direction. The instructor's sword collided with great speed and force exploding a massive crater of incinerated rock with it.
"Mime cover me."
Riné began to rotate mana around his mana activating his lightning magic coating it to make a cloak.
'I'll take him down without using my lightning magic primarily.'
Kenn picked up some dirt with his hand before charging the particles with his magic. As Riné dashed forward he noticed what their opponents' plan was as he shifted his mode of attack.
'I'll make you spin.'
Sprinting around Kenn to not allow him to keep an eye on Riné and get a good shot with his explosion magic Riné stopped for a moment as Kenn caught this only to be feinted as Riné zigzagged through the air rapidly shifting backward before kicking off the ground forward toward Kenn.
Kenn's sword and heart remained steady as his years of training and experience made him aware of how to deal with the swift types.
'Closing the distance like that won't work if I-'
Throwing out a front kick Kenn prevented Riné from moving straight forward as Riné blocked it with the side of his saber as his arm met the force of the kick buckling slightly.
'When closing the distance it's important to prevent attacks that punish the approach.'
The mana-infused saber shone bright blue as mana escaped from it throwing the foot to the side as Kenn responded aptly the two quickly moved their blades to meet the other clashing in the air as the wooden blade cracked slightly from the collision.
The clash lasted only for a brief breath as the two shifted battle intent roared in their eyes. No longer was it a simple examination now a serious bout.
"What's wrong? Aren't you gonna use your magic?"
"You wouldn't use a shovel to crush an ant would you?"
"Minus ten points for unnecessary arrogance."
A sneer appeared on Kenn's face as he was able to use his power to deduct points from the examinees Rines score plummeted however-
"Oops"
A second shoe hit Kenn's face when he least expected it as he exploded forward toward Mime with his explosion.
"You bastard #%!!"
Mime's cocky expression vanished in fear as he yelped and went pale as he turned his back and sprinted away desperately.
"That was an accident! Hey..Hey! IM SORRY STOP!"
Mime was about to be grabbed by the raging instructor before a dark hulking shadow stood over the two as Mime quickly ducked, and a clockwork Brute slammed down on the instructor. The instructor however managed to react in time as he supported his blade under the brute's arms blocking the slam however when he least expected it Riné took advantage of this as he leaped forward planted his left foot on the ground and kicked with his right the instructor's calf with an enhanced blow causing Kenn to buckle down to one leg from the pressure.
Mime watched in glee as he held the tablet in his hands before swiping and chuckling.
"Riné isn't one knee far too disrespectful shouldn't he be on both?"
The tablet glowed as the Brute increased in power forcing Kenn to the ground fully covering him.
As the two stood side by side a problem quickly arose. Riné wasn't using his lightning magic and Mime was an absolute novice at fighting and magic. A mere brute wouldn't stop the instructor and he wasn't an opponent to scoff at.
"Any ideas on how to deal with him?"
"Yes."
Riné whispered into his ears a few words that made Mime grab hold of Riné into a one-armed hug merrily as Riné tried to escape disliking it before relenting.
"Absolutely brilliant!"
The brute exploded into fragments as ash and smoke erupted covering its corpse. The two stood ready as Mime began to sprint away from Riné. Kenn stepped out of the smoke with an irritated expression as he looked toward the running Mime with amusement.
"Running away leaving your teammate alone to lose? Fail."
"Who says I'll lose?"
The sound of metal slamming something made it to Kenn's ears as he saw the same Saber used by Riné thrown to his side as Riné got into a bare-handed stance.
"A mage is his own weapon."
A reminiscent gaze appeared in Riné's eyes as he stood ready. His mana seethed out as his azure eyes began to light up as they met their opponents Riné's appearance which although tempered by travel, hardship, and training still stood as a breathtaking view even when covered in dirt.
'Master I'll try to reach your level and understanding just give me a couple more years to help me you.'
'Dralos Clan Style: Beast Hunt'
Riné's fists became enhanced by sharp azure mana as he made one a palm and the other a fist. This style was particular in the Dralos clan as it could be used with any weapon, situation, and even barehanded because it was a responsive martial art to the opponent.
Eight minutes left.
Kenn however felt berated. He had experienced facing manabeasts in the Expeditionarys and although he was a logistics officer back then, who hadn't faced mages in battle he was still a figure of respect. Those around him bowed their heads when they saw the medal, whispered praises, and their eyes shone with respect. These brats though their eyes were filled with ignorance, treated this exam and themselves as a stepping stone. A position he raised a pedestal as a veteran was desecrated if he let them through.
"You're decades short of being able to guide me, rookie."
". . ."
Riné's lack of response made Kenn feel even more annoyed. Not in the entirety of his career had he been this upset even when he was reprimanded.
Bang!
Kenn threw his wooden sword into the ground exploding it into pieces. He accepted Riné's challenge. Sentinel versus Seeker. A match completely against Riné's favor without the offensive usage of his lightning. If not for-
'There he is.'
Mime appeared again at the sidelines as a noticeable difference in the environment occurred. The Notus were nowhere in sight only Mime's troops as a circle was formed crating an open arena preventing outside interference.
"Round two old man! Riné and I together mano e mano."
Mime pretended to do karate as he swung one fist forward in a wide stance.
Riné kept his eyes locked onto Kenn as the instructor was wary. Being surrounded by the clockwork soldiers wasn't a huge worry but dealing with Riné when Mime's potential was unknown was a caution.
'I'll just deal with them through force.'
"Come at thee."
Kenn lunged forward, challenging the challengers as Riné kept at his position, charging his body with lightning the instructor swung an explosive fist toward his head. On his feet, Riné sidestepped as the fist almost grazed his face before it exploded sending Riné flying backward.
'Strong! Up on your feet!'
Riné rolled backwards to get himself on his feet, looking toward Kenn who instantly took advantage of the knock back as he raced his leg for a soccer kick on the recovering Riné. The glow of orange signaled a devastating blow however Riné didn't avert his eyes as he processed the situation before jumping under his swinging leg and placing himself under Kenn as he wrapped his arm around the planted leg. The leg felt pressure as Riné applied a tremendous quantity to move it as the Sentinel instructor's muscle strength was stronger than steel and heavier.
"Trying to beat a sentinel in a contest of strength? Isn't that the opposite of what seekers do?"
Kenn kicked off Riné with disdain as Riné coughed blood. He would have exploded the area around his body however from behind there was a mosquito flying about. Mime and Riné were playing different sides of Kenn. Mime seemed to simply be alternating between approaching and backing off around Kenn ready to enter.
Riné took a breath as he continued using his mana the lightning enhancement of his cloak was about out. The force caused it to shatter and without it, Riné's strength had plummeted however he didn't falter. His injury wasn't for nothing. On Kenn's leg, a magic circle was charred onto his flesh by Riné's mana that could be activated to release volts of Riné's wild mana. Technically Rines' mana had the same properties as his lightning without generating the heat and energy but still shocking enough to create an opportunity.
'Two more before I can finish this in an instant.'
The two began to walk toward each other before getting within a couple of inches of each other. Kenn was taller but he still felt belittled by the examinee who could have been his son's age.
'A little accident won't kill him.'
'Let's begin Mime.'
Boom!
Kenn threw an explosive right only to be blocked by Riné's electrically charged elbow as Riné followed with an upward knee toward Kenn's side only to be blocked by Kenn's palm.
The instructor's body began to glow orange as he planned to send a close-range explosion before he felt danger from behind. Shifting his head he saw Mime running forward swirling a great amount of mana in his palms extended outward as Kenn changed his focus regaining color only to lose his grip as he yelped in pain.
His liver was smashed in as Riné used the opportunity from Mimes' distraction to swing a liver blow. The infuriated instructor was unable to self-detonate however, he threw his arm toward Mime to block the attack as the two were about to meet Mime stopped his mana rotation decharging, and jogging backwards. The second mark was placed below his liver as Riné prepared to land one more before ending the battle.
'Dirty! Unfair! Uncouth!'
Kenn's face twisted in pain as he turned to deal with Riné who disappeared as he looked around he received a kick from below slamming his face upward as Riné crouched down to deal a forward kick.
Kenn managed not to lose composure as he looked down on Riné as the foot remained on his chin he attempted to grab it as Riné evaded resetting both to a neutral position. Riné closed the distance again with a flurry of sharp jabs that Kenn held his arms to block watching out for Mime at the same time only to feel a growing pin from his arms as crimson leaked through his clothes dyeing them.
"Blood?"
'How the hell dis he break my skin I should have thick enough muscle but h- This dirty bastard!'
The shine of a hidden blade in Riné's palm of its silver exterior revealed the reason. He was using a hidden weapon and lured Kenn to drop his weapon to gain an advantage.
'What the hell happened to a mage is his own weapon!?'
Unbeknownst to Kenn the curtain was closing in on the fight.