Of all of Markus' qualities, his patience was his weakest. So when he threw another whirlwind bullet to tear through her barrier and the bullet did not meet any new barriers but instead was dodged, he grew angry and impatient.
Lunging forward once more with a lone sword in his hand, he was tripped up by a simple construct at his feet which manifested out of thin air.
He crash landed on his own face and it was in that moment where she closed the distance instantly and struck toward him.
To his credit, he used a wind blast to send himself backward to avoid her strike but she created another construct to propel herself forward once more.
Markus didn't clearly see her but he felt it coming. With a wind blast at his feet, he became airbourne and created multiple whirlwind explosions below him in an instant.
His essence was now dangerously low. And to his dismay, whilst Amy did get hit by the blasts, these were not serious enough to disqualify her. They were significant nonetheless and he could fight her on almost equal ground but his essence was low- too low to engage in a head to head prolonged battle.
That was if she was competent with the sword- and by her extensive use of constructs and relative distance from him, she was more of a caster than an augmenter, meaning she preferred using the wind from a distance rather than fighting with the wind up close.
Markus landed back down and dismissed his weapons, only keeping his wind shell. Then, barehanded, he approached her at dazzling speed.
She took a defensive stance and as Markus approached she swung down!
Markus side stepped the sword to his right and with an iron fist converged essence and gave Amy a right hook to the temple.
The force of his first was tyrannical because he actually coated his fist with whirlwind.
The particles exploded and destroyed her own shell, sending her tumbling down.
Unphased by the impact Markus walked toward her.
She began to crawl away but he didn't let her- rushing to her side and kicking her on her back.
Then with the last of his essence he formed a wind blade and pointed it at her throat.
"I win…" he said between ragged breaths.
"How barbaric—" she said, blood seeping from her temple.
Her protective kit repelled the whirlwind but she still suffered damage.
"That's enough!" The administrator said, getting between them.
"This ends the gauntlet. Markus Windwave wins." He said
(Clap, clap, clap)
Three claps came from within the audience, from a young man.
"Well done. Defeating an expert as a learned… you are something. But she is an expert in essence only. Her close range combat…" he said, not finishing the sentence.
The young man was an older student, black hair, brown eyes and pale skin. He looked at Markus like a specimen at a zoo.
"Who are you?" Markus asked
"Me? The next student council president of course. Fin Topher." He said, a smug expression on his face showing
"Oh? Is that so?" Markus asked, examining him
"Yes. And I want you to be my second- vice president of the student council. How does it sound!" He asked, clasping his hands
"Like a rank lower than what I actually want." Markus said with a smirk
"That's a shame. I'd have rathered you as an ally than an enemy. Alas- I'll make you submit all the same." He said
"Is that so! Looking forward to it then." Markus said
"By the way- I'm not alone. I have already constructed my council candidates, meaning we will fight for a shared goal. And everyone is stage three and above. Who do you have? Yourself, a stage theee, and maybe that Aquabourne bastard. If we have individual competitions you might have a chance- but what if we have team battles? What will you do then?" Fin asked
"Use every underhanded tactic I know to beat you down one by one. What else can I do?" Markus replied
"What a brute you are indeed- I wish you luck in your attempts. But may I say that no tactic will work in the face of overwhelming power. So maybe quit whilst you're behind." Fin said
"Overwhelming power. So long as I don't fight against an elite or a master I have a chance." Markus said
"Agree to disagree. You've been training intensively but nothing beats actual combat experience. And that is what you lack. As clearly seen from your little fight just now." Fin said, leaving.
"Just you wait then— I'll show you combat." Markus said, leaving the scene as well.
The rest of the day was uneventful. Well- Markus just recovered and looked around the academy for possible teammates. But at the end of the day-
"Ugh! I don't know any people and I don't have time for it— how the hell am I meant to do it! Helen will probably know a few people and a few ways I can find others… or maybe not- she was not any more popular than I was—" Markus sighed, throwing himself on the bed.
"I was meant to make friends with that girl as well- instead I ended up beating her with my fists and got hung up with that bastard— I should apologise tomorrow… and maybe write Helen a letter to hurry the hell up to get back!" He thought aloud
The next day… posters were hung on the walls.
"Student Council elections are due to begin soon. This year's assessment will be a group scenario. All candidates for president must sign up with a cohort by the end of the month with all members in presence before official recognition of candidacy. Moreover the presidents must pass a written test to qualify for the leadership role. Official intention to nominate yourself and a cohort, along with any questions should be directed to the deputy headmaster Haroldson."
"I am so screwed—" Markus said, facepalming himself.
As he wondered where things in life went wrong, he heard a commotion approaching. A young man was chased by two boys of his age. They seemed to be newly joined students at the academy.
"Come here four eyes!" Of the boys shouted at the running boy.
The boy saw Markus and ended up hiding behind him.
"Please help me upperclassman!" The boy plead
"Huh?" Markus said.
He looked at the boy. Glasses, thin frame, freckles, brown eyes and tan skin. Wearing the school uniform.
Meanwhile the two other boys looked mundane. Nothing to remark about them at all.
"Hey beat it— I just found out I'm doomed so I'm not in the mood for this nonsense." Markus said
"Stop hiding behind him you coward!" One of the bullies shouted
Markus initially wanted to step aside and not intervene- but then he had an idea.
"Are you deaf? Do you want to be? I'll snap the pressure in your eardrum before you can blink and explode your eardrum. Wanna try that?" Markus threatened
"What!? No! Sorry- we're leaving—" the shouted in unison, running away.
"Thanks— I owe you one—" the boy said
"Is that so? Are you useful for administrative tasks by any chance?" Markus asked
"Uhhh- do you mean like maths? And writing reports and stuff? Sure- why..? Don't tell me you want me to do your homework for you—" he said
"Nothing of the kind. I'm Markus Windwave and I'm running for president of the student council. And you— will be on the council with me! Also what's your name—" Markus said then awkwardly asked
"… I'm Latham… and what!? You want me to be in the council! Are you insane!" Latham asked
"Yes and yes." Markus said, walking away
"Where are you going!" Latham asked
"To find other people bullied like you- I just got an idea on how to get more people to be in my council!" Markus said
And thus began a search of bullying within the academy so he could recruit individuals.
By the end of the week the academy bullying had been reduced to almost zero- mainly because stories about the mad stage three wind user beating the crap out of bullies had spread.
Unlike his first fight- Markus was now more discreet and could not be punished for fighting- even if they knew it as a fact he was the one doing the beating. Behind bushes, in the dormitory halls, in the middle of the night or on the way to lessons- he struck fast, hard and was never officially seen.
And the worst part for the administration is that they didn't even want to catch him. Innocent students were less miserable and bullies actually behaved themselves in fear of being targeted. The arising issue was that everyone froze when Markus entered places as they would begin to rethink if they've wronged someone and panic that they were next on his hit list.
It was also at the end of the week a friend had returned.