Hakuro furrowed his brows as a small smile grew on his face.
"Not bad, not bad," he said. "I expected you to take much time to understand this, but you seem to have great intellect."
"However, your answer still needs to be refined." Hakuro gestured for Damion to sit, and they were soon facing each other, discussing.
"The purpose of fighting is not just to win… but to kill," Hakuro said. "The person who dies can't be proclaimed to be strong, and whoever comes out on top would be seen as strong."
"Strength isn't dependent on a singular factor or element. It can vary from person to person, and that is why A defeats B, B defeats C, and C defeats A, because the area in which their strength lies can't defeat every other element."
"It goes on and on in circles until someone with overwhelming strength comes out," Hakuro paused to let his words sink in.
"And if a person with strength in every area shows up, they would be able to counter everything thrown at them, and though it won't be easy, they would survive,"
"To put it simply, true strength is only achieved when one's power is absolute and unmatched."
Damion sat in silence after hearing those profound words, and his view of battle began to change gradually.
He had viewed battling as a way of someone proving their superior strength to those who opposed them, but his thoughts about that had changed now, and his eyes had been opened to the truth of reality.
"I'm willing to teach you the way of the sword, only if you're willing to learn," Hakuro offered.
Damion's eyes went from the floor he was staring at to Hakuro's face instantly.
'Is this still the same man who deals with students mercilessly?' he thought.
He didn't know why Hakuro was giving him such offer, but he couldn't miss out on an opportunity when he saw one. A battle veteran like him surely would have a lot of things to teach him from his uncountable experiences.
Damion nodded his head, and Hakuro stood to his feet. However, he had barely taken three steps away before Damion's voice drifted into his ears.
"I have the ability to control Shadows."
Hakuro didn't slow down or pause for a second, but a knowing smile spread across his face. "Your lessons start at dawn two days from now," he said, walking out of the building.
***
In a building not too far from the combat class Damion was in a few moments ago, there was another ongoing class with the symbol of a sword hanging over its entrance, and within, a bloody scene, that scared everyone to their core, played out.
Littered on the floor on a stage were limbs of multiple students. Their blood could be seen splattered everywhere, with more pouring out of their grave wounds, imprinting a gory image into the minds of everyone who bore witness.
A red-haired student stood in the center of this all, wearing an indifferent expression on his handsome face. He had a sword in his right hand and a black eyepatch in his left.
He gazed expressionlessly at the students on the ground, then suddenly frowned deeply and walked down the stage.
Those who were in his way subconsciously took huge steps back, not wanting to be his next victim.
"Weak… they're all weak," the red-haired boy muttered as he began sheathing his sword and replacing his eyepatch. "They're too weak to be of any use to me."
"I need someone strong, someone who can push me to the next level," he said as his eye patch covered his left eye, a bright silver light coming from it. "And he's the only one who can help me."
***
Damion sat alone in the Academy's cafeteria, eating his food silently. There was no one around to disturb him, and he was experiencing a rare moment of peace, though the deep frown marring his face betrayed the peace he seemingly had.
'I'm not too sure, but I think I'm being monitored,' he thought.
By now his bullies would have come to find trouble with him, but there was no one in sight.
'If this goes on and they don't come out, I wouldn't be able to complete the quests,' he thought again.
He got up halfway into his food, a dark smile creeping up his face. "If they won't come to me, then I'll just have to lure them out."
Damion reached for the glass of water by his tray and chugged its content in one go. He looked around for a second, checking to see if there really wasn't anyone.
However, there seemed to be actually no one, at least none that he could see. For all he knew, there might just be someone with an invisibility Ability, or someone with sharp sight watching him from a distance.
Damion shrugged his shoulders. With the coast clear, he returned his tray and left the cafeteria.
No sooner had he started moving when three different individuals hiding in inconspicuous places revealed themselves.
The first was a blonde boy with an odd smile on his long face. He had an Invisibility Ability, just like Damion speculated, instantly giving him away as one of Damion's bullies.
With the communication device in his hand, he began to speak with someone on the other end, and the unnerving smile on his face only grew.
The second person was revealed to be that same Green eyed girl who was staring at him earlier in the combat class.
She wore a set of baggy clothing, so her curvy figure couldn't be seen. Her green haired was hidden in her hoody, and her feet were stuck in a large boot that seemed oversized for her small figure.
Her eyes followed Damion's back as he left, and a soft, sad sigh came from her.
She got up from her seat after thinking for a second, and immediately went after him.
In another corner of the cafeteria, there was a student who stood rooted to the spot like a mannequin, and surprisingly, he was the student who had challenged Damion to get stronger and face him in a duel.
He watched Damion leave, and the sword on his back vibrated.
"Soon," he muttered as he stroked the sword's handle, moving forward and chasing Damion.