****Conner O’neil’s POV***

The world is filled with strong people.

The kind of people who can crush mountains with their bare hands, rule cities in under a night, split oceans with even their very presence…

People like those are something to be considered Gods.

I wanted to be one of those people.

And the only thing that I gotta do to reach that sort of level is to be strong.

To have a strong mind, a strong spirit, and most of all, a strong power, for power rules over everything and with power, one can achieve everything.

Although my ambitions are high, my greed is high, my lust is insatiable, these are the properties to become a man that could one day rule everything.

No one should ever come my way in achieving my goal…even to those who think they are on my level.

Those mobs who think that they are some sort of Hero…Especially that bastard, they should never get in the way of a prodigy such as myself.

With my fist, I’ll crush him and put him in his place!

Rumors have already spread in the entire academy, so I’ll use this chance to bury him in the embarrassment of losing going against me. Marking this the very start of my title as the strongest male hunter in this year. With this win, It’ll send a message to those bastards who think they are worth something….bastards who think they’re on my level.

No one is on my level.

It’ll be killing two birds with one stone.

Although looking as how he placed 3^rd above all the rest of the students, I don’t doubt that he is superior in some way compared to me, maybe in the intellect category, but if it comes to strength, I go beyond any other bastard that’s in this year.

I’m the strongest there is in this year and no one else, and that’s a fact.

***

Jason Emory was a man who dreams to become a strong hunter, and that dream is without falsehood knowing the very properties he possess in his age.

A good foundation of a body.

A great balance of mana.

A great understanding of the works of magic.

The ability to wield a sword as good as that of a professional.

And most of all, the greatest property he had as when he was but a child, the ability to adapt in the cases of the strangest dangers.

With all of these talents combined, he was a gem cut above the rest.

The Angel who brought him his blessing of the blue flame, simply didn’t choose him out of a whim, no, he had a fate instilled in his very soul. Because of his strong affinity towards danger and his ability to avoid these future endeavors, he was given the fateful blessing of the blue flame.

One could say that he was a born Hero.

Through the experiences in his life, to fight someone out of his respect for his own ideals and morals were never not an option. He will fight for his own right…this trivial pursuit and taunt from Conner was no different.

He wasn’t going to run away…

He could still smell the trash piled on him as he laid unconscious in the dumpster. That memory only helped fuel his motivation to fight…to lay out his ideals…and most of all, his anger.

So with that said, he stood up from his bench and he carried his sword.

Today was another day that he would fight.

“So you’re really going through with it?” asked Audrey as she hangs by the side of the door.

“…If I don’t put him in his place, to let him know that what he’s fighting for is wrong, he’s going ot sunk in so low in life.”

“I don’t think he minds, he’s just that kind of person.” said Audrey.

“Yeah…I know I can’t change people…but in this moment, I can stop him in some way or another. I need to let him know that he can’t just do whatever he wants. That’s not right.”

“…Well, one way or the other, the only one who can ever put their ideals and message to the audience is the one who wins. If you want to stop him, you have to win…and if he wants to rule over everyone, he needs to win.” said Audrey ever so blatant to the event.

“…Where’s Jessabelle? I thought she would be here to mock me or something.” said Jason.

“I don’t know, but I saw that she was being called by Miss Fien.”

“Miss Fien? Why?”

“If I can think of one reason, it must be something about her partner in the combat class…last time I heard, her partner wanted to have a new pair. Someone who wasn’t so violent.” said Audrey.

“Hmm, I see.”

“I’ll get going, try not to embarrass the A-class while you’re out there.”

As Audrey left, Jason was all by himself, tending to his armor and such.

“…Hmm” in his hard and heavy groan, he had his thoughts busy on Jessabelle’s absence.

After a few minutes of finally preparing himself, he stood up from the bench and made his way to the training centre. But as he made his way across the hallways, he spotted a certain individual who was arguing with a teacher. That person being Soril Remus himself.

“…” he stared at him and only had one thought that came to mind.

‘It’s him…the guys who taunts at Jessabelle at every turn.’

In the distance to where he stood, he could hear their conversation.

“What do you mean that I have to fight her? Why do I have to do it!?” asked Soril in a frustrated tone.

“We’ve had the test compare the two of your results…its theorized that you two have a high compatibility rate with one another. I don’t think we should waste this chance at all.” said the teacher.

“Wha- uh, I already have a partner. You paired her up with me, remember? Jessica Young? She bested me in combat, don’t you remember her?”

“I know, I know…but this is just a test. We just wanna see how the numbers would add up if you two were paired in combat against one another.” said the teacher.

“No, I won’t do it. If you were to see how she looks at me, you would realize that she would kill me at the spot! I’m not doing it.” said Soril, as if he was desperate.

“You’re not doing it for free…Here, I have a card with me that allows you to cut in line in the canteen all year round. It’s the kind of privilege only teachers can claim. This way, you don’t have to wait thirty minutes just for your food to get ordered.” said the teacher with a sly face.

“…That isn’t going to cut it. It’s my life on the line here, so I’m not going to bet my life just for a card that allows me to cut in line in the canteen.” said Soril rather strictly. It seems he was made up in his mind.

“…Soril, this is a good opportunity for you AND for her. Do not let your fears get in the way of a chance for growth. Hunters grow in a situation like this…do you really think it’s a good idea to throw away this chance?” asked the Teacher ever so pleadingly.

“…” as Soril stood there with fixed decision, the teacher was slowly about to give up.

“Okay…how about this then. I know that you lack a technique when it comes to fighting. I saw how you ended up losing to Jessica when you both fought each other. She had the upper hand because of her skill, you would have won if you had your own. But you didn’t. so how about if I teach you a skill that works well with your form.”

“…What do you mean?” asked Soril.

“You carry a shield and a Sword on hand during your combat, and I’m impressed that you were able to utilize those weapons to their very best, but I know skill that would ultimately put your current abilities to another level.”

“…”

“Its called the Art of the Snowy Warriors. A skill based off of a group of seclusive warriors found up north. Their skills and battle wits with a shield is one that rivals even that of the hunters in this continent. If you were to learn their fighting style, you can easily dominate an animal and a hunter even without mana.”

“…That’s a pretty damn good offer. But isn’t it wrong for a teacher to give a student a special service like this?” asked Soril.

“Its not like its free or anything. Your life’s on the line here…plus, I’m not going to teach it to you personally about this skill, I’ll only give you the book containing their teachings and if you have a question, I can answer anytime of the day.”

“…”

In that silence, Soril pondered for a bit and to his thinking, he suddenly had a change of expression. Almost as if something popped right in front of him,

“…Hnn–, I guess that’s good enough. Okay…I’ll do it. I’ll fight her.” in that moment, he was able to shift his decision…almost as if he was forced to or had to comply to it.

“Good, Go and prepare, you’ll be facing her right after the fight between Jason Emory and Conner O’neil.”

“Oh yeah…right. Shouldn’t you try to stop these kinds of fights?”

“Its just a kid’s fight. It happens all the time in the academy.” said the Teacher so nonchalantly.

“That’s pretty irresponsible.” commented Soril.

“Whatever happens, they’ll be fine. The one mediating the fight in this duel is a teacher who also teaches a combat class in the 2^nd year. If things get rough between them, the teacher can easily intervene.” said the teacher.

“…”

“Also, to make sure that you have a high chance of survival, here, open the locker with this number written on it. In there is an equipment that can probably save your life.” said the teacher as he handed Soril a pair of keys to a locker safe.

“…what kind of equipment are you giving me?”

“I’m not giving it, I’m letting you borrow it. It’s a high end leather vest armor that has a medium durability protection against magic. Wearing this will lessen the effect of her attacks.”

“Hmm, so you think that if I wear this, I’ll have a high chance of winning against her?”

“I’m just evening out the playing field, but even if you didn’t have that extra protection, I doubt you would even care for it.” said the teacher.

“I do care…thank you Sgt. O’riley.”

“…Just make sure to give it your all against her. Jessabelle Morrison is a genius just like her father…and just like her father, she will not show mercy, so neither should you.”

“Okay…okay.” with that, Soril nodded as he understood what he needed to do, so as he had his back turned to the teacher and he made his way to wear the proer equipment.

There, as he walked further, he saw Jason Emory leaning by the wall with his arms crossed.

“…” With jason having his eyes closed and his focus at a keen level, he only turned his way to Soril with a rather calm presence.

“…” and Soril, having to lock eyes with the protagonist in a split second, he quickly averted his eyes away.

“.…Good luck out there.” he said to Jason as he continued forward with an anxious expression.

“…You too.” said Jason as he finally made his way to the training center.

In that simple conversation, both gave their damned truth. For both needed luck in this matter. To win…to know how strong they were once they win their fight.

For Luck triumphs over all forms of strength…

Its not something a man can ever attain, it is something he is blessed with.