Honor of Kings-Chapter 8: Skills

"A whole city has been dominated by this species—in Italy. And it's only a matter of time before they take over every other city, which we are trying to prevent. So, if you're smart, you should understand this means: 'PREPARE HARDER, TRAIN LIKE CRAZY!'"

The students gasped, exchanging concerned looks. A whole city had been taken over by this species? This wasn't on the news. It seemed the United Council was trying to keep it a secret from people worldwide to avoid an uprising and rising tensions.

Sky, in contrast, was focused on the name "Twilight." Such a beautiful name for these monstrosities made him scoff repeatedly each time he thought about it. It was kind of funny.

The blonde, meanwhile, noticed Sky's reaction and thought he was already going crazy.

'Who wouldn't in such a situation? I mean, monsters taking beautiful places on Earth, and with each passing day, it seems they're getting closer to capturing the whole world...' he thought, shaking his head.

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Not wasting any more time, Donald continued:

"Umbral: This set is significantly stronger than the Cinders. They're more agile and cannot be easily killed unless with explosives or weapons of similar strength. Currently, there's no description of how any species in this rank looks. More briefings will be provided soon..."

"Next are the Mugs: The strongest of all types, if not akin to gods. No Mug has ever been killed, yet thousands of armies and millions of people have fallen at their hands. They are literally impenetrable by any weapon and possess supernatural abilities—similar to the Umbra, but theirs are stronger."

"Let's pause there. More briefings will be conducted daily before training starts. That's all for today, as we cannot provide you with more information right now. Basic Training will begin in a few minutes, so prepare yourselves." Donald wrapped up his notes and was about to rush into the large tent when Katie stopped him to ask a question.

"Are there only three ranks of these monsters? If so, how are we supposed to grade them if we don't have a proper description of how they look? As you mentioned, they have different body forms and types." Her voice was a bit harsh.

Senior Private Donald scowled.

"I repeat, more briefings will be given, and all you need to focus on right now is your training and what comes next. Yes, those are the only three ranks of Exiles, and no, we don't have actual pictures of them. There's no time to photograph monstrosities like that; it isn't a staged environment where cameras can capture every moment —this is reality."

He quickly dashed into the large tent, as if he were in a hurry to attend to something important.

The students, not even a minute after the initial instructions, began chatting excitedly about how they planned to spend their day. They seemed to have forgotten everything that had been said, some even setting their notepads aside.

"Hey, Finnian! Didn't you say you were going to challenge Sky, the black belt holder, to a fight soon? How's that working out for you?" a student seated in the third row of the bleachers called out to the blonde.

'So, that's his name,' Sky thought, glancing at the student who had just spoken.

Finnian smirked, turning to give Sky a quick look, as if silently asking him if he was ready for a battle.

Sky, a black belt holder and former champion who had won a cup for the school in a Taekwondo match, had become the target of Finnian after his recent glory. Finnian, who had just begun learning boxing and Taekwondo, only held a white belt as a beginner.

Sky wasn't one to deny such an honor, so he nodded, accepting the challenge.

The male students in the bleachers erupted in cheers, joking that Finnian was going to lose miserably. The idea of a beginner facing off against a black belt was absurd, almost laughable.

Finnian rushed to the field, eagerly waiting for Sky to join him. He began stretching, jumping about, weaving through the air, throwing punches, and executing spinning kicks.

'This is my first time going against Sky. I never thought he would accept the challenge so easily,' he thought, watching as Sky approached, shielding his face from the harsh sun with his hands and partially squinting against the rays.

Excitement surged through the bleachers as everyone anticipated the showdown, though many had already made their predictions based on the contestants' past performances.

Finnian bounced on his feet, energy radiating from him, while Sky stood calmly, focusing on his legs.

With a sudden burst of energy, Finnian launched himself forward, unleashing a flurry of punches aimed at Sky's head. Sky moved with surprising agility, dodging each blow with ease.

'That's too predictable,' he thought, noting how Finnian telegraphed his punches. A lightning-fast side kick connected with Finnian's ribs, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Finnian scrambled up, a fierce revolve shown in his eyes. He attempted a spinning back kick, but Sky intercepted it effortlessly with a block, countering with a swift jab to Finnian's jaw. Finnian stumbled back, but his resolve only strengthened.

Undeterred, Finnian pressed the attack, throwing a combination of punches and kicks.

'He's relying too much on power,' Sky observed every mistake Finnian made, effortlessly countering each attempt with precise blocks and counters. A powerful punch landed squarely on Finnian's chest, sending him reeling.

'He leaves himself open every time he overcommits.'

Finnian's face was a mask of determination as he tried a leaping roundhouse kick. Sky side-stepped, delivering a sharp elbow strike to Finnian's shoulder. Finnian cried out but managed to stay on his feet, refusing to back down.

The fight continued, with Finnian unleashing everything he had. Yet, Sky remained composed, his defense impenetrable.

'Dumbass. His footwork is off,' Sky noted as he dodged another wild swing.

'Too flat-footed; I can exploit that.'

Finnian's attempts were met with counter-attacks from Sky, each one leaving him battered but resolute.

'If he would just focus on technique instead of raw power,' Sky thought, blocking a wild punch and responding with a quick jab to Finnian's midsection, forcing the breath from his lungs.

As Finnian pressed forward again, Sky could see the fatigue beginning to set in.

'...And now he's losing stamina.' Sky mused, waiting for the right moment. Finnian threw another wide hook, and Sky ducked under, delivering a precise uppercut that sent Finnian staggering back.

With each exchange, Finnian's weaknesses became clearer to Sky.

"He's too eager, too reckless. If he could just control his energy and pace, he might stand a chance," Corporal Levitt whispered to Private Donald as they both stepped outside together. They caught sight of the two challenging one another, while the students remained oblivious to their presence, their focus entirely on the intense match.

Sky, getting tired of the prolonging battle, was ready to capitalize on the mistakes that were becoming all too evident.

With a final surge of energy, Finnian lunged forward, desperation propelling his every movement. However, Sky recognized the opening he had been anticipating. He skillfully evaded Finnian's attack, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick that struck Finnian's side. The impact sent Finnian skidding across the ground, his body coming to a halt several feet away.

The students in the bleachers reacted with a mix of emotions. Some scowled, clearly disheartened that their bets had gone awry, while others smirked, exchanging knowing glances as if they had foreseen the outcome. It was evident that the less astute had lost their wagers.

Sky approached Finnian, who was gradually rising to his feet, a flicker of resolve still shown in his eyes despite the defeat. He extended a hand to assist him.

"You fought valiantly," Sky remarked, a tone of respect apparant in his voice. Finnian felt as though he were on cloud nine; Sky had actually acknowledged his presence, even after besting him. Until today, he had considered himself the biggest fool, and that realization lingered—he remained a fool in many ways.

"It's all about technique and strategy. Your style of fighting would be better suited for the boxing ring. You were throwing punches without a clear aim, relying too much on raw energy rather than skill."

Finnian accepted the hand, pulling himself up with a grateful nod.

"Thank you, Sky. I'll focus on my weaknesses," he replied, breathing heavily yet managing a smile through the fatigue.

The crowd began to disperse, the murmurs of the match lingered in the air—a blend of admiration for Sky's skill and sympathy for Finnian's 'foolish' effort.

***

"Corporal, that was intense! That other student really showcased some impressive skills. Shouldn't we recommend him and that girl with vast potential for a new type of human beyond the supernatural to the Special Team?" Donald proposed as he and Corporal Levitt made their way toward another tent.