Academy – Awakening (1)

The training hall buzzed with students upon hearing news of Jade and Doran’s duel.

At the center of the training ground, Jade stood facing Doran.

“Huu…”

Countless eyes watched him. His sword-gripping hand trembled, palms already slick with sweat.

‘I need to focus.’

If he lost to Doran today, everything would end. Becoming Doran’s eternal slave would mean this life was over.

Jade could count his training ground victories on one hand. He’d constantly pondered how to bridge the talent gap.

But today, he had to end those doubts. Find an answer. Win.

“What’s wrong? Not coming?”

Doran lazily twirled his staff, posture relaxed.

“Let’s finish this quickly. I have a hot night planned with Rena.”

He provoked Jade, who remained still and watchful.

‘…’

Jade kept glaring, unfazed by such cheap taunts. He’d endured too much to fall for this.

‘Can’t take shallow bait.’

Jade recalled Doran’s magic barrage during their last duel. When he’d described it to Boris, the man said Doran wasn’t just some new 5-star mage – he was skilled.

Doran had been formidable even without his staff. Now with it, his spells would be terrifying.

And with Rain Academy’s combat experience…

‘One mistake ends everything.’

“Still playing spectator?”

When Jade kept observing, Doran lost patience and began casting.

“Let’s make this quick. I’ll have you begging for death.”

-Sizzle.

Lightning arrows materialized around Doran. Half shot toward Jade instantly.

-Whoosh!

Jade calmly calculated evasion paths. The mysterious power within him had increased his mana capacity, but absolute quantity remained low. Conservation was key.

Dodging beat blocking or deflecting.

“Hup!”

He rolled sideways, avoiding the spells. But Doran anticipated this – the remaining arrows streaked toward Jade’s new position.

‘Can’t dodge!’

Jade channeled mana into his sword, intercepting the magic. Sparks flew as spell met steel.

-Zzzzt!

“Ghk!”

Shockwaves numbed Jade’s arms. Even blocked spells transmitted impact.

‘Need more caution.’

Chiding himself, Jade reset his stance.

Their fierce exchange escalated from that first clash.

-Whoosh!

Jade ducked under incoming spells, charging Doran. The mage just smiled at his approach.

‘What?’

Instinct screamed danger. Jade halted mid-stride.

-CRACKLE!

“!!”

A hidden spell crashed down before his eyes.

“Watch above too, Jade. So this is your limit?”

Doran relaxed, having gauged Jade’s level.

Jade desperately sought openings despite disadvantage. Gradually, he adapted to Doran’s patterns.

‘Cast speed is fast, but manageable.’

-Swing!

Jade perfectly deflected a spell, closing in for the first time.

“Impressive swordsmanship and movement!” Doran sneered.

Ignoring him, Jade slashed at Doran’s flank.

-Swoosh!

But-

-Screeeech!

The strike uselessly collided with a pre-cast barrier.

“Dammit!”

“Think I’d break from that weak hit?”

Another predicted move. The gulf in experience yawned wide.

As Jade continued his precarious balancing act:

“Lasting longer than expected. But keeping distance favors me!”

Doran raised his staff skyward.

“Too easy preparing strong magic!”

A massive thundercloud formed below the ceiling.

-Rumble…

“Wow… Rivaling professors’ spells.”

“Are we safe here?”

Students murmured at the spectacle.

Lightning cascaded from the cloud.

-CRACKLE-ZAP!

A storm of bolts converged on Jade from all sides.

“Jade, careful!”

Annie screamed from the spectators, fearing the worst.

Facing the onslaught, Jade remembered Boris’ words:

‘You’ve learned to counter spells? And handle aura already? Never seen someone master aura overnight. Didn’t contract a demon, did you?’

‘I’d have taken a demon’s power if offered. None came.’

‘Hah! Then remember this final lesson.’

The method was simple:

‘To beat stronger opponents: induce complacency, strike unexpectedly. Basic but effective. Make him underestimate you.’

‘Huh?’

Jade frowned at the obvious advice.

‘Hahaha!’ Boris laughed, unfazed by his disappointment. ‘I know your thoughts. But this fails usually because you can’t land unexpected blows on stronger foes. Yet nobody knows you wield aura. You know its destructive power.’

‘…True.’

‘Remember – you get one perfect shot. Make it count. No second chances.’

-ZZZAP!

The lightning storm encircled Jade. Amidst danger, he calmly assessed:

Doran couldn’t see him clearly inside. Would never expect him to breach it.

‘Now’s the time.’

He muted his footsteps. No time for Doran to react.

Jade focused at the storm’s heart.

-Hummm.

Mana gathered on his blade, taking aura’s form.

He raised the azure sword, recalling Rena dismantling lightning nets last duel – her flawless movements severing magic at its core.

“Huu…”

He relaxed tense arms, calmly analyzing bolts.

‘Don’t need to block them all.’

He distinguished hostile strikes from harmless ones.

-Slice!

Jade selectively bisected incoming bolts. Others grazed past, making his hair stand on end.

A path gradually opened. As the storm waned, Doran’s silhouette appeared.

Delaying risked detection. Jade committed to breaking through.

‘Let’s go.’

He tensed leg muscles to their limit, pouring remaining mana into them. Unprecedented power surged through his lower body.

He channeled all his suffering, humiliation, and grief into this strike. To repay Doran in kind.

Thud. KABOOOM-!

Jade exploded forward, arrow-like speed carrying him through the opening.

“How’s it feel, Rena? Watching your hope die?”

Doran mocked, certain Jade had fallen in the storm.

-SHIIING!

“…?”

He spotted Jade charging.

“What?! How…”

Jade’s blade glowed with impossible azure light.

“A-Aura?!”

Doran frantically activated his barrier.

-HUM-ZZZT!

It momentarily held… then shredded like paper against perfected aura.

-CRASH!

“DORAAAAAN!”

Jade’s sword met Doran’s face.

-Schlick!