Chapter 36 Joint Combat Exams 4


    Meralda raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "In the middle of the night, Master? Is there a particr reason for such ate outing?"


    I maintained my steady pace as we ventured deeper into the night-shrouded academy grounds. "Yes, Meralda. It''s the perfect time to meet someone discreetly"


    We made our way towards the northwestern section of the academy, about a kilometer from Cleave Hall. therey a dedicated forest used forbat training, where students could gain real-world experience. It was customary for the faculty to release captured monsters into this forest every second semester to challenge the students and help them develop practical skills.


    As we ventured further, we eventually found the forest. I couldn''t help but feel the anticipation building up inside me.


    "We''re here" I said aloud to Meralda.


    Meralda, seemed puzzled by the unusual choice of location.


    "A forest? Are you going to meet someone here?"


    I replied with a knowing smile, "Yes, well, I haven''t really met the guy yet, but yes."


    She gave me a skeptical look. "Meeting someone you haven''t met yet, especially sote at night?"


    I could sense her uncertainty, but I had my reasons. "Now, now, you''ll understand once we get there," I said, trying to put her at ease.


    With a sigh, Meralda decided to trust my judgment and followed me deeper into the forest. The excitement of the unknown coursed through me as we ventured further into the night.


    …..


    The spear, a weapon with a long history, had its roots in hunting, but it had evolved into a formidable weapon for battles and wars over the years. Its effectivenessy in the advantage it offered in terms of distance and cover, making it a valuable asset inrge-scale conflicts. However, in one-on-onebat, the spear''s limitations became apparent.


    Against a skilled sword wielder, the spearcked adaptability and could easily be outmaneuvered. When pitted against a dagger, known for its swiftness and trickery, the spear proved to be an inadequate choice. Even the spear''s impressive range was overshadowed by the extreme reach and uracy of the bow. It was clear that the spear excelled in certain scenarios but still had its shorings in others, highlighting the importance of the right weapon for the right situation.


    "If you were an ordinary human that is"


    Boom….!


    An explosion ripped through the silence as we pushed deeper into the forest. Meralda, who was apanying me, watched in awe as trees were sent hurtling through the air. As we navigated the dense woods, we stumbled upon a man whose ragged breaths betrayed his frustration. He clutched his spear tightly, muttering to himself in disbelief.


    "Five?" he muttered, a mix of frustration and incredulity in his voice.


    "Is he the one?" Meralda asked, her curiosity evident in her voice.


    "Yes" I replied with a smile. William Spearshake, a minor antagonist in the novel.


    Born as an illegitimate member of a prestigious noble family, he had to endure a harsh childhood filled with abuse. He fought relentlessly to prove his worth to the count and support his ailing mother. Strength had be his obsession, and when he was defeated by Tristan during the exams, his frustration had driven him to the point that he made a contract with the devil.


    In the grand scheme of things, William was merely a minor character who would inevitably meet his end at the hands of the protagonist. But it was the devil with whom I wanted to make contact with. I needed information about it, so I could potentially reach out myself. I held onto the hope that the demons of this world might have the ability to help me make contact with my family again, especially when the goddess of this world seemed to detest my existence.


    I swiftly donned my mask and instructed Meda to remain vignt, watching over our surroundings to prevent any unknown individuals from approaching us. With my night cloak activated, I approached William with caution.


    Huff, huff... William''s ragged breath filled the air as he crumpled to the ground, his hands covering his face, tears welling up in his eyes. Even though he had taken on the role of a viin, I couldn''t help but feel empathy for him. William was just an individual trying his best to survive in a harsh world. He was born without wealth, talent, or power, even a modicum of support from his family was nonexistent. All he possessed was his own body, his dying mother and an unyielding will to propel himself forward.


    As I scanned our surroundings, I marveled at the damage he had inadvertently caused during his intense training sessions. It was awe-inspiring to witness the extent of his strength, all of which he had attained through sheer hard work.


    Swoosh...!


    Suddenly, as I drew closer, William sprang to his feet and thrust his spear in my direction. The aura it emitted cut through the air, nearly reaching me, and I had to leap back to evade the attack.


    "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice tinged with confusion. However, my night cloak was currently active, making me invisible to the naked eye.


    When my silence persisted, William let out a scoff. "Don''t y games with me. I may not be able to see you right now, but my senses tell me you''re right here." He eximed.


    I couldn''t help but admire the impressive level of detection skill he exhibited. Was it a result of his basic instincts that had developed over time, honed by the countless assassination attempts he had faced since childhood?


    "Hahaha, sorry, I guess that was rude of me," I apologized aloud, deactivating my cloak''s effect. With a graceful bow and gesture, I introduced myself.


    "Greetings, Mr. William Spearshake. If it isn''t any trouble, would you mind if I took a bit of your time?"


    Instead of responding, William abruptly lunged towards me, his spear thrusting through the spot I had upied just moments before.


    Tsk, I clicked my tongue as I barely avoided his attack. William nced around, and his eyes finallynded on me a few meters to his left.


    "Wait, wait, I just came here to talk." I said as I raised my hands up.


    "Hah? Why would an individual clearly dressed as an assassin came to talk?" He didn''t bother to listen andunched another attack. Boom! This time, his spear was enveloped in an aura, and each thrust created substantial damage to the forest behind me. As I continued to evade his relentless strikes.


    Boom..!! Boom!


    ''Tsk,'' he clicked his tongue, clearly exasperated by my evasive maneuvers. the relentless pursuit through the forest showed that he was deadly serious about bringing me down.


    The moonlight dappled through the dense canopy, casting an eerie glow on the scene. I knew this fight could easily escte, and it was essential to avoid causing any more destruction in this serene forest. But what options did I have when my opponent was hell-bent on attacking me?


    "Wait!" I called out, desperately trying to get through to him. "I came to talk, not to fight!"


    William, however, seemed deaf to reason. His spear, now enveloped in a pulsating green aura, continued its relentless assault on me. Each thrust and swing left a visible trail of devastation in its wake.


    I couldn''t help but admire his tenacity, even though it was directed at me. His skills, honed through a lifetime of struggle, were impressive. Still, my goal was to avoid a confrontation and engage him in a dialogue.


    But my pleas fell on deaf ears, and the chaos within the forest intensified. Despite my best efforts to dodge his attacks, my dark cloak asionally brushed against the trees, leaving a dark, ominous mark as I dashed through the woods.


    Hisughter rang through the night,ced with mockery. "You''re quite slippery, aren''t you?" he taunted.


    I continued to evade William''s relentless spear strikes, impressed by his determination and fighting spirit, despite being unsure of my true identity. With every thrust and strike, his frustration grew, and I could sense it.


    As his anger boiled, his aura red even brighter, casting a brilliant green light that engulfed him. It was evident that William had decided to go all out, leaving nothing to chance in this confrontation.


    "Seriously he''s so impatient"


    …..


    ''Who is this guy?'' William wondered. The unknown assassin not only dodged his attacks with ease but also did so with a seemingly effortless grace. In a swift twist and turn, William altered his attack strategy, opting for a sweeping swing of his spear instead of his usual thrust.


    A crescent beam of pure green aura shot through the air, but even this sudden change in tactics was futile as the assassin gracefully leaped into the air, evading the attack. A triumphant smile curled on William''s face as his n unfolded. His initial attack had been nothing but bait to force the assassin into the air, leaving them with no solid ground for evasion.


    William''s aura burst forth, a dense green light converging around his body and concentrating on his spear.


    "Three Ways of the Snake!" William eximed with a victorious smirk, gripping his spear like a javelin. "Viper!"


    As William''s spear shot forward, it left a luminous trail of concentrated green energy in its wake. Green electrical sparks crackled and danced around him, adding an eerie aura to the scene. In the tranquil stillness of the night within the serene forest nestled deep within the academy grounds, an explosion suddenly tore through the calm. Boom..!!!


    A massive green orb of pure energy erupted high above the densely wooded area, illuminating the surroundings in an otherworldly glow.