51 Chapter 19.8: Combat in the Shadows (1/2)

The sun dawned at daybreak giving rise to the next day. The bright Sundays warmed up my body as I awoke with the thought still lingering in my head.

”No... I do know she is an assassin at heart... But I can't just think of her betraying her pupils...”

I prepared myself for the coming training challenge, putting on clothes that wouldn't restrain me during a fight. Afterward, I made my way to the central area, meeting up with the others.There Geo was eagerly waiting for the challenge to begin.

June and Ragnee were there making the necessary preparations for the challenge.Creating a braced to pin equally skilled pupils against one another.

It became clear Geo was on the other side of the braced, meaning if we would be facing off against each other it would be during the final round.

Knowing this, I wanted to wish him luck in the upcoming training session.

”Morning, Geo!”

”Morning, Michael!”

”Hmm... it seems we won't get the chance to fight each other that easily, I wished we could throw down sooner against each other...”

I could see Geo longing to fight me, it must mean he finds me a worthy opponent after everything that happened during the tournament. Or that he didn't have the chance yet to test our skills against one another. Interesting!

”I'll be waiting for you at the top Geo, make sure you get there. Haha.”

Relieved Geo looked at me as if I had understood what he wanted from this challenge.Soon after we all got called together by June and Ragnee.

They were in charge of managing the challenge. The roster got to put up revealing who we had to fight. After they were done June took the opportunity to explain the rulings of the challenge.”Today we will be focusing on combat training for the principle, this means that you may use the shadows to your advantage as long as they use hand-to-hand combat to fight. The fight will continue until one gives up or is unable to fight, that means if played right one is allowed to kill.”

Some of the pupils didn't realize until now how serious assassins go to work. As most reacted in shock hearing June's words.

Some, on the other hand, smiled as if they expected this to happen.

”Hmm... what's this, why are most of you so surprised about my statement? Assassins have the resolve to kill on command... We are the ones who operate from the shadows, doing the jobs others can't.”

Disappointed June sighed as Ragnee laughed at her reaction.

”It's time to iron your resolve, you are our star pupils, now, only the one who remains at the end of this challenge will be chosen to take part during the expedition, so keep that in mind while you all train!”

”Let the battles begin!”

Geo got called to start of the matches. As he took center stage another pupil took place in front of him. A woman with long blond hair, green eyes, and something that seemed to resemble a tattoo.

Smoke filled the stage, blocking both their eyesight.

When the smoke began to clear, all torches and glowing crystals were neutralized,leaving everyone in complete darkness.

Geo's opponent stopped dead in her tracks didn't know what was happening and started shouting.

”Hey! How can we fight like this… I thought we were supposed to fight using the ”principle”.”

Geo being the carefree person he is, doesn't care about the situation,the only thing his mind was showing everyone what he was capable of using hand-to-hand combat, that, and what he might be eating after today's training session.

”Wouldn't it be better to focus on the opponent in front of you instead of complaining about the conditions? I mean your complaining only revealed where you were hiding…”

Geo appeared behind his opponent, grabbing her from behind and slamming her headfirst into the ground.Amazed by how quick Geo had won the match Ragnee made sure both were in safety,doing so ended the match and let the others continue.

*whistling sounds*

”phheewww, didn't see that one coming! Well… the match has ended next on the roster please!”

The others continued their matches in absolute darkness as they honed their skills.Most matches had ended when my turn finally came up.

Not knowing who was standing in front of me I decided to give it my all.

”Wouldn't want to disappoint the others, right?”

I smiled at the thought as I felt someone approach me in this total darkness.

My opponent tried to do the same thing as Geo, but couldn't completely seal their energy flow which gave away their position.I quickly dodged towards the ground, as I knew my opponent had the same conditions of me it would be foolish to want to rush things. My opponent had allowed me to locate them.

But, was this a trap? I jumped away from their presence and concealed my own.

Soon after a small explosion could be seen where I was standing just moments ago,it appeared I had made the right choice.

As the explosion slowly faded away so did my opponent their presence…Enough time had passed for my eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Allowing me to see silhouettes, even within this abyss of eternal darkness.

I did not know why I was able to see, as it seemed more understandable for the other senses to be strengthened during this training.

They too got heightened as the situation put all my senses on overdrive, but still… Even if it was just a bit… I was able to see…

Approaching me was a woman. Relieved I regulated my breathing. But decided to keep my distance. At least, until a chance would present itself.The woman tried attacking from the left, as I saw it coming I dodged to the right.But then, something unexpected happened, the woman her attack… it connected from the right?!

”Impossible!! H-How!”

I couldn't make sense of what just happened.As I tried to stand back up, I collected my thoughts and regained my composure.Soon after I realized.

”The Principle!”

Wanting to test what I just realized I stayed in place. Motionless I waited, waiting for my opponent to strike. She must have known I wasn't moving as her attack followed without rest.

This time attacking from the right, I waited and braced myself.

Suddenly the attack from the right faded away as it reappeared above me.Noticing this just in time I blocked the attack by holding up both arms in a crossed pattern.

The sheer force was enough to make me fall on my knees, refusing to go down I gave it my all to resist the attack. The woman jumped backward as my arms felt numb from the impact.

Using the momentum the woman quickly lashed out towards me, but this time targeting my legs, trying to make me fall flat on my face. I wasn't fast enough to react, but when everything looked grim the unthinkable had happened.

The leg my opponent had used to attack me was covered in flames,unable to see what happened only one thing came up in my mind.

”Did I just… do that?”

The intense pain made the woman forfeit the matchmaking me advance to the next one.

Geo got stoked, not being able to see, but sort of feel out what was happening he knew things were about to heat up.

Quickly he took his place for the second match, this time against a man.The one who we had seen in the previous training session, the one with short brown hair.

The match had only just started when Geo rushed towards the enemy,memorizing the starting position came in handy when he drop-kicked into nothingness.

A loud thud could be heard as the two slammed into the ground resulting in yet another quick victory for Geo. The other fights didn't show us much as no one couldn't see in front of them, but a select few realized the same thing as me.

That the purpose of this training was not only to move in complete darkness. But also to sense incoming attacks, energy, and your surroundings by heightening all of your senses. For example, directing energy to your eyes could strengthen your vision allowing the slightest output of energy to become visible.

This way one could find their opponent in this seemingly impossible environment.Others heightened their hearing and touch as aura could be felt before the enemy would get in range.

Again it was my turn, this time my turn came up faster as fewer pupils remained towards the end of the training. As I trained my sight during the last match this time I decided to focus on hearing, wanting to heighten my other senses.

The match had begun as we found ourselves in absolute silence.

I remained motionless, regulating my breathing I made sure I wouldn't give away my position with sound. The opponent too didn't make a sound as the tension became more intense.Slowly we moved closer to the center unaware of each other's positions.

when finally I could hear soft, gentle movements next to me. My opponent had found the center. But did he find me as well? Not knowing for sure I listened as the steps moved away from my position.

I thought to myself, it's now or never. When I held my breath and attack my opponent from behind. Lowering my body I readied my fist to build up strength. Now certain of my opponent's position I struck upward. Unaware of the fact if he was facing away or facing towards me.

Soon after it turned out he was facing away from me as I had struck him straight up the ass which sent him flying and resulted in my win.

The two remaining pupils aside from Geo and me both had to face off against one of us.

This time I was the first to fight. The opponent who I was up against had a better understanding of the principle than the others. Because she didn't leave any traces behind for me to find.