9 Psychic Children 9 (1/2)

Instructor Wei only instructed the transfer students. The remaining students sparred on their own.

The student's expressions looked full of fire. It was rare that any male child would hate playing with a weapon of any kind.

Compared to the endurance drills that tested the physical limits of the body, weapon mastering drills were much more interesting.

”The basic weapons used against dragons are short range weapons. These weapons are capable of storing psychic energies, but the moment they leave your hand all the stored energy will dissipate and become no different than normal weapons. The psykers proficient in long distance unique skills can attack distances of 30-40 meters, but critical blows can only be accomplished through close combat. You must stab into the heart or head while releasing your psychic energy. With these moves, even dragons will fall to their demise. The psykers who deliver the critical blows are referred to as strikers.

Instructor Wei continued to repeat the same information over and over.

His words about strikers shook the children's hearts. The role of killing the dragons. The war's main protagonist.

”Today, find the weapon that you're most comfortable with. I shall coach you all one by one.”

Instructor Wei was always calm in nature and spoke with clearness, though his voice was often dry.

He spoke to each transfer student one by one, recommending a weapon as he explained its pros and cons.

Among all the drill sergeants, he was one of the friendliest.

'It seems that the majority of weapons are swords and spears.'

Han observed the various weapons along the wall and thought.

It seems to be the case because they required a weapon that could enable them to penetrate deep into the dragon. Axes or blunt weapons were not included among the various psyker gear.

”Have you chosen your weapon yet?”

Instructor Wei approached Han and spoke.

”I have not.”

”I see you're from Korea. I have also been there many times before. Hmm, if you're having a hard time choosing between a spear and a sword why don't you leave it up to superstition?”

Instructor Wei pointed to a sand bag.

”A sandbag?”

”Give it a punch. Use all of your strength.”

Han stood in position and delivered a few punches. Instructor Wei attentively watched Han's form.

”How was that?”

Han spoke while sweating. His fist felt numb and his wrist was hurting. Instructor Wei nodded and spoke.

”This method has not been developed through science; this is purely my own superstitious belief. We will watch whether you throw more hooks or straight punches, and depending on which punch you like, we will choose your weapon. You're the straight punch type. Try out the spear.”

Instructor Wei threw a spear that fit his physique to Han. After teaching him the basic forms and techniques to practice, he left to the next student over.

Han decided he would follow Instructor Wei's instructions to repetitively practice the basic forms until the forms felt as natural as breathing.

Woosh!

The wind howled as he swung the spear. Han enjoyed hearing them. He quickly became entranced while learning the spear art forms.

Han learned the weapon martial arts skills faster than the average person. He had to live everyday on the streets stealing from others so he was naturally nimble with his hands and body.

Only two weeks had passed, but he had already caught the interest of Instructor Wei.

He was outstanding amongst the transfers and had also been no pushover while sparring against the regular students that had trained for awhile.

'Seems like we got a brat talented with his movements.'

Instructor Wei watched Han sparring from a distance away.

”Haa!”

Han was currently sparring against another student. The student was one of the top ranking students of the weapon martial arts technique category among class D students.

A dull sound reverberated as the wooden sword and spear clashed.

”He dodged?”

The observing children said surprised.

Han lowered his upper body, dodging the attack. His skill in martial arts helped speed up his reflexes.

”But, that's what I aimed for!”

The opponent yelled while flying a kick.

Han already lowered his upper body and had no room to dodge the kick. He raised his spear in front of him to block the kick.

Kang!

Han's spear got kicked out of his hands and flew into the air. But just before it was out of reach, Han stretched his left arm and caught it in mid air then followed to stab forward.

Kuk!

Han stabbed the spear deeply into his abdomen.

”I, I g-give up. Cough, cough,”

When the sparring match ended, there was a burst of applause. Instructor Wei, who had been observing, called for Han.

”What do you need me for?”

Han wiped the sweat off his forehead and asked. Instructor Wei looked at both of Han's hands.

”During the last move you caught the spear with your left hand, but then you didn't switch to your right hand and instead stabbed forward. Although that's your non-dominant hand, your posture seemed very strong. Are you ambidextrous?”

”I am originally left handed. In the orphanage, I was taught to use my right hand.”

”Hmm.”

Instructor Wei scratched his chin. Being ambidextrous was highly advantageous for a martial artist. Through switching hands, one can plan irregular attacks.

'However, the weapon art I am teaching is not for man-to-man combat. When faced against a dragon, this does not make much of a difference. Maybe he might be able to use this a little against the dragons' underlings.'

”Being ambidextrous is a good talent. If you continue to practice, it will become a valuable skill.”

Class D students gradually began to take note of Han. In a majority of the courses, Han was advancing quickly in ranking.

The only time he struggled was during subjects related to psychic powers. He had been one of the slowest concerning development of psychic skills.

'This won't do.'

Psychic energy manipulation class always tried his patience. He's been consistently ranking as one of the lowest among all transfers. Thus, he worked even harder and reviewed twice as much as the others to make up for his shortcomings.

After a month passed, grades were formally given.

”Han Lee, ranked 12 in class D.”

The Sergeants looked over and spoke. Instructor Wei looked up and quirked his head.

”Only at rank 12? In class D? I gave him almost perfect scores in my class though.”

”That's why he was even able to rank at 12. He's quite famous. Excluding psychic training, he ranks A in all fields.”

Instructor Wei looked over Han's data. He furrowed his brows.

”His advancement for psychic energy manipulation comes last.”

”He has not been able to tap into the psychokinetic realm at all. If his grades were average in all subjects, he would have long been forced to retire. He has the requirements to be a soldier, but the key point of psychic talent is lacking, thus, his future looks dark.”

Instructor Wei had been his weapon martial arts teacher and had no idea about the struggles. He had no idea that Han's situation had been so seriously bad.

'It seems god is truly fair in all things. He gifted him talent in every field except the most important psychic talent.'

Instructor Wei's mood turned for the worst. He had finally found a student he could put his hopes on.

How could he have known that this student's psychic talent was at the rock bottom?

”Once this quarter ends, Simon Dell will be promoted to a second year.”

The sergeants talked highly of Simon. He had received top grades for all the courses, and most of all his results for psychic skills were top notch.

Wwweeng.

Han barely managed his psychokinesis.