Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

"You may be allowed to duel whenever you want as long as both parties are in agreement, but don't do it in this hall!!!" the voice continued, its tone brooking no argument.

*****

Drago, his mood lightened by a generous swig from a full bottle of rum, glanced at the unusually pretty elf seated across from him. "I thought you wanted to stop them from fighting?" he asked, his voice thick with curiosity and the effects of alcohol.

The elf replied with a serene smile, "I did, didn't I?"

"Of course not. You just told them to take it outside if they wanted to duel, which doesn't mean you've ended it. You've merely changed the venue," Drago explained, a wry grin spreading across his face.

"Hehehe…" The elf's laughter was soft, yet laced with a hint of mischief.

"What am I ever going to do with you?" Drago asked, shaking his head and covering his face in exasperation.

*****

The vice principal, visibly exhausted from a day of endless meetings with representatives from other kingdoms: an annual formality he loathed.

His face was a picture of frustration as he muttered about the principal's habit of dumping all the paperwork and meetings on him, leaving to do who knows what.

"That is no way to speak to your boss," a teasing voice chimed in, breaking through his grumbling.

"Because you don't act like you want the respect, I always seem to end up cleaning up your mess," Drago sighed, explaining to the very man he was grumbling about.

"Oh come on, if it's because I made you replace me at that political meeting, then sorry. You know how I get at those boring meetings, so you should be more understanding," the man replied, trying to lighten the mood.

"You're a lazy, no-good excuse for a principal. I sometimes regret helping you start this academy, but where would this place be without me?" Drago said, switching to a tone of self-congratulation.

"I'm literally sitting right next to you, but it seems like you have a death wish," the man said with a smirk, raising his finger to create a mini-portal that began to shimmer above it.

"Bring it on, Clarence," Drago said with a defiant tap of his sword.

"Now, now, boys, please calm yourselves, it's not every day I get to see all of us eating together," Valetta interjected, attempting to defuse the tension.

"He's right, though. You really ought to take your job more seriously. You're either locked away in your maze of an office, lost in research on Magic, Aura, and Lumix, or you're out there goofing off," chimed in a cat lady seated near Valetta, sipping from her cup of tea.

"Ha! Leave him be, Teresa. His youthful face may be deceiving, but his free spirit will always be a spectacle to me," a dwarf chuckled as he made his way to the table, his laughter echoing warmly through the room.

*****

Outside, Gillion's grin widened with anticipation. "Now that we're outside, we can start."

"Yeah, whatever. Fine by me," Aiden replied, nonchalantly setting his sword aside.

"Pick it up, or you'll really regret that decision," Gillion warned, his tone turning serious.

Aiden clenched his fists, his expression resolute. "Don't worry, my fists are all I need to settle this matter."

"I sure hate arrogant brats like you who think they're above everyone else," Gillion hissed, clearly annoyed.

"You talk too much," Aiden sighed. "Are we doing this or not? My food's getting cold."

"Why, you little…"

Without warning, Gillion launched a flurry of punches, his movements a blur of aggression. Aiden, however, weaved and ducked with uncanny agility, evading each strike with ease.

With a growl of frustration, Gillion slammed his iron gauntlets together, unleashing a powerful seismic attack.

The ground trembled as shockwaves radiated outward, creating a wave of force that pushed Aiden back. Despite the impact, Aiden remained on his feet, barely fazed.

[Ghastly Dash]

As Gillion prepared for another attack, Aiden executed his skill. His form began to blur and waver, as though he was turning into smoke.

Before Gillion could react, Aiden appeared behind him and delivered a devastating kick. The force of the blow sent Gillion sprawling, his surprised expression reflecting the unexpected speed and power of his opponent.

As Aiden's kick connected, Gillion tried to block with his gauntlet, but the force was overwhelming. The impact pushed him back several meters, his feet dragging against the ground before he finally came to a stop.

"Is that really all you've got?" Aiden asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice. Gillion's earlier bravado seemed to be melting away under the pressure.

"What? How are you keeping up with me?" Gillion's frustration was palpable. His mind raced, trying to reconcile how Aiden, who ranked much lower than Rey, could be so formidable.

"I get it now," Aiden said, stretching his arms casually. "The ranking isn't accurate after all."

Jett, observing from a strategic vantage point while munching on some food, nodded thoughtfully. 'Exactly. The ranking system might claim to reflect the survival of the fittest, but it also factors in academy experience and the school's inherent biases,' he mused.

The fight was becoming more intriguing for him. 'The ranking system is designed so that even if you're stronger, you can't easily disrupt the ranking flow of the upper classes unless you prove yourself undeniable by surpassing even their accumulated experience.'

Gillion's frustration boiled over. "I'll crush you. You're just a lowly human!" he roared, swinging his gauntlet in a full, wide arc. Aiden nimbly dodged the attack, his movements precise and controlled.

"You keep saying 'lowly human,'" Aiden remarked, finding his footing. "Oh right, elves are supposed to be superior in this world."

"What are you going on about?" Gillion shot back, not expecting a reply as he readied himself for the next attack.

[Boost]

Aiden's expression turned serious as he prepared for the next round, his energy visibly increasing.

Aiden surged forward at full speed as Gillion threw a powerful punch aimed directly at him. In a fluid motion, Aiden sidestepped the attack, using Gillion's force to propel himself upward and throw the larger man down onto the ground.

"You better go all out, big guy," Aiden said with a lighthearted tone, hopping from side to side as if he were merely warming up.

Silkan stood at the edge of the crowd, his gaze fixed on the unfolding battle. He shook his head in disbelief, recognizing that Rey wasn't the only powerhouse in their group. The question now lingered: were the others equally impressive?

Gillion, his anger intensifying, quickly scrambled to his feet. Fueled by rage, he launched himself at Aiden with renewed fury.

Aiden met the oncoming assault with a deft move, using his leg to deflect Gillion's attack while his hands steadied him. In one fluid motion, Aiden delivered a spinning kick, sending Gillion hurtling through the air.

"That's trash talking my family," Aiden said coldly, his expression devoid of any amusement.

Before Gillion could even begin to recover, Aiden was on him again. With a swift and precise move, he slammed Gillion's head into the ground.

"And that's for trying to pick a fight with us," Aiden said, his tone as emotionless as before.

Gillion, though battered and bruised, wasn't ready to surrender. "You're strong, I'll give you that," he admitted, his Aura flaring around his gauntlets as he prepared for his final stand. "I'll be going all out."

"Using Aura when facing a first-year? Do you have no pride?" Aiden replied with a grin, holding his sword but keeping it sheathed. "Then again, I did ask you to go all out."

{Fire Blessing}

Aiden cast a spell, enveloping himself in a fiery aura that dramatically enhanced his attack power, speed, and durability. The flames flickered around him, giving him an explosive boost.

"You won't try to defend with Aura? You might not have good control over it, but it's better than nothing," Gillion taunted, his voice laced with mockery. "Unless you can't even use Aura in the first place. Ha!"

Aiden ignored the taunt, his focus razor-sharp. "We'll end this in one strike. I still need to finish my food."

"Same here," Gillion said, taking his stance as both prepared for their final clash.

With a burst of energy, they charged at each other, their movements a blur of speed and power. The clash was explosive, creating a whirlwind of dust and debris that obscured the view.

They ended up on opposite sides, both figures momentarily hidden by the swirling cloud.

As the dust began to settle, Aiden emerged first, his face a mask of cold expression. The silence that followed was heavy with anticipation, everyone waiting to see the outcome of the fierce battle.

Then, a clatter of metal hitting the ground broke the silence. Gillion's gauntlets lay in pieces on the floor, while Aiden stood unharmed, not a scratch on him. It was clear: Aiden had won, and with it, he and Gillion now exchanged ranks.

Aiden turned to Gillion, his voice calm and firm. "Manners maketh man."

*****

In the shadows, Gwendolyn watched with a mixture of intrigue and concern. "So that's the potential of one given the title of Divine Lord? Elves are supposed to be a superior race, but he mopped the floor with his face. I wonder what master would do if I told him this," she pondered.

*****

On the fifth floor, everyone gathered around a shimmering portal created by Clarence, which offered a clear view of the intense duel unfolding outside. They watched in amusement as the events played out.

"Oh? You don't see that every day. A first-year taking down a senior, and without much exhaustion, how interesting, right, Selena?" Clarence remarked, his tone laced with genuine surprise.

"Of course, this might turn out to be an interesting session to be a part of. I wouldn't miss such fun," Selena, the lady with the cat ears, replied with a hint of excitement.

"We certainly have some fine talents this year. I wonder how far that kid will go," Rodney commented, his gaze fixed on the portal.

"Same here, Rodney," Clarence added, peering intently at the duel. "So, he's that lad's son. I guess the hot blood runs in the family."

Drago, however, remained silent, his expression thoughtful. Clarence noticed his quiet demeanor and was about to make a quip when Drago abruptly stood up.

"Sorry, but I have some work to do," Drago said, cutting off Clarence before he could speak.

"Killjoy. You always have work to do. At this point, you might as well just take my position," Clarence whined, a playful note in his voice.

"Leave him be. You're the reason he has this much work to do, so you can quit your yapping," Valetta chimed in, directing a sharp look at Clarence.

Drago walked away from the lively gathering, his steps resolute as he made his way back to his office. There, hidden in the shadows, a figure awaited him.

"So, what were you able to gather?" Drago asked, his voice steady and demanding as he approached the shadowy figure.

"There wasn't much on him," the shadowy figure replied, their voice steady but shrouded in secrecy.

"Just tell me," Drago insisted, his impatience evident.

"His name is Jett Grift. He's Jerry Grift's son. His level is around 28. He's classified as a magic swordsman and seems to be good friends with the Divine Lords of Verena. Aside from that, he doesn't stand out. The only remotely interesting detail is that he was born on the same day as the Divine Lords," the figure explained, still hidden in the shadows.

"Those are details I could find in his school data. You're telling me he's clean?" Drago wondered aloud, his mind racing. 'Then that strange Aura I felt from him, could it be…?'

"Sir?" the figure's voice cut through his thoughts.

Drago was too absorbed in his musings to respond immediately. "No way, I must have worked myself too hard to be seeing things," he muttered to himself.

"Sir?" the figure called again, bringing Drago back to reality.

"Oh, I guess I was lost in thought," Drago said, shaking himself out of his reverie. "You may go, but make sure to keep tabs on the kid and those Divine Lords from Verena." He added, "I'll bet for now that they won't turn out to be threats."

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