Chapter 8 - Untapped Potential

Three bouts had played out between now and the end of Raiden’s previous bout.

The fight that took place after Raiden’s match was between another Lightning element matter-wielder and a fire-wielder. Both of the students took their time to channel their element, imbuing them into their weapons in under two minutes.

The lightning-wielding student was the first to attack, his nun-chucks swinging in a frenzied yet controlled flurry of attacks before stepping back to dodge the fire wielders massive wooden ax.

Sal, the brawny and dwarf-looking man, likely one of the oldest in his class, yelled profanities towards his opponent. “Ya bastard! Stop runnin’ an get ova’ here!” he shouted.

“Or what, you fun-sized pygmy!” Dilbert yelled back before once again charging into the fray, likely affected by the man’s provocations.

The two freshmen continued to exchange blows, the lightning-wielder landing much more than the short and stubby Sal who wielded a much slower weapon. While it may not have had as many impacts, Sal was clearly leaving his mark on Dilbert who was now moving much slower than before.

It was ten minutes before Adam stepped in and halted the match. Both students evidently exhausted, breathing heavily and covered in bruises. Raiden was worried that they’d continue fighting despite the professor’s intervention, but to his surprise, when they walked towards each other, they shook hands and tiredly laughed alongside each other walking back to the side of the arena.

Raiden couldn’t help but be entertained by their match, much more interesting than the other two matches. The next bouts consisted of a water and fire wielder and two wind wielders. The water winning over fire effortlessly, the barehanded fire elemental being completely overwhelmed by being constantly dampened.

The windy bout was interesting but a pain to watch. Sand flying all over the arena, by the time the bout was called Raiden found sand in every crevice of his clothing, ten minutes of granular chaos.

Raiden had gotten sufficient rest during the three bouts, he was prepared for his match now, against nobody else but Salem, and also today's final matchup.

Salem was wearing tan cargo shorts and a slate grey vest, black leather gloves covering his palms but exposing his fingers.

Raiden on the other hand was wearing a white tee and light grey tracks. This left him with decent mobility around his arms and legs, but he still would have preferred something with a hood.

Both students walked forwards, towards the center of the arena, keeping a safe distance apart. Salem's eyes stared back at Raiden's with determination and vigor. Raiden had similar emotions, he was still holding on to various demons, and to dispel those demons, he needed to win this match.

He knew it wouldn't have a direct impact on his future, but he felt as though if he couldn't beat someone his own age in a friendly bout, he would have no chance fighting humans and beasts that were out for his very life. Let alone those monstrosities outside the safety of the walls.

Adam walked forward, his face painted with various emotions; curiosity, alertness, and most visibly, excitement. Raiden knew his teacher was a bit of an eccentric. The man always liked to watch a good fight, between strong and weak opponents alike. He also always found a reason to laugh, this gave him a favorable aura, made him a good teacher. But what it didn't make him, was a good judge for danger.

Adam walked forward and raised his arm, beginning to signal another bout.

"Raiden Sullivan, Salem Kaisen! This fight is limited to melee combat and weapon enhancement!” The man shouted, "Are you both ready?!" He continued, both nodded but their teacher wasn't waiting. "Begin!!" He yelled out, his arm thrusting downwards sharply.

Raiden looked at Salem, both observing each other now with keen eyes. Raiden was the first to imbue his weapons with matter. It took just under twelve seconds for him to pounce in his opponent's direction.

Kicking himself off the sand with each step, Raiden was advancing towards Salem at an intimidating pace. His head held low and a reverse grip on his left dagger, it was obvious he was trying to end the skirmish early.

It wouldn't be so easy however, rocks gathering around Salem's leathered gloves in the six seconds it took Raiden to reach him.

The first blows exchanged were between the enhanced wooden dagger in Raiden's right hand and Salem's left hand, covered in stone.

Using all the momentum he had gathered, Raiden quickly pivoted in response to Salem's first block.

Finding himself now behind his opponent, Raiden thrust his left dagger into Salem's back. The boy recoilng before he threw himself forwards, knowing he would wake tomorrow with a nasty bruise.

Raiden didn't stop there though, quickly chasing the backpedaling Salem to follow up with another attack.

Salem was prepared this time however, quickly anticipating Raiden's backward pivot to stab into his side.

Catching Raiden's arm, the concrete-like substance on Salem's hands worked with him instead of against him. Stone morphed around Raiden's forearm keeping it stuck in place.

Raiden knew what was coming now and braced himself the best he could.

A stony limb pierced his Stomach, his lungs now completely void of air.

Letting go of his arm before Raiden could launch a counter-attack, Salem dodged back and watched Raiden fall to one knee.

Fuck! I need to keep on the offensive, I won't win if he gets any time to recover.

Standing up once again, Raiden kept himself focused by biting his tongue. Falling into his favorite stance, he prepared to launch himself toward his sixteen-year-old rival.

Just before Raiden launched his frontal attack on Salem, he withdrew his right blade, feinting his attack and swinging left to lunge forward a slash with the corresponding blade, expelling the energy he had imbued into the dagger.

*zzZwanng*

Salem found himself flung backwards, falling on his back and into the sand, the cloud of dust in the air settling as both students stopped moving.

Raiden was hoping Salem would surrender now, noting how afraid he seemed of being injured when class started today.

Unfortunately, Salem stood up once again, determined now more than before. A few drops of blood flowing down from his face, a shallow cut had formed that dragged from the bottom of his right cheek across the bridge of his nose and finishing just above his left eyebrow.

Raiden knew he couldn't depend on the teacher to call the match now, likely too enthralled with the battle to care.

Raiden didn't waste time letting Salem recover from his blow, certain that if he could force Salem into a corner for long enough, that he would surrender. Running once again in his direction, he stabbed a blade into his shaky rival's gut, before immediately wrapping himself around Salem in a flurry of dull wooden strikes.

Salem was weary now, but not yet out of the fight. Just go down!! Raiden was in pain as well, the strike in his stomach earlier catching up to him more and more with every strike.

Swing after stab, Raiden circled Salem, trying his best to keep his head down and himself out of sight. Salem was struggling but still managed to land the occasional blow, Raiden slowing further with every hit he took.

A cloud of dust obscured the fight that was going down in the center of the arena, students watching other students battle tirelessly.

Raiden felt the weight of his daggers continuously lighten, the wood chipping every time he struck stone instead of flesh now that they weren't imbued with his Lightning.

Raiden couldn't see himself winning this fight against an opponent who still had matter flowing within and around his arms, himself not able to do much with wood against terra. He would have to make enough distance to force some matter into his worn daggers or manage to charge them at the same time that he was dodging Salem's tired attacks.

The problem lay in his ability to do exactly that, while Raiden knew it was possible, he simply wasn't able to feel the free-flowing sparks in his environment while he was moving, let alone while dodging flurries of enhanced punches. Or so he thought.

What? That shadowy energy again… Raiden felt an unfamiliar calmness wash over him, his breathing slowed and his footsteps became quieter on the sand. He tried to pull at the ethereal and otherworldly energy he could now feel surrounding him, and then that he realized that what he was grasping at was intertwined with the lightning he was looking for so intensely a few seconds ago. Complete light-eating darkness was merged with the electric and vivid sparks he was used to.

Currently dodging Salem’s fists, he found himself still able to absorb this energy into his blades, focusing harder to imbue his two daggers with this newfound force.

Black sparks fulminated from Raiden’s left saber when he slashed upwards, striking his opponent’s stone once again. Salem recoiling and taking a few steps back.

*FW-zzoom!*

This time, however, Raiden heard a crack. Just what is this? Is that what Alex was talking about earlier?

Viciously quiet black lighting pulsed from his right blade when Raiden lunged forward for a stab.

*zzzzz-ZWINNGG!!!*

When Raiden launched his attack, he knew he’d made a mistake, which is why he was glad to see a wall of stone erupt from the sand in front of him.

...

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Adam interrupted. Walking to the two students, the teacher grabbed the hand of Salem, who had fallen to the sandy floor with his intervention, and helped him up.

“You’re one of em, that’s for sure” the professor exclaimed, looking at Raiden now. The dark-lightning wielder knew what the Professor was insinuating now.

I- I’m a Superior? He asked himself internally, not quite sure himself.

“Looks like you didn’t already know before... You’re a Superior, like that one over there” he started, pointing towards Alex, “The difference is that you aren’t an Ordinary one, if you can call ‘em ordinary, you’re a dark-wielder.” he finished.

“You mean-?” Raiden asked in turn.

“That’s right, that black lightning of y’urs was the result of an amplification from your second element.” the man added, “This sure does make things interesting…” Raiden’s teacher sighed, “I had a partner back in my time as a pathfinder, he’s probably still out there, constantly knackered... Anyways, he was a dark-wielder, like you”

Still looking at Raiden, more curiously now, “Complete monster that one, controlled fire that burned so viciously it left nothing in its path, not even ash.” he said, walking back to the other students, Salem still standing beside Raiden, “You’ll need to learn to control it, your power. Or you’ll end up hurting yourself, worse, somebody else.” he said grimly, realizing the weight of his inaction.

“I’m sorry for not stepping in earlier, I-uh, I got too excited and just wanted to see how it turned out.” the man continued, “Salem, go get ya’ self-checked out at the infirmary, second left from the academy building, Class dismissed.” he finished, turning around again and walking away now.

Raiden was thinking about everything he’d just learned, completely exhausted from his bout. I don’t understand, how come only now? Why didn’t this... This power awaken before? While Raiden was glad, knowing his new potential brought many realizations to him, he was also nervous. He knew with this development that people, Frontline, would demand much more from him as a Pathfinder and as a student. He would have to grow even faster than before to match their growing expectations, his own expectations. Spiraling into a flurry of questions without answers, he was saved by an unknown voice.

“Good fight!” Salem told him extending a hand, his face bloodied and body bruised in plenty of places, Raiden not looking much better himself.

Raiden gripped his hand tightly, both of them wincing at the action, “Good Fight!” he replied, both laughing before walking back to the stands where some remaining students were.

“So you didn't know about your capabilities before the bout?” Salem asked him.

Raiden’s green eyes looked Salem in his brown eyes and replied, “No, I didn’t, I think I’ve felt that weird black energy before, but I’ve never actually seen or used it.”

“Then I guess you owe me,” Salem replied laughing again.

“Do I now? Would you like another bout as repayment, Salem?” he said, both knowing all too well that their bodies wouldn’t handle a second fight.

“No way! How about lunch? I'll have to visit the infirmary first though," he said, looking at Raiden with obvious accusation in his gaze. "We’ve got about two hours with class ending early…” Salem replied. “Oh, and call me Kai, you’ve more than earned it.”

Raiden felt like he got along better with Salem, or Kai, than any of the other students here, likely due to the age gap. Still weary not to get attached, Raiden decided to join Kai for lunch.

Just before they could make their way out of the arena, Raiden was held back by a hand on his shoulder.

“I Knew It!” Alex shouted, his hand on Raiden’s shoulder.