“You see, I think I'll use a lot of calorie for this fight.” Grasping his sword tightly, Elric has begun to move.

His speed was not something a human could do, and yet, he could. The only thing I could see was his messy yellow hair and gleaming red eyes, a light of gold and blood was left behind as he spurted from his feet.

The unlucky target was the two Student Councils. Brandis was the next heir of the Dyel Household, a nobility which focuses on individual power rather than unity. Despite his happy go lucky attitude, he experienced hell from his home, learning the swordsmanship of their family at the tender age of 4.

Mildred was the prodigy produced by an organization called Black Target. A group specialized in assassination and killing silently. My servants said that she was the, what so-called “perfect” killing machine that the organization created before being destroyed by the elite force of the royals.

Two exceptional swordsmen that managed to enter the brutal initiation of the Student Councils. Both deserving of recognition and as well the title that they got. But...

Mildred and Brandis looked novice in sword before their opponent. Elric was—for lack of a better term—toying with them. In terms of strength, they could easily overpower Elric... That would be it if strength was the greatest factor in a sword fight.

But the reality said otherwise. One needed speed, technique, precision, timing, calculation, wits, and deep understanding of what was happening inside the fight that, fortunately (or unfortunately for them) Elric was acing right now.

Elric jabbed his sword at Brandis, and Brandis was quick enough to deflect it just in time. But then Elric disappeared like a ghost and materialized at the back of Mildred. The girl sensed what was wrong and faced her rear, only to find that Elric was not there anymore—but there was still a flying rapier that almost pierced her arm if not for the instinct she had developed during her work as an assassin.

They could barely keep up with him, and Elric was hardly warming up. They knew that, too, and it was the reason why they were desperate for help, looking for their leader.

I could only see a glint of his yellow hair, red eyes, and the illusion of flying rapier. Golden Reaper, a name quite befitting indeed.

“Hold on!” The girl with shield and broadsword, Rosalie, shouted with her usual firm voice. It was deep for a woman but too high for a man.

“Not so quick.” I slid through the ground with my stepping technique and blocked her path with a smile.

“Lisa!” Her angry tone that she scantily used brought a sweet mischievous laugh from me.

I don't want Rito to see me this way. I thought deep inside.

Thinking so, we commenced confronting each other. She was grimacing while I smirked. I was the complete opposite of this girl who favored to be a subordinate of someone, rather than the one commanding.

“Prepare yourself, Lisa!” She vaulted like a boulder, her shield in front and her sword at the side, peeking at the guard, she sliced diagonally.

Belied her equipment, her speed was extremely fast, even faster than Rito and the twin-tail brat that always stuck with him.

I couldn't take that attack head-on, so I casually evaded it, slanting my steps backward. When her motion finally ended, I sprung my ankles with a small outburst at the ground.

A straight forward poke of my metal fan and she was able to defend from it. Her shield vibrated at the force of my attack, though she herself wasn't pushed back by it.

Not yet. My hand moved like water as it crawled from her shield, into her body—like that of a snake that was climbing a tree. It was a technique that I have mastered over the course of the year.

“I know what you're trying to do!” She held her shield upwards and blew my metallic fan in the air.

“Hmph, then fine then!” I used her shield as a platform and leaped quite highly, grabbing the fan as I spun myself midair, then I hurled my fan into her, all that in one quick motion.

Once again, my projectile was blocked and it bounced back at me. I caught it with a snapping sound, opening it as I began to air myself. “So you're really learning. Did the new president taught you well?”

“He has nothing to do with it!” Her sudden outburst made me bewildered. She was...Blushing? For some reason, I could feel a strange sense of camaraderie from her. Thinking of useless stuff in battle would only lead to defeat so I dismissed them for the time being.

“I don't really care. You're going to lose anyway.” I provoked her in hopes lessening her attention but it was no use.

“Many things have changed, Lisa. I'm not the same anymore, and I'll show it by defeating you.” She charged at me as she hauled her shield and sword and body, and with a flare of energy at her legs, she almost went flying.

She was too fast for me to react, and all I could do was to take the blunt damage. It was enough to knock me quite the distance. It's still good, it's not like I'm injured by the blade or anything.

But hurtful things were still hurt, it was hard to breathe and my eyes were growing hazy. One attack was all it took to threw me and my abilities that I honed every day.

“Curse you...” I could only mutter.

“This is the first time that I have used this technique in an actual battle, Lisa. Be grateful, that you shall be the first one who experienced it.” It was without a doubt, that she was planning to end our fight with her next move.

She repeated her gesture earlier, preparing to ram at me with full force. But I was not so obedient that I would just stand here and take what was coming, no.

This time, I will see it! Once she braced herself, I squeezed my metal fan, since it was the main component to overturn this fight.

Rosalie, in an instant, disappeared, but she was not Elric who could do it like it was nothing, she had to charge for energy.

And before I knew it, I was assaulted by the cold hard shield, my consciousness almost left me. Rosalie dropped her shield, she was ending the fight with a strike of her sword.

I know you would do that! Perhaps this was the fastest movement that I ever did. I launched my metal fan right into her abundant chest.

Cling. What... She was wearing chainmail underneath!? I didn't know for sure what expression was I making, but it did make Rosalie smile smugly. This is not the end! I just said earlier that losing was not an option! I refused to eat what I say!

I opened my fan and spread the metal sheet, protecting my body as much as I could. Her sword landed on the fan and the shockwave passed through it. Pain assaulted my body, my bones rattled as my flesh stiffened.

Kicking her out of desperation, I created a distance between us. The now bent weapon of mine could no longer fold itself.

“It's surprising that you have made it this far.” She said, there was a hint of amazement and contempt at her voice. Somehow, it suited her.

“Like I am getting defeated by the likes of you,” I replied in ease, though in reality, I was just buying some time.

Of course, she didn't take it kindly. She glared at me as usual and hoisted her shield. “I was thinking that maybe I should show you some mercy but... To hell with that. People like you don't deserve any of that.”

In all honesty, my specialty was taking multiple enemies at once, dealing light damage that could wear them as the fight goes on. Enemies like her were the worst matchup for me.

She excelled at guarding, a good balance between speed and strength, and she was the type that was made for a VERY long fight.

Clicking my tongue, I evaluate the situation. What could I do, and what should I do was a very distinct question, and I am now realizing what that really meant.

I really hate this method but... I gulped the hesitation and headed towards her silently.

“Attacking now? Then try!” Of course, she would see this and would be on guard.

From below, above, from side to side, at the back, all of that was blocked by either her shield or her sword.

As expected of her, there was no opening. She guarded with ease while I assault her repeatedly even though there was no sign that she would be hit by my metallic fan.

“Just what are you doing? It's almost like you're deliberately making this fight...Longer...?” Then it finally hit her, not my attack, but my plan. She was late to realize, looking at the state of her companions.

Mildred was happy even though she was laying on the ground. Brandis was wiping the sweat off his forehead while grunting “we did our best” as he shrugged his shoulder.

Both had some sort of injuries, both weaponless.

“Change? Maybe you're stronger than your past self, Rosalie, but your mind hasn't grown even an inch.” I said, my ragged breathing was not calmed even though my plan succeed.

Rosalie was panicking as she couldn't find the man she was looking for. A faint light of gold and blood caught my eyes, and perhaps, hers too.

It was directed at Rosalie straight. Even I, wouldn't know how to respond with that acceleration.

She hid behind her shield when she discovered a flying rapier heading at her full speed.

“Good job.” Was what I heard out of nowhere. I didn't have to see to know who it was.

Elric emerged from the top of Rosalie, he cast a shadow that attracted the attention of Rosalie, raising her chin up to check what it was.

Elric was not in the air anymore, he was standing in front of her, the tip of his rapier was pointing at the neck of the oblivious girl.

“You know where is this going yeah?” He said, poking the skin of the panicking girl. “Don't make this harder for the both of us, let's call this a day.”

“I...I surrender...” Rosalie replied against her will, letting go of her equipment.

“Good.” He rubbed his messy golden hair, shifting his head to the students who did nothing but to watch our fight. “I suppose you lot are calling this a day, too, yeah?”

The trained student went off quickly as they could, no racket was made even with their violent movement.

It was still early in the morning, but I was already spent, and I didn't know if I could face Rito with this haggard face.