Since he was small, Jones loved the heroic tales that his father told. In his mind he had always thought it would be wonderful to see those stories act out before his own eyes. It wasn't long before that he started to behave like the heroes he admires.

"If the enemies attacked, that hero will win and still look cool for sure!"

Pushing aside his exhaustion and ignoring his wounds, he appeared almost completely fine; because, the heroes he admired would have shrugged it off, in his shoes.

The Orc Knight roared ferociously causing all to shrink back and the entire room to vibrate. It had underestimated this young human child and felt ashamed. A ridiculous amount of magic enveloped its stump, and a new arm began to form, more from pulsating mana than of flesh.

With its still forming hand, the Orc Knight snatched a large rock club from a lesser Orc, and savagely slammed the new weapon into the ground. The resulting shockwave caused everyone’s faces to pale and forced Jones to leap backwards.

He tried to create a gap. Against a brute like the Orc Knight, he has an advantage at a distance with his Sword Ki. However, the Orc Knight caught up with a flicker, and casted a large shadow down upon him.

Those that looked from afar saw the unfathomable power that the Orc had. Just charging towards Jones created a visible drag, and the thousand years old Icerock floor broke into pieces by its force. Then, like a cannon breaking through a wall, its shoulders smashed into him who was still trapped in mid-jump.

Reacting quickly, Jones endured the pain and even before he got blown away he lifted a hand in the air. He slowly closed his fingers into a fist one by one. As each of his fingers moved, an entire sword made of Ki seemed to unsheathe itself from the air, spinning and hurling towards the Orc Knight.

Five powerful swords of pure Ki pierced into it, cutting through its magic barrier like a hot knife through butter, stabbing it through from different directions.

Yet the Knight did not seem to know that it is already dead. Even as Jones flew backwards from the impact of the shoulder charge, it attacked with unnatural speed, and smashed the boy down into the ground with a two-handed hammer fist.

A tremendous crash shook everyone to their core. Then, finally, its last breath leaves its body, the Orc Knight had died in its final act.

Below its great and terrible fists was a broken figure on the ground.

Seeing this, the only two other Orc Knights in the room stopped observing the honour duel and rushed towards Jones. They usually stood back as leaders and only meeting a blade when they felt the enemy is worth their attention, but at this moment they felt the boy's breath stirring. And they were afraid.

They took a step forward, then suddenly, he lets out a loud cry.

"HAAAAAAAAHHH!"

Along with his blood-curdling shout, the small figure lying on the ground was suddenly surrounding with shimmering blades of Ki, and they flickered with imperceptible speed.

The next moment, the Orcs nearest to him vanished, shredded into dust. The remaining Orc Knights were blown back, barely surviving his attack, with purple blood gushing out of wounds from head to toe.

Before their terrified eyes, they saw Jones slowly returning to his feet, any damage that he suffered did not seem to hinder him.

In his yearning to be like the heroes that he admired, this is what he has become good at, to look as if he is absolutely alright even in the toughest battles.

Despite being a warrior race, the Orcs involuntarily took several steps backwards; a primal fear crawled down their spines.

*RARGHHHHHHHHHHH!*

The War Beasts in the room bellowed in panic, joining their voices until it became a single deafening sound.

They are telling their King, someone that can kill Orc Knights has appeared.

Their brutish faces immediately changed, around the same moment that they received a message, and cautiously, they backed out of the room.

The entire time, they kept a safe distance from Jones, hoping that he will not pursue them, but the moment the Orcs had went out of sight, he coughed up several mouthfuls of blood.

The guys from the red team rushed forward to hold him up. Although Jones had the privilege to join the Blue Team, he is still a commoner like them, and they had always seen him as one of their own.

Furthermore, his timely assistance had resonated in their hearts. It was their darkest hour and he came like a burning torch.

But, Jones was not concerned with their thanks, and he urgently asked for his friend, “Kairos….”

Surrounded by people, he could not see who he was looking for, and the bustling that everyone is making around him hushed, and they immediately opened a path for Kairos to walk over.

"Jones."

"Kairos... You're alright... I'm relieved. I was afraid I am too late."

"I'm alright. See, I'm really fine. How about you? ...hold on! You're badly injured!" Kairos who had gripped Jones’ arm, sent a strand of soul perception into him at the same time. The situation he observed made him paled.

Calling the injuries he sustained as horrible is a gross understatement. The last time Kairos had seen such a bad case was when Alan willingly took the deathblow for him, and the latter was unconscious at the end of it.

He did not expect that such a thing will reoccur so soon. Especially how Jones is deceptively still standing, despite his condition and the pain he is suffering.

"Hold on Jones, you're alright now. Alan!! Tommy! Guys! Come," Kairos called out desperately.

His team were already rushing over, pushing through the crowd.

Just from the tone of their leader’s voice, they could guess how seriously Jones was injured, and without hesitation they channelled their life force into Jones.

It was, no doubt, an incredibly dangerous action to do in front of the other students and possible for the existence of soul force to become known. But they did not hesitate for even a moment.

As long as they can save his life, even if they are hunted down for their martial arts, it would be worth it. After all, Jones does not know the Origin Cultivation Method, and there is no way he could seal up his own life force like what Alan did. With every moment of delay, more of his health slipped away.

The medics in the team acted quickly, merely a step behind them after Kairos yelled, yet the five of them stood surrounding Jones like his guardians, and did not allow anyone to come near. At this moment, they focused on giving him all the life force they can, without reserve.

Meanwhile, right in the middle, Jones did not portray even an ounce of discomfort. In fact during the healing process, his broken bones would shift to re-join themselves, and that by itself ought to cause a huge amount of pain within him.

He is a standing, conscious, miracle. They could tell that the crushing blow he took from the Entry C rank Orc Knight have shattered his shoulder bones, several of his ribs and even his hip bones. That means, he is purely supported by the strength of his muscles holding him upright. Not to mention all the internal injuries he is dealing with right now.

Any other student in this same situation would probably have died immediately. Even Alan who was in a similar situation could barely stay alive.

In their hearts, the five of them are completely dumbfounded both by his fortitude and how enduring his body is, to act as though it was nothing. The difference in constitution between them are too huge to mention.

While they are pouring their life force into Jones, in fear that they might lose him anytime, he started talking, appearing to be uncaring about his current plight.

"You know, the blue team have split up into two groups because of that scumbag Calculus. He did not want to help you even though they know that the Orc is raiding your camp."

Seeing that Kairos is concentrating on whatever he is doing, and feeling his own shattered body recovering somehow, he continued.

"Right before I left, Luciette set off with half the Blue Team to your aid. By their speed I estimate they will reach in two days' time and will be engaging the Orc armies. So… when you guys are done with whatever you're doing, I need to return to her side."

"Jones, you are as exasperating as I remembered," Kairos couldn’t help but laugh. There is a cheer on his voice, as if his brother has returned to him.

"Rest for today, Jones. We will rush to Luciette's location tomorrow. We will be no help in our current condition, plus we still have some time to recover."

Thanks to him pretending to be fine, no one noticed his shocking recovery. The tension in the air eased with the conversation, and afterwards, someone came over with a report.

"Sir, I thought you should know that our medical reserve stores are down to the last ten percent and our explosives supply are completely depleted," Small said. He had seen the look on Kairos' face and knows that their leader determined to head over to Luciette.

In response, Kairos nodded his head.

"Small. Please distribute all that we have left, make sure everyone can recover as quickly as possible. It would be good to hand them each a Heavenly scent pill as well."

"Yes sir. You guys all heard his command, gather in the ninth room and distribute the reserves!"

After seeing everyone made their way to the resting room, Small took out a small pouch embroidered with an emblem of the Mountain Cat clan. Unlike normal ones, it is a time-space container that could store a larger capacity than its actual size. The value of such a thing is worth more than everything the Snowdrifts owned, but after Snow, Leaf, Small, and Smaller, had sworn to secrecy about Kairos' secret primordial holy dragon, they generously shared with Kairos their things.

They have no doubt how important Aisa’s presence means, and they have seen how shining Kairos is. But, most importantly, their attitudes have grown closer towards him because of the battles they fought together side by side.

Small did not hesitate to offer his pouch of Heavenly scent pill. And, right now he is fulfilling his word.

These spirit pills can supplement a practitioner, enabling him to quickly absorb the Heavenly Energies into his bodies. It is usually used to improve a person's speed in cultivating, but could also become an extravagant method to replenish one’s Ki. With the Heavenly Scent Pills, the students will be take in Heavenly Energies about forty percent quicker

After all, rare medical herbs are needed to create it and are an extremely valuable drug which only higher ranked nobles can afford.

The jade slips that they gave Kairos does not only mean that they are sworn to secrecy. It also symbolises their friendship and loyalty. It would not be a stretch to even claim that the four of them have sworn fealty towards Kairos.

Small walked towards the five brothers, and he handed them a pill each. Then without reserve, he gave another to Jones.

One must know that each Heavenly scent pill is well worth a carriage in value. Even if he is a core member of the Mountain Cats Clan, he would no doubt be questioned for giving away so many pills.

However he did not feel any pinch from being generous because he have seen how Kairos, the one he sworn loyalty to, have valued Jones.

After a giving them a respectful salute, Small about turned and marched into the resting room. There are still over 90 students that need his pill.

With his face grim, yet resolute, he is determined to help Kairos even if he gets in trouble with the elders of his clan.

Leaf seeing his expressions, smiled and went near, "Don't worry Small, you can tell your elders that the Autumn Blossom clan have bought fifty Heavenly scent from you and we can get in trouble together. Ehehe"

"No way Leaf, I'm claiming all this honour for myself," He said while sticking out his tongue.

Even if he gets scolded, he will feel proud of it!