The God Ages

Chapter 11: The Grind

As the class is dismissed, I thank the professor for his insight and make my way out of the room. The girl from the seat next to me is already gone, disappearing into the crowded halls of the academy. I make a mental note to try and speak with her further – she may prove to be a valuable ally in my quest to not fail this boring-ass class.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I head to the library to begin my research. The clock on the wall ticks away as I pore over ancient texts and scrolls, searching for any information that might lead me to the holy A+. Time is running out, but I am determined to see this mission through, no matter the cost.

(Bell Rings)

Shit, it's already time for 2nd period! I head towards the elevator, which is packed with kids rushing to class. Deciding to take the stairs to save time, I open the green door marked "stairs" and a loud noise echoes through the hallway. The stairs are less crowded than the elevator, but still bustling with students. They're shoving and chatting as they climb the quartz stairs. Whispering to myself, I call out the floor numbers, "Floor 5, Floor 6, Floor 7," I rush towards the green door and I force the door open, drawing the attention of the students who turn to look due to the unexpected noise.

I navigate the red-carpeted hallway, my gaze fixed on the wall labels as I search for "Element-Training 101". The corridor is a mix of classrooms, some teeming with students engaged in animated discussions, while others are shrouded in a silence so profound it could almost be mistaken for emptiness. Time is of the essence, and I hurry along, my footsteps echoing in the otherwise quiet space.

After what feels like an eternity of twists and turns, I finally locate the room I'm seeking. Stepping inside, I'm immediately greeted by the musty scent of dust and dirt, a testament to the room's infrequent use. The classroom itself is an expansive sand field, with a blackish-grey door at one end, bearing the label "Equipment: Employees Only".

Feeling the fatigue from my search begin to creep up on me, I decide to rest for a moment on one of the nearby benches. However, my respite is short-lived, as the bell for the start of class rings out, jolting me back to my feet. The classroom is filled to around 20-30 kids, a pretty large class. A white man with a black jacket and white shorts with a red hat and sunglasses pops out of nowhere, with a name tag saying "Mr. Galagher". He looks at his list and starts calling out names of kids. The kids raised their hands when called, just like a normal classroom on Earth. I should really stop thinking about that...

"Felix Smith?" The teacher's deep voice calls out while looking around for a raised hand, the call caught me off guard and I rushed to raise my hand.

"Here!" I yell. He stares at me until finally saying,

"You'll be facing off against Llemo Ice." A light-blue haired boy emerges from the crowd, sporting a bandage on his face. Mr. Galagher blows his whistle, initiating the fight. Llemo charges at me, encasing his right fist in ice. I manage to dodge the attack, but a small ice shard still manages to scratch my left cheek. I protect my face with my hands, watching for Llemo's next move.

"You're quite skilled at this, aren't you?" I remark.

"Stop chattering. You're going to lose." Llemo glares at me with a cold expression. I wipe away the blood from the scratch on my cheek with my hand. Both of us stand still, observing each other.

Jarvis: You might lose this battle, man.

"Why?" I inquire.

Jarvis: His magic is at 228 and his mana is at 167. Pretty impressive for a teenager.

"Well, is there any way I can win?" As soon as I ask, Llemo shoots ice shards at me, piercing deep in my skin. The Teacher looks a bit concerned but still keeps the fight in check. "Heh, You aren't good. You're amazing!" I try to encourage him but he still keeps the same impression. Damn this kid won't talk, will he? I look around for an opening to strike but then Jarvis pulls up.

Jarvis: You can fight him in close combat. His combat is at 67 while yours is at 92, and you have a higher defence stat than him.

"So if I can get near him, he's cooked?"

Jarvis: f**k YEAH!!!

Llemo's charges at me, throwing Ice shards to open my guard up so that he can Low kick me. I decide to take the gamble and close the distance between us. Llemo's face contorts in surprise as I close in on him, my fists clenched and ready. Just as he throws a volley of ice shards at me, I duck and seize the opportunity to deliver a powerful right hook to his jaw. The impact echoes throughout the classroom, sending a shockwave of energy that resonates with the very air itself. Llemo staggers backward, his eyes wide with disbelief. I can see the confusion and shock etched on his face, but I have no time to savor the moment. Llemo's gets back at his feet and covers his fists with ice, most likely to increase the damage on his hits. I fake him out and hit his left armpit, which he blocks by grabbing my first and throwing me on the floor.

As I lie on the floor, momentarily stunned by the impact, I quickly regain my senses and spring back to my feet. Llemo, still bewildered by my unexpected move, hesitates for a split second. Seizing the opportunity, I close the distance between us once more, my fists now clenched and ready for a fierce exchange. The air in the classroom seems to crackle with tension as our bodies collide, each punch landing with a resounding thud. The force of our blows sends shockwaves throughout the room, rattling the very foundations of the school itself.

The fight is far from over, as both Llemo and I exchange blow after blow, each of us trying to gain the upper hand. "You really are an annoying shit." Llemo's utters.

"Yeah, you too." I answer back. We keep throwing punches at eachother back and forth, no sign of who's winning or losing.

As the battle between Felix and Llemo continues, the intensity of our blows only increases. Sweat drips from my brow, my fists clenched and ready for a fierce exchange. I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins, my body a whirlwind of motion and power. The classroom has devolved into a chaotic scene, with desks and chairs toppled over, glass shattered from the windows, and plaster crumbling from the walls. Mr. Galagher watches the scene unfold with a mixture of concern and awe, unsure of how to intervene without ending the intense duel.

The students in the class are a mix of fear and excitement. Some cower in the corners, while others cheer me on, eager for the spectacle to continue. The atmosphere in the room is electric, as everyone watches, waiting to see who will emerge victorious from this epic clash.

Jarvis, my AI companion, is growing increasingly concerned. He knows that the battle is taking a toll on my body, and he fears that if it continues much longer, I will be unable to continue. He frantically searches for a way to turn the tide of the battle, his digital voice barely audible over the sounds of our punches connecting.

In a sudden moment of inspiration, Jarvis speaks up.

Jarvis: Felix, focus on dodging his attacks and look for an opening to strike his left side. His defense there is weaker.

I nod, hearing Jarvis's voice in my mind, and begin to strategically dodge Llemo's punches. I wait for the perfect moment and seize the opportunity to deliver a powerful strike to Llemo's left side. The impact echoes throughout the room, and Llemo staggers backward, his face a mixture of shock and pain.

Seizing the advantage, I quickly close the distance between us, and deliver a series of rapid-fire punches to Llemo's now-exposed left side. Each punch lands with a resounding thud. Llemo's retaliates by grabbing my arm and punching my face, sending me flying back a few feet. "You're really making me use my abilities, you're cooked." I hold my hand in the air and shoot out a lightning strike, which hits Llemo's at the speed of light. Dust clouds fill the air, unclear if Llemo's can still fight or not. In the end, the dust clouds go away and reveal that Llemo's protected himself with an ice wall. When the ice wall goes away, I see that Llemos' bandage fell off, revealing a red scar on the top of his face.

"I surrender." Llemo's raises his hand in defeat. The teacher nods and blows his whistle, signaling the end of the match.

"The winner is Felix Smith. That's the only fight today since the fight took the whole period. See you guys tomorrow." Everyone grabs their backpacks and leave, still in shock and talking about the outcome of the fight. I grab my backpack and leave, thinking about the fight. And about his scar. Why does it look familiar. I keep walking until I come to a full stop. That was Llorient's scar. That makes sense. Why they look similar, same abilities, similar names, similar appearances. It all makes sense now. Llemos is Llorient Frost.

As I stand in the empty hallway, my thoughts race with the revelation about Llemo's true identity. Llorient Frost... It all fits together now. The similar abilities, the scar, the fighting style - they're almost identical. But why would Llorient change his name and hide his true identity? What secrets could he be hiding?

Jarvis chimes in, his digital voice cutting through my confusion. Felix, we need to investigate further. There must be a reason why Llorient changed his name and. What if he's spying for the Aelous?

I nod in agreement. It's clear that there's more to this story than meets the eye. As I walk out of the school, I make a mental note to delve deeper into Llorient's plans, to uncover the truth behind why he is here. The fight today has only raised more questions, and I'm determined to find the answers. I walk towards my dorm. Waving to kids who waved at me first, admiring the beautiful scenery. And thinking about what to do with Llorient Frost.

As I settle into my bed that night, my mind races with thoughts of Llorient and the revelation of his true plans. I know I need to proceed with caution, but my curiosity is piqued, and I'm eager to uncover the truth. I decide to start by researching the Aelous and their motives. With Jarvis's assistance, I delve into the newspaper world, searching for any information that could shed light on Llorient Frost and what his motives might be.