Illusion of Integrity

Emotions

It takes a few weeks for Riss to train herself to master a basic s***h. After all, the first time is always the hardest part. But the problem is she becomes famous as a weirdo with sword. As a dragonic race with wings, people always use spear as their weapon. But that is not important at all, Riss thinks that children's opinion doesn't matter. With s***h as her new skill, she is ready for the evolved part of s***h. Of course, by cheating it using Joker Ability.

["That was good. How is it? Can you continue?"]

"Phew, I'm tired but let's keep going on. I can't waste too much time."

["Sure, time to switch then."]

With that, they switch body. Rainbow Riss puts the s***h skill into the Royal Slot. After she exhales a deep breath, she readies herself to activate the skill.

"Things will be random, so open your eyes and observe carefully. We don't know what kind of skill will pop up. But at least we expect that there will be 3 different skills according to the King, Queen and Jack type."

["I'm ready."]

"[s***h] - {You Rolled Queen}"

Weird enough, nothing happens, all her body does is just stands there in a low position as if readying herself to deflect. "Heeeeeeeee, this skill is activated but it seems that it needs some kind of trigger."

["Must be some kind of defensive deflection."]

"You think so?"

She then cancels the skill, "I have an idea," She suddenly picks a pebble and throw it upward. Just when the rock loses momentum, she activates her skill again, "[s***h] - {You Rolled King} Whaaaaaaat!?" She goes panic and desperately unleashes the attack upward, the s***h changes into a gigantic Cross s***h that brightens her surroundings. Good thing, no one is there, she is alone in the training field after all.

["That was dangerous! Let's find somewhere else to train."]

"Yeah, let's go."

Riss then picks somewhere else outside the city. She keeps going to that same place everyday after class to train. In a few weeks, she finally masters the King version and nearly completes the Jack version, but the Queen version is the hardest part to train. It depends not only on power, but also reflex and instinct, which is not something that can be done easily.

Just when she finishes her training quota for that month, Zaga comes and delivers a news. The Junior practical battle scoring will be hold next month. Similar to a tournament, but the result will decide a very big part of the junior graduation. Even after the junior graduation, she will have a very long way to go through the middle and senior. After that, the students will be able to take on missions.

Another month passes by, Riss finally masters the Jack version called Zero Point. The skill allows her to concentrate all of her energy into the tip of the sword and do thrust with rapid speed. The tournament day has come, all of the students are ready and wait the start of it in the gymnasium, where the location is.

"A girl with a sword!? She is pretty but too bad she is weird."

"Yea she is the weirdo everyone been talking about."

"Hahaha, facing her will be easy then." People talk behind her back. They murmur on each other, commenting about Riss.

["Ignore them for now."]

"I will prove it to them."

["That's a good spirit."]

"Hey Riss, here you are. How is it going?" Zaga sits beside her.

["Now that I'm thinking about it, this guy seems to like you. He is everywhere as if it was always coincidence meeting you."]

"Really?"

["That's my guess of course."]

"Haha, we will see then."

"I've been training for a while. How about you, Zaga?"

"Same here, I hope that I can at least win a few matches and go to the semifinal. I won't ask too much because I know the extent of my ability, haha."

"Hmmmm, I see. Hope it goes well then." Riss smiles.

The combination of that smile and the wish stuns Zaga. He never expects someone to cheer him up like that. Being the eldest child of Remateinn family means that people expect a lot from him. After all, he comes from a noble and powerful Marquis Remateinn family. And everytime he achieved something, no one praised him. They always say either, "A Remateinn, no wonder." or even became indifferent. To receives such harsh treatment as a child is mentally exhausting. That's why he is way more matured than other children.

"Zaga?"

"Oh, uh, thanks I guess."

["He is blushing! I bet all of my chips on it!"]

"Be careful on what you say."

["Uh huh, so scary princess."]

The tournament is decided by groups. To promote growth on students, it will be hold every weekend. After every matches, the students will have the time to reflect on their match and improve themselves. Such system is perfect for promoting a fast growth in term of abilities. After the group match, they will have a tourney system that takes 2 from each groups to join and decide the ranking.

Because the number of students are over 300, the gymnasium is separated into several battlefield and the students are grouped into 30 groups with around 12 students in every group. This gym supports the size of such large scale battle anyway, it was designed to even accomodates flight battles inside with no roof on it. In short, 10 battles at once is even possible.

Surprisingly, the first match Riss and Zaga will watch is Endine's match. That absurd stone guy. A guy with black spear will be facing him.

"Now, commence the battle!" The judge shouts.

Endine doesn't move, he only tilts his head as if waiting for his opponent. Both competitors only stand there and stare at each others because the opponent is even more confused, Endine doesn't have a weapon.

"Are you not taking out your weapon?"

"I don't like weapons."

"Hmmm, then don't complain later!" His opponent lunges towards him in a such speed. But before he reaches Endine, a stone slab suddenly pops up and blocks the way.

Surprised, the opponent smashed the slab to pieces without lowering his speed. Endine can only backs away in flight to create distance, and then he keeps popping up stone slabs to slow the enemy down. Pissed off, the enemy shouts to him, "What are you trying to do!? Stop running!?"

"I'm not running. I'm buying time."

"For what!?" His enemy stops. After that, his face goes pale when he stares at Endine's pointing finger. A massive boulder is floating above.

"For this, [Meteor]" Endine slams the boulder into the enemy and smashes him to the ground. And that ends the fight in an instant.

So much students turn shocked by sound of the earthquake caused by the boulder that smashes the ground violently. A giant crater is created in the middle of the ring.

"What was that!?"

"Some kind of earthquake I think, from that direction, holy... what happened!?"

"Look!"

A lot of fights end right away by the blasting sound of it. Eyes are staring at Endine. Medical team is currently attending to the opponent.

"Haaaa, he did it again." Zaga leans backward and facepalms.

"Is the opponent even alive?" Riss looks nervous when she asks Zaga.

"The judge saved him at the crucial moment, don't worry."

["Such power from a mere child..."]

"That was...I don't even know what to say, that was massive."

"He is not to be trifled with, haha.." Riss smiles bitterly.

"He fights efficiently. He chooses the most direct way to win. I guarantee that he will keep doing that unless someone can actually fight back. He wants to win with absolute power in the least amount of time."

["Can you win against that?"]

"Currently, no..."

Riss gulps at Zaga's remarks. She doesn't know if she can survive that with her current ability. Her real power of course will easily win. But she decided that she will limit herself and becomes normal. And this is the sign of her beginning hardship.