He was Rank 27.
Ivan was Rank 26.
Was the difference between those two ranks always this large? He had seen Ivan's scores. He was perfect in the written exam that tested out all sorts of technical knowledge in regards to magic and such.
But his practical exam scores--they were utterly mediocre.
Yet...
"This was the result..." He gripped the ground, frustration flooding his body. He had challenged him not only because he thought the rankings were unjust, but also to prove that he was deserving of a higher seating.
"Just... how..."
Ivan momentarily looked at Eavahn before turning around.
"You don't have anything I seek."
He walked away.
Facing Eavahn and looking at his defeated face was something he couldn't do. It was like looking at a shattered mirror.
The world is unjust. That was something that he knew to be true.
People are not born equal.
Gods are not born equal.
Abilities are not granted equally.
I'm a hypocrite. Just as those noblemen crushed the treasure of my village, I'll eventually have to crush the dreams of others in order to further my own. This was true for every person, regardless of their status.
That is fate that is exacted for the price of pursuing strength.
~~~
Grace had long accepted that the reality that he now stood atop of was one filled with horror. And there was no used in denying the fact that blood and conflict will inevitably happen during his tenure in this world.
Walking to the center of the arena, he was reminded of such once more.
This is merely another step towards my ambition. This little quarrel that Albert was creating was not important to him in the future. The matters he needed to conquer far exceeded any academy quarrels.
But Albert was not a pushover.
"Let's end this quickly," Grace smirked. "I'll let you know my reward after I win."
Albert grinned, a soft laugh escaping his lips.
"For someone so reserved... you sure do know how to speak so arrogantly." Albert free his hands from his pockets, his body igniting with eagerness.
"If I win..." Albert smirked.
"Let me meet your sister."
Grace was irked by those words.
"Are you stupid? Why would I do that? And didn't you want my seat?"
"Well, you won't need to do it if you win, fucker!" Albert shot his hand out, tow icicles manifesting in front of him. They launched forward, tearing through the air mightily.
Grace remained unfazed. Outstretching his hand, he summoned a singular blade of light that cut down both of the icicles as swiftly as they had appeared.
"Ice magic."
There was a reason why Albert was an important character in the novel.
A passive ability that heightened his talent in Ice Magic to a level that not even Ivan could match. As the ice fell to the ground, Albert rushed towards Grace diagonally. His eyes were narrowed, carefully observing Grace's movements.
However--
I have no intention of moving at all. Grace stood still, his eyes never leaving Albert's. He knew the type of person Albert was--he was like a cockroach that will always somehow manage to find a way to live and come back to bite you in the ass.
A person with the sole purpose of pursuing the strong.
I'll have to teach you a lesson... to not mess with Grace Walker. He mused, lifting his hand as a sword of ice was formed in Albert's hands.
At this time of the novel, Albert should be at the peak of Normal Grade 10. Which was undoubtedly lower than Grace.
Since the beginning, the difference was clear.
Swoosh!
Albert, reinforcing his body with mana and reinforcing the durability of his ice, swung the blade of ice hard and direct. It wasn't enough to kill Grace, but killing was never the intention--brutally beating him up was.
"No," Grace whispered. The same blade of light swung down, leaving a trail of mana before clashing with the blade of ice.
"You're one unique guy, Walker!" Albert leapt upwards slightly, summoning a dagger of ice with his opposite had before spinning and driving the icy dagger towards Grace's neck.
Swish!
A vortex of blue appeared in front of Grace's neck. Another blade of light appeared, shielding Grace from the incoming ice dagger that would have fatally wounded him. In that moment of clashing, Grace took advantage of that interval.
His hands still free, he motioned them, summoning another four blades of light.
My mana! Grace kept himself calm, not showing even a hint of weakness before his opponent. However, with the way his control and reserves were as of right now.
Two minutes! I'll finish this! The daggers flew, sauntering with precision. Albert dodged to the side, redirecting two of the blade away before it could injure his body. Grace did not stop, maintaining the speed of which he ordered his blades to attack.
"You should have kept to yourself, Albert Norte."
"Oh?" Albert flipped over a blade, sweating dropping to the rough ground. "And what is that?!" Landing, he pushed himself off of the dirt, barreling towards Grace. He was in a similar predicament as Grace.
I'm wasting too much mana! He only had a little left to go, that much was certain to Albert. That is why...
He won't pull anymore punches!
Combining both of his arms, he did not care to control his mana usage, rather, he persisted. A blast of ice, far too much for his Normal Grade 10 self could handle, shot out towards Grace and his vicinity.
"You thought because I lacked behind my siblings that you had a chance," he pulled all the daggers of light to his front. "However... you missed the most important thing." The daggers glowed a profound blue.
His eyes did not look at Albert or his silver eyes.
Instead, his gaze was fixated on the ice sphere that was barreling and awaiting impact. The ice sphere was a basic ice magic technique, however it was Albert's insistent imbuing of mana into the technique that made it exceed the strength of a regular ice sphere.
But, that did not mean a thing--
A basic technique still remained basic.
For while the strength may have changed, the foundation has not!
Swoosh!
All six blades flashed forward, slicing through the sphere of ice, and dismantling its existence. Unable to prepare, the daggers of light stopped inches away from his skin.
Grace's gaze finally landed on Albert.
"My veins still pulsates with the blood of a Walker."
The Grace Walker that once lived, sheltered and neglected--that was not who the Grace who stood before everyone wanted to be. No, he wanted to shed such a thing.
I'll take back what is rightfully mine--the respect that has been stolen from this body. His gaze stern, serious, and calculated, soon softened.
This was his fair reward.
A single step.
Towards all his ambitions.