He didn't posture or pace. Just walked with the same grounded power he carried everywhere else. His short, dark hair, mirroring with his complexion. He walked towards the centre of the circle, rolling one shoulder with a soft crack.
Crack
He was ready.
Stepping forward.
No flare. No posturing.
Just solid, measured movement; like stone shifting into place.
The circle welcomed him with silence, the others watching with a mix of curiosity and quiet respect, but also small pieces of judgement. Jacob's lazy smile dimmed, just slightly.
The air felt heavier now; not with intimidation, but presence.
Korreth watched him approach. No nod. No greeting. Just two statues meeting in the middle of the storm.
Torin's arms fell to his sides. His stance open, grounded.
"You ready?" Korreth asked, tone casual but eyes razor-sharp.
Torin didn't speak. He just planted his feet, a breath in. Breath out.
Then he moved.
It wasn't fast or flashy. Just enough.
Each step closed the gap with intention.
Whoosh whoosh
Each strike carried weight. His Ki wasn't wild or explosive; but dense, coiled tight in his frame.
That frame however, meant he couldn't move with haste; and under Korrreth's blinding attacks, it seemed a clear mismatch. However, Torin held his ground, meeting the punishment.
BANG!
The two collided head on. Torin exchanging blows with the teacher.
Bang! bang!
There was no testing or easy start. The two bouncing off of each-other like tectonic plates.
Thud
The clash lasted longer than others expected.
Not because Torin had somehow overwhelmed or gained an advantage. But it was because he didn't falter. Each time he was countered, he re-centred. Reset. Pressing once more.
When the bout was over, Korreth looked over at Torin:
"Good."
No smile. No praise. Just one word.
But for Torin, it was enough.
Standing up, he slowly went to the side.
He didn't look at the others as he returned to his spot. No raised chin, no subtle smirk.
Aelana Cael scoffed quietly. "That's his good? If I get anything less, I'm burning this place down."
In response, Mira just glanced at her...turning her attention back to Korreth shortly.
Next was Fayl Kera.
Where Torin had been deliberate and calm, Fayl fought with jagged movements - sharp, reckless. A wild rhythm that danced just shy of control. Unpredictable strikes, his footwork was messy but explosive. Korreth barely shifted to disarm him, sweeping his legs in a single motion that sent him tumbling.
Oof
Grunting as he fell, Fayl grinned, rubbing his neck.
"Still standing, Selle", he called as he got up, brushing dust from his clothes.
Mira Dask followed. Small, quiet, but swift.
Her form was textbook, clean and precise, almost rehearsed, Korreth deflected every blow with one hand however.
Rowen Delca stepping in next. Barely seeming interested; hands in his pockets until the last moment...
Whoosh
His Ki flared in a dark sweep of movement, almost like a shadow. It wasn't enough, Korreth met him cleanly, pushing him back with a sharp elbow to the chest.
THAK!
Izan Thorne followed. The tall broad-shouldered student moved like a stone statue - direct, powerful, no wasted motion.
BANG!
His blows echoing in the hall, carrying brute strength behind each swing. Korreth seemed to enjoy the force, parrying harder this time, matching muscle with technique.
Still, Izan couldn't break through.
Enyx was next. Red hair gleaming under the light, tattoos winding down his arm. His strikes were rhythmic, almost tribal...
He had a slight cynical expression, fighting with a casual disdain. He didn't land a blow like the rest, but unlike the others, he bowed after the loss with a smirk.
Then came Veyna Aris.
The temperature had shifted slightly.
She walked forward like a spark freshly lit. The air around her buzzed. Her strikes came fast; fluid bursts of energy with biting precision behind them. C-Class Ki control on full display.
THA-!
She almost landed a hit...nearly.
A spinning back kick missed Korreth's shoulder by an inch, earning the first genuine pivot of his stance.
A few of them murmured.
Fayl whistling low.
But before she could continue, Korreth swept her leg mid-step, sending her sprawling. Though his nod afterwards was almost approving.
Next was Kalen Voss.
No words. No pause.
He bowed stiffly, then surged forward....
Whoosh!
What followed was different.
His gravity-imbued Ki didn't display for show; it condensed his movements, weighted them with unnatural force.
Each step thundered.
DOOM!
Each strike cracking the air like stone dropping on steel. Korreth's arms flexed as he parried, not casually this time. Their exchange was short, but certainly sharp.
It may have ended shortly but it wasn't a complete loss. Korreth didn't land a clean hit. But he didn't knock him down either.
The two simply stepped back at the end of it.
Respect lingering in the silence.
Next was Aelana Cael. Graceful, fluid but not playful. Her steps were precise. But her Ki was weak. She relied on mobility, timing and instinct, darting in and out. Her pale white hair trailing behind like a banner. Korreth stopped her with a single sidestep and light palm to the shoulder. It was over...albeit she didn't fall.
Her jaw clenched as she returned to the line.
Seris Halden was after. She moved like she had trained this her whole life. Despite the low Ki, she was disciplined, shaped by family expectations. Korreth, her uncle, didn't say anything extra to her, sweeping her to the ground in a single motion.
Thud!
She landed with a wince, picking herself up and walking back. A scowl on her face.
Lyria Skorne stepped in. Her stance was less human, more animalistic; shoulders low, eyes calculating like a predator. She wasn't a Ki-dominant user, but she moved with a certain...rhythm.
Whoosh! Bang!
Fainting left, she pounced.
Striking out she seemed to have caught Korreth by surprise..
However, he read it like a book.
Thud!
Blocking her cleanly, and tapping her sternum, sending her skidding back.
She gave a respectful nod at the end, acknowledging the disparity.
Caelun Redd approached silently, his magic-only background obvious in the awkward change to pure physicality. However, something about gave Korreth a pause. When the bout ended, he lingered a moment longer.
Selle Varn danced in with agile steps, light on her feet, she tried use feints and movement, but lacked any weight behind her attacks.
Thud!
Sending her to the floor in the process with a grimace.
"Told you Selle" Fayl chuckled, to which she gave a wry look back.
Naeva Solene was the penultimate opponent.
She took her turn with an eerie calm, almost serene. Her style was deceptive, but Korreth dealt with the rhythm of her attacks easily.
Putting a stop to her quicker than most.
With that;
Finally the line thinned.
All eyes shifted to Jacob Lacura.
His name carried a different weight.
Heads turned. Aelana's hand stilled mid-adjustment. Kalen looked up briefly. Seris looked with interest.
Even Izan shifted.
Jacob stepped forward with an easy grace.
Tap tap tap
It wasn't a mocking look. More like...casual.
The sway of his vivid blue hair trailed him.
His eyes, calm and unreadable.
He scanned the space; not Korreth directly, but the floor, the lines of movement, the spacing.
"He looks too relaxed", Fayl muttered, his hand on his chin.
"Too confident", Selle added casually, eyes narrowed.
Korreth, ever stoic, didn't give a greeting, or special welcome.
Jacob simply stood across.
Bowing his head slightly.
"Ready".