Chapter Eleven: Flawless Execution
All eyes in the Apex Class were now fixed on Field A. The tense excitement from Ryuga's battle had been replaced by a heavy, palpable silence. The number one ranked student, Valerius Argent, stood on one side of the field, his posture perfectly straight, his expression a mask of cold indifference. His Bagon stood before him, looking like a coiled spring of draconic power.
His opponent, the Rank 4 student Ren Ishikawa, looked serious and determined. His partner, a stout and powerful Machop, was already flexing its muscles, ready for a fight.
"The battle between Valerius Argent and Ren Ishikawa will now begin!" Professor Kaelen announced.
"Let's do this, Machop!" Ren yelled, punching the air. "Charge in with Karate Chop!"
The Machop shot forward, its hand glowing with a faint white light as it closed the distance with impressive speed.
Valerius watched the advance, his eyes cold and analytical. He waited until the Machop was just a few feet away before giving a single, clipped command.
"Sidestep. Dragon Breath."
*FWOOSH!* Bagon moved with an eerie, unnatural swiftness, shifting its body a mere six inches to the left. The Machop's glowing hand chopped through empty air, its momentum carrying it forward and leaving it completely off-balance.
In that split-second of vulnerability, Bagon unleashed a perfectly aimed jet of emerald-green, draconic fire. The blast struck the Machop squarely in the back, sending it stumbling forward with a pained cry.
"Shake it off, Machop! Use Low Kick!" Ren commanded, trying to regain control.
The Machop spun on its heel, sweeping its leg low to the ground to trip the Bagon.
"Anticipated," Valerius muttered under his breath. "Leap. Then, Headbutt."
Bagon sprang cleanly into the air, the sweeping kick passing harmlessly beneath it. Its hard, rock-like head was already descending. It struck the recovering Machop squarely on the top of its own head with a sickening *THUD!*. The Machop staggered, its eyes glassy.
"It's not over!" Ren yelled desperately. "Machop, focus! One more Karate Chop!"
Valerius let out a faint, almost inaudible sigh of disappointment. "Predictable. Bagon, end this. Ember."
The command shocked the watching students. Ember? The most basic of Fire-type moves? It was a sign of utter contempt.
Bagon opened its mouth, and a small, almost pitiful-looking puff of orange fire shot out. But its aim was flawless. The tiny ember struck the dazed Machop directly on the forehead. It wasn't powerful, but it was the final straw. The Machop's eyes rolled back, and it collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
*DING DING DING!*
"Machop is unable to battle! The winner is Valerius Argent!"
A stunned silence hung over the training field. The battle had lasted less than a minute. It wasn't a fight; it was a clinical, brutal dissection.
From the viewing area, Elara shivered. "Whoa... he's... scary good. It was like the other kid never even had a chance."
Ryuga said nothing. He had watched every single micro-expression, every command, every perfectly timed movement. His mind, the mind of a top-tier gamer, was processing the terrifying reality of what he had just witnessed.
No wasted energy. No risks. He identified every weakness and exploited it with machine-like precision. That wasn't a battle... it was an execution. Ryuga's own risky, heart-pounding victory felt clumsy and amateurish in comparison. My strategy against Isabella... he would have seen a dozen openings to take me down before I ever got to my final move.
On the field, Valerius showed no emotion. He didn't smile or pump his fist. He simply recalled his Bagon, gave a curt, formal bow to his defeated opponent, and strode off the field as if he had just completed a boring chore.
Professor Kaelen watched him go, his face an unreadable mask, before making a silent note on his datapad.
Ryuga looked down at his Dratini, who was watching Valerius's retreating form with a new, serious expression in its violet eyes. The gap between Rank 2 and Rank 1 had never felt so vast.
Perfection versus Chaos, Ryuga thought, his fists clenching at his sides. Control versus a reckless gambit.
I need to get stronger. A lot stronger.
Because right now... he's on a completely different level.