[September 23rd, 2978]
[District 1... Academy City]
Clang! Clang!
The clashing of weapons could be heard inside a wide hall.
The participants were; a boy who looked to be around sixteen years old, with short white hair, and two different colored eyes.
The right eye being a crimson red, and the left eye being black.
In his grip was a katana that he clenched tightly. Almost to the point of his hand bleeding as he grit his teeth in frustration and anger.
Across from him was his opponent.
A combat robot holding a longsword.
"Fucking clanker." The boy muttered in grave annoyance. Then he rushed back in, as he channeled aura into his arms and feet, before he swung at the robot.
CLANG!
The sharp ring of metal meeting metal echoed through the hall as sparks burst between the colliding blades.
The boy's katana screeched against the robot's longsword, the sheer force of his swing pushing both of them back a step.
The boy exhaled sharply, eyes narrowing. "You think I'll lose to a pile of scrap?"
The robot didn't reply, only adjusted its stance with a smooth whirr-click, servos hissing as its synthetic muscles realigned.
The boy darted forward again.
SWOOSH!
His blade sliced through the air in a precise diagonal slash, only for the robot to block with flawless timing.
CLANG!
Then counter with a thrust aimed straight for his chest.
"—Tch!" The boy twisted aside, the sword grazing his sleeve as he slammed a kick into the robot's midsection.
THUD!
The metal body barely budged.
He followed up immediately, spinning into a low sweep forcing the robot to hop back with mechanical agility.
WHOOSH!
The boy dashed in pursuit, his movements wild but focused. The katana became almost like an extension of his will, as he slashed left, right, upward with each blow meeting a perfect parry from the machine.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The robot then countered, driving its blade down in a brutal overhead slash.
CRASH!
The boy barely blocked it in time, his knees trembling under the sheer power. The ground cracked beneath his feet.
"Damn it!" He roared and shoved forward, shoving the robot's sword aside, then jumped into a spinning midair strike.
SHING!
The katana's edge scraped across the robot's shoulder, cutting a faint line into its plating causing sparks in the air.
For the first time, the robot stepped back.
A small, victorious grin curved on the boy's face. "Got you now—"
Before he could finish, the robot's eyes flared red.
BZZZT!
A surge of energy pulsed through its frame as it suddenly accelerated.
VMMM!
"Wha—!"
The robot vanished from his sight—then reappeared right behind him.
THUNK!
Its elbow slammed into his ribs. The impact sent him flying across the floor.
CRASH!
He rolled several times before stopping, his katana skidding out of reach.
"Guh—!" The boy coughed, forcing himself up, vision spinning.
The robot was already closing in, sword raised.
He didn't have time to think. He lunged forward barehanded, ducking under the descending blade and driving a fist into its abdomen.
BAM!
Then another—
BAM!
And then, a spinning kick to the side of its head.
WHAM!
The robot staggered a step—but then its hand shot out and grabbed his ankle mid-spin.
GRAB!
"Oh, sh—!"
The machine slammed him into the ground.
BOOM!
The floor dented beneath the impact.
He tried to move, but a heavy metallic foot pressed against his chest, pinning him down.
The robot's sword came up one last time—then stopped a hair's breadth from his throat.
SHHHK!
"Combat result: defeat," a calm synthetic voice declared.
The boy groaned, glaring up at his victor. "Next time… I'm tearing that smug voice box out myself."
The robot tilted its head slightly, then stepped back. "Acknowledged. Recommending further training."
As the boy dragged himself up, clutching his ribs, he gave a small, crooked grin despite the pain.
"Yeah… no kidding." The boy mumbled as he picked up his katana.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Clapping sounds echoed in the hall drawing the boy's attention.
It was a stout middle-aged man in a suit. He had short brown hair and a rough beard around his mouth of the same color.
"Nicely done young prince." The man said rubbing his hands together, a wryly smile on his face.
"Victor." The boy muttered, an almost disgusted look on his face, as he looked the man head to toe.
"Ah ah, young prince. Within the walls of the academy, it's instructor to you." The man, Victor, corrected.
"Whatever." The boy brushed him off as he put his sword back in it's sheath.
"Though I do wonder why you didn't bring up this kind of performance against Aaron–"
WHOOSH!
Victor's words was interrupted as the boy was immediately in front of him, crossing the distance between them in an instant, his blade against his throat.
"Mind your words Victor. I could have you killed for this disrespect." The boy said, his voice laced with venom.
Victor's expression didn't change even a bit as he glanced at the boy with an almost condescending smile on his face.
"You're free to do so, afterall your family will just bail you out again. Do it." Victor affirmed as he grabbed the blade of the katana and pushed it toward his neck till it drew blood.
"Enough." The boy said, pulling the katana away from Victor's neck.
Just then they heard the sound of a multitude of footsteps.
"Looks like it's general training time young prince." Victor said as he looked at the doorway causing the boy to also look at the doorway as he saw students heading towards the hall.
"Well see you later young prince. Or rather Prince Ryan." Victor whispered in his ear. Or at least that's what the boy heard as when he turned Victor was already gone from the hall.
"Victor Strain." The boy, Ryan, muttered as he sheathed his sword and picked up his bag to head out.
"What a pain in the ass."