Second Genesis

Grey blinked. Maybe he was just used to everyone he came across being hostile, but he hadn’t expected this sort of reception. He would have been more inclined to believe they would all launch themselves into an attack immediately.

When Grey recalled the matters of the ceremony, it had felt like most of the knights present had been hostile toward him, even down to the guards at the gates.

Logically, these squires should be under the tutelage of those Holy Knights. So if they were likewise hostile, it would only make sense.

But Grey couldn’t actually sense any hatred or danger from any of them.

"How does it work?" Grey asked. "I’ve never done this before."

The redhead grinned, walking over and patting him on the shoulder.

"Don’t worry rookie, it’s actually quite easy. You charge and clash blades, then lock your guards in place. It’s a drill that not only works on your footwork, but especially your wrist and forearms, with a healthy sprinkle of endurance.

"Are you up for it?"

From a casual look around, Grey could feel that all the squires were in the Proving Class just like he was.

He didn’t know much about stat distribution and Edmun had made him promise not to use the Free Stats he had until their training was over, but he had a few guesses.

Level 10 was the peak of what was possible in the Proving Class. If each level at the Proving Class was worth 10 stat points or so, that probably meant the peak of the Proving Class was to have stats around 100 or so, give or take a few dozen maybe.

So, Grey’s current 61 END wasn’t too high or too low. But his STR wasn’t even 33 anymore because Edmun had made him take off his Chad Suit. So he was back to 18 STR on that front.

Now that was far too low for these sorts of activities.

Still, Grey grinned.

"Yeah, I’m down."

"Great. The name’s Blain. You’re Grey, right?"

Grey nodded. "That’s me."

"Alright, who wants to take the rookie for a spin?"

"I’ll go!" One of the burlier squires spoke.

"Fuck off, Chogh. You only have a week left before your due date is up and you still want to bully rookies only two days in."

"So you do you, fucker."

"Well I’m not going myself, now am I?"

Chogh let out a displeased grunt, but he let it go.

"I’ll go." A tall, skinny young man spoke up. He actually looked a lot older than the others, so much so there was a streak of grey in his hair. But that didn’t actually seem to be from old age.

He was in his mid-twenties at the worst.

"I guess this is the best you’re gonna get, rookie. Charles and Squack over there were probably your best bet, but they’re tuckered out from their round just now. You’ll have to deal with Skinny."

Grey chuckled to himself. The names were certainly a mix of real names and nicknames, and no one could tell the difference by now. Not that it mattered.

It felt like he was right back in the gym again. Even the scent of sweat in the air was the same.

He knew he reeked right now, but Blain didn’t even flinch when he put his arm over his shoulder.

Blain gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Good luck, rook."

It wasn’t long before a new ring of squires had formed and Grey was facing off against Skinny. With a tug at his waist, he pulled out his knight’s blade.

Blain burst into laughter. "Holy shit, Sir Trolley really put you through the wringer, huh? Go easy on him Skinny."

"I’m not making any promises." Skinny said with a grin.

Grey chuckled.

"Also, hey, hey, no external items. Take that shit off." Skinny said.

Grey didn’t mind it and obliged, swiping a hand over his face and using the pixelation of his iron jaw to hide the fact he let the Skrill Mask slip into his inventory.

’Hm?’ Grey suddenly sensed something when he communicated with his inventory just now, a tug in a certain direction.

"READY YOUR MARKS."

Blain’s booming voice forced Grey to snap his attention back to the battle before him. He ignored the feeling for the time being, tucking it to the back of his mind.

His white hair danced, a crimson pair of irises growing deathly serious all of a sudden.

Skinny felt a heft of something he couldn’t describe land on his shoulders and a creepy chill crawled up his spine.

"READY!" Blain boomed. "GO!"

Grey felt the sand beneath his feet crunch, a twist of his hip and ankle leaving him a bit off balance. But it was nothing he hadn’t grown used to in his training with Edmun.

Skinny shrugged off the feeling of Grey’s gaze and charged ahead, holding out his sword before himself and then suddenly raising it high at the last moment.

"This slimy fucker." Blain said with a chuckle. But clearly, Skinny hadn’t broken any rules.

Grey only had the time to take a strong step forward, far more worried about keeping his balance perfect as opposed to anything else.

He braced his shoulders and tightened his grip.

Without leaving the ground at all, he took a step. It was almost like he remained connected to the earth the entire time, the sole of his foot hovering so close that it ground against the speckles of sand and dirt.

BANG.

Grey went flying. The exchange didn’t even end in a proper clash.

His body exhaled a ton of air as he hit the ground and a chorus of laughter erupted.

The only one not laughing was Skinny who suddenly found himself taking a step back, his sword nearly clattering out of his hands.

’What the hell was that?’

Blain’s laughter was probably the loudest. "Better luck next time, rook."

He went over, reaching a hand down to Grey and helping him up.

Grey laughed it off and then patted his ass.

"That was too quick. Let me go again." Grey said.

"Oh?" Blain blinked. "You want to give him another taste, Skinny?"

For some reason, Skinny didn’t reply immediately, making Blain raise an eyebrow.

"Skinny?"

"Uh, right." Skinny shook his head. "Let someone else bully the rookie, I’ve had my fun."

Blain chuckled. "Alright. Who else wants to go?"

Laughing and jeering filled the air, but no one seemed to care enough to step forward.

"I guess you can’t stop me this time, can you?" Chogh spoke, weaving his way forward.

Blain scoffed and shook his head. "Are you up for it?" he asked Grey.

"Sure, why not?"

There was a glow in Grey’s eyes.

He had pushed the matter of his inventory to the back of his mind. He was wondering if the real reason he couldn’t progress Goblin Warlord Spirit to Active Link was because he had only mastered half of the Ability.

The first half was what he, himself, did.

But arguably, the most important half was being able to read and react to an opponent.

He couldn’t read and react to Edmun at all, he could only hold on for dear life.

But against these squires?

Grey couldn’t hold back a grin as he looked up at Chogh who stood a full head taller than him.