In the morning, within the bounds of the assembly hall, all the students had assembled before Zera and the other teachers who were standing on the podium.
Zera stepped forward and cleared her throat as she was prepared to speak.
"Good morning, everyone. You have been gathered here to be informed that in two weeks from now, the phlgrm rumble will begin and so will the tournament by the next month.
In that tournament, the chosen ones will face each other in the strongest tribe of the minors, Kregus and it will be done in front of many including the tribal chiefs.
This will be your chance to show the strength of the new generation and the winner will named a phlgrm.
But in order to be part of that tournament, you must survive in the rumble."
"So the candidate ranking means nothing?" A Kenar male asked in his heart.
"These nine months of intense training will show who and who have what it takes, so I would like to encourage every student here to do their best in the rumble, likewise the tournament." Zera said, "But know this: In the rumble, it will be a free-for-all. There will be no such thing as brothers, sisters..."
"Or friends." Zera said while Jooni and Gharl's gaze subtly shifted towards Vaan.
Cloud's eyes rolled towards Sting and he noticed the bored look on his face.
"In that rumble, it will be every warrior for themselves." Zera continued as her irises glowed.
Hearing this, some of the students exchanged uneasy glances at one another.
"However, i believe none of you will disappoint us or Agaroth in the future." Zehra said, "I wish you all the best and may our ancestors guide your fists."
Zera then sighted Cloud among the students and her face slightly darkened. Among the instructors behind Zehra, a fair skinned female Tenplar took notice of Cloud which made her slightly sweat in fear.
"Please, don't." The female Tenplar said in her heart.
Zera then cleared her throat and forced out a smile.
"Oh and i will have to announce that Cloud of the Sturmwhnd will not be participating in the rumble." Zera said.
"Damn it." The female Tenplar said in her heart as immediately facepalmed herself
Several of the students were shocked by this revelation which led to some whispering among themselves.
"What?"
"Cloud isn't joining?"
"But why?"
"Well, it makes sense. I mean he is a minor."
"This has nothing to do with him being a minor.
"Yeah, this has something more to do with Zera not liking him."
"He was never in good terms with her to begin with."
"Hey, you want to get trouble? Watch your tongue."
"I'm just saying what everyone thinks."
"So, Cloud, now that you have heard this, what do you plan on doing for the days to come?" Zera asked Cloud.
The students shifted their gaze to Cloud while Cloud's mouth was slightly opened in shock.
"Wha-w-wh-why?!" Cloud asked.
"Why?" Zera asked with a raised brow.
"Why am i not allowed to participate? What did i do wrong?!" Cloud asked.
"Are you serious?" Zera asked.
Zera stepped down from the podium and started walking towards Cloud.
"You are the lowest and weakest among your peers. The one who should have been given a D but was given a C out of pity." Zera said, "You did poorly in your exams and activities and you dare ask why?
You have no talent, no kan and your combat skills are poor. You are practically a joke and not a good one for that matter."
Zera stood in front of Cloud and stared at him.
"You weren't present in the first five months when a lot of students lost their lives in the trainings and tasks. You certainly weren't there when some left because they couldn't handle the pressure." Zera continued, "You came when everything had become a bit mild and you still barely passed and survived."
"But, i-"
"Shut. Up." Zera cuts in with a glare as her irises glowed.
In that moment, many of the teachers and students irises glowed while they simultaneously quivered from the pressure of Zera.
"Are you from the Dreygar tribe? The Ripars? The Tenplars? The Graundars? The Kenars? What the 'other' tribes?" Zera asked, "No, you not from any of them. You're from the Sturmwhnd. A mere tribe of hunters, not even renowned among the minor tribes.
Tell me, in that rumble, what are you going to do? Pull out a weapon? We both know how it will play out?
What next are you going to use? Your fists? Please, your strength and speed are a joke to even the weakest major here.
So tell me, Cloud? What can you do?"
"What can a 'minor' like you, possibly do?" Zera asked as her expression grew darker while emitting a faint green aura, "I'll tell you what: To lie down and be trodden under.
No matter how much you try to fight... 'That' is all you can do. That is all you will do."
"Enough." A masculine voice sounded.
Zera turned to the direction of the voice and saw the person to be Zhodek who was carrying an unreadable expression.
"Do not look down on him because of his tribe." Zotek said, "That is not-"
"With all due respect, Zotek. I am not looking down on him because of where he came from. As a matter of fact, I don't give a damn about his tribe!" Zera replied as her irises glowed, "He needs to learn the truth. That he has been nothing but a waste of time and space in this academy.
If headmaster Yorall were still here, I would have requested for Cloud to be thrown out!
His presence here is an insult to everyone who passed, to those who left and those who died."
After Zera had said those words, Cloud subtly clenched his fists at his side.
"Let's not forget that the main reason he was even allowed into this academy is because chief Taya of the Tenplar tribe requested for it despite knowing he was five months late." Zera said as she crossed her arms, "He entered not because he arrived when the others first arrived or because he was someone of great skill and power but because of favoritism."
"You are stepping out of line." Zhodek said.
"Am I?" Zera asked with a raised brow, "Am I, Zotek? If he was a month late like Onak, i could pardon that, but five, Zotek? Five months and on top of it, he failed his exams and barely passed anything, yet he has the balls to act entitled when he ain't shit."
"Isn't that right, runt?!" Zera asked with a smile as she glanced at Cloud while her irises glowed.
Silence hung in the air as Cloud and Zehra locked eyes with each other until the sound of a door opening resonated.
The eyes of everyone in the hall shifted to the direction of the sound and saw the person to be Raega.
"Raega..." Zera said with a plain expression, "Is there a reason you are here?"
"Yes, there is." Raega replied, "My apologies if it seems I'm interrupting but we have an important visitor."
"Who is it?" Zera asked.
"It's the chief of the Tenplar tribe, chief Taya." Raega answered.
In that moment of revelation, many of the students and some of the teachers were in shock which led the students to murmur among themselves.
"Chief Taya?"
"She's here?"
"My chief is here?"
"Why is she here?"
"It could be many reasons."
"I can wager it is to see Cloud."
Cloud's eyes widened at the revelation of the news and was left speechless.
"Tell her we'll be there shortly." Zotek said to Raega.
Raega nodded his head in response and turned his back to walk away.
Zera glanced at Cloud and scowled.
"I'll come back to you, later." Zera said to Cloud as she turned her back to walk away.
Cloud tilted his head down as Zera left while some of the students in the hall couldn't help but stare at him in silence.
Meanwhile within the guest room of the tall order phlgrm academy, Zera, Zotek and some of the teachers stood before a Tenplar woman sitting on a chair with her legs crossed and her arms resting on her thighs.
The woman had a pale ivory complexion and long yellow hair with curtain bangs on her forehead and single beaded locks draping over her shoulders. She had blue irises and pointed ears showing she was clearly from the Tenplar tribe.
She wore an blue circlet with a white jewel set against her forehead, a sleeveless black crop top with amber accents beneath a white cape trimmed in black fur. An amber pendant necklace with two stacked red gems vertically rested on her chest, and on her right forearm was a long metal wristband.
Her black asymmetrical skirt was high-cut on the right, revealing a metallic covering on her thigh to the shin. Her other leg was bare, save for the black bulky open-toe boots curled with a V-shaped coil at the mouth.
"Chief Taya of the Tenplar tribe, we greet you." Zotek said as he and the other teachers bowed their heads, "Welcome once again to the Tall Order phlgrm academy."
"It's been a while since you graced us with your presence." Zera said with a smile, "Would you like something to eat or drink? Perhaps we can-"
Chief Taya raised her hand as sign for Zehra to stop talking and smiled.
"Thank you for your welcoming. I must say it has been a while since I stepped foot into this academy." Chief Taya said, "In all of the places i go to, this is one I would never think twice about visiting. After all, this place is the breeding ground for the next generation of elite warriors."
"It is indeed." Zera said with a smile while closing her eyes, "We have been working very hard to raise top warriors with the little time we had and there are promising results."
"Good. What about Cloud?" Chief Taya asked with a smile.
"Cloud?" Zera asked while maintaining her smile and closed eyes as she slightly tilted her head.
"Yes. Cloud of the Sturmwhnd." Chief Taya replied, "The minor with the strange white hair. I find it odd that a boy who came from a minor tribe wants to join the phlgrms despite his disadvantages, but yet i cannot deny his heart."
"Oh..." Zera said while still maintaining her smile and closed eyes.
"I believe the revelation of him being a survivor of the unknown slaughter still being kept a secret." Chief Taya said, "It is for his own good that no one outside the academy knows that a Sturmwhnd survived the unknown slaughter just like the Dreygar."
"I assure you we have kept the secret of the two survivors of the unknown slaughter sealed within this academy." Zotek said, "No one will know until the time of the tournament and the phlgrm coronation."
"Good." Chief Taya said, "Since this is the final month, i am curious, how well did my ward and Cloud do? Did they succeed? I know Cloud came late but-"
"He failed." A feminine voice interrupted.
Chief Taya and the teachers turned to the direction of the voice and saw the person to be Zera who was still forcing a smile with closed eyes.
"He failed?" Chief Taya asked, "Oh... Well I guess -"
"With all due respect, lady Taya, what did you think was going to happen?" Zera asked while maintaining her facial expression but her tone had changed.
The behavior of Zera made some of the teachers beside her sweat nervously.
"By our ancestors... Don't!" A Ripar female said in her heart.
"Excuse me?" Chief Taya said with a raised brow.
Zera began to emit a faint green aura and continued speaking.
"Unlike your ward Kila'be of the Tenplar tribe who showed promise, that white haired stain was simply a waste of time, space and resources.
I knew from the start that he would do nothing but fail and in the end i was correct. He never belonged here and he doesn't deserve to be among the phlgrms.
As far as I'm concerned, that boy should go crawl back to whatever hole he came from. He has done nothing but to dishonor himself and his people."
"And as far as I'm concerned, someone more useful in his tribe should have taken his place among the living." Zera said as she opened her eyes, revealing her green glowing irises.
"Zera!" A masculine voice sounded among the teachers.
"Wow. That's quite bold coming from you. Have you forgotten where you stand?" Chief Taya asked as her irises glowed purple.
"Haveyouforgottenwhoyoustandbefore?" Chief Taya asked with a darkened voice.
The office slightly trembled at the pressure of chief Taya which led the teachers (except Zotek) to tremble and Zera's green aura to immediately cease.
"Watch how you speak and next time, do not interrupt me." Chief Taya continued with her normal voice while her irises still glowed purple, "Otherwise I might forget I came here as a guest."
After the pressure of chief Tenya subsided, Zotek sighed and shook his head.
"Now... Where were we? Ah, yes. The boy, Cloud." Chief Taya said, "You said he failed?"
"Yes. He failed in a lot of his tasks and arrived late for his exams. Because of his lateness, his performance... Was incomplete." Zotek said.
"Ah. Did he explain why he came late?" Chief Taya asked.
"He said something about staring at the sky for a while and then by the time he caught himself, he realized he was late." Zotek replied.
"That doesn't sound like a good excuse. If anything it makes him look incompetent." Chief Taya said, "And Kila'be? Did she pass?"
"Your ward did well." Zotek answered.
"Good. May I ask her ranking?" Chief Taya asked.
"An A class candidate." Zotek answered.
"Not bad. And Cloud?" Chief Taya asked.
"A C." Zotek replied.
"A C? That's not good. That's not good at all." Chief Taya said, "I guess he will have to forget his dreams of becoming a phlgrm."
"Well, there is the rumble. Winners get the chance to participate in the tournament." A male Kenar said among the teachers while smiling.
"Oh, yes. The tournament. To see the strength of the new generation." Chief Taya said.
"Yes! Yes! But unfortunately, Cloud has been forbidden by Zera from participating." The male Kenar said with a smile.
Hearing this, Zera's eyes rolled towards the male Kenar and the male Kenar, noticing Zera's stare and gulped nervously.
"You forbade him?" Chief Taya asked Zera, "Was there a reason for that? Does his failure in class stop him from participating?"
"Lady Taya, it is for his own good." Zera answered, "Cloud has already failed, so why bother placing him in the rumble when it is so obvious he will fail again?
This academy is meant to raise the next generation of elite warriors that will show Agaroth's strength... Not Agaroth's weaknesses."
For a moment, chief Taya stayed quiet and finally spoke.
"You are correct. The academy is meant to raise warriors to show Agaroth's strength. You are no doubt correct about that but once again, does his failure in class stop him from participating in the rumble?"
Zera stayed quiet and chief Taya slightly tilted her head.
"No? So what you doing here is mixing personal issues with your work, deciding he is unworthy not because he truly is, but because you simply don't like him." Chief Taya said, "It is okay not to like someone but when you abuse your power and deny people opportunities out of spite then there is a problem.
And yes, i know you feel that I abused my power when I requested for Cloud to join the academy after coming five months late but I simply 'requested'. If you didn't want then you could have said no."
"I never said you abused your power as the chief of your tribe, lady Taya." Zera said.
"No, you didn't , but aside from kan communication of the heart, my one of the things my kan ability of polarity allows me to do is to feel the balance of words and emotions." Chief Taya said, "When i first introduced Cloud and requested for him to join, I felt the balance of your emotions. Now with your words and emotions in display, it is obvious that you feel Cloud is getting special treatment.
You felt before that Cloud got in through favoritism and now even though he failed, he is getting pushed forward despite his tardiness.
So, here is what is going to happen: Cloud will get to participate in the rumble if he can earn it. How does that sound? If Cloud should defeat anyone of your choosing with the conditions set, then he participates and if he fails, then i will take him away .... Personally."
"How does that sound? Fair?" Chief Taya asked with a raised brow.
Some of the teachers glanced at each other with unease until a female Tenplar raised her hand.
"Pardon me, my chief." The female Tenplar said as she bowed her head, "While I do not agree with any of Zehra's words or methods, Cloud should not be allowed to participate, not because he is a failure or is as useless as she says but because he is a minor.
Putting him against a major is already a huge disadvantage for him. It is common knowledge for everyone and we have seen it repeatedly in the academy with him.
Even if he manages to win, the rumble would only make his situation more dire. He might die.
And if he somehow manages to survive that, he won't survive the tournament. We would be sending him to his death."
Chief Taya stayed quiet for a while and sighed.
"You are correct. He shouldn't be allowed to participate. He shouldn't even be in the academy, but he chose to be. He chose to step in despite knowing he will be outmatched and classed." Chief Taya said, "In the eyes of some, that is bravery and in the eyes of others, it is foolishness and a death wish.
When the notice was given in Agaroth that the phlgrm organization and academy will reopen, the requirements for those to enter the academy were 16 - 17 years of age. There was no demarcation of tribes.
Yes, Cloud will be at a disadvantage as a minor but even the strongest warrior has been at a disadvantage before. All that matters is the survival and growth.
Every disadvantage for a surviving warrior comes a chance of growth and if Cloud is wise, he will take that chance and grow.
Let me ask you something, if you decide right now to exclude him from any of these, not because he failed but because you believe it is too dangerous for him, what kind of message are you trying to send to the other tribes?"
"I-I am just trying to protect him, my chief." The female Tenplar answered as she tilted her head down, "I am worried that if we give him this chance to participate in the rumble, he might not even make it to- I... Forgive me, my chief."
"I understand your concerns, but the choice to enter and become a phlgrm was his and his alone." Chief Taya said, "Denying him that not because he failed but of fear for his safety is an insult to his decision and a spit on the face of the phlgrms foundation.
We cannot deny him all because of concerns..."
"Not to mention, 'personalviews'." Chief Taya said as she glanced at Zera.
"Now. Who is to be Cloud's opponent and what are the conditions that will be set?" Chief asked as she tilted her head while her irises glowed white.
Later in the day, the students gathered at the blue leafed forest and stood before Zera and the teachers.
Beside Zera, chief Taya sat on a chair with both legs crossed.
Zera glanced at Taya and sighed before returning her gaze to the students.
"Earlier, I said Cloud of the Sturmwhnd will not be allowed to participate in the rumble. I unlawfully denied him the chance of not only redeeming himself but also the chance of becoming an elite.
I was wrong. I placed my feelings of disdain for him over my duties, so I would like to atone for it.
Cloud of the Sturmwhnd, step forward."
The eyes of the students drifted towards Cloud and Cloud exhaled before walking towards Zera.
As Cloud stood before her, Zera lowered her head and placed one arm behind her back in a formal bow.
"I apologize for deliberately and unjustly trying to hold you down, and to atone for my act, you are allowed to participate in the rumble." Zera said.
Silence stayed in the air for a time which led Cloud to stare at her with a raised brow.
"Under one condition." Zera said with a grin as she raised her head.
"You must defeat your opponent right here in this forest." Zera said as her irises glowed.
Hearing this, a Kenar teenage male faceplamed himself and Sting's eyes rolled.
"Huh?" Cloud said in confusion.
"You heard me." Zera said as she stood upright while maintaining her grin, "Defeat an opponent right here in this forest and prove that you are worthy of participating in the rumble.
It's pretty fair, considering how terribly you performed. All you need to do is win with the set conditions and they are quite simple: stay conscious within the time limit set.
If you can do that without your chosen opponent leaving you asleep on the ground, then you win. If you are knocked out..."
"(Or you die.)" Zera whispered in Cloud's ear as she leaned forward while smirking as her irises glowed, "Then you lose."
Cloud's eyes widened as Zera stood upright again and grinned while her irises glowed.
Small murmurs among the students began to surface and Chief Taya's eyes narrowed at Zehra.
"Now, we were supposed to pick an opponent for you but we decided instead of picking one, why not let someone volunteer." Zera said with a smile while she tilted her head.
Zera turned her gaze to the students and grinned.
"Now would anyone like to step out and become Cloud's opponent?" Zera asked the students, "Anyone?"
Several of the students exchanged glances at each other for a time until a masculine voice sounded.
"I would."
The eyes of everyone in the forest tilted to the direction of the voice and they saw the person to be Van.
"Good." Zera said while still smiling, "Now step forward."
As Van walked towards Cloud's direction, some of students began to mutter among themselves.
"Van?"
"Are you serious?"
"This guy..."
"Zera just handed that lunatic an actual way to destroy Cloud."
"Yeah, we both know how much those two can't stand each other."
"This isn't going to be good."
Van stood in front of Zera and smirked.
"Now that you have volunteered, all you need to do is defeat Cloud before the sand in this hourglass completely pours." Zera said to Vaan as she pointed at the hourglass one of the teachers (who happened to be a male Tenplar) held, "Is there anything you would like to say to Cloud?"
"Oh yeah. Just a few." Van replied as he turned his gaze to Cloud.
"Hey, whitehead. How does it feel? To be trapped in this kind of situation where you got to prove yourself just to enter something others don't need to struggle for?" Van asked Cloud while smirking, "It must be so sad. Look at you... Pathetic."
"Come on. Don't look at me like that. You're making me feel bad, man." Vaan continued as Cloud was staring at him with a plain face, "I'll tell you what..."
Van leaned forward and grinned as his purple irises glowed.
"I'll go 'easy' on you, just to make it entertaining." Van said.
Cloud's face however still didn't change.
"Do you, Cloud, have anything to say to Van?" Zera asked Cloud.
"Not him." Cloud answered.
"Oh? Then who?" Zera asked.
"You." Cloud answered while still facing Vaan.
"Hoh? And what do you have to tell me, whitehead?" Zera asked with a smile, "Go ahead. Say it. Let me hear your words."
"Tell me... What is your problem with me?" Cloud asked Zera while still facing Van, "Ever since I came here, you never let me be. You have consistently tried to sabotage me.
You've branded me a failure on numerous occasions on tasks without even letting me try. Earlier today, you said I got in through favoritism but I never for once asked for any special treatment.
Even when the tasks seemed exceedingly dangerous even for those in the higher ranked tribes, i never backed out from it. Not once.
I'm a failure? I'm worthless? Fine. But I don't believe that is why you hate me.
So once again, I'll ask..."
"What is your problem with me?" Cloud asked as he glanced at Zera.
Silence stayed for a while until Zera spoke.
"If you pass this challenge then I will tell you what."
Cloud and Zera locked eyes with each other while Vaan stared at the two with a raised brow.
"Get into positions." Zera said to the two.
Cloud and Van walked a couple of distance away from each other and stood.
"Now, you both have ten minutes." Zera said to the two, "Van, you have ten minutes to knock out Cloud and you, Cloud, have ten minutes to stay conscious.
Am I understood?"
Cloud and Van nodded in response.
Zehra turned her gaze towards a fair skinned male Kenar instructor with a low orange fade hairstyle, blue irises, a white short sleeve top with white fur trim round the collar, black arm bands, black trouser, black open toe boots and blue Kenar markings on his arms, neck and side of his head.
The male Kenar nodded his head and slammed his palms against each other and took a deep breath.
"Kan arts..." The male Kenar said while weaving hand seals
"Hizho barrier." The male Kenar said as his irises glowed at the moment he pointed his finger tips towards the direction of Cloud and Van.
Blue illuminous markings circled round Cloud and Van and a large blue barrier instantly covered the two.
The male Kenar panted and placed his palms on his knees while panting for air.
"So you've finally perfected your kan arts..." A fair skinned female Tenplar with long brown hair and blue irises, wearing a navy blue robe said to the Kenar male, "Not bad, Arxion."
"I was able to do this two weeks ago." Arxion (the male Kenar) replied, "This barrier was created to absorb damage.
The stronger the damage, the stronger the absorption."
"Similar to the rhitzuku barrier?" The female Tenplar asked.
"Yeah, Ernia. Similar to the barrier." Arxio replied, "The rhitzuku nullifies damages and the stronger the damage, the stronger the nullification.
The only way this barrier can be destroyed is if I take it down or I get knocked out.
But right of right now in that barrier..."
"No one gets in or out." Arxion said as Cloud and Van locked eyes with each other.
"The downside of me creating this barrier is that it makes me want to 'go'." Arxio said as he clutched his stomach, "As in 'really go'."
"Huh?" Ernia (The Tenplar female) said in confusion
Arxio instantly vanished from his spot, leaving breeze to blow past her.
"Oh." Ernia said.
As Cloud and Van still locked with each other, Van slightly tilted his head and smirked.
The male Tenplar holding the hourglass immediately turned it upside down and Zera spoke
"Begin."
In an instant, Van materialized in front of Cloud and landed a punch on his face which sent Cloud soaring backwards until he crashed back-first on the barrier.
A teenage female Ripar winced and turned her face away.
"Not even minute to prepare, huh?"
Cloud landed flat on his face and laid still on the ground.
"Huh. I guess I should have held back a little more." Van said.
Seeing Cloud laying on the ground, Zera smiled and closed her eyes.
"Just as I thought. Cloud is going to make a fool of himself." Zera said in her heart.
"There you have it, everyone." Zera said out loud, "By the rules of the match, Cloud has-"
Suddenly, the strained groan resonated and to the surprise of Zera and many others, Cloud made efforts to stand on his feet.
"Hey. Don't conclude when it is not over." Cloud said as he stood on his feet while blood trickled out of his nose.
"I'm not done fighting, yet." Cloud said as he wiped the blood off his nose.
"Huh?!" A female Ripar instructor said in shock.
Van, seeing Cloud still standing after the punch, smirked.
"Oh ho. Very good. You know, I was already getting upset that I ended it with one punch." Van said while stretching his arms, "Now you are still kicking, I can take my time to enjoy myself before laying you out."
With a determined glare, Cloud raised his fists to fight.
"A word of advice, whitehead..." Van rolled his shoulders.
"Don't die on me." Van said with a sadistic grin while his eyes glowed.
Van vanished from where he stood and appeared in front of Cloud to uppercut him in the belly which drew out blood from his mouth.
The punch threw Cloud in the air and Van materialized above him from behind, grabbed the back of his collar and tossed him to the barrier wall, causing him to crash back-first against it.
Van showed up in front of Cloud and began to unload a series of rapid punches on his face and belly, then grabbed him by his collar with one hand and tossed him to the ground, causing Cloud to tumble across it.
Van materialized at the side of Cloud while he was rolling and soccer kicked his back, which not only caused Cloud to cough out blood but also raised him in mid-air.
Van then began to knock Cloud around with his fists, repeatedly moving him side to side without shifting from his spot and ended his assault by cupping his hands together and slamming the side of his fists on Cloud's belly, driving him straight to the ground, creating cracks there while Cloud coughed out blood.
"Damn." A female Ripar teacher said.
Van slammed Cloud's face on the barrier repeatedly then punched him in the belly and sent him sliding on his back with a spinning kick in mid air.
As Cloud laid inert on the ground for some time, Zera glanced at the hour glass and sighed, seeing that the sand was still much.
"Cloud has been defeated." Zera announced, "By the rules of this match, the winner is-"
Suddenly a groan cut through the air which turned out to be Cloud, shocking Zera and many of the teachers.
Cloud sluggishly stood on his feet and was breathing heavily while his face was drenched in blood.
Cloud glared at Van determinly again and stood upright.
Van being amused, grinned at Cloud and laughed out loud.
"Alright! Now we are talking!" Van said
Cloud raised his fists again and Van smirked.
"That's right. Keep fighting." Van said as his irises glowed.
However before Cloud could take a step forward, a purple beam shot into chest, causing blood to gush out of his mouth.
The beam came from the index finger of Vaan and Vaan grinned sadistically at Cloud.
"Whoops." Van said as his irises glowed.
Van repeatedly fired purple beams of light repeatedly from his index finger towards Cloud, piercing his body in the process while Cloud was screaming in pain.
After Van had finished, Cloud dropped to his knees and fell flat on his face. As a pool of blood flowed out of his body, Vaan chuckled.
"So pretty." Van said.
To the shock of Van, Cloud made his struggles to stand back on his feet while groaning.
As Cloud stood on his feet, Cloud raised his head to gaze at Van and gave an open smile.
"Is that... All you got?" Cloud asked.
This shocked not only Zera, the teachers and the students but also chief Taya as well. Among the students, Sting smirked while Karma raised a brow as her arms were crossed.
"How is he still standing?" A male Tenplar teacher said in his heart.
"Oh hoh! What is this?" Van said to Cloud with a smile, "First you took a punch and stood, then a couple of hits and now several attacks from my kan ability and you're still standing.
Back then one punch would have ended it. One casual punch. But now... Tell me, what is your secret?"
"You talk too much." Cloud replied.
Cloud performed a beckoning finger at Van which led Vaan to smirk while his irises glowed.
Vaan burst forward and punched him across the face which caused blood and spittle to fly out of his mouth. Vaan began to deliver a barrage of punches on Cloud's face, repeatedly rocking his head side to side while laughing maniacally.
"This is so good! You're so good, Cloud!" Van said while still punching Cloud, "Don't stop! Keep standing! Keep taking hits, whitehead!"
As Van was still punching Cloud while laughing, Van noticed Cloud's hands holding his collar which left him confused.
"Shut! The hell! UP!!!" Cloud said as he hurled his head forward and headbutted Vaan.
The people watching became shocked (excluding Karma) as Van staggered backwards with his head tilted back from the headbutt of Cloud.
"Did he just...?" A teenage female Tenplar said.
Cloud dropped to his knees and panted for air while his head was tilted down.
Silence stayed in the atmosphere for some and Van whose head was still tilted back, snapped his head forward and grinned as his irises glowed.
"Time is up!" A feminine voice said.
Vaan turned to the direction of the voice and saw the person to be Zera.
"The sand is empty and Cloud still remains conscious." Zera said.
Van glanced at the sand in shock and saw it was empty just as Zera had said. Many of the students themselves were also in shock while Sting grinned as his irises glowed.
"By the rules of the match, the winner is... Cloud of the Sturmwhnd!" Zehra said as she extended her right arm sideways while her irises glowed.
This made many of the students clap their hands and chief Taya being moved, softly clapped her hands too.
Van glared at Cloud and softly growled as his irises glowed. However, Cloud lost consciousness and fell flat on his face.