A crash rang out as I slammed my foot against the middle of a training bot's torso, sending it flying back, its metal body slamming against the wall behind it.
"Huh. That was a lot easier than I thought it would be, I really have gotten stronger," I remarked in bemusement.
It was the following evening, and I'd dropped by the gym after classes ended for the day, to test out how much stronger I'd gotten following the boosts to my stats.
Evidently, my improvement was pretty significant. My stats hadn't increased by all that much in the grand scheme of things, so I didn't expect such a notable difference.
I'd sparred against a training bot at its highest setting, and it couldn't land even a single hit against me.
I was able to follow and track its movements without any trouble, my reflexes and reaction time are much sharper, and I'm definitely hitting a lot harder than I used to.
Before, I didn't have the brute strength to send training bots flying like I just did. At most, I could knock them over, but nothing beyond that.
Was I really premeditatively reacting to its patterns without even realizing it?
Well, that would explain how easy this turned out to be. Guess this is as far as I can get using these bots to spar against.
Still, I couldn't have gotten to my current level if it wasn't for these things, they really helped me iron out a lot of the kinks in my technique and refine my skills.
And, at the very least, today's sparring session helped me confirm and quantify how much I've improved after that raid. Too bad it'll be a while before I get to increase my stats again.
Come on, not this again. I can't just go around eating up people's Mana and biting off chunks of their flesh, you know.
And no, it's not just a matter of pride, I'm bound to get arrested for assault or something if I ever did that.
Maybe if I find someone who consents to it, but that would only be possible if I explained why I want to use Drain on them.
Right now, people assume that it just restores my existing Mana reserves, when it reality, it increases my max MP.
And that's not an ability I want people finding out about at this stage, which is likely to happen if I just go around and use it recklessly on any Hunters I come across.
Anyway, now that I've got an idea of how strong I currently am, think I'll head home and rest up, don't really have anything else to do today, so might as well laze about.
...
...
"As you know, there are two types of Hunters, Combatants and Mages. For today's class, we'll be going into depth about the various Hunter Classes within those two categories.
Let's start with Combatants. There are six Combat Classes; Sabers, Lancers, Tanks, Brawlers, Rangers and Assassins. Depending on the Class, a Hunter gains an affinity for certain types of weapons or fighting styles.
Sabers use swords, Lancers weild spears, Tanks use heavy weapons like axes and warhammers, and often utilize shields as well. Brawlers use direct strikes, often utilizing equipment such as heavy, armored gloves, gauntlets and boots to augment their attacks.
Rangers use projectile weapons like bow and arrows, crossbows, guns and slingshots, and Assassins use weapons like daggers and short-swords, as well as mid-ranged projectiles like throwing knives or needles," Remarked Ellyse, before going to the next slide of the slideshow she'd prepared.
It was the next day, the 22nd of March, 2168. Our General Education exam is scheduled for this upcoming Friday, just three days away.
Seems like a bit of strange choice to go over new material that won't be on the exam, especially this close to it, but I suppose it doesn't really make a difference.
Thanks to Ai, I'm basically guaranteed a perfect score.
That can't be helped. The better my results are, the more likely I am to get off to a good start as a Hunter after I graduate. I'm not going to deliberately get lower scores just to avoid standing out.
Yeah, alright.
"Next, let's discuss Mages. There are three types of Mages, Attack Mages, also known as Elemental Mages, Support Mages and Arcane Mages. Attack Mages include Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Lightning and Ice Mages.
Support Mages include Healers, Detectors, Enchanters and Teleporters. Teleporters are the rarest among the established Mage Classes, and were previously categorized as an Arcane Magic Class.
Speaking of which, Arcane Mages are those with unique Magic that doesn't conform to any of the established Mage Classes. Every Arcane Mage we know of have all possessed both Ace-level-...or even X-Ace level...-Potential and Mana Levels.
In other words, while usually, Mages have significantly lower physical prowess than Combatants, Arcane Mages tend to possess physical capabilities on par with Combatants, not to mention passive resistance Skills.
We still do not know much about Arcane Mages, there have only ever been nineteen such Hunters in history, and only six currently active, so the sample size is quite small.
And while it was previously believed that Arcane Classes were exclusive to Mages, recent evidence suggests that isn't the case, and that Combatants may be be able awaken Arcane Classes as well," She remarked, as she glanced at me.
Wha-...? It's only been four days since the raid, have they seriously already added me to the curriculum?
"Excuse me, ma'am, about that...you said that Arcane Mages have the potential to physically match Combatants, meaning both their Potential and Mana Levels are at a similar level. In which case, wouldn't that make them both Mages and Combatants at the same time?
So, with that in mind, perhaps the term Arcane Mage isn't totally accurate, maybe it should be something like Arcane Hunter instead," Spoke up Ariella thoughtfully.
"Hm...interesting, I hadn't considered that possibility. But yes, it does make sense. Since the Tabulization failed on Kaivel Intrix, it could be that he was assessed as a Combatant simply because his Magic was not stabilized. Which would make him the first Arcane Mage with a failed Tabulization," Mused Ellyse thoughtfully.
Great, now everyone's staring at me. This is uncomfortable.
"Hah, it would also make him the weakest Arcane Mage in history!" Sneered Trey, looking pretty happy.
And then there's this asshole.
Seriously, why is he so fixated on me? Why's the very thought of me being strong so triggering to him?
I mean, he'd be dead if it wasn't for me, for fucks sake. One of these days, I'd love to punch him in the face, among other things...