Saturday December 3rd, 2018.

  All around the arena. The crowd of students go wild. The stands are even fuller than when they had the first challenge. Students of all ages are in their seats and excited to watch the fights.

  In the arena two second year students are duking it out. Both are wielding a shield, but one has a flail and the other a sword. The two students are evenly matched; both are fighting while trying to use their strengths and limit their weaknesses.

  As the fight continues, it is the flail fighter that starts to come out on top. Striking repeatedly with heavy blows the man wielding the flail is able to push the sword fighter toward the edge of the arena.

  But the sword wielder, through a mix of skill and luck is able to dodge and block the blows that keep knocking him back. Then just as everyone thinks the sword wielder is going to be knocked from the ring, the man with the mace starts to flag.

  Up in the stands Helo and his party watch with food and drinks that they bought from a concession stand. Turing to Alli, who is by his side Helo asks. “So why are there only first and second years fighting?”

  Needing to finish chewing her hotdog Alli holds up a finger. Once she swallows, she explains. “You know that the number of parties drop as the years go up?” She asks him. What she is talking about is the fact that people die or drop out and take their education slower.

  Getting a nod from Helo she continues. “There are less parties in the older years. So, they are having the first and second years fight Saturday morning. Then the older students will fight later.

  It makes sense to Helo. Looking back at the fight he is able to see the man with the sword slip his much thinner weapon between the flail wielder’s guard.

  “Well. That was something. Next up is, Carl from the Twin Heiress Party. Fighting him is Dan.” Ryan announces in his extremely bored voice.

  “Dan?” Helo looks at Alli and Hinata. The two girls just shrugged. But not before Alli pouts.

  “I hate that name.” She mumbles under her breath.

  Carl steps onto the field wearing simple metal armor. Across from him Dan walks out in a mages robe.

  Alli perks up at the mage. “Oh, this should be interesting. Hopefully he has a good showing, us mages are underutilized in one-on-one combat.”

  Beside Alli, Luna rolls her eyes and scoffs. “You only say that because you like to turn your staff into a hammer.”

  “Begin.” Ryan waves his hand with as little effort as he can possibly have.

  “Kick his butt, Dan! Then lose so Carl can win!” Alli shouts as the two fighters prepare themselves.

  Everyone around the arena looks at the fight with anticipation. Dan is the first non-warrior to enter the ring. Everyone is thinking, He must have something up his sleeve.

  Carl glows with the light of ‘Knight’s Spirit’. Dashing forward with ‘Shield Rush’ Carl hits a hastily conjured shield that stops him in his tracks.

  Half the arena can’t even see Dan due to Carl’s large size. Some of those people think they are about to witness Dan’s secret technique. The other half of the arena can already tell that Dan is very under prepared. Carl used the tank’s equivalent of a movement skill to close in, and Dan is already reeling.

  Stumbling backward with his arms flailing Dan loses his footing and falls off the edge of the arena. “Well, that was underwhelming.” Alli mumbles.

  Then the crowd goes wild with cheers and jeers for the fighters.

  With Carl’s morning fight done they party heads out of the stands and to where Carl should be exiting from the arena.

  As they reach the exit, Carl is already waiting but he looks completely lost in thought. Gabi calls out to him, and Carl slowly turns their way. His face looks incredibly troubled.

  “What’s wrong?” Arisah asks.

  “I… expected more?” Carl says as his shoulders slump.

  Rurgrim walks up and pats the tall man on the shoulder. It would seem normal, but the dwarf really had to stretch to reach his shoulder.

  “It’s only the first day. If anything, you should look at that fight with pride. They intentionally gave you someone so easy because they want to save the interesting fights for later.” Rurgrim walks off.

  “That was like… really smart.” Gabi speaks up as everyone follows the dwarf. “Is Rugrim sick or something?”

  Getting a glare from the dwarf and a round of laughs from her party, Gabi smiles smugly at him.

  As the party heads back to the stadium to find some new seats. Alli takes the lead with her phone in hand. Following directions from her phone, Alli waves happily as they enter the stadium to find Maria and her party of warrior ladies.

  Sitting down, Helo intentionally sits on the edge of his group. The stands they are at now, are still close to the arena floor. Being nobles, they have that kind of privilege. But sitting at the edge of their row Helo pulls out his tablet.

  He asked Akira about the silver-grey wisps. Akira had no idea what Helo was experiencing. But he did mention many stories and people groups that do similar things. The first group are the sects in China. They are notorious for shunting experience, and absorbing energy in a manual systematic way. The next group are from ninja clans that combine their energy to make something new. It is like mana, but comes with other restrictions.

  Mana is free and esoteric. There are affinities and limitations. But with mana you can perform magic. Other energies have their own benefits, but at the same time, they are more limiting than mana.

  Helo understands the limitations perfectly. The reason his skills are changing so much as his internal energy changes is because his skills are directly made from his energy. They cannot do anything that physical and mental energy cannot do. This adds limitations but at the same time makes them potent in their roles.

  So, sitting away from the group Helo pulls up the libraries from the Kashiwagi and Brightmoon clans. Then he starts doing some research. The first thing he looks up is records about powerful members of both clans.

  Helo remembers being told that direct natural energy manipulation is something that most people can’t do. Manipulating person stamina, health, or mental energy are things that the system does for you. Everyone else uses mana, at the same time the mana running through someone’s body covers up their more natural energies.

  Helo was told that manipulating these energies is something that someone learns to do when they hit a roadblock. You also gain more understanding of them when you create your aura, create a bloodline, and supposedly when you create a domain. Helo has no idea about the last two, but that is what he was told, and what the records state.

  With all these thoughts flowing through his mind Helo is disappointed when he comes up mostly empty. When he looked up search results for things like ‘combined energy’, ‘personal energy’, ‘natural energy’, and so on. He found a lot of information about mana manipulation, which Helo can’t do. One thing he did find was a note that mentioned apposing affinities can combine to create a middle affinity. One that acts like a bridge between the two. Like Water, Fire, and Steam. Water, Earth, and Mud.

  Keeping that in mind Helo considers that his body might be trying to naturally produce energy that is compatible with both his vitality and null affinities. He isn’t too sure about it, mostly because that same article mentioned how on many occasions two opposing affinities ended with explosive results. The end of the article mentioned that the research was forced to stop, due to a fatality.

  Just as Helo is about to start looking up the sects and what they call Qi. Helo is shaken from his tablets screen by a grinning Alli. “Helo, Carl is up again!”

  With a dramatic flick of his wrist, his tablet disappears into his necklace and Helo focuses down on arena.

  “Hey! That’s Wei Chen! Da’s cousin. I think.” Alli says as she drags Helo to the center of their group. When he is finally placed in a seat he is in his usually place between the heiresses. But Maria is sitting directly in front of them.

  “It is. I am surprised.” Maria says with a little confusion in her tone.

  “Why?” Hinata asks.

  “Well. Da Chen’s friend Bo Haoran is an amazing fighter. He is very skilled.” Maria answers. “It is odd that his antagonistic cousin is there instead.”

  “Da doesn’t like drawing attention.” Helo speaks up.

  “Mhm. Still. Choosing him might bring even more attention.” Maria says.

  “In the arena we have Carl. Fighitng him is Wei. Begin… or something.” Ryan speaks to the stadium.

  “Why is it always him?” Alli asks the group. Everyone looks around hoping that someone has an answer for why the laziest guy at their school is the announcer. But everyone just shrugs.

  If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  “At first it was funny, but now it just makes the school look bad.” Alli says with some annoyance on her face. She wants Carl to have his moment of glory.

  Carl steps into the fight wearing the same simple armor. But at the same time the spiritual cloak generated around him makes him look like a conquering hero. People might have different reactions if the color was something like black or a sickly green. But having a golden glow surround you has the effect of making you seem heroic.

  On the other side of the arena Wei Chen steps up wearing a similar set of simple armor. Only he is in a lighter version. Wei also is wielding a single sword in one hand with his other arm behind his back. He walks onto the stage with confidence and appears like he is going to be teaching a lesson.

  As Ryan finished his boring commentary the two fighters launch across the arena. Wei shows his faster speed, in that he meets Carl’s ‘Shield Bash’ on Carl’s side of the arena. But Carl shows off his increased strength when he pushes Wei back closer to Wei’s side.

  With their opening strikes complete the two fighters start out with testing blows. Quick strikes from Wei are met with Carl’s shield. The shield on Carl’s arm is much smaller than his usual Kite shield. But he wields it with skill as each of Wei’s strikes glance off.

  At the same time Carl attempts some retaliatory stabs and slashes, only for Wei to be ready for the move. Using his faster speed, Wei easily jumps back to dodge. As their testing continues it is Carl that ends the exchange of blows.

  Deflecting Wei’s sword off to his left side, Carl opens up his shield and steps through with a thrust into Wei’s guard. At the same time his sword glows with a white light as the tip of his blade extends beyond the sword.

  Wei does something that leaves Helo slightly confused. Instead of using mana like normal he uses some kind of weird mana like energy to form a small explosion near his chest. The small blast sends Carl’s blade wide. Instead of piercing his chest the blow is sent to the side and slashes through his ribs.

  Helo looks beside him “What was that? That wasn’t a skill?”

  “Well, you learned a technique from my uncle. Cultivators tend to gain passive skills that increase their energy manipulation, mana pool and other things. But they tend to use techniques instead of skills. Because of this they tend to be weaker starting out, without having many ranged abilities and less options. But they make up for it later with very potent techniques that require a strong foundation in concepts and aura.” Alli explains in a surprisingly intelligent way.

  Helo’s face shows just how surprised he is. Not that he expects her to be dumb, but she is usually more carefree. “Hey! I know things!” She shouts at Helo.

  To Helo’s other side Hinata chuckles. Whispering to Helo she says, “The only reason she knows that is because as kids she swore off the system and said she didn’t need help.”

  Just as Alli is about to yell at Hinata for her blatant disregard for Alli’s secrets. Everyone around them shouts. “OHHHH!”

  Looking toward the field Helo can see Wei completely losing it as he fights like an angry badger. Helo doesn’t know what happened, but something set off the man’s anger issues. Carl skillfully deflects and blocks the man’s attacks. Then when Carl finds the right opening, he shoves Wei’s sword aside and spartan kicks him from the arena. Wei gets up in a rage and still tries to fight Carl, only to be forced from the arena floor.

  As everyone around them cheers Helo turns to Hinata. “So, are skills bad?”

  Hinata looks at Helo in surprise before smiling like she is explaining something to a child. “No, they just let us use magic beyond what our ancestors could. Cultivators say that the system is a crutch. But it takes them hundreds of years to learn techniques that do what my father can do with a skill.”

  Before Helo can respond Hinata says something else. “But the techniques that they use are powerful. The way that they refine mana makes their mana pools smaller, but also very potent.”

  Helo nods in response, but he is lost in thought as he thinks about what she said to him. The entire time he is just wondering about the silver-grey energy. Is it some kind of refined Qi? No, she said they use mana.

  The next day Helo and his party cheer in the stadium as Carl is introduced as one of the sixteen finalists of the first-year students. Out of all the students being introduced, Adan is easily the first seed. But instead of looking happy Adan looks pissed as he searches the crowd for someone.

  Ducking behind Alli, Helo tries to avoid Adan’s gaze. He isn’t scared of the man, especially after gaining another level and his increase in cultivation. But he doesn’t care to fight Adan again and the man just keeps searching him out.

  “Gahh. When will he just drop it.” Helo groans from behind Alli.

  Covering her mouth with a giggle, Alli responds. “Heh. I don’t know. It’s kind of cute, you have an admirer.”

  “Gahhh.” Groaning again at Alli’s insinuation Helo sits up straight. He isn’t in his normal place, sitting beside Alli, but not Hinata. Alli has Hinata on the other side and Hinata is sitting next to Maria. The two parties are sitting together like they were yesterday. Only today they also had Da Chen, Bo Haoran, and Rohan with them.

  Rohan showed his skill with the blade. Placing within the twenties of all the people in the first-year. But he was just shy of being on stage with Carl.

  Rohan fought using two short swords, only as the fight started, he would drop one blade and use his Sword Caller class to mentally control the blade. Then he showed off great mental control as he fought with a blade in hand and controlled the other.

  Unfortunately for him, his class requires the use of enchanted swords. Otherwise, someone with skills like ‘Slash’, ‘Thrust’, and ‘Parry’ will have an advantage over him.

  The first duel of the day is between two fourth year students. The school is starting off with a great show to not only get the other students hooked, but all the people that are around Hornheim.

  Helo is interested in the fight. But he is more interested in talking with Da Chen about cultivation. When he first noticed the silver energy, he didn’t even know how to make it, so he wasn’t really concerned.

  Unfortunately, now circumstances are forcing him to learn quickly. He can’t always focus on separating his mental and physical energy within his core. Creating two different paths within his core area is mentally taxing for him. Not immediately, but after a day it can be draining. Plus, it stops his concentration when he is crafting or even just enjoying his time watching a tournament.

  Slipping from his seat near Alli, Helo works his way to the edge of the party where Da Chen is with Bo and Rohan. Gesturing to the seat beside Da, Helo asks “Can I sit?”

  Da’s eyes open wide at Helo’s question. Out of everyone in the stadium, it is only the tier 3 professors that understand just how dangerous Helo is. Even the concepts that are innately connected to his affinities make him strange and powerful. Out of the students Alli, Hinata, Rocco and Arsiah have an idea due to Helo’s parentage, but someone who also comes close is Da Chen.

  His innate ability to see and understand energy not only makes him a great cultivator and strategist, but it also makes him slightly fearful of Helo. That same fear is the reason that Da Chen has been accepting Helo and his party’s invites to come over or sit with them. In his own mind he thinks, Why fear an ally.

  Nodding slowly, Da awkwardly asks. “Um sure… But … Why?”

  Next to Da, Bo holds in an internal sigh. His friend and boss can be so awkward sometimes. This is what happens when you set people up to be rivals at such a young age. Bo thinks.

  Helo looks at Da awkwardly. His own antisocial nature peaking out and making the entire situation weird. “Ahhh?” Helo looks around for support.

  Alli having watched Helo walk down the aisle wants to scream. Yelling so that everyone around them can hear her shouts. “DA, HELO WANTS TO ASK ABOUT CULTIVATION!”

  Bo grasping the lifeline that Alli tossed acts swiftly. “Sit down. What do you want to know?” He smiles at Helo and gestures to the seat beside his friend.

  Slowly sitting, Helo can understand how awkward that situation was, but he isn’t emotionally skilled enough to understand what went wrong. “Well, I wanted to know about cultivation, and how you create you Qi.”

  Bo smiles and turns to Da. This is an easy one, just tell him the textbook answer you memorized.

  “Ha. Um. Ah.” Da stutters and looks at Bo with wide eyes.

  Smacking his head in exasperation, Bo turns back to Helo’s questioning gaze. “That is a tricky question. Not all Qi is the same. But the main understanding comes from blending mana, natural energies, and your internal energy.”

  “Natural energies?” Helo asks questioningly.

  “Well, you know what mana is, but natural energies refer to things like affinities, we call them The Dao. When you’re referring to Qi, it means what give the Qi an affinity.” Bo explains. The entire time he is looking at Da waiting for him to speak up, but Da seems happy to let Bo do the talking.

  “And internal energy?” Helo looks between the two cultivators.

  “That is your personal spiritual and physical energy. While only using a small amount, it’s what facilitates the change between mana and Qi. The reason why the energies that are so fundamentally similar, act differently.” Bo explains.

  Helo sits still for a while and tries to understand how that helps him. His problem has to do with his internal energy, and what they would call natural energy mixing.

  “What if someone has no mana?” Helo asks slowly.

  Both teenagers give Helo an odd look. At the same time Da finally perks up. The conversation starts to pull him from his shell. He can also feel that Helo lacks mana. His body is like a black hole when it comes to mana, but other energies like physical or spiritual energy are abundant.

  “Well…” Da says slowly and with only a little awkwardness. “Well in cultivation terms, Mana is a form of lesser heavenly energy. It is the connection to a higher state of being. But with how most people use it, it is much simpler, it is an energy that is condensed and expanded.”

  “Oh sorry. You didn’t ask about that.” Da pulls himself back to Helo’s question. While talking his eyes glow with a soft light as he looks at the mana around them. “Mana is in all things; it has the potential to be all things. But it is not the only thing. Without mana, someone is left with pure Vital energy.” After speaking Da shrugs. “I haven’t learned much about it, nothing more than what Bo already explained.”

  Helo nods to himself and understands just a little bit more. The two energies that he interacts with are called Vital energy and Natural Energy. The energy of the mind and body and the energy that creates affinities.

  Sitting back in his seat Helo is lost in thought as the third battle begins. This one is between two first-year students. But Carl isn’t involved. “Vital and Natural.” Helo says to himself. All he can think is. Where do I go from here? Am I going to reach a point where I can’t reach any higher. Helo’s mood starts to plummet. Is mana or the so-called heavenly energy that important for growth?

  Da can see this and his own mood falls too. Oh no, did I just make him mad? Before he can spiral, Bo hits Da in the ribs. “Um!?” He yelps. Helo looks up at Da and Da coughs. “Ahem. I think that growth can come from all three. Even without mana, affinities can always be strengthened, the body and mind can be trained.”

  Da starts to curl inward as Helo just stares at him. But before he can start to freak out, Helo smiles.

  “Good point.” Inside Helo is happy too. My affinities both have strong concepts. I won’t have to worry about these things for a long time. Then when Helo starts to relax after learning about a solution to a problem he didn’t even know he had, he thinks. Wait? What about the silver energy!

  Not getting the answer he came for Helo looks back down to the field. On the arena a woman just spinning jump kicked a man in the face. The blow was so fast and so hard that he didn’t block and was sent flying from the arena.

  As Ryan’s bland voice can be heard Carl steps into the arena. Up against Carl is someone that everyone recognizes. All faces turn to Maria, her usual group of five is down to four.

  “The knight Carl versus The Amazonian Helena. Begin.” Under his breath everyone can still hear Ryan through the speakers. “Stupid boss, making give them titles now. ‘It will be more engaging for the crowd, just have fun’.” Ryan mimics Hal in a high-pitched voice before going silent and watching the fight with a bored face.

  Everyone in Helo’s row leaps to their feet at are yelling excitedly as the fight starts. “Yeah! Kick him in the balls!” Gabi shouts with her hands cupped to her face.

  Even the normally stoic Rocco is on his feet. “Don’t let her win! Get in her guard! NO! She uses a spear! Idiot!”

  Rocco backseat fights as Carl attempts to slip past Helena’s spear, only to be rebuffed, shield against shield when his own strength is slightly less than the tall muscular woman’s.

  Helena grins at Carl like a cat that caught her prey. Carl isn’t sure if he should be nervous or slightly excited by the look that Helena is giving him. But thanks to his ‘Knight’s Spirit’ skill he doesn’t let the look get to him.

  Grimacing at his skill, Carl skillfully blocks and retaliates. Even though he can hear his grandfather’s laughing voice in his head ‘Haha! Maybe there is more that I can teach you than just fighting young Carl! If the Lady permits of course! HAHA!’

  For the first time he wishes he chose the simple ‘Swordsmanship’ skill. Carl isn’t too happy that the nudges and knowledge have turned into mocking laughter from his grandfather’s deceased spirit.