Chapter 60: Testing the New Implant

Kladirex sighed.

"If you’re asking about the blood, it’s not mine. Some pain-in-the-ass upperclassmen tried to shake me down for my Cadet Points, is all."

He walked past Arthur and headed toward the bathroom.

"I made sure to properly enlighten them. Not for free, of course. Bunch of implant junkies running premium hardware with trash combat skills."

"Bottom feeders hardly worth mentioning."

Arthur remained standing there, staring at him.

Kladirex disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door.

Arthur paused for a moment.

Then he slowly looked toward the bathroom.

"...Is he saying he got jumped, beat up the guys who did it, and then shook them down for compensation?"

Arthur blinked.

"...The guy’s brutal."

Arthur paused for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"You know, now that I think about it, Kladirex is the second-ranked among the first years with the highest male Cadet Combat Rating, just below me, right, Genesis?"

Genesis tilted her head.

〘Are you thinking about sparring with him?〙

Arthur’s smile widened.

"Yeah."

He glanced toward the bathroom.

"Instead of going to find an instructor, he’s the next best thing."

Arthur leaned back slightly.

"Plus, the guy clearly doesn’t like me."

His grin became even wider.

"What better way to build bonds between men than by exchanging blows?"

〘Master, I’m not sure that’s what people normally mean when they talk about building bonds.〙

Arthur shrugged.

"Maybe not."

Arthur called out his name.

"Kladirex."

"What?"

Kladirex’s voice came from the bathroom.

Arthur smiled.

"Are you down for a spar?"

There was a brief pause.

A moment later, Kladirex stepped out of the bathroom, dabbing a towel over his head. Another towel was wrapped around his waist.

"What has you so fired up?"

Arthur smiled proudly.

"Just got a new implant. Thought I could take it for a spin."

There was a pause, then Kaldirex wore a dramatic surprised expression.

He then gave a few mild claps.

"Oh, wow. Well done. First time getting one? Did your body finally fail you, or did you realize how incapable you are compared to everyone else around you?"

Arthur felt slightly irritated, but he managed to maintain a calm expression... Mostly, his expression seemed a little strained.

He then said,

"Actually, an instructor made it mandatory. If not, I’m pretty sure I could do... without one."

He was trying to rub his superior combat assessment rating in his face.

Kladirex raised an eyebrow.

"Really? Part of me was hoping you had your ass beat, but it seems that isn’t the case."

He shrugged.

"Well, I’m happy for you. Or at least I wish I was."

Kladirex turned away.

"But go ask someone else. I have bigger things to do with my time than help some noble kid test out his new toy."

He paused.

"Unless you’re putting all your Cadet Points on the line, though."

A faint smirk appeared on his face.

"Then I’ll gladly beat your ass all you want."

Arthur smirked.

"You don’t say. Hmm, I can’t help but wonder how you plan to beat someone with a higher Combat Rating than you."

Kladirex’s expression became slightly disappointed.

"Really?"

He sighed.

"If the entrance assessment is what has your head so high in the clouds, you’d better not get too close to the sun."

Kladirex looked directly at Arthur.

"Any normal person with a brain would realize that those inmates were nothing more than untrained scoundrels."

His expression remained calm.

"You’re going to be going up against a trained cadet now."

Arthur’s smile remained.

"...Is that supposed to be a challenge?"

Kladirex stared at him for a moment.

"No."

He turned toward the room.

"It’s a warning."

Arthur smiled.

"Okay, then."

"I’m placing all my Cadet Points on the line. Let’s go have a spar."

Kladirex raised an eyebrow.

Arthur’s grin widened.

"If you even manage to graze me with a single attack, you can have all my Cadet Points."

He paused, then pointed at him.

"But if I manage to beat you into submission, from today henceforth, you’re going to be my errand boy."

Kladirex stared at him for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"In your dreams, 81."

Arthur frowned.

"The name’s Arthur."

"I know."

Kladirex’s smile widened.

"I just don’t give a damn."

...

Arthur and Kladirex stood inside one of the Academy’s sparring rings.

The training facility was enormous, with dozens of combat arenas spread across the massive hall.

Mechanical training equipment lined the walls, while holographic displays monitored each active sparring session.

Arthur stood on one side of the ring.

Kladirex stood on the other.

The moment word spread that the two were about to spar, nearby cadets began drifting toward the ring.

One cadet looked toward the arena and raised an eyebrow.

"Are those two really going at it?"

Another cadet glanced over.

"Looks like it."

"Wait, aren’t those two supposed to be the highest-scoring male cadets among the first years?"

"Yeah. Arthur Von Ashbourne is ranked first."

"And Kladirex is second."

A third cadet folded his arms.

"So the first and second-ranked male cadets are about to fight each other?"

"Apparently."

"Why?"

The cadet beside him shrugged.

"Who cares? This is going to be interesting."

Arthur glanced around at the growing crowd.

"What the hell is up with the crowd?"

Kladirex shrugged.

"Witnesses."

He looked toward Arthur with a faint smirk.

"Couldn’t have you chickening out of our deal, now, could I?"

He glanced at the surrounding cadets.

"Also, I wanted everyone to see that you’re not as skilled as you think you are. Hope you don’t mind."

Arthur smiled.

"Hardly."

Arthur looked around at the gathered cadets.

Some were whispering among themselves.

Others were staring directly at him, clearly waiting to see what would happen.

Arthur couldn’t help but smile.

"If that’s what you want, then I don’t mind."

Kladirex nodded.

"Good."

He stepped farther into the center of the sparring ring.

Arthur followed.

The holographic display above the arena suddenly flickered to life.

〘Sparring Match Detected〙

〘Participants: Arthur Von Ashbourne / Kladirex〙

〘Combat Rules: Non-Lethal〙

〘Victory Conditions: Submission, Incapacitation, or Voluntary Surrender〙

〘Cadet Point Wager Detected〙

〘Wager: All Cadet Points〙

The crowd immediately became louder.

"Wait, they’re actually betting all their Cadet Points?"

"You’re kidding."

"Nope."

"That’s insane."

"How many points does Arthur even have?"

"I don’t know."

"Probably a lot."

Another cadet laughed.

"Then Kladirex is about to get rich."

Someone nearby shook his head.

"Don’t count Arthur out yet."

"Why?"

"He had a perfect entrance assessment."

"Against criminals."

"And?"

"And Kladirex is a battle freak."

The surrounding chatter continued.

Arthur barely paid attention.

His eyes remained fixed on Kladirex.

The other boy stood completely relaxed.

No visible tension.

No nervousness.

Nothing.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"...He’s confident."

Genesis appeared beside him.

〘Master, his posture suggests that he isn’t bluffing.〙

Arthur smiled.

"I know."

He rolled his shoulders.

"That’s what makes this interesting."

Kladirex suddenly spoke.

"Done talking to your imaginary friends?"

Arthur’s expression twitched.

"...You can see them?"

"No."

Kladirex shrugged.

"Just figured you were probably doing that. You mumble something every now and then. It’s hard not to notice."

Arthur chuckled.

"Fair enough."

The holographic display changed.

〘Combatants, prepare yourselves.〙

Both cadets lowered their stances.

The atmosphere around the training facility changed immediately.

The casual chatter disappeared.

Dozens of cadets watched silently.

Some leaned forward.

Others folded their arms.

Everyone wanted to see the same thing.

The first-ranked male cadet against the second-ranked male cadet.

Arthur slowly raised his hands. He smiled.

Let’s see what you can do.

Across from him, Kladirex narrowed his crimson eyes.

The faint smile disappeared from his face.

For the first time since entering the ring, he looked completely serious.

〘Combat authorization confirmed.〙

〘Begin.〙

The instant the announcement ended...

Kladirex vanished from his position.

Arthur’s eyes widened slightly.

"...Fast."

BAM!

The ground beneath Kladirex’s foot cracked as he launched himself forward.

His fist came straight toward Arthur’s face.

Arthur smiled.

Finally.

Something worth testing.

His body moved.

Instantly.

The punch passed within an inch of his cheek.

Arthur’s eyes gleamed.

So that’s the difference.

He hadn’t even consciously thought about dodging... He had only visualized it, and his body executed it perfectly.

Kladirex’s fist missed.

His expression changed.

Arthur was already standing beside him.

"Too slow."

Kladirex’s eyes widened.

Arthur’s fist shot toward his ribs.

But Kladirex twisted his body at the last second.

The punch grazed his side.

He stumbled backward several steps.

The crowd erupted.

"Whoa!"

"He dodged that?!"

"That was fast!"

Kladirex steadied himself.

He looked down at his side.

Then back at Arthur.

A grin slowly returned to his face.

"...Interesting."

Arthur cracked his neck.

"That’s all you’ve got?"

Kladirex’s grin widened.

"Don’t get cocky, 81."

He lowered his stance.

"That was just the warm-up."

"...Interesting."

Kladirex bent his knees slightly.

Then...

BOOM!

He launched himself forward.

Arthur’s eyes widened.

This time, Kladirex was even faster.

His body blurred as he crossed the distance between them.

Arthur barely had time to register the movement before Kladirex’s fist came toward his chest.

Arthur didn’t think.

He simply visualized himself moving.

His body responded instantly.

He twisted his torso.

Kladirex’s fist passed beside him.

Arthur’s right hand shot forward.

BAM!

His palm struck Kladirex’s shoulder.

The impact forced Kladirex sideways.

But he didn’t stumble.

Instead, he used the momentum to spin.

His leg swept toward Arthur’s ankles.

Arthur’s body moved before the thought had even fully formed.

He jumped.

Kladirex’s leg passed beneath him.

Arthur landed.

And immediately saw another attack coming.

Kladirex’s elbow.

...He isn’t giving me any breathing room.

A feral smile appeared on Arthur’s face.

...I like it.