Eternal Freedom's Ascension-Chapter 85: Combat Training Exam (2)

Bang!

A transparent but tangible wave of sound energy slammed into the automaton, sending it skidding. It quickly stabilized itself, then stabbed forward sharply.

Aina’s eyes shrank as she saw over ten spear mirages approaching her, all looking real. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

She raised her sword and waved it chaotically, trying to guess the real one before it reached her.

Other spear mirages dispersed upon contact, and she quickly found the real one. However, it was already too late.

The spear dug into her shoulder, eliciting a startled yelp from her. She staggered back, then fell to her knees, blood spreading from the wound.

["Examination Complete. Result: Defeat. Margin - 9.82%"]

The automaton removed the spear from her body, allowing her blood to stain the stage.

It turned away from her, then returned to being inactive alongside its mates. At a signal, Aina was carried off the stage, her wound tended to by the healers in the Training Facility.

"Her result is average—very average," Rina said calmly, her expression unchanged.

She wasn’t impressed by this result at all, as the girl barely took a few blows.

"Next up..."

......

Several students went up over the next hour, but their results were unsatisfactory. Either they performed slightly better than Aina, or they performed worse. At least they were able to exchange one or two blows before losing.

At this moment, Rina had disappointment coloring her face. She closed her eyes, then called upon the next student.

"Next up, Liam Hart."

The brown-haired boy stepped forward calmly, his steps full of purpose. Clad in his brown leather armor, he stepped onto the stage where his opponent was already waiting.

The automaton carried a broad steel sword, the blade glinting under neon lights.

["Combat Mode: Level 6. Engaging."]

As soon as the mechanical voice settled, the automaton moved. It leaned forward, then surged as if propelled by a force from behind.

Whoosh-!

The sword sliced past his former position, missing him by a wide margin. Liam turned around, slamming the pommel of his own sword into its face.

The attack disrupted its momentum, sending it tumbling sideways. It recovered instantly, twisting inhumanly as it countered.

Liam jumped back, narrowly evading a wild sweep of the automaton’s blade.

’It is fast. But I can read it.’

Clang! Clang!

He blocked twice and twisted away from the next strike. His muscles trembled from the impact of the successive attacks, but he immediately regained control.

’Don’t just block. Disperse the force behind the attack.’

He took a deep breath, feeling the heated air rushing into his lungs.

He opened his eyes, finding the automaton very close to him.

’Fuck! No lapse during battle!’

Anyway, it was too late. A metallic punch slammed into his guts, arching his back.

BAM!

"Liam...!"

Someone screamed from among the students, but he barely heard. His ears were ringing heavily.

Something warm flowed from his lips, carrying the metallic taste of blood. He took three steps back, feeling as if his internal organs had ruptured.

Even then, he didn’t collapse. He stubbornly grabbed onto the automaton’s arm, then delivered his own punch right onto its face.

Bam!

Its head bent back, almost snapping off its neck. Liam immediately seized the opportunity and activated his ability.

’Balance Manipulation.’

A link connected him and the automaton, siphoning energy from it while fueling his own until their strength became equal.

Visibly, the automaton’s movements slowed. Both Liam and the machine separated from each other, preparing for another round.

"I will win!"

Liam grinned, his brown eyes glistening. He wiped the blood from his mouth, then charged at his opponent.

The two moved across the stage like seasoned swordsmen, their blades tangling and untangling with grace. The automaton possessed surprising skill comparable to a Legacy Awakened, surprising some students.

"They’re moving so fast..."

Someone whispered, their voice lost in the clear sounds of swords clashing.

Clang! Shiiiing! Clang! Clang!

’Even though we’re on equal stats, I’m still being pressured this much!’

Sweat slid down the side of Liam’s face, his attention entirely focused on the machine before him. Its attacks were sharp and lethal, carrying the possibility of inflicting a serious injury.

Liam felt an actual pressure, like he was fighting for his life. The longer he fought, the more his skills seemed to improve. He adapted to the automaton fast, immediately covering up his mistakes while trying to find loopholes in its own movements.

’My body... damned fatigue!’

As much as he’d like to stretch the fight for a little longer, his body was already tired and weary. He couldn’t fight for long, or his body wouldn’t keep up and would crash.

’One last attack...’

Eyes sharpened, he struck a direct stab at the automaton. The attack was simple, but that sudden simplicity disrupted the momentum of the fight.

The automaton barely reacted, managing to shift the sword to the right side. It pierced its breastplate, stopping just an inch from cutting through its back.

"Huff!"

Liam panted heavily, his body trembling non-stop. He was entirely spent, keeping his ability activated for a long time while still fighting.

["Examination Complete. Result: Victory. Margin - 0.10%"]

The tensed silence erupted into a cheer from his classmates, all fired up by his victory. His battle had been the hottest so far, making them emotionally invested.

"Good job, Liam." Rina was amazed, directly complimenting him. This was rare praise from her, one that made him smile.

After he was carried away by the healers, Rina began calling the next students. Although fired up, none of the next five were able to achieve good results. Only one of them was slightly better than Aina.

"Next up, Logan Fang."

As soon as he heard his name, Logan sprang up. He summoned his clawed gauntlets, then climbed onto the stage.

Another automaton had come to face him, wielding a large hammer.

Logan glanced at Kaiser’s silent figure once, his gaze carrying anger and caution.

"I’ll pummel this metal scrap just as much as I want to pummel you."

He declared in a low voice, then turned his attention to the automaton.

["Combat Mode: Level 6. Engaging."]