"For me, practicals are nothing but combat, duels and training. In my class, you’ll fight, win or lose. You all will learn with your body. Just having information will not save you in the battlefield, your body will."
All the students were standing in attention, listening to their practicals professor, the bulky and muscular, Thorgar Stonebreaker. He had a long braided beard, a bald head and was wearing a sleeveless black martial arts jacket tied at the waist with a black belt, showing off his muscular arms. His hands were rested on the handle of his huge hammer placed on the floor.
"You all are in the C class because of your low practical scores. I’m boiling with anger seeing these bodies of yours. Such weak muscles, never in your life have those muscles lifted anything heavy. How can you all be so lazy!" Thorgar roared in anger.
"By the end of the year, I’ll bulk those lanky bodies up. Your muscles will be screaming with joy, and the C class will beat all those proud brats from the upper classes in raw power. Hahahaha!"
A chill went down the spines of the students. He seemed like a demon king about to slave them away with their bodies. They wanted to escape from this class now, no matter what.
"Don’t worry. You won’t be able to escape, as I’m the representative professor of C class." Thorgar said with a wide smirk on his face.
"Since today’s the first class, I won’t be too hard on you all. We’ll start with duels. I want to see how much you all amount to in regards to combat. Note that it will be a pure combat without the use of aura."
"Now, who would like to start? Come forward." Thorgar said, moving his eyes around them, waiting for someone to come out.
"I’ll go first." Mor raised his hand and came forward from the back.
"Good! That’s the spirit! What’s your name young man?" Thorgar’s face brightened. He nodded in praise and asked for his name.
"I’m Mor Blackfur, sir!" He stood straight in attention as he replied.
"A family of great warriors. Good! Select a training weapon and go up on the stage and take a corner." Thorgar said pointing at the circular raised platform behind him. Mor nodded enthusiastically, moved to the stand filled with weapons below the stage. He picked a wooden sword and went up on the stage.
"Who else?" He looked back at the crowd, asking for another one to come out.
Austin raised his hand and slowly walked out to the front. His brows were creased and his eyes were blazing with fury.
"What’s your name young man?"
"Au...Grey Silverthorne sir." Austin said in a solemn tone.
"Take a weapon and go up then." Thorgar’s brows creased with doubt. Austin spoke in a polite tone but was hiding a grudge inside for some reason, probably for the young man above on the stage.
"He’s got to experience the bitter truth and caste this veil of foolishness away. Or else he’ll lose his life in the battlefield." Thorgar thought. Seeing Austin’s lean and lanky body and his smooth pale skin, he believed Mor would crush him in a single exchange. He hoped Austin could take this experience to heart, drop this false bravado and strive to work hard forward.
Both Thorgar and the other students were shocked when they saw Austin move up on the stage without taking a weapon.
"What the hell are you thinking Grey. Fuck! I’ve got to carry him to the infirmary again." Aeron cursed inside. he couldn’t believe Austin was showing off this much, only to be insulted later.
"Haha! showing off again huh? You think you’re from the stone race or what?" Mor mocked as he jibed at Austin.
"Just come at me fucker! I’ll send you to the infirmary in a single strike." Austin said in a cold voice. Taunting him to come at him.
"This moron!" Aeron face slapped himself.
"Haha! Great, fucker! I won’t end this soon now. You’ll beg me to spare you." Mor gritted his teeth, getting furious at Austin’s taunts.
"Remember, no use of aura. Fight with your raw strength only." Thorgar yelled out. "Begin!"
Austin took a deep inhale and then release a long exhale. He calmed his mind. Moved his right leg back and bend his knees. Raised his left arm forward, placing the right arm at his waist level, keeping close to the body. He took his stance, getting ready for Mor.
Mor held the sword tightly, with a determined grip. His eyes were locked on Austin. He suddenly exploded into motion. With a guttural shout, he charged forward, the sword raised high, intending a decisive, downward strike.
Austin remained calm, a picture of serene anticipation. As Mor closed the distance, the wooden sword swinging down in a wide, powerful arc, Austin’s body became a blur of precise, economical movement.
He didn’t meet the attack head on. Instead, with a sudden, almost imperceptible shift of weight, he stepped in inside Mor’s guard. His left hand shot out, grasping Mor’s right sleeve just above the elbow, while his right hand grabbed his lapel. In the same fluid motion, he pivoted sharply, turning his back to Mor and creating a powerful lever with his body.
Mor, caught mid-strike and already committed to his forward momentum, found himself abruptly off-balance. The world seemed to tilt. Austin’s back was now firmly pressed against Mor’s chest. With a final, explosive heave, Austin extended his legs and straightened his back, lifting Mor effortlessly into the air.
For a fleeting instant, Mor hung suspended, his sword clattering to the floor, a look of surprise etched on his face.
With controlled power, rotating his hips, he guided Mor’s body towards the floor. Swinging in an arc downwards.
THWACK! CRASH! CLATTER!
Mor fell hard on the floor, breaking the tiles of the stage as they clattered away upon falling. An immense force struck him in a wave, shaking all his organs inside. His eyes rolled back, losing consciousness as he laid sprawled on the floor amid the broken tiles.
Austin released his grip and stood tall. He had completed the Soei-nage. Announcing the debut of Karate in this world for the first time.