For the rest of the days they had to themselves before they began their studies, the students familiarized themselves with the academy grounds, explored its facilities, ventured to the Academic City, and met other students from different years.
Just as they planned, Alex, Ross, and Julia went to the combat systems to get their VR pods and mana podiums activated.
For the full experience of the immersion, the systems had to be calibrated with the physical stats and abilities of the users. They had to perform speed tests, response/reaction time tests, strength tests and an ability test.
With these data recorded, the users can exhibit their full strength and capabilities without limitations. While the process took time, the combat systems were big enough to hold all the equipment, VR pods, and the house over 1000s of students at once. However, there was more than one building for the number.
Once Alex and his friends got that sorted out, they were free to do whatever they wished, though the VR was mostly for combat applications.
...
"So you finally realized…" Ross commented.
Alex, Ross, and Julia were in a shared virtual reality (VR) room that linked their accounts. After arranging everything, the three of them decided to make a dedicated space where they could gather and train together, from practising their skills to improving their martial arts. Currently, Alex has invited his friends to help him narrow the gap.
"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" Alex said, a slight frown on his face. Not that he was really mad.
"What did you expect? That was the first you were standing up for yourself and I didn't want to get in the middle of that." Ross reasoned and Alex had to agree.
"None of that matters now. What you need to do is improve your combat skills. That Zen fellow is a piece of work. Trust me, I know his type." Julia interjected.
"For him to come at you the way he did, he most likely has the skills to back it up. Attention seekers like him would want to take down the strongest around them."
Alex listened to his friend's take on the issue with a pondering look. Now, this was not to say he was bad at martial arts, he was above average and that was it. For people like Julia and Ross who had training in their early years, Alex would be a kid before them.
"Mm… Well, that's just by the way. At least, with the VR pods, I can make up for the difference and since I decide when we fight, there shouldn't be much of an issue." Alex said and Ross and Julia nodded.
While no one was holding him to fight Zen, the challenge was issued in the face of the entire class. His face was on the line and because he accepted and would decide the date, he couldn't afford to back down.
Alex looked at them both and asked, "So, who wants to spar with me?" Though he posed this question, he wanted Ross to step forward.
Ross and Julia exchanged glances and as if by agreement, Julia responded, "I'll spar first. I want to see just how good you are." With a sweet smile that wasn't really a smile but a silent promise of pain, Julia stepped forward and Ross moved back.
Alex looked at Ross with slightly furrowed brows and Ross simply shrugged with a grin. He was speechless and asked, "Are you sure?" He didn't want to voice it, but the message was clear.
"What? Are you scared to fight a girl?" Julia asked as she approached Alex to stare him directly in the eyes.
"T-That's not what I meant… Hehehe" He didn't know how to respond to that. He backed away from her chilling gaze with both hands up.
"Oh… then, by all means, explain." Julia did not want to let it go. Alex looked to Ross only to see him staring blankly somewhere else.
'Fuck! Why did I even ask the damn question!' He cussed silently to himself as his mind moved quickly to come up with an excuse but failed miserably.
Seeing as Alex was stuck on what to say, Julia simply shook her head and stepped back. However, she had adopted a fierce look as she brought up a prompt to select the stage for the spare.
"Get ready, Alex. We would be starting soon." She stated and the environment changed to that of a plain with lush vegetation all around.
"Oh… And just so you know, I'll be setting the pain level to 85%" she said with her signature smile that wasn't a smile.
Alex swallowed nervously before responding, "Just to be clear, just martial arts, correct?"
"Of course, why would I use my ice skills on you? It's not like I want to freeze anything." She replied.
Alex felt a sudden chill run down his spine and special area. The way Julia said the word 'anything' made him understand that things wouldn't go exactly as planned. 'I'm definitely dead, aren't I?'
Here he was thinking that with his strength and speed, Julia might not be able to handle his blows. That was why he wanted Ross to be his sparring partner. But from the way things were looking, he knew he was in for a world of pain.
Taking a deep to breath to calm his nerves, Alex got into a fighting stance, ready to go. Seeing as he was prepared, Julia also took her stance and waited.
Of course, Ross was outside the fighting stage Julia had picked. As he observed the interaction between Alex and Julia, he couldn't help but think to himself, 'They are definitely going to end up together.'
The thought brought a smile to his face. But for now, the fight was about to begin, and he was also interested in seeing how good Julia was.
The countdown for the match to begin appeared above the two combatants. Alex and Julia looked at the timer as it counted down to one.
Right before it hit the mark for the match to begin, the two locked eyes with each other.
[Fight!]
Once the alert came, both disappeared from their positions.