Mana surged across the entire training field as more than fifty cadets rushed forward at the same time, their weapons glowing with power while battle cries erupted from every direction like a storm breaking loose.
Blades flashed.
Spears thrust forward.
Arrows of mana shot through the air.
Yet in the middle of that violent tide of steel and energy—
Austin simply laughed, a loud, reckless, completely unhinged laugh that echoed across the academy grounds.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Now this looks like a proper welcome ceremony!"
The first cadet reached him with a sword raised high above his head.
"TAKE THIS!"
The blade came crashing down.
Austin didn't even move his feet.
He raised one hand lazily.
CLANG!
His bare fingers caught the blade.
The entire field froze.
The cadet stared at the weapon stuck between Austin's fingers as if his brain had stopped working.
"…What?"
Austin looked at the sword.
Then at the cadet.
Then he flicked it.
CRACK!
The sword shattered in half.
