The sound of clashing weapons reverberated inside the training room as Alex and Fran sparred with each other.
Fran's gauntlets were a menace in their own right. She was already very strong and could beat nearly everyone in the academy whether they were First Years or Fourth Years.
The rank up she gained inside the Shadow Forest was nothing short of miraculous. Despite her youth, she was already Rank 5.
This was a feat not many could achieve. Most students graduated without ever reaching Rank 5.
Alex did his best. But even though he focused on defense, he was still outclassed by Fran's monstrous strength.
Every punch rattled his body, every blow made his arm numb. And frankly, if Fran hadn't been holding back just a tiny bit, Alex would have to worry about broken bones.
"Let's end today's session," Fran said with a smile. "You've improved a lot, Alex. You can now tank a few of my punches."
