Isis calmed and quickly took control of things, reading between the lines and realizing the headmaster's intentions.
"Althea, don't open it," She stopped her junior who, despite her naturally cold expression, seemed almost eager to do it.
Althea stopped immediately, though, complying with the order.
"There are still things he needs to learn before attempting to purge a C-Grade," Isis retrieved the container, tightening the seal properly, and handing it back to Althea. "Give the headmaster my thanks for allowing us these precious tools. But we would rather take a score of D-Grade soul masses in place of this single C-Grade." She said to Althea, who collected it with a blank face that eventually lit up in silent realization before reverting back to normal.
She nodded lightly, and without further talks, walked out of the classroom.
"What was that about?" Finn asked immediately when she left.
"Nothing. Just the headmaster being his overly testing and meticulous self," Isis sighed with a shake of her head, before switching the subject smoothly, "You seem to like hands-on learning, right? Well why don't we go down for a spar?" Isis rolled her shoulders somewhat eagerly.
"Oohhh. I would like that very much," Finn grinned. Now that he had his soul register, he wanted to test out the power of the Crimson Fist Baboon. He'd seen the full might of the Storm Prowler Wolf in that memory, but this 'Crimson Fist Baboon' remained a mystery.
They walked down to the lower floors, before Isis opened the doors to an indoor gymnasium.
"Oh nice," Finn sighed in relief. "For a second there, I thought we were going out to the field below."
Isis chuckled, but said nothing, simply walking to the other end of the gymnasium while Finn took the other.
"Micah told me you've created your Soul Register, huh? How did it appear for you?" She asked curiously.
"What?"
"The appearance. Every Ossuarist's Soul Register takes a form suitable to their minds. For example, mine is like a floating parchment, in my mother's handwriting…" she said, slightly embarrassed.
Oh? Is that why mine looks like an RPG status screen? Finn raised a brow. It was kind of intuitive.
"Ohh, that…? Mine is also like a parchment, but the handwriting is generic," Finn lied smoothly. He wasn't about to start explaining what an RPG status screen was to Isis. That would basically reveal the fact that he was not from this world.
"Well, regardless of however it may look like, now that you have a soul register, you can keep track of your soul masses, soul debts and overall soul status—"
Finn, who was subconsciously looking at his Soul Register as Isis spoke, noted that she hadn't mentioned anything else. But he wasn't surprised. That much was to be expected.
It simply meant that he was never going to speak of the added sections about Aspects, Adaptations, and the like to anyone at all. He'd go about his investigations into whether there had been something or someone similar in the history of Ossuarists as discreetly as possible.
"—Which also means you can embody your soul masses more easily too," Isis continued. "So, come at me."
Finn smiled. It wasn't that he was arrogant enough to think Isis wasn't strong or anything. The fact that she'd been chosen by Micah to be his own student must mean there was something unique about her. So he wasn't about to underestimate her.
It was just that, because of their similar ages — Isis looked at most, two or three years older than Finn — he couldn't hide his excitement. Eager to test himself out to see where he stood.
"I won't hold back," Finn warned, taking off the black Ossuarist uniform he wore, leaving only his inner shirt and black trousers.
He usually wouldn't do this, but he was feeling overly confrontational.
Ahh… The Crimson beast's will, huh? He realized.
He could already feel the urge to announce his presence by beating his chest wildly, an urge to roar out and assert his dominance.
This kind of soul debt… was not so bad. In fact, he kind of liked it. It was as though all his masculine hormones had been supercharged to the max.
Finn crouched into a ready position, eyes locked on Isis, who still stood leisurely.
But noticing Finn's rapidly climbing aura and intense gaze, she couldn't help but crack a smile and tighten her form, acknowledging his presence.
"Come!"
There was nothing else needed to be said. They started just like that.
Finn charged at her position with rapid steps, embodying the body enhancement ability of the Crimson Fist Baboon. He reached her within a few breaths, swinging his arm wildly in a sweeping blow.
Isis sucked in a breath and leaned back in the nick of time. She had nearly been hit by Finn's fast fists. Was his speed increasing?!
She fell into defense, maneuvering her way between Finn's heavy and increasingly rapid blows, cutting it closer and closer each time.
Meanwhile Finn was having the time of his life. A wild grin colored his face as he bounded down on her each time like a Crimson Fist Baboon, personified.
He wasn't holding back at all, and with every swing, he could feel his embodiment manifesting towards greater perfection. His movements were getting more precise, his swings started to flow into each other.
He wasn't using any battle technique at all, it was just a brutal rush of fists and swings, yet it was thrilling. He was embodying the style of a true baboon.
"Ora! Ora! Ora!" Finn yelled Japanese words from his previous life as he rushed Isis with more blows, and this time, finally scoring a hit.
The third blow grazed her by the side as she dodged, throwing her off balance totally.
She tried to recover as quickly as possible, using her superior experience to divert her movement into the momentum of the blow. But it left her wide open… and Finn simply wasn't going to let that chance slip.
With a wild grin, he spun with the momentum of his previous punch, multiplying the force and coming in for another swinging blow.
Isis' eyes widened in genuine distress for the very first time, and she made another minor correction to her movement, positioning herself for a blow to Finn at the expense of taking one herself.
It's no use! I'll hit first!! Finn gleefully realized. But even that turned into shock after he noticed how fast Isis' blow was coming in.
It was as if he was moving a beat slower, while her own hand moved by totally different laws of physics.
Tch. She's experienced! He also moved his body, which while slower, was now positioned in such a way that by the time Isis' fist hit, it would bleed off most of the force, allowing him to focus on hitting her more cleanly.
But Isis, as if her hand was fluid water, exquisitely diverted her blow to account for Finn's new movement.
Are you for real?!
How does she keep doing that?! No—There's no need to worry, the angle is not good, her blow won't pack enough punch.
And Finn was right. Isis' hands had diverted mid-swing from a sideways motion to one coming from below. Physics dictated that most of the force of that swing would be lost and she'd need new energy to make that upwards swing.
In fact, her closed fist had opened from all the movements, as though she was at her wits end and was moving in to slap instead of punch.
It's my win!!
Finn's fist landed first, but immediately after, almost in tandem, Isis' palm met his face…
…And Finn's vision tilted.
Huh—