Natasha clapped her hands, clearly impressed by the showing from Zed and Sonya.
"Well, seeing as the battle is over I have quite a few things to say." Natasha started, her eyes observing the entire room. Sonya came back and found a place on one of the benches.
"Now, there were no qualms in the fight. Both of them are exceptionally skilled martial practitioners at such a young age but then again they were sloppy on several occasions." Natasha explained, complimenting them as well as pointing out their faults.
"The palm strike Sonya drove into Zed's chest would have been more effective if she had actually augmented her body with enough Ruin, but I believe Zed would have also protected himself with the required amount of Ruin as well in order to protect himself from taking damage." Natasha explained, picking apart every bit of their interaction in the ring.
Zed sat there, his headphones now sitting on his lap and his face pointed to the floor as he sat on a bench beside Elvis. Sonya on the other hand was immensely focused on Natasha's teachings.
"Although as you ascend the ranks, you gain an infinite increase in your base physical abilities. Let's say I can punch through a wall as an Unmarked but when I become Branded I become infinitely stronger than that." Natasha continued. Lucas and Karl listened attentively as well, each and every piece of information was vital if they wanted to be part of the ten that would go to Tokyo.
Someone raised their hand, someone other than Sonya wanted to ask a question. It was a guy with blue hair, he stood up
"If one becomes infinitely stronger wouldn't that be nonsensical as a Branded would be able to destroy a planet?" He asked.
"It's just a way of me expressing the difference in ranks, the Writ is a funny thing. Sometimes someone gets a ten times increase then another person gets a twenty times increase and so on stretching forever. But there are some who witness an infinite increase in power, your Ruin Control teacher is one of them." Natasha explained.
"And also not using your Faculties was a way for me to see how prepared you were for any situation. I would have said you all should duke it out but most of you will get to that during the Tournament and I'm anticipating that." Natasha smiled, with her hands on her waist.
"But then again remember this, even if your opponent is stronger than you as long as you are more skilled you might be able to eke out a victory." She concluded and then turned to leave the room, walking to the door, she placed her hand on the door knob but then she stopped, a warm and inviting aura resonating from her.
"And also," she turned her head around and smiled at them, "never give up."
She walked out of the room, a cold silence followed but then the students were back to their rowdy behaviour and went on to chattering about.
Lucas took in the lecture with every fibre of his being. There were a few days to the Tournament and he needed to train and fast.
Karl didn't watch Natasha leave, his eyes were fixed on Zed and Elvis. The two Pendragons who respected strength above all else. He needed weaknesses but he found none and now he would have to battle them in the tournament to find that out for himself.
Lucas tapped Karl's shoulder.
"You heard her right?" Lucas asked Karl, seeing that his friend was starting to give off some kind of hostile intent.
"Yeah I did." Karl replied, his attention now turned to Lucas.
"What do you think about the Infinite increase in strength she mentioned?" Lucas and Karl walked to the door. Karl thought about the question for a while, and then he answered:
"I'm not sure she's correct. We do have Ruin cores now right?" Karl asked.
"Yes we do. But what does that have to do with anything?" Lucas put his hand on the door and opened it, they both walked out of the room.
"Well, our Ruin Cores have Ruin fragments that will be collected, possibly if we kill a lot of Cursed Creatures cause what I was given was collecting three thousand fragments. So it would be safe to assume that a Branded can contend with someone who just made it to Bound as that person would also be on three thousand fragments and would need to collect more in order to he considered stronger." Karl explained.
Lucas raised his eyebrows at this revelation, he remembered the Ruin Fragments he had seen on his screen after the Imposition. His had three thousand fragments as well. Which meant that a Branded who had collected all the necessary fragments would be three thousand times stronger than an Unmarked.
"Intriguing." Lucas said as he stroked his chin and then brightened up as he had an idea. "Let's go to Asher's office."
Karl lightened up as well. "Yes, finally."
Both of them asked a few students around the floor, they found out his office was on the fifth floor and so they had to take the elevator up there.
"Sixth room by the right." Karl said as they got out of the elevator.
They made their way down the hall and finally found themselves in front of the door. Lucas knocked, they stood outside awaiting a response.
"Come in." Asher's voice echoed from within.
Lucas turned the knob, they walked in and met Asher laying down on the sofa in his office, his glasses on his table revealing his beautiful, sky blue eyes.
"Oh, it's you two." He said. "You were the one who wanted to cause a ruckus and you were his quiet friend right?"
Lucas nodded a little while Karl smirked.
"I'm Lucas and this is Karl." Lucas introduced himself and Karl.
"Oh! You were in the same area with my niece during her Imposition." Asher said, smiling at the revelation.
"Yes sir." Lucas nodded.
"In fact, that's exactly why we're here. We heard you mention what she was going through so we wanted to know if she was okay." Karl added in a flash.
"I see." Asher said, sitting up on his sofa, placing his hands on his knees. "As I said she still cries out when she remembers what happened but Clara somehow makes time to comfort her."
"Why didn't she attend the academy?" Lucas asked, it was an academy for all Rankers to learn the basics and many more things as well so he was curious as to why she wasn't here.
"She doesn't need to be. Clara and Deborah's father are more than enough teachers to whip her into shape." Asher replied. "Moreover if you qualify in the tournament, you'll get to see her in Tokyo."
Lucas and Karl's eyes widened, another incentive that made them hungrier for victory.
They both bowed extremely low and then walked out of his office. Another reason to crush the opposition in front of them, another reason to make a bold move.
Six days pass, the tournament is upon the academy. Millions of people, students, Rankers and regular civilians alike, all flock to the gigantic Madarama Arena where it would take place.
Lucas and Karl made their way through a choked up crowd. They finally arrived at the gates and showed their IDs.
"You're finally here, we thought you guys had chickned out." Leo said with a huge smile, as he sat at the entrance where the contestants would enter.
"Oh hey Leo, it's been a while." Lucas said to him, smiling back.
Karl smiled as well, both of them breathing heavily as they had run a long way, since the academy was far away from the Arena.
Leo nodded. "Both of you look absolutely tired. Well, I should let you in so you can freshen up before the matches begin."
He opened the door for them and they both walked in. Lucas sighed, another challenge accepted, something else for him to sink his teeth into. To go to Tokyo, to see Deborah again.