The sound of beads dropping to the ground resounded through the hall as everything came to a freeze.

"I did it!"

Everlearn exclaimed, but then,

'Oh no,'

His hair stood on end, and he turned back only to watch, the Instcrutor slightly bent, and flying down from above was the sharp dagger.

He tried to swerve, but the dagger was already before him.

In the next moment,

RIIIIIIP!

SPPLAAATTTERR!

A burst of red splattered across the air as the dagger sliced clean through Everlearn's completely defenseless shoulder, and completely tore through both bones and flesh before ripping out from the other side, nailing to the dojo ground.

DROP!

The sound of something hitting the floor rang out.

'I...'

Everleanr thought as he unconsciously took a step backward, yet,

BOOM!

His chest caved in as a leg coated in thick veins crashed into him, sending him flying across the room with incredible force.

When he slammed into the wall, blood erupted from his lips, and his eyes immediately rolled back.

He dropped face-first to the ground, and blood pooled out from both his lips and freshly severed shoulder.

'GASSSSPS!'

Shocked gasps escaped from the lips of the students as they stared at Everlearn, who now lay motionless in a pool of his own blood, his detached hand resting only a few meters away.

All eyes turned toward the weapon master, whose daggers were jerked back to his hands, still dripping with red blood.

He flicked them to the side, sending blood splattering across the ground, before the chains and daggers retracted smoothly into his sleeves.

Striding toward Everlearn, he grabbed him with one hand, collected his severed hand with the other, and walked toward the door at the far end of the dojo.

Just before stepping through, he paused and looked back at the class.

"The class is over," he said, his voice calm yet echoing through the room like a heavy gong.

"And just like today, every class will only end when blood splashes into the air, either yours… or mine."

And with that said, he turned and stepped through the wooden door, which immediately sealed itself, smoothing over as though it had never been there.

The students could only stare at each other in silence.

Only now did the reality begin to sink into their heads.

X Guard Academy wasn't just known for being the 2nd strongest Corer School in the world.

It was known for one more thing:

The Most Brutal Corer School in Nvidia.

_____________

His head buzzed, a constant ringing filling his ears.

The sound grew louder until, at last, he forced his eyes open with a sharp gasp.

GASSSSPS!

He jolted upright from the mattress, breathing heavily.

His hand instinctively clutched his chest, feeling the intense pounding of his heart.

The final moments before losing consciousness flashed through his mind, and his gaze drifted to his arms.

Bandages were wrapped tightly around them, crossing over his neck and holding everything firmly in place.

He tried to move his fingers, but only his pinky twitched.

"So, I really got my hand sliced off, huh?" he muttered with a tired sigh.

"You are strong...."

Everlearn turned at the sound of the voice.

A man sat kneeling on a mat, a low wooden table before him.

Upon it rested an open book, a teacup, and a mug.

It was the combat instructor.

His eyes, however, were tightly closed, and his hands were clasped together in a prayer-like position.

"...Mentally," He ended.

Everlearn blinked, unsure what to say.

Was he really strong mentally?

He had a clue about that being possible.

After all, this would be the seventh time a part of his body had been ripped off, five of those times by savage beasts in the jungle.

He guessed he'd just grown used to it.

"Thank you, I guess," he replied faintly.

Then his eyes fell to the man's neck, where the chain he once wore was now gone.

"Sorry about the chain," he murmured.

The instructor said nothing.

Instead, he rose quietly and walked to one of the bookshelves lined against the wall.

The sight was almost strange; books were rare these days, since everything was digital.

He picked up a small, worn booklet and stepped back toward Everlearn.

Everlearn got to his feet as the man extended the book toward him.

On its cover was the image of a fighter in a low stance, one fist drawn to his waist, the other extended forward with his palm open.

But instead of a head, a spear's blade jutted out from the figure's neck.

"Keep it," the man said simply.

Everlearn glanced down at the book again.

'A gift?'

He turned, but when he looked up, the instructor had already returned to his place, silently flipping through another page.

In the end, he could only bow in acknowledgment before turning and heading for the door.

__________

DIIIIIIIING!

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime as Everlearn stepped into his corridor.

But he paused when he noticed someone standing right in front of his door, leaning casually against the railing.

The sound drew her attention, and her pink-colored eyes lifted to meet his.

"You're finally back?"

It was her.

"Rosa?" Everlearn said, barely recalling the name.

The girl smiled brightly.

"That's meeeee…" she sang playfully.

He continued to his room, but paused again as she leaned back against his door, blocking his way.

"I just wanted to say… You did well today in class, Everlearn," she said, tilting her head with a grin.

Everlearn raised an eyebrow.

Of course, she'd been in the class too, though he hadn't noticed her during the chaos.

But then, his eyes trailed to her pink hair, and it clicked.

"Wait, are you the blurry katana girl?"

GIGGLE

She giggled at his description.

"I'm not sure about being blurry, but I did use a Katana in the training," She said.

It confirmed it for Everlearn.

She was the one.

"You're very fast," He said, as she shrugged.

"That still didn't make me the one who dealt any damage to the Instructor, though," She said, turning to Everlearn, who turned to his arm.

"At least you got to save your arm from getting sliced off?"

"Does it hurt,"

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