Refining the Heavens (炼天)

Chapter 17: The Front-line Archer

When Calculus saw four of his subordinates defeated in such a shameful manner, his face darkened, and he shouted a command filled with bloodlust, "Kill Them All!!"

The wind runes underneath the instructor's Scrying Crystal ball suddenly glowed, and along with it, all present in the staff room heard what Calculus said. Those words made Er Tian, the Head of Student Affairs instructor, turn as grim as death. If things truly become life-threatening, there should be academy staffs nearby that will interfere.

"Finally, we can stop hiding our true abilities."

"I say, we should've done this from the start."

One of the nobles with uncertainty on his face whispered, "I'm not disagreeing with you. I also feel that it is best to root out such greedy and ignorant commoners, but that Alucard would interfere..."

"Why should we care about him? Even the instructors are looking at this now, but who cares? Calculus will take care of the rest."

"But... no matter what, Alucard is still the heir to the Angelheart family."

"Enough!" Calculus barked, "I told you to kill them! What's with all the small chat? Make sure they do not die too easily, or I will make you be the next one."

Hearing his command, those nobles under him flashed predatory grins and attacked like starving wolves that found a lost sheep.

Previously, they had been worried about killing people because this is a training exercise that forbade the murder of fellow students. Instead, they had aimed to injure Kairos and his team, just enough so that the Orcs could finish the job and slay them all.

Directly killing someone is considered a major offence during an exercise, and usually, it is tantamount to an expulsion from Saint Cadet's Academy. However, if a student dies in combat against monsters, it will not turn out to be such a big deal.

Right now, however, after his pride was wounded, Calculus' bloodlust has already reached a peak where he couldn't care for the consequence. He believed his family, the Devilheart house, will easily handle the aftermath of killing a few unimportant commoners.

In his seething rage, the real him that Calculus had hidden, came out, thick with his superiority complex. Baring his fangs at those he considers lowly.

"You bunch of plebeians, do you even know who I am?

Nevertheless, it is far too late to apologise now.

I will show you, right now, just who you tried to mess with," Calculus said as he suddenly took the lead in the attack. In a few quick steps, he rushed at Kairos' formation.

Those that saw his approach held on to their weapons nervously. The chilly wind that travels in the midst of the forest shade that had previously given them much comfort, now caused them to tremble unwillingly.

Blade blazing and fingers clenched tightly on his sword, the dark leaves of the lush green trees fall from each of his ferocious attacks. With a slash and a thrust, two of Kairos' boys were sent reeling backwards into their teammates even though they had successfully defended themselves.

The ones who quickly replaced the gap they left in the formation, flew out almost immediately, even quicker than how fast they entered.

But their training held in place, even this did not make the guys cower, and yet another moved in to take their places.

Yes, those young boys are trembling. In the face of an angry and powerful martial practitioner two full ranks above them it is hard to not be affected, but even so, none of them wavered, and no one hesitated to throw themselves into Calculus' path.