Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey-Chapter 20: Sparring Match [ 1 ]

"I am gonna allow you to spare this time with each other."

"I'm also going to be the referee in this match and will prevent anyone if there is a dangerous move".

" I am warning you, this is a friendly match so no breaking of bones or hands. You can also admit defeat before the match if you are afraid". Instructor Ravi said.

"Your opponent will be decided randomly and displayed on a screen at the side".

George vs Lani

Raja vs Rome

Lucas vs. Kalu.

Oh shit I did not expect my match will this soon.

Have they fixed my match? I thought so as I looked at Miss Lillian and instructor Ravi.

No this can't be, I thought so why would they fix my match? After all, I'm low rank Extra.

Well good thing is that I can have a few more precious minutes to rest.

There is still pain in my body after that intense drill, Ravi gave us.

When I get strong enough, yours will be the first life I will take! Your name… is on my death note now!

Yup, I write him his name on my death note and don't ask me if I have.

It's a secret.

Well, forget about Death Note and Ravi Mishra.

Because these Sparring matches going to be an important part of the plot.

How do you ask? Well if you watch then you figure out, after all, I don't want to be spoiled anything at all.

Hmm so you want to know, well it can't be helped. I'll give you a small hint.

There is going to fight between Adrian And Aric. Things going to be awkward after their fight.

As you know Aric comes from a well-known family and had a [ SS ] rank guild behind him.

And Adrien is a commoner who beat every record in the academy and the top spot.

Aric comes to some kind of respect for him but it does not mean he changes, he is the same arrogant young master who easily every insect to him if they are not strong.

Alright, it's enough spoiler to know, you can already guess what going to happen.

Now let's watch some extra beat each other.

The screen displayed the first matchup: George vs. Lani.

Both of them were G+rank students, and the excitement in the air was palpable. The two combatants exchanged nods of respect before the match began.

George and Lani circled each other, eyes locked in intense focus. Suddenly, George lunged forward, his fists a blur as he aimed a series of rapid punches at Lani. Lani, however, expertly dodged and weaved, showcasing her agility. She countered with a powerful roundhouse kick that caught George off guard.

The crowd erupted into cheers as Lani continued her onslaught.

She utilized her speed to keep George on the defensive, landing strikes and kicks with precision. George tried to regain his footing, but Lani's relentless assault seemed almost too much to handle.

In the end, it was Lani's superior agility and well-timed strikes that earned her the victory. With a final spinning kick, she knocked George off his feet, and the referee declared her the winner.

The next match featured Raja and Rome, both F-graded students. The difference in ranks didn't deter them, and they approached the match with determination.

Raja was quick to take the offensive, launching a flurry of punches at Rome. Rome, with his lower rank, had to rely on his defensive skills. He skillfully blocked and parried Raja's attacks, showing impressive resilience.

Rome seized an opening, using his opponent's momentum against him. With a deft move, he swept Raja's legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. The crowd watched in awe as Rome secured his victory with a well-executed takedown.

After witnessing these intense matches, it was finally time for mine.

"Now Lucas and Kalu, come here!" Instructor Ravi's voice echoed through the arena.

I'm not going to lose this one, My current Rank is [F+] everyone thinks I'm in the same Rank as Them [ G+ ] but they don't know that I'm a lot stronger than they know.

But even so, there is some nervousness in me.

Well, it's going to be the second time I fight an F-rank I know that this time it's human instead of some monsters.

But hey give me some slack. And I'm stronger than him my rank is [ F+ ] and he is at [ F- ] I'm a whole 2 minor realm stronger.

As the match began, Kalu wasted no time in launching his attack. His fist sliced through the air toward my face with impressive speed, but I was ready.

Ducking to the side, I avoided the blow with a swift movement, feeling a rush of adrenaline. This was my chance.

With my left hand, I expertly seized Kalu's extended arm, locking it with his shoulder. It was a move old 'Lucas' had practised countless times, and now it worked like a charm. Kalu found himself momentarily immobilized.

Taking advantage of the situation, I swung my right fist, aiming directly for his gut. The impact landed with a satisfying thud, causing him to grunt in pain. It was a decent hit, but I knew I needed more than that to secure victory.

Before he could recover, I executed a quick kick to his right thigh. The sharp blow knocked him off balance, and he stumbled, ending up on the ground.

With Kalu now pinned, I clenched my fist, ready to deliver a finishing blow to his face. I had to end this quickly before he could mount a comeback.

However, as I raised my fist, something within me hesitated. Kalu was dow-defenceless, and it was clear that I could easily strike him. But I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the way I wanted to win.

He is an extra like me, who wants to be strong.

Sure I did not create him and he doesn't have any role in the plot but now that I have become an Extra character I know what it feels like when people are looking down on you because you are not strong enough.

I said to myself to not be emotional but here I was getting all Emotional, well It can't be helped, can it?

Let's go the easy way.

Instead of delivering the punch, I leaned closer to Kalu, whispering, "Admit defeat."

For a moment, there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes, as if he hadn't expected me to show mercy. Slowly, he nodded, acknowledging his defeat.

Instructor Ravi announced the outcome, "The winner of the match is Lucas!"

Thank god I did not use any skill and mana if I did I'm sure I'd be going to the ground first.

I look at other people and they are seeing me as if they have seen some kind of ghost or something.

Why is that? Oh, I know now.

I could sense their scepticism, and it was no surprise given my standing as the lowest-ranked student in the class. Winning against Kalu, who had a higher academic rank, seemed implausible to many.

George, a confident and brash cadet with a Grade G rank, was among the first to voice his scepticism. "There's no way Lucas won that fight. It's gotta be some sort of mistake."

Lani, another sceptical student, chimed in, "Probably just lucky. Kalu is way stronger academically."

Raja and Rome, both with F- ranks, exchanged puzzled glances. "Did we miss something?" Raja wondered aloud. "Lucas beating Kalu just doesn't add up."

Among the top-ranking students, the disbelief was even more evident. Adrian, who had the highest rank of E+, raised an eyebrow. "Lucas winning? That's... unexpected."

Emma, a fellow archer who was ranked F+, the same rank as Lucas shook her head in confusion. "I don't know what happened, but it's hard to believe."

Evelyn, maintaining her stoic demeanour, had a sceptical look in her eyes. "This is surprising, to say the least, but I know that Lucas is going to win After all Lucas is no pushover."

Lyra who is close to Evelyn heard what she said and asked her question " What do you mean Evelyn, how do you know that he is going to win?

Evelyn quickly covers her mistake and mutters "it's nothing."

Amid this doubt and chatter, Instructor Ravi Mishra's patience wore thin. He stomped forward, his incident commanding silence.

"Enough of this nonsense!" he bellowed. "I've seen the match with my own eyes, and Lucas emerged as the victor. Your disbelief is not only disrespectful to Lucas but also to my judgment as an instructor."

He continued, his voice seething with anger, "In this Academy, we value fair competition and the results it yields. Just because someone has a higher academic rank doesn't automatically make them superior in combat. We train to become warriors, not academics. It's high time you all remember that."

The students fell silent under Ravi Mishra's reprimanding words, chastised for their doubts. While some still harboured scepticism, they knew better than to openly challenge the instructor's judgment.

With a final glare at the crowd, Ravi concluded, "Lucas won the match, fair and square. Dismiss your doubts, or I'll have you all running another hundred laps!"

His message was loud and clear: In this Academy, victory in combat was not determined by academic rank alone, and doubting a fair fight was not acceptable.