The Ancient Genes

"Is this fine?" Tyler asked as he put down the case and finally breathed in relief.

"Yup, it's fine…" Axel said as he unclipped the lock on the case.

Tyler who was about to leave suddenly stopped. He was curious about the content of the case, just what in hell was in there…. it was so goddamn heavy after all…

"Hmm? Am I seeing things? " Lear muttered under his breath as he looked at the strange transparent crystal which seemed to have liquid inside it.

"Mana crystal?"

Tyler's voice confirmed Lear's doubt, it was a treasure.

"Why do you have it?" Lear asked as he looked at Axel.

"Do you really think I can own it?" Axel said as he took the crystal out and carefully placed it on the side before further speaking, "The Professor had allowed me to take it for observation after almost a year of constant pestering and that too after getting in his best books…."

"I was supposed to return it to him today…." Axel sighed..

"You sure it won't be a problem?" Lear asked with a frown.

"How in hell would it not cause any trouble? I might be kicked out from the formation department!!" Axel screamed in misery as he thought about it, "But let hope that he would notice, after all, I don't need much….but 3 to 4 drops….."

Axel then turned towards the case once again, lifting the padding and revealing the weapon underneath it…..

It was a M24 sniper rifle….

"What the hell? Why do you have that? Are you even allowed to keep that here?" Lear asked a bit taken aback. Only normal people used arms and ammunition. After all, these things were pointless in front of mana.

Well, you could get a custom made which could be used against beast of lower level. As for those of higher level, it was useless. There were no such weapons in production, even if made, the cost would be higher than normal weapons by a lot and efficiency would be lower than normal weapons that mages used. Not to mention, higher level weapons would require greater strength to be wielded even decoding weak people from wielding it. Hence it was basically useless as no one would want it.

"I use it…. Besides, aren't you people allowed to carry your weapons into the Academy. So, what's the big deal with mine?"

"Besides, this thing can fly. It had good accuracy and stability. Not to mention it comes under my budget, and when combined with my way, I can even knock your head out…." Axel said as he looked at Lear.

Lear looked at him, the expression on his face clearly said that he didn't believe a single word. He was regretting wasting his time and energy carrying it all the way here.

"At least try to hide your disappointment, until I fail!!' Axel turned around and mounted the gun after finding a proper position.

'What the hell are these two weirdos doing….. I better get out...it doesn't look good..….' Tyler thought as he slowly turned around to leave but the next instant, he suddenly stopped as Axel's words caught his attention.

"Just watch me…I won't let Max get into trouble..." Axel said with a confident face. He was actually really excited. He had always wanted to try this. But never got any opportunity and today even though he was getting into trouble, he still felt that it was going to be worth it.

Axel moved his feet and touched the crystal by his side as he used his mana to probe the crystal. The next instant, he felt the pure stream of energy flowing towards him, it was unlike anything he had felt.

Soon Axel's clothes began to flutter and veins began to pop on his body as the amount of mana which his body store reached its limit.

"Are you fine? You are not going to die, right?" Lear asked with a worried face. They were already in deep trouble. He didn't want the situation to escalate any further.

Axel glared at Lear before turning his head and aiming towards the arena, he couldn't see anything but smoke. His finger slowly pressed on the trigger.

"Click!'

The next instant, 10 circles appeared around the barrel of the rifle. It was something that neither Tyler nor Lear had seen. They hadn't heard about black formations.

"Bang!"

Axel turned his head and looked towards Lear, "You can show your disappointment now…"

"Tsk….useless fellow…." Lear didn't let him down.

Axel had failed, he did not expect that the barrel wouldn't be able to take the load. It bursted apart under his formation.

'It had succeeded before with 3 formations, but it seems 10 were too much for it….' Axel sighed, 3 was his limit. With mana crystal, he pushed it up to 10.

"Only if I had more money to buy a stronger weapon which wouldn't break…." Axel muttered in frustration.

"You can really stop it with a weapon?" Lear asked with a frown. He still didn't believe it. But if it really was possible, he wouldn't mind giving it another try.

"Yes, obviously…." Axel replied. He had the confidence. He hadn't been just lazing around all this time, he knew his limits. He knew what he could and what he couldn't.

"If that's the case, you better don't disappoint me again…" Lear said as he picked up the rifle and the broken pieces of the barrel began to float before sticking back to the rifle to form the barrel.

"I will hold onto it… I won't let it break…." Lear said as he threw the rifle back at Lear while maintaining his control over the frame of the rifle.

"Leave it to me then…" Axel said as he mounted the rifle once again and took the aim. Sweat began to slide down his forehead as he began to absorb the mana and push his body towards it's limit for the second time.

He could only do it twice, anymore than that he had no idea what would have happen. This black formations were something unknown to the world.

"Click!''

Formations lit up once again and this time, the barrel didn't burst. It shook but manage to held onto under Lear's effort.

"Bang!"

The bullet shot out at the speed and light and disappeared within a second. There were no signs of any change or anything at all.

"Did it work?" Lear couldn't help but ask, he couldn't feel anything.

"It didn't reach…." Axel said with a frown.

"But…."

"I know, it's my bad....my calculation was wrong...even though you didn't let it break….it still can't change the fact that it's the same thing….it fire power is not enough...." Axel gritted his teeth. Even though he had confidence in his own ability but this thing….it seems he would have to consider his wealth as part of his ability before taking actions from now on.

"If it's about reach, I might be able to help…."

Lear and Axel turned their head to see Tyler who seemed to have gone through a change of heart and was willing to help them to the very end.

….

On the other side, chaos had descended where the Axel's bullet had fallen earlier. It was just outside the Arena and the students were still hurrying out trying to leave.

At least until a minute ago, but now there wasn't a single person standing on their feet. Everyone was knocked out and the place looked like a battlefield with bodies piling all around.

"I am sure Mark will be fine. He is strong after all…. I should better go and get a Head Instructor…." Edward continued to mutter as he walked outside but when he saw the scene, his feet stopped and he turned around before breaking into a dash.

"You gotta be kidding me, what kind of enemy attacked leaving so many dead!! I better fight those guys inside rather than getting outside. If I tell them about grandpa, they might let me off with broken teeth.." Edward said, his face had contorted with fear, his eyes watering and snot flowing around, he made a mad dash towards the arena.

"Come on f*cker at least give me some data on it!!!" Edward shouted as he pulled out a new crooked blade design that he had been working on and entered the arena once again, without taking a break, he stepped on the railing and made a jump flying into the fight.