The Novel's Professor

"For a handicap, I'll give you kids the first strike," Rio said, his feet attached on the ground as he stared at both Eugene and Arcuied.

Arcuied exchanged glances with Eugene, both nodding as they hardened their expressions — they grasped the weapons they were holding tightly, gripping over its handle.

Arcuied brandished a rather common, yet sturdy metallic sword — his hand pointing to Rio as he assumed a stance of his own. He manipulated the magical energy inside his body, reinforcing both the sword and his feet.

From the side, Eugene wielded a long, sturdy metallic spear. Its pointy tip held sharpness that could tear even the walls. He nudged the spear, raising it slightly as he manipulated the magical energy inside of him — reinforcing both his spear and body.

Rio calmly waited, his body attached to the ground while both of his hands were raised. He closed his eyes.

In that moment, both Arcuied and Eugene swiftly dashed in to Rio. The weapons moved more faster and stronger. Arcuied swung an arc while Eugene thrusted the spear.

Rio opened his eyes, silently staring at both weapons coming into his way as he moved.

Suddenly, Rio vanished as if he ceased to exist. The swift moving weapons passed through the air, hitting nothing but empty space. Arcuied and Eugene widened their eyes, bewildered. However — before they could think any further, they suddenly felt a presence loomed over their back.

"Well, well..." Rio said, his body appearing behind the two. "Not bad. But not even close. Second strike, go."

Arcuied and Eugene immediately leaped back, their eyes frozen in disbelief. Sweat accumulated on their neck, falling behind their back as their heart quickened. How...? They exchanged glances, staring at each other before re-assuming their stance.

"Perfect." Rio praised, his hand raising as he watched them both prepare to attack once more. "Fear is universal. It exist in all manner of things, but what isn't universal is the ability to stand tall even in absolute difference of power."

Arcuied dashed in — this time the sword he was carrying was filled with blades of wind. The blades of wind wildly raged like a hurricane. He reinforced magic on his body and feet, becoming much faster than before — as soon as he reached Rio's position, he swung it in multiple arcs.

Rio raised his brows, sidestepping to the corner.

Suddenly, from the right, Eugene appeared with a spear covered in blue water shaped like a dragon. He thrusted it to Rio's previous position, hitting nothing but air.

"Hm, they're not still there yet... Faust,"

Rio muttered, his eyes watching both of them struggle to even land a hit on him. He nonchalantly moved his body, dodging every strike directed at him.

[Just wait. You would see.] Faust said, his body high above the ground, watching the battle with interest.

Rio wordlessly nodded, his attention returning to both the students.

Arcuied and Eugene panted — their repeated attempts to attack took a toll on their body. Nonetheless, they stood up, hardening their resolve as they gripped their weapons more tightly. Both of them simultaneously attacked.

Rio calmly stepped back, dodging a flash of a sword arc coming to his way. As he moved, he glanced at Arcuied's eyes — he sensed indomitable determination within.

'They're getting a bit faster...'

Rio thought as he leaned his body backwards slightly, perfectly dodging the sharp tip of the spear swinging his way. He glanced behind the tip, staring at the wielder of the spear — Eugene.

Rio raised his brows in interest. He suddenly jumped to the air as he felt a sharp aura attack him from the back. As soon as he jumped, Arcuied appeared in his previous position — stabbing the sword in empty air, missing his body completely.

The clanging sounds of metal clashing together resounded, Arcuied's sword intersected with Eugene's spear, making them both flinch from the sudden clash.

"Hm," Rio hummed, dropping to the ground. He contemplated whether to attack or not. However, he quickly removed that thought from his mind. It was too early... What should be able to motivate them more..? Ah, he could try that. He shook his head as he loudly commented:

"Hm? Is this all you two can do? In all honesty, I expected a lot more from the best first year geniuses this academy has to offer... For a duke's heir and the best First Year Student, I'm disappointed."

Hearing that, Eugene bit his lip — his hands clenching the handle of the spear tightly... Expectation. Disappointment. Both of those words resounded in his mind, echoing as if a mocking chorus. It was like a looping song of mockery.

Perhaps at some other day and time, that kind of insult wouldn't even last on his mind for a second — but after the events in the past, it felt like a direct hit to him.

Eugene faintly glanced at Amber's position, realizing that she was looking... After that, he didn't know what hit him — but he dashed in without a plan. In pure raw anger at himself, he attacked in just instinct alone.

From the side, Arcuied watched with a frown, stopping himself from moving as he silently stared at Eugene.

'It seems like it worked.'

Rio nodded, his body nonchantly dodging. He stepped aside as a thrusting spear came to him. He leaned his body backwards, dodging the spear arc swung at him. In his face, he was as expressionless as always, seemingly uncaring of any result.

However, internally, he was surprised — in each moment, Eugene seemed to be getting far and far more faster. Not only that, he could also faintly feel that each every attack seemed to become much more powerful than the previous one.

'...That's a main character for you.'

Rio thought, shaking his head as he redirected his focus to the battle. He leaped back, dodging the flurry of attacks directed at him. From a distance, he glanced at Eugene's eyes — unlike earlier, when as it was filled with determination and resolve — this time it was pure raw emotion. Anger.

[Hm, hm. He's there...but not yet enough,] Faust muttered, smiling. [He's not yet reaching it. His full potential and capabilities.]

Rio nodded, trying to think of a plan. While he was on it — he would focus his attention on Arcuied for the time being. Eugene wasn't the only one that needed immediate training, Arcuied needed it too.

Even though he wasn't interested in the plot nor surviving from it anymore, while he's alive — he might aswell try to train the kids to have a greater chance of defeating the adversaries on their way.

By adversaries, he meant the villains and demonic enemies they would face in the future. They would need some training to prepare themselves.

... Especially after the disastrous results of the first arc ending. In the original ending of the first arc of the novel, the Harrowing Lands were never destroyed and Arcuied and Eugene was never defeated by Aza.

And in the novel, there were only three Archdevils that escaped to the world. One on the academy, and the other two spread within the word... But now that the demon invasion was successful, who knew how many Archdevils were out there now?

Perhaps they were no longer three but six, or maybe more. He didn't know, and as always, he didn't care.

...Back to his point, even though Arcuied and the rest would never die because John Smith would arrive before they would even have the chance of dying — similar to what happened in the forest before.

With all that, he still wanted to train them. Even with their future fates, for now they were still kids. While he had no morals, he still preferred to act like a human. And he wasn't really keen on relying on that madman John Smith to treat their lives better.

"Haaaa....!" Eugene shouted, wildly swinging the spear in his hand.

Rio snapped out of his thoughts, his body moving as he dodged the strikes. He glanced at Eugene, looking feral and exhausted.... Oh well, he would try to focus on Arcuied for the time being. He moved his body, instantly arriving in Eugene's body.

"Hm, rest for the moment." Rio said as he chopped Eugene's neck.

"Gaaahkk...!" Eugene gasped audibly, choking as his eyes turned white. He dropped to the ground, making a loud thud — his consciousness was about to leave him, but he took a grasp of it and managed to stay awake.

Rio hummed, leaving Eugene to the ground. His eyes stared at Arcuied from a distance. He tilted his head, asking:

"How about you, Arcuied? When are you going to get serious? Just because you're better than Eugene, or everyone from the entire first year doesn't make you strong, Arcuied. For now, you're weak. And frankly, that's disappointing."

Arcuied frowned, his hand gripping tightly over the sword.

Rio took notice of that change in expression. It was working — but not yet enough. For the final blow...

"No answer? How disappointing. How can you ever find that 'truth' if you're yet this weak...?"

Rio asked, his hand waving in dismissal as he turned his back.

Suddenly, he felt a chill ran down his spine. His body was immediately alerted, he turned his back staring at Arcuied. His eyes widened... feeling familiarity.

[So he was the first one to go hell bent berserk huh?] Faust muttered, staring at Arcuied in fascination.

Arcuied looked like... a divine judge, aptly put. His short snowy white hair complimented with his golden emotionless eyes. He loosened his hold on his sword, staring at Rio with silent madness. "...You know of the 'truth'?"

And then, Rio realized why he felt familiarity. This state of Arcuied...was the resemblance of his future self in the novel. Cold, callous and efficient. Arcuied was dubbed as the Winter for All Existence for that reason. Like the winter, whoever dared to block his path — dies. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but he felt Arcuied would do anything, even try to kill him just to get close to the 'truth'.

[Perfect, Rio!] Faust suddenly shouted, his voice resounding on his mind. [You have really have a talent for provoking people! You should talk more. Also, now here's what I wanted to show you...just watch them.]

Rio furrowed his brows in confusion. Them? And then he felt another presence rise from his back. A distinct aura and presence, different from Arcuied's emotionless state. This one felt noble and graceful.

Behind, Eugene struggled to stand up, yet even with strain and exhaustion taking a toll on his body — he stood up, regardless. His short blonde haired was messily ragged, while his eyes, previously feral and angry... returned clarity, transforming into a different kind of anger. A calm, yet boiling anger. Rage of silence. He spoke:

"...Arcuied better than me, you say?"

Rio turned his back, glancing at Eugene. Similarly to Arcuied, he also felt some familiarity — but this time, he recognized it more early. In Eugene's current state, he resembled that of his future version in the novel. The Future King of Men. He stared at both of them as he commanded softly:

"Come."