Beast Evolution

"Beating senior students would be surprising and many knights would quickly take an interest in you, so I'm going to do that"

"I also want to participate but something happened that's why," Ray said.

"What happened?" Jack asked.

"...When the capital was attacked, the senior knights...shit the senior knights told me to come see them in the morning, I totally forgot..."

'I wonder if they would be angry, maybe they waited for me and I forgot, I would tell them that it was because of training'

'But after training, I had some time to spare but I sat down talking, I totally forgot'

"Ray and Jack..." Sir Jake said and jolted them back, all the students looked towards them and they quickly apologized.

"We're very sorry Sir" Jack apologized.

"For what?"

"Uhmmm...for..." Jack couldn't answer so he looked at Ray who had the same puzzled look on his face.

"What are you still doing, go to the front" Ivan jerked Ray's arm.

"Go to the front and do what" Ray whispered.

"Duel...you are the first contestant for the mini tournament," Ivan told Ray.

Jake already took his seat, when he was addressing the students, he saw Ray and Jack talking so he choose them first.

The both of them finally understood why their names were called and they walked to the front, the students all sat on the ground while Jake sat opposite them on a chair.

"And lastly, if you are not participating in the tournament because your rank is low, I'm giving you a chance, if you can come in top ten here, you would participate in the upcoming tournament" Jake announced.

The students who were not participating in the tournament became serious, there were 40 of them in the sword class, and they just had to be top 10.

"Finally, we get to duel officially," Jack said.

"Yeah, try your best to win because I'm in my worst state," Ray said.

"What do you mean worst state?"

"I injured my hands, and they are not totally healed," Ray told Jack.

"Then you shouldn't be dueling, you should focus on your recovery," Jack told him.

"Ready..." Jake asked both of them.

"Yes Sir," Ray said and gripped the sword in his hands tightly.

"Then create a little space, you are too close"

Ray moved backward and quickly began to infuse Ki in his hands and his wooden sword so he can be able to battle effectively, Jack could also infuse Ki and Ray knew.

"Begin..."

Immediately Jack put one of his feet forward and dashed towards Ray, Jack swung his sword towards Ray and infused a large amount of Ki hoping to end it in one slash.

Jack's Ki control and precision were top notch, Ray was really surprised at his control but he wasn't as fast as Leia, with Ray's agility he could easily evade this kind of attack.

Ray sidestepped to the right and evaded Jack's attack surprising all the students.

When Ray, Leia, and Gabriel went to the capital, the rest of them were training restlessly, so they were surprised that Ray could still keep up with Jack.

Ray knew that after the battles he fought, his instincts had become sharper, he was better at evading now than attacking.

Jack stopped to catch his breath after the attack, he wasn't exhausted he was just gathering and Infusing more Ki to make himself faster than Ray.

Ray was calmly observing Jack, he couldn't afford to make any reckless action after the first attack, with his current strength, he wasn't sure he would be able to block Jack's hit without falling on the ground.

Jack slowly moved forward, Ray didn't bulge and kept standing as Jack advanced forward till they were close enough.

Ray took the initiative this time and lunged his sword forward, Jack jumped backward and quickly attack Ray.

Ray blocked the attack and attacked back immediately, he held the sword with both hands and aimed at Jack's head.

Jack was too close so he couldn't evade the attack, he raised his sword and used his left arm to support it.

*Bam*

The two wooden swords were infused with Ki making it seems like two enemies were fighting to the death.

Jack jumped back after the attack, he was quite surprised at the strength behind Ray's attack, it was too weak.

Jack wondered if Ray was just faking his strength or if he was weaker than normal.

'I should test it out, if he's hiding his strength or just weak'

Jack charged towards Ray aggressively and attacked him with quickly, Ray dodged a few of the attacks and then he began to block the attack, Jack wasn't fighting at full strength and Ray knew.

Jack timed his attack and infused a large amount of Ki in his last attack.

Ray blocked Jack's attack and immediately regretted it, the strength behind the last attack was greatly higher than normal.

Ray was knocked off balance by the last attack and before he could regain control Jack attacked him. Ray used his sword to block the attack and the sword was sent flying toward the students that were watching.

Ray regained his balance and looked at Jack who was smiling because he could smell his victory just moments away.

Ray dashed towards his sword but Jack was faster, Jack slashed Ray and he couldn't block the attack so he jumped backward.

Jack began his relentless attack and Ray dodged but Jack was kept attacking till Ray raised both of his hands and blocked the attack.

Jack smiled and swung his sword again making Ray to use his hands for blocking but this time the attack was painful.

Ray felt pain at the joints in his hands because he had been using them for too long, Jack launched another attack towards Ray and Ray jumped backward this time but the sword grazed his head.

Ray stretched his hands forward causing Jack to stop in his track.

"I surrender," Ray said.