For Azzy and Gideon, the Blood clan is a part of the Death Clan but for the rest of these high-born nobles, the surname Blood signifies something else. Fifty thousand years ago, before the Blood Clan members started living in the Death clan village, they were ruling an Empire of Alexandria, which at their peak, once ruled almost one-third of the entire supercontinent.
After the fall of the Empire, their clan was divided into two factions. For some reason, one faction joined the Death clan village while the other one continued to rule a kingdom that later turned into the nation of Alexandria in the modern age about two thousand years ago.
Unlike the Blood clan in the Clan of Death, the other royal Blood clan at Alexandria didn't follow the rule of maintaining the bloodline purity and mixed with several clans over time. However, there's still a tradition maintained by the royal family, which is that only the one that was born with pure blood, or one should say, only the one that can control the blood after awakening can have the right to keep the surname Blood.
Because of such tradition, at the present date, it was known that number of people with Blood surname within the nation of Alexandria is only about 11. Due to their extraordinary lifespan and unique passive ability to turn into a bat, they were popularly known as Vampires and are often considered by some as the most superior race of humans.
This is the reason nobles like Estella were totally surprised to see such a person at their academy.
Crossing his hands behind the back, the new instructor spoke, "Practical Combat is the most important subject of Arcana studies no matter what academy you go to unless you plan on using elemental crystals to aid your growth all the time. Of course, you can also depend on higher-rank Arcana masters when hunting down the beasts but that's another story.
Anyway, first things first, I need to see each of your strengths and weaknesses, so that I can formulate a training plan for the ongoing semester. We only have one hour, or more specifically, only 52 minutes, which is of course, not enough to cover eighteen of you. So, for the next week, you will be tested in different areas one after another.
But, today is the first day, so, we'll start our semester with something fun instead." Arley Blood then took out a paper from his pocket and unfolded it before announcing the teams of 3 with six on each team. Coincidentally, earlier pairings that were announced in card creation class also became teammates.
<strong>Team Azrael:</strong> Azzy, Flora, Gideon, Rain Nightingale, Stephanus, and Adam.
<strong>Team Claire:</strong> Claire Lefeuvre, Glenn, Lark Sandrou, Larch, Calder, and Copper.
<strong>Team Estella:</strong> Estella Moon, Mia Leveret, Annabel, Anner light, Louis, and Raven Passel.
With each of them possessing platinum grade Arcana and is in the Elite Realm, the instructor separated them into different groups and made them leaders.
Claire was once again disappointed as she became a competitor to Azzy instead of an ally. Nevertheless, there's Estella in another group, so, she doesn't need to compete with Azzy but puts her focus on Team Estella instead.
After grouping them, the instructor continued, "If you have a problem with your teammates and couldn't find a solution, you can exchange your members with other teams by discussing with respective leaders as long as you follow these two conditions. One is that your partner should always be with you, and two, the balance should always be maintained like you cannot have more than 3 upper-grade students (grade-8, 9, 10.)
Okay, we have now three teams. So, let's get to the task."
Azzy and others looked at him curiously. They wondered what kind of task it might be.
Considering there's a two thousand sq. meter forest habitat behind him, it is probably related to it? Some of them wondered.
Arley explained, "I have planted two flags within the premises of this training grounds-1. Two clues. One, a flag is planted inside the forest habitat behind me. Two, there was no flag planted in the training facility. There are no winners here. The team that failed to acquire the flag here will be the loser. There will be a light punishment for the losing team.
You can use whatever methods to acquire the flag as long Satellite item card isn't involved in the process. Discuss with your teammates and decide your strategy. One minute later, all of you can move."
After giving all the details, Instructor Arley started the stopwatch while observing each team.
Like the other two teams, Team Azrael also stood in a circle to discuss their strategy.
"Look, it's obvious that instructor Blood purposely informed us about the flag planted in the forest habitat." Gideon took the charge instead of Azzy. The latter also didn't mind as he admits his best friend was more knowledgeable than him. Gideon's deductive skills are also better than Azzy's as long as the latter won't take the help of the Reaper.
Gideon continued, "In my opinion, we should abandon the forest and look elsewhere because the other flag will be in the open space according to the second clue. The second flag will be easier to find."
"Not necessarily, Senior," Flora voiced out her own opinion. She wasn't shy in expressing her view, unlike others. "Teacher only said that training facility is excluded in the test, not the Grand Arena. In the Grand Arena, there are also rooms."
"Hmm, I think you are right." Gideon agreed with her. At the same time, he was impressed that the little girl managed to find a flaw in the strategy. But, he wouldn't accept that he was wrong. He reminded her that a flag can be placed anywhere in the forest habitat, which included on top of the branches. In the end, looking for the second flag still would be a better option.
The others only listened to their opinions and stared at Azzy to make the decision.
After a brief silence, Azzy opened his mouth, "the five of you will search the Grand Arena and I will take care of the other habitats in the open."
"Alone?" Everyone was a little bit surprised about his decision.
"No, I'm not alone…" After Azzy explained his simple strategy, they felt that they have more winning chances compared to others.
*Whistle*
"Everyone, you can start searching," Arley announced after one minute is over.
Team Azrael didn't move from the spot to check the movements of other teams. Except for Claire, all the other five in her team walked towards the forest habitat. The princess of Triastal was staring at Estella to see her move. She didn't have any intentions of finding the flag. Her goal is something else.
Surprisingly, Estella seemed to have the same idea. She stayed behind while Louis and his partner stepped into the forest while Mia and her mentees rushed for the other habitats. Estella looked back at Claire with the same idea in her mind.
Azzy strongly felt like they would probably fight again but since there's a teacher around, he didn't feel the need to worry about the outcome and gave the signal to his teammates.
Everyone rushed towards the Grand Arena except for Azzy who left in a different direction after telling Claire that he was leaving.
Estella and Claire were left behind, staring at each other calmly in silence.
"What are you two doing? Go…" Arley said to them.
Estella let out a smirk as she replied, "Mr. Blood, didn't you say that any kind of method is okay as long as Satellite card isn't involved? Then…"
She then turned towards Claire once again and said, "I challenge you to a duel. The one who loses will have to admit defeat and withdraw from this task. Do you dare to accept?"
Claire never thought of the task. She only planned to challenge her and win against her by fair and square without the help of Arcana's possession. Now that Estella challenged her, Claire didn't waste any time and accepted it without hesitation but she has something else to add to the conditions.
Meanwhile, Azzy reached an empty rocky habitat and looked around. "Okay, this is the perfect spot." He jumped and landed on the tallest rock.
<strong>"Soul skill: Rise of the Undead."</strong>
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