Dragonblood Ascension

The sound of steel clashing against steel echoed throughout the Royal Knight Academy as dozens of trainees sparred across the massive training grounds. Mana flared in different colors around the arena, illuminating the morning air with bursts of fire, lightning, and wind. The noble students drew most of the attention as instructors watched from elevated platforms, nodding approvingly whenever someone displayed exceptional talent.

Leon Valcrest stood behind the crowd with his hands clenched tightly behind him. He was breaking in sweats despite the cold morning air. Every time they had trainings, he would focus on them and try imitating the moves, but today, his attention remained fixed on the center arena.

“Next! Cedric Vaughn!”

Thunderous applause erupted instantly as the silver-haired noble and top student casually strolled forward. He walked towards the center platform and confidently placed his palm against the crystal orb positioned at the center of the platform, releasing his mana.

Leon watched silently as lightning exploded from his palm, sending mana into the orb which changed its color immediately and exploded with light.

“What a genius!”

“He’ll definitely become a Royal Knight Commander someday!”

The instructors nodded in approval and Cedric smirked proudly.

At that moment, Leon lowered his head and thought about his life. Ever since he joined the training, he has not had a single bit of mana and everyone mocks him for being mana-less. At least, the noble kids still had hope of becoming a commander or joining the elite soldiers, but he on the other hand has no hope of even attaining the position of a knight someday.

Those with mana ruled the world, while those without it became servants. And that is the case with him.

“Next! Leon Valcrest!”

Leon’s body froze at the instructor’s call. His worn black sweater was soaked with sweat and several students laughed openly as they mocked him.

“The mana-less freak!”

“Someone needs to tell him sword tricks won’t make him a knight.”

He ignored them as he stepped forward. He had long since grown used to the mockery.

The instructor barely looked interested as he stopped before the crystal.

“Place your hand on the orb,” he instructed.

Leon didn’t like his tone. If he knows he’s going to fail this time again, why bother calling him forward?

He quietly obeyed, pressing his palm against the cold surface and he focused as hard as he could. Even if they don’t believe in him, he believes in himself and that is enough for him to keep going.

The arena fell silent, even though everyone already knew what would happen.

Leon stared back at the dark crystal and let out a sigh of failure. Not even the faintest flicker appeared. Nothing at all, despite years of training hard and not giving up. How useless can he be?

Laughter burst out through the arena immediately with loud mocking.

“He’s worse than a child.”

“A child has more mana than him.”

“What a mana-less idiot.”

Leon slowly removed his hand after hearing the instructor’s evaluation;

“Mana capacity: Zero.”

The words hit exactly as hard as they always did even after years of hearing them repeatedly. He stepped down from the platform and lowered his head as he made to walk away, but Cedric’s voice suddenly stopped him.

“Where do you think you are going?”

Leon slowly lifted his head to meet his eyes and he saw him walking toward him. Already, the evaluation had ended. It always ended with him because they know it was always the same outcome. Sometimes, he always believed the instructors do it on purpose so that other trainees can have something to laugh about by the end of it.

“You have been attending this academy for years despite knowing you don’t have any mana. I’m honestly curious to know what you are trying to achieve. Or are you staying because you get to enjoy three-square meals?” He asked with an amused expression.

A few nearby students laughed while some snickered.

Leon clenched his fist and said to his face, “That’s none of your business.”

Cedric’s smile faded slightly. He clearly wasn’t used to being answered that way.

“You know,” he continued, “there’s no shame in accepting reality. The truth is that you are everything useless, worthless, mana-less. You can never amount to anything, lest even dream about becoming a Royal Knight. That’s your failure. Accept it.”

Leon said nothing, even though the words cut him deep like a knife. The truth was that he has heard worse—far worse than this.

Cedric took his silence as weakness and when Leon made to leave again, he stepped closer, blocking his path.

“How about this? Since you keep trying to be stubborn and wanting to prove that you are something when you’re clearly not, why don’t you prove it now, to everyone?”

Leon wondered what he was talking about. How can he possibly prove anything at all?

“Fight me,” Cedric proposed and the surrounding students immediately became excited.

Leon stared at him for several seconds. He knew exactly what this was. It was humiliation disguised as entertainment. Cedric didn’t view him as a threat, instead, he wanted to use him to gain more popularity. After all, everyone knows he is trying to gain attention so he can be made a Commander.

Words already spread around the arena that a duel would be happening, even when Leon hadn’t given his consent to it. Still, he knows that refusing would only make things worse.

Cedric drew his own blade and lightning crackled faintly around the weapon as mana gathered beneath his feet. “Try not to die quickly,” he said with a grin and tilted his brows.

Leon gulped instantly and looked around. Everyone was waiting in anticipation. Even the instructors didn’t interfere. To them, this was probably a harmless fun, but did they not see how this is not right?

He reached for the wooden practice sword at his waist and pulled it out.

Then, the duel began.

Leon had barely managed to raise his sword when Cedric’s strike slammed hard against it with a terrifying force. The impact nearly shattered his arms and before he could attack back, Cedric vanished almost instantly.

Gasps spread across the arena as lightning flashed across the platform.

Cedric attacked again without pause and his movements were very fast, enhanced by mana far beyond what ordinary trainees could achieve.

Leon couldn’t figure out how he was doing it. Even right there, as he stood defenseless, he watched in admiration as Cedric’s steps seem to be floating above the ground with lightning beneath his feet.

Cedric attacked from every side, and every strike carried enough force to knock Leon backward several steps. The crowd laughed as Leon struggled to defend himself and that gave him more adrenaline.

He looked toward the instructors briefly and he could see how concentrated they were on him. That’s right! Maybe this would get him into the Elite academy immediately. But more than that, he needed to put low lives like Leon in their place. He needed to let them know that they stand no chance next to them. And maybe paralyzing him forever will do everyone good, he thought.

He started attacking strongly, using his mana against him, but slowly, his expression began changing.

Leon wasn’t falling. Despite lacking mana and being physically overpowered, he continued blocking attacks that should have been impossible to react to.

Cedric might not know it, but years of fighting stronger opponents had sharpen Leon’s instincts to a degree.

When Cedric attacked from the left, Leon blocked it. He attacked from the right and it was blocked again. He got furious by then. It was as if Leon was mirroring his every move. He made a thrust toward his chest and Leon narrowly stepped aside.

By now, whispers were already spreading everywhere and it made Cedric even more furious. Lightning burst across the arena as he increased his speed again, frustration and anger creeping into his face. He wanted to put an end to it once and for all and to prove again to everyone why he can never be beaten by anyone, but in the midst of it all, Leon saw a tiny opening and he went straight for it without hesitation.

Leon swung his stick beneath Cedric’s chin and it stopped less than an inch from his throat.

Cedric’s eyes widened in disbelief as his entire body froze in that instant. He looked at Leon with fear in his eyes, and then at the instructors. In their eyes, it appears that Leon had won, and they couldn’t believe it either, but just at that moment, he caused a violent explosion of lightning to erupt from his body and Leon was thrown several feet backwards. His body slammed hard against the stone floor as pain shot through his ribs and entire body.

Cedric lowered his sword, showing that the duel had come to an end and the crowd burst into applause and laughter. He moved towards Leon and stared down at him, watching as he writhed in pain due to the impact.

“You got lucky,” he said coldly, and though he felt humiliated, he didn’t make it obvious. After all, he had won instead. Even if Leon trains with only swords, he can never come close if he doesn’t have any mana.

Leon watched him leave and he forced himself back to his feet. He spat out blood and felt bruise all over his body. He looked around and tears threatened to spill from his eyes. He had won, or at least he should have, but none of the instructors cared that Cedric had used excessive force on him.

The instructors shook their heads dismissively and Leon wiped the blood from his mouth as anger burned deep inside of him.

One day, he will prove them wrong, even if the entire world stands against him. That is one promise he made to himself.