Dragonslayer’s Class Regression 27

Chapter 27

“You mean the grade advancement exam?”

“Yes. An exceptional student like you certainly qualifies to take the advancement exam.”

I had been thinking about grade advancement to some extent.

In my past life, Reina had skipped grades and graduated from the 6-year academy in just 4 years.

Howard stroked his well-groomed Kaiser mustache while looking at Zeke.

“No need to overthink it. You’re more than capable…”

“I’ll do it.”

Zeke answered before Howard could finish speaking.

His eyes burned with fierce determination.

‘I welcome any opportunity to graduate from the academy early.’

Howard smiled with satisfaction at Zeke’s response.

“Excellent. Very well, I’ll arrange the advancement exam. Show us brilliant results.”

Zeke nodded and left the principal’s office.

Left alone, Howard opened a drawer and took something out of a secretly hidden safe.

It was a communication crystal connected through a secure line.

He turned the dial to contact someone.

BZZZT!

Noise crackled from the crystal showing only a black screen.

Then a light indicated the connection was established.

Howard spoke into the receiver in a hushed voice.

“Both pureblooded awakeners have agreed to take the exam.”

Someone on the other end gave Howard instructions.

He quietly listened to the directions and nodded.

“Understood. I will arrange it accordingly.”

When Howard finished speaking, the light on the crystal went out.

Howard put the communication crystal back in the safe.

He stood up and stroked his Kaiser mustache while looking at his reflection in the window.

“Things are getting interesting.”

* * *

Three days after meeting with the Principal, Zeke received notice about the advancement exam.

Without knowing what the exam would entail, he had to go to the upper classmen’s Aura training room for evaluation.

When he entered, Reina Draker was already there.

She displayed a fierce fighting spirit toward Zeke.

Since the Aura evaluation exam, Reina had been burning with even more rivalry toward Zeke.

Zeke deliberately avoided Reina’s gaze.

‘’How tiresome.’’

Originally, Reina had talent worthy of being recorded as one of the academy’s greatest geniuses of all time.

But being placed on the same level as the irregular Zeke made her abilities seem lacking in comparison.

However, rather than being concerned about this, Reina seemed to burn with fighting spirit while considering Zeke her rival.

As the subtle tension continued between Reina and Zeke, someone entered the training room.

THUD!

It was the instructor in charge and a knight wearing the Draker formal uniform.

Zeke was momentarily surprised seeing the knight behind the instructor.

‘’Wood Sword?’’

Wood Sword Aul Draker.

He was one of the few people from the Draker side who had connections with Zeke before the regression.

With his huge build, solid physique, and large scar across his face.

Just from the energy emanating from his body, one could tell he was above the level that would normally be deployed for an academy advancement evaluation.

The instructor in charge stepped forward to explain.

“Zeke Draker, Reina Draker. A Senior Knight Aul Draker from the main family will be in charge of your advancement exam evaluation today.”

Reina and Zeke bowed their heads in greeting to Aul.

Aul simply stared at the two silently without saying anything.

The instructor continued explaining.

“The exam will be a sparring match. Pour out all your abilities for 10 minutes. Understood?”

Reina responded loudly while Zeke just nodded slightly.

The instructor asked Aul.

“Shall we begin right away?”

Aul nodded at the instructor’s words.

He pointed to Reina first.

Reina drew her sword and stood before Aul.

“Phew…”

The basic requirement for a Draker family senior knight is Blue Knight rank or higher.

Blue Knight rank was just the minimum requirement – each one was a true expert who had built up over 10 years of experience rolling through actual combat missions.

They could be called the pillars that practically supported the Draker family.

As Reina took her stance, Aul also drew his sword.

However, Aul’s sword wasn’t a typical arming sword but had an unusual form.

Zeke was lost in thought looking at Aul’s sword.

‘He used the Eastern Empire’s hwando(A traditional sword) even back then.’

A strange weapon with the blade on only one side.

It was also longer than a typical sword.

With Aul’s tall stature and build, just holding the large blade created quite an intimidating presence.

However, Reina, known as the prodigy among the Drakers, quickly shook off that pressure and found her pace.

She moved in quickly toward Aul first.

WHOOSH!

A clean thrust flew toward Aul’s thigh.

Seeing Reina’s incoming sword, Aul simply stepped back.

Whoosh!

Reina’s sword thrust harmlessly through the air.

She immediately changed her stance and attacked Aul using the Dragon Slaying technique.

But Aul didn’t swing his sword, only swaying his body and stepping back to avoid Reina’s sword.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Reina showed incredible movement that was hard to believe came from a first-year academy student.

However, her limits were still clear.

Aul avoided Reina’s attack, turned his body to dive into her blind spot, and placed his foot between her legs.

THUD!

“Ugh!”

Just from that, Reina lost her balance and fell.

She quickly got up again and gripped her sword.

“Haa… haa…”

After forcing herself to attack while fighting off Aul’s pressure, her stamina quickly depleted and she was already out of breath.

And then, Aul raised his sword for the first time.

Bang!

Aul stepped forward and swung his sword.

Reina quickly raised her sword to block Aul’s blade.

CRASH!

When hit by the sword, Reina literally flew through the air, crashing into the training room wall.

BOOM!

The impact was so great that it slightly cracked the training room wall.

“Ugh…”

Reina tried to stand up somehow, but her body wouldn’t listen and just trembled.

After a moment, she finally lost consciousness.

The waiting healers quickly loaded Reina onto a stretcher and transported her to the treatment room.

‘How brutal.’

A man devoid of mercy, as cold and unyielding

He was exactly as Zeke remembered – Aul Draker of the Wooden Flow Sword.

Aul returned to his original position and pointed at Zeke.

Zeke drew Bahamut and spoke toward Aul.

“Are there any separate evaluation criteria?”

Aul gave no answer to Zeke’s question.

‘He’s really difficult to deal with.’

Someone like Duke was actually easier to read.

But dealing with Aul was like facing a tree surrounded by iron armor.

The Aul he faced in the Third Continental War in his past life was the same.

A true knight whose inner thoughts couldn’t be read but was incredibly straightforward.

Despite being an enemy in his past life, Zeke had respected Aul.

‘It was a waste for such a person to die in that trivial war.’

Zeke gripped Bahamut.

Shaking off various emotions, he pointed his sword toward Aul.

Simultaneously, his figure disappeared.

WHOOSH!

Zeke unleashed the Shadowless step, surrounding Aul with afterimages.

SWISH!

Zeke’s sword dove in, aiming for Aul’s openings.

Like with Reina, Aul twisted his body to avoid Zeke’s sword.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Zeke increased the speed of his Shadowless Step technique.

The afterimages increased from three to five.

Five swords simultaneously aimed for Aul’s vital points.

WHOOSH!

In that instant, Aul raised his sword to block Zeke’s sword targeting his back.

BANG!

Aul turned around and pushed against Zeke’s sword. Zeke deflected Aul’s sword and dodged to the side.

If his timing had been even slightly late, he too would have been sent flying like Reina.

Every simple movement of Aul’s sword contained immense power.

‘’I can’t let my guard down.’’

Since he couldn’t reveal all his power in this situation, Zeke had to move while carefully controlling his strength.

However, showing too poor a performance would mean failing the level advancement evaluation, so maintaining that balance was important.

Zeke stepped back and regulated his breathing.

Unlike with Reina, Aul took up his sword stance.

Then he stepped forward once more.

RUMBLE!

Though it was just one step forward, the pressure was incredible.

Seeing a strong opponent crossing swords after so long, Zeke unconsciously smiled.

Battling strong opponents was like opening a path to new possibilities.

WOONG!

Zeke’s sword rang out.

He moved with Shadowless Step and Unleashed the Dragon Slaying technique.

Dragon Slaying Technique

Chapter 3 Section 1

Crescent Moon Slash

A Crescent Moon Slash imbued with aura flew toward Aul.

BANG!

Aul tilted his sword sideways to block Zeke’s Crescent Moon Slash.

Zeke used the rebound force from being blocked by Aul’s sword to spin.

Dragon Slaying Technique

Chapter 4 Section 1

Full Moon Slash

Immediately, Zeke’s sword drew a large full moon, falling toward Aul’s crown with centrifugal force.

Aul fixed his lower body and raised his sword upward from below.

Crash!

A massive impact sound rang out as Zeke’s Full Moon Slash and Aul’s upward slash collided.

Zeke was pushed back, unable to completely deflect the impact of the upward strike.

‘’Whew… it’s certainly challenging while controlling my aura.’’

That’s when Aul spoke to Zeke.

“Zeke Draker.”

He pointed his sword at Zeke.

“Show me your full strength.”

He had noticed that Zeke wasn’t showing his complete abilities.

At the same time, Aul’s body moved.

WHOOSH!

Unlike before, he swung his sword with an aggressive stance.

WHOOSH!

Swords flew at Zeke from all directions.

BANG!

Zeke raised his sword to block them.

But the attacks continued endlessly.

The sword bent at strange angles, rushing in to target openings from completely unexpected directions.

While blocking Aul’s sword, Zeke clenched his teeth.

‘’He used this mysterious Eastern swordsmanship back then too.’’

He remembered struggling against this swordsmanship when fighting Aul on the battlefield before his regression.

When it seemed to strike from above, it would change trajectory to come from the side, and when coming from below, it would switch to above.

It was so unpredictable that defense itself was difficult. Seeing Aul now using his proper swordsmanship technique, Zeke thought he needed to use a bit more skill to advance.

Woong!

A strong vibration emerged from Zeke’s body rather than his sword.

Dragon Slaying Technique Application

Wind Storm Technique

Shadowless Step technique

In an instant, Zeke’s body accelerated so fast it became invisible.

Woong!

It was one of the Wind Storm technique applications that enhanced elasticity by strengthening muscles and joints with aura wrapped around the entire body.

The accelerated Zeke dodged Aul’s sword and dove straight into his inner space.

WHOOSH!

Zeke’s sword quickly rose, targeting Aull’s vital point.

That’s when it happened.

TUNG!

In an instant, Aul quickly stepped back half a step, created an opening, and performed an iaido strike toward Zeke. [TL/N: Baldo!!!]

BOOM!

Blocking the powerful sword with his blade, Zeke was thrown back by the recoil all the way to the training ground wall, just like Reina.

Rumble!

The force was so strong that Zeke went straight through the wall.

Because of this, the healers had to move quickly once again.

Only then did Aul lower his sword and stare at Zeke being carried to the infirmary.

That’s when it happened.

“You bastard, you really wrecked my disciple, huh?”

Duke appeared out of nowhere and landed in front of Aul. Aul immediately bowed his head to Duke.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Duke Draker.”

“Aul, you’re still as stiff as ever.”

“I’m glad to see you’re in good health.”

“Well, someone who just plays around all day should at least be healthy. But more importantly.”

Duke grinned and put his arm around Aul’s shoulder.

“How was my disciple?”

Aul pressed his lips together before speaking slowly .

“Disqualified.”

Duke was shocked at those words.

“What? Are you saying that kid is disqualified?”

Aul shook his head.

“No. I am disqualified as an evaluator.”