Grey blinked. Maybe he was just used to everyone he came across being hostile, but he hadnât expected this sort of reception. He would have been more inclined to believe they would all launch themselves into an attack immediately.
When Grey recalled the matters of the ceremony, it had felt like most of the knights present had been hostile toward him, even down to the guards at the gates.
Logically, these squires should be under the tutelage of those Holy Knights. So if they were likewise hostile, it would only make sense.
But Grey couldnât actually sense any hatred or danger from any of them.
"How does it work?" Grey asked. "Iâve never done this before."
The redhead grinned, walking over and patting him on the shoulder.
"Donât worry rookie, itâs actually quite easy. You charge and clash blades, then lock your guards in place. Itâs a drill that not only works on your footwork, but especially your wrist and forearms, with a healthy sprinkle of endurance.
"Are you up for it?"
From a casual look around, Grey could feel that all the squires were in the Proving Class just like he was.
He didnât know much about stat distribution and Edmun had made him promise not to use the Free Stats he had until their training was over, but he had a few guesses.
Level 10 was the peak of what was possible in the Proving Class. If each level at the Proving Class was worth 10 stat points or so, that probably meant the peak of the Proving Class was to have stats around 100 or so, give or take a few dozen maybe.
So, Greyâs current 61 END wasnât too high or too low. But his STR wasnât even 33 anymore because Edmun had made him take off his Chad Suit. So he was back to 18 STR on that front.
Now that was far too low for these sorts of activities.
Still, Grey grinned.
"Yeah, Iâm down."
"Great. The nameâs Blain. Youâre Grey, right?"
Grey nodded. "Thatâs me."
"Alright, who wants to take the rookie for a spin?"
"Iâll go!" One of the burlier squires spoke.
"Fuck off, Chogh. You only have a week left before your due date is up and you still want to bully rookies only two days in."
"So you do you, fucker."
"Well Iâm not going myself, now am I?"
Chogh let out a displeased grunt, but he let it go.
"Iâll go." A tall, skinny young man spoke up. He actually looked a lot older than the others, so much so there was a streak of grey in his hair. But that didnât actually seem to be from old age.
He was in his mid-twenties at the worst.
"I guess this is the best youâre gonna get, rookie. Charles and Squack over there were probably your best bet, but theyâre tuckered out from their round just now. Youâll have to deal with Skinny."
Grey chuckled to himself. The names were certainly a mix of real names and nicknames, and no one could tell the difference by now. Not that it mattered.
It felt like he was right back in the gym again. Even the scent of sweat in the air was the same.
He knew he reeked right now, but Blain didnât even flinch when he put his arm over his shoulder.
Blain gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Good luck, rook."
It wasnât long before a new ring of squires had formed and Grey was facing off against Skinny. With a tug at his waist, he pulled out his knightâs blade.
Blain burst into laughter. "Holy shit, Sir Trolley really put you through the wringer, huh? Go easy on him Skinny."
"Iâm not making any promises." Skinny said with a grin.
Grey chuckled.
"Also, hey, hey, no external items. Take that shit off." Skinny said.
Grey didnât mind it and obliged, swiping a hand over his face and using the pixelation of his iron jaw to hide the fact he let the Skrill Mask slip into his inventory.
âHm?â Grey suddenly sensed something when he communicated with his inventory just now, a tug in a certain direction.
"READY YOUR MARKS."
Blainâs booming voice forced Grey to snap his attention back to the battle before him. He ignored the feeling for the time being, tucking it to the back of his mind.
His white hair danced, a crimson pair of irises growing deathly serious all of a sudden.
Skinny felt a heft of something he couldnât describe land on his shoulders and a creepy chill crawled up his spine.
"READY!" Blain boomed. "GO!"
Grey felt the sand beneath his feet crunch, a twist of his hip and ankle leaving him a bit off balance. But it was nothing he hadnât grown used to in his training with Edmun.
Skinny shrugged off the feeling of Greyâs gaze and charged ahead, holding out his sword before himself and then suddenly raising it high at the last moment.
"This slimy fucker." Blain said with a chuckle. But clearly, Skinny hadnât broken any rules.
Grey only had the time to take a strong step forward, far more worried about keeping his balance perfect as opposed to anything else.
He braced his shoulders and tightened his grip.
Without leaving the ground at all, he took a step. It was almost like he remained connected to the earth the entire time, the sole of his foot hovering so close that it ground against the speckles of sand and dirt.
BANG.
Grey went flying. The exchange didnât even end in a proper clash.
His body exhaled a ton of air as he hit the ground and a chorus of laughter erupted.
The only one not laughing was Skinny who suddenly found himself taking a step back, his sword nearly clattering out of his hands.
âWhat the hell was that?â
Blainâs laughter was probably the loudest. "Better luck next time, rook."
He went over, reaching a hand down to Grey and helping him up.
Grey laughed it off and then patted his ass.
"That was too quick. Let me go again." Grey said.
"Oh?" Blain blinked. "You want to give him another taste, Skinny?"
For some reason, Skinny didnât reply immediately, making Blain raise an eyebrow.
"Skinny?"
"Uh, right." Skinny shook his head. "Let someone else bully the rookie, Iâve had my fun."
Blain chuckled. "Alright. Who else wants to go?"
Laughing and jeering filled the air, but no one seemed to care enough to step forward.
"I guess you canât stop me this time, can you?" Chogh spoke, weaving his way forward.
Blain scoffed and shook his head. "Are you up for it?" he asked Grey.
"Sure, why not?"
There was a glow in Greyâs eyes.
He had pushed the matter of his inventory to the back of his mind. He was wondering if the real reason he couldnât progress Goblin Warlord Spirit to Active Link was because he had only mastered half of the Ability.
The first half was what he, himself, did.
But arguably, the most important half was being able to read and react to an opponent.
He couldnât read and react to Edmun at all, he could only hold on for dear life.
But against these squires?
Grey couldnât hold back a grin as he looked up at Chogh who stood a full head taller than him.