Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Heated Practice Part 1 - Second Day Of The Scholar Year Part 3
The group changes their location, from the classroom, to a Gym with a large shooting range.
However, and to everyone’s surprise, the practice targets are not the cones that N’Ïrk has seen and used before.
At the other end of the large hall, are several Fake Zones. The turbulent vortexes cause a lingering nervousness in the students. It doesn’t matter if they had enter in a real Zone. It’s always a dreading sight.
Though, a more adequate name for the energetic whirlwinds would be «False Fake Zones».
They are a really convincing illusions that are powered by the building’s Empiric Energy, showing a dangerous and discouraging landscape.
Truth be told, if the students can deal with the sight, or the mental pressure provoked by it, there is no chance they could face a real danger. Which could be the case if the dire catastrophe of the previous day is repeated in the future.
"Attention Students". Coordinator Lycaonia demands with her intimidating piercing blue eyes, glowing menacingly like if she could blast the student’s heads on a whim, which only intensifies the youngsters disoriented, uncertain and afraid state, because she actually can.
"I know most of you have never seen combat, nor used Empiric Energy offensively. I am going to change this. Today. «How?». You may wonder. Simple. By teaching you a type of Ammunition that is highly reliable and doesn’t require Emens of your Storage Capacity, but rather the Five Seconds of channeling that possess your Passive Induction of Empiric Energy...".
{What?!. That is possible?!. Why is the first time i am hearing this!}
*Hahaha*. Lycaonia burst into laughter, her eyes teary from the puzzled expression in the last Scion of the Ignay’Thus.
"I know what you are thinking Student N’Ïrk. It is not an easy task to employ the Passive Induction, much less learn «Stint’Flear»...".
{What Ammunition is that?}
"First, you have to achieve 250 Storage Capacity. «1» after the calamity that befall on us. This is to be accustomed to the amount of Empiric Energy coursing through your body... , Second, 50 of Control Fortitude, and 50 of Alteration Fortitude. Of course. This has changed too. Needing just «1» of both Fortitudes. Meaning everyone here is able to use «Stint’Flear»...".
{In other words. Those who didn’t remain with «1» in the Six Fortitudes, died yesterday}
"The downside of this type of attacks, is the slow rate of fire. It can be used one time immediately. But it will cost you Five seconds to send the next shot, regardless of how proficient anyone may be or become".
{That certainly it is not a good selling point, the viability of Stint’Flear in a quick frenetic fight is non existent. But it can be amazing for long extended combats, like sieges. Or a nice alternative for us, especially now that we are so limited in terms of our Storage Capacity, and the reduced speed to replenish our energetic prowess}
From a False Fake Zone comes out an ethereal entity that is almost like a ghost, however, it is real, not an illusion like the rest of the set up in the shooting range.
The Students enter in panic, but Coordinator Lycaonia proceeds with her lesson as if nothing was occuring.
"Feel the Empiric Energy within your body, sense it through your Emeneld if that makes the initial interaction easier for you. Focus the Emens flowing onto your fingertips, extend your dominant hand at your target, and recite firmly with aggressive intention...".
She aims her left hand at the floating ghost coming near the students. "«Stint’Flear»".
The bright ace of orange light emitted from each finger of Lycaonia turn stronger and brighter.
The formless beams traveling to the woman’s palm converge in a single point at the center of her hand, creating a fleeting orange flash, shooting forward a bolt of reddened orange plasma, striking the ghost and vanishing in a wisp of ephemeral light, like a contained flare.
{That explains the name of the Ammunition, and reminds of something...}
Lycaonia turns around, separating the class in the groups made of Two Trinities.
"Once you step in a Test Tile, the «Fake Zone» in front will bring to Dhägna’Hür a ghost, this will continue every 28 seconds, effectively giving you the opportunity to fire 5 times before you have to deal with a second ghost...".
Appalled gasp reverberate in the shooting range, but the noise is blatantly disregarded by Lycaonia. "Each Pair of Trinities have to eliminate Three ghosts per Member, for a minimum of Eighteen... , Your Two hours and twenty minutes start now".
N’Ïrk stands on the Test Tile, and the expected Ghost appears, hovering eerily over the floor, and displacing itself towards the almost yawning young man.
He is calm, employing Empiric Energy is something N’Ïrk has done plenty of times and in worse scenarios. He actively empowers his Emeneld, and sensing the flow in his body, is a menial task.
Following to the letter every instruction issued by the sensuous Coordinator Lycaonia. Is easy for N’Ïrk to make use of the new Ammunition.
"«Stint’Flear»". The orange reddened spark of hot plasma flies near the speed of sound, impacting the translucent chest of the Ghost, vanishing it into nothingness.
{This is extremely simple. I am going to try my idea...}
The next Ghost materializes. Flying towards N’Ïrk with more speed than the previous Unalive Target
{Nice!. The Ghosts may be weak, but they are not repetitive, their random Fortitudes are a good touch to not fall in the monotony that constant practice usually has}
This time, the Empiric Energy that N’Ïrk is channeling, possess a different hue, an unsettling eerie black with green, similar to obsidian with emerald rather than the reddish orange of «Stint’Flear».
"«Éthék»".
No bolt of energy is fired from N’Ïrk’s hand, if not a focused beam, a potent laser that lasts for over a third of a second, before N’Ïrk’s outstretched arm is abruptly bended, interrupting the continuous flow of Empiric Energy. Nonetheless, he effortlessly destroys the Ghost with that short attack.
{What in Dhägna’Hür!. I almost broke my arm from the recoil!. Not to mention the obvious problem!. That thing (Spectral Scorpion) used by the Usurper. Managed to maintain a constant stream of «Éthék» for seven to eight seconds approx, I didn’t even reach one!. Or half a second!. How the fuck they overwrite the Five Seconds rule?!...}