At dawn, we left Reed Peak on a carriage after informing Master Orshen, the main slayers guild has issued special notice to strengthen the perimeter of the restricted zone and to send specialised trackers to follow Nightcrawler Lord's trail. Since, no further action were required, all the grandmasters and slayers that were assembled for the hunt were comissioned and dismissed. Lady Tashrani had a little chat with grandmaster Arilyne and glanced at me curiously before we departed, I was also curious what she talked with grandmaster Arilyne but I didn't inquire further. I asked grandmaster Arilyne what I should I tell to my teachers for my absence, and she said she will take care of it. Which leaves the only problem, what should I tell them? Dan and Ellena, they will inquire me nonstop, I should just tell them the truth and for why I was taken was just a conincidence.
Back at the academy, just like I predicted I had no choice but to spend my rather tiring day talking about my abrupt yet eventful participation of Nightcrawler Lord hunt. Dan exclaimed how he was envious of me that I got to participate in a historic hunt, Ellena was rather curious of how those renowned slayers looked like. None of them were not particulary interested by the existence of nightcrawler lord, which as a slayer, I find it very interesting and intriguing. To me, the existence of varaes, and the extent of the unknown in varaes existence has always baffled me to no end. If a cave bound varae such as Nightcrawler is able to evolve to such a terrifying level and acquire intelligence then there is no telling what kind of monsters this world may hold.
Next day, I was immediately summoned to Grandmaster Aryline office, I found myself standing infront of a crowd of four, one was Headmaster Archanole and the other two whose name I'm not familiar with, though one of them was with Headmaster Archanole when we were to about to depart to Reed Peak, and like wise he has a grandmaster robe, so he must be a teacher here and the last unfamiliar one wasn't wearing a grandmaster robe and I have no idea who he is, He was a man around thirties, scar on cheek, unchecked beard, pony-tail and a battle hardened face.
" Welcome, Student " said Grandmaster Archanole in a welcoming tone.
I politely greeted and seated myself as instructed. I can see Grandmaster Aryline smiling proudly at me.
" Tell us your experience at the hunt, I'm Grandmaster Lanphas in case you are not aware" said the unknown teacher.
" It was an honor to be able to witness such a historic hunt. I thank grandmaster Aryline for the opportunity. " I thanked the grandmasters in the room.
" Haha! I like him, What is your name student?, " asked Grandmaster Archanole.
" Lan Gwen Ethren, " I replied.
" So Lan Gwen Ethren, as reported you briefly fought against the Nightcrawler Lord, Tell us about it. " said Grandmaster Archanole.
" I was just watching the battle but the Nightcrawler Lord was not unable to breakthrough the grandmaster slayers, I think it was enraged and with all of his minions defeated, it came for me instead since I was the weakest slayer in the hunt. Maybe that's why the Nightcrawler Lord wasn't using his full strength. I was only able to deflect few of his blows and then the grandmasters came and it ran away." I said sincerely.
" Hmm, I'm glad that no harm came to you. ". replied grandmaster Archanole.
" I believe a calamity rank beast is as strong as the strongest grandmaster slayers simply in terms of physical strength and power, so to me it doesn't make sense that you are able to deflect Nightcrawler Lord's blow a couple of times even if it's fluke, you must be insanely strong enough to make possible that fluke. So what's your secret, student? what kind of magic are you pulling off?" said the unknown bearded man in a suspicious attitude.
I smiled and said, " It would be better if I demonstrate it, grandmaster. " I answered.
Grandmaster Aryline simply kept quiet and didn't interfere in the proceeding.
" Ha! What a rude child, Alright how would you demonstrate it? a spar? don't expect me to fight a student just for some nonsense. " said the unknown bearded man.
" Haha, Grandmaster Revan. Let Lan have his way, I'm also curious too see what he is about to demonsrate. " said grandmaster Archanole.
" So how will you demonstrate it? Lan." asked grandmaster Archanole.
" Arm wrestling," I said confidently and smiled.
" Hahahahaah! So you'll demonstrate your strength through arm wrestling? Are you serious, Student?," said Grandmaster Revan.
" Yes, I'm serious, Grandmaster." I replied.
He looked at me for a moment and proceed to arm wrestling without a word. I sat across him and extended my arm on the office table.
" Don't blame me later student if I accidently break your arm, also if you want to use magic spells, feel free to do so. " declared Revan.
The other grandmasters were watching at us with great curiosity and were kind of having fun, I don't know if grandmaster Arilyne was worried or simply annoyed but her face was serious. I glanced at her and smiled. I grabbed grandmaster Revan's hand and said, " Grandmaster Revan, I cannot use spells however I'll be using one of my techniques and I'll give all of my strength into proving it. "
" Ha! Do whatever you like, Let's see whether your claims hold true or not, " said Revan and he tightly gripped my hand.
In terms of muscle mass, Revan was much larger and normally no one would expect me to win in that case alone, but now I'm no longer the starving boy from B-12, after enrolling in the academy my diet has improved drastically and in the few couple of months, I have gained weight and muscle enough to call it adequate and enough to fully utilize my breathing techniques, my body is able to take on the insane toll of raven breathing much longer and much safer. In my times in B-12, when learning breathing techniques, Sloghk has further told me that there was another derivation of breathing techniques that is much advanced than Raven breathing in terms of skill but of less side effects, He said I need to improve my body in order to fully utlize the breathing technique more effeciently and without a strong body, it would not be useful. However, that is not the case right now, I can fully maxmize the output of that breathing technique and I called it Titan breathing, for a brief second, it will give me strength of unparalled power just like a titan and this was the perfect chance to use such a breathing technique.
" Are you ready, student? " asked Grandmaster Revan.
" Yes, I'm " I answered.
" Go!, " Revan said loudly.
Activating Titan breathing, in a blink of an eye, every nerves in my arm bulged and the concentration of oxygen increased in my body resulting in an explosion of strength which was enough to caught grandmaster Revan off guard.
A loud thump echoed inside the chamber and in the middle of the commotion, the chamber Table was crumbled into pieces and dust rose from the ground. Grandmaster Revan lost, the back of his arm was all the way to the floor still clutching to my hand and his eyes was as wide as night owls. I released his hand, stood up and bowed to the other grandmasters, " I believe I have demonstrated my strength, "
" Arilyne, you have one hell of an apprentice, " said Grandmaster Revan standing up and dusting away his cloths. He wasn't mad but he was rather laughing, " Who would have expected that a student slayer would able to overpower a grandmaster slayer?,"