Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 467: Challenge

"Anyway, since we still have twenty four hours left, and we have no resting to do nor any injuries to heal, I might as well put the time to good use," Finch spoke calmly as he rose from the bed, a gentle and confident smile resting on his face.

William’s eyes turned toward him almost immediately as he asked, "What do you mean?" His expression clearly showed his confusion. After all, there was nothing particularly pressing for them to do. If this had been before, they might have spent time purchasing new armor, but Finch’s family had already taken care of that.

The damaged and dented sets destroyed by the assassins had long since been replaced, and not merely repaired, but exchanged for entirely new ones of the same grade the Star Academy had initially issued. There was no need to spend points on maintenance or upgrades, leaving them with a rare stretch of free time.

With a proud and slightly excited smile spreading across his face, Finch spoke once more. "I’m now stronger than before. I can’t really remain at the last rank, can I?" His voice carried a hint of anticipation, the thought of finally escaping that godforsaken two-hundredth rank filling him with motivation.

"You truly were too weak," Lior stated casually from the side, his tone amused as he spoke without even turning to look at Finch. "Who would have thought you were ranked last amongst everyone?"

Finch’s lips twitched faintly at Lior’s blunt remark, but he said nothing. Barely twenty hours had passed since he had bonded with the Emovira, yet he was already growing accustomed to the being’s snarky and unfiltered comments. Rather than annoyance, Finch found himself oddly amused by it.

"What rank do you plan to challenge?" Asher asked calmly from the side, his expression composed and thoughtful. Although Finch had already stepped into the Brightstar Life Rank, nearly everyone within the top one hundred of their class occupied that same realm. Some of the top ten students had even begun to touch the Balzestar Life Rank. Asher’s question was not meant to discourage Finch, but rather to ensure he had not grown overconfident and decided to challenge someone far beyond his current limits, such as those ranked within the top fifty or higher.

"Hmmm... I haven’t really thought much about it," Finch replied after a brief moment of contemplation. "But I’ll just challenge anyone within ranks eighty to one hundred." His tone was measured, showing that he had at least put some thought into it, even if he had not overanalyzed the decision.

Before anyone else could speak, Lior cut in. "What rank are the both of you at?" he asked, directing the question toward Asher and William. He already knew Finch’s standing all too well, the image of him being dead last firmly ingrained in his mind.

"First place," Asher replied flatly, his voice devoid of pride or arrogance, as though stating an indisputable fact.

"Fourth place," William followed up shortly after, his tone just as calm.

Lior slowly turned his gaze toward Finch, a weird smile forming on his face. He said nothing at all, yet the expression alone spoke volumes. It was mocking, amused, and slightly provocative all at once.

Ignoring Lior entirely, Finch continued, "What do you guys think? Should I challenge someone higher?" he asked sincerely. Although he had broken through his previous limits and was now far more competent in combat than before, he had not turned into an arrogant young master blinded by confidence. Asher and William were among the strongest in their class and, more importantly, his friends. Their opinions mattered to him.

"I think that rank range is fine," William replied after a brief pause. "If you win against any of them and feel you can challenge more, then you should. But if it becomes too much, there’s no shame in climbing through the ranks gradually." His words were calm and practical. Asher simply nodded in agreement, having nothing more to add.

Although the nature of Finch’s soul-bound weapon might allow him to climb the ranks faster than most, it would still depend entirely on the type of opponent he faced and the awakened abilities they possessed. Strength alone was everything within the Star Academy.

"Let’s move then. I also want to see this," Lior spoke as he headed toward the door first. By this point, he had already shapeshifted into the body of an eighteen-year-old boy. Neither Asher nor William appeared worried about Lior being discovered. The Star Academy did not actively verify every student’s identity; merely being within its grounds was considered identification enough.

"You don’t even know where we’re supposed to go," Finch called out from behind as Lior reached the door. Asher and William said nothing, simply following Finch as the group made their way out. Their destination was Instructor Jane, and though there were many instructors available, she was the first person who came to mind.

When they arrived at her office, they made their intentions known without delay. Instructor Jane fell silent for a moment, her pink eyes resting on Finch as she studied him carefully. She wondered where this sudden confidence had come from, especially considering his previous standing. Her gaze shifted briefly toward Asher, and upon seeing him present, she decided not to comment further. If the Tenth Sun himself was here, then Finch was likely strong enough to back up his challenge.

Without wasting time, she reached into her desk and pulled out a smooth, crystalline orb. Infusing Astra into it, the orb began to glow softly, projecting information that showed the number of first-year students currently present within the Star Academy. Many of them were away on missions, leaving only a limited selection available for duels.

After a brief moment, she spoke. "Out of every student ranked from eighty to one hundred, only rank one hundred is currently available." She paused, her eyes shifting back toward Finch. "When do you want the duel to take place? What method will it be, and what are the stakes?" she asked fluidly, clearly accustomed to such requests.

Finch did not hesitate. "Today. Direct battle. Class rank," he answered firmly.

Instructor Jane nodded without another word and retrieved a second orb from her desk. She sent out the duel request, and within seconds, a response arrived.

"He has accepted your challenge," she said calmly. "The duel will begin in one hour. I hope you know that the penalty for losing such a duel will be half of your points being transferred to the one you challenged." Her tone carried no warning, merely stating the academy’s rules.

Of course, Finch could have avoided this penalty by transferring all of his points to Asher or William beforehand. However, he chose not to. He was confident in himself and his growth. Besides, the swift acceptance of the duel came as no surprise. After all, who would want to miss out on what appeared to be free points, willingly offered by the weakest student in the class?