Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 501: Five Minutes [Bonus Chapter]

Instructor Jude floated in the air with a wide grin stretched across his face, the kind that betrayed both pride and astonishment, and he was surprised to say the least. Yes, he had expected Asher to win, but that expectation had come only after a bit of effort and visible effort, yet it seemed his assumptions had been utterly wrong, because Asher had rendered each student unconscious with a single, decisive attack, overwhelming them with frightening ease, only the Prince remained conscious, but even he was psychologically defeated, his will crushed long before his body could even attempt to resist.

’It seems I underestimated him,’ he mused quietly to himself as he hadn’t expected such an abrupt and overwhelming turn of events, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly in thought, ’sighs, if he was already at the Crownstar Life Rank, he would make a fine sparring partner, perhaps even an entertaining one,’ he continued to think as though peering into the future when Asher would inevitably rise to that level, his imagination already picturing what kind of monster the boy would become when given time.

With that, he floated downwards with unhurried grace, the air parting around him as though welcoming his descent, his feet kissing the earth with gentle ease as he spoke in a calm yet amused tone, "it seems you’ve given us all a huge surprise."

Hearing the Instructor’s words, Asher’s eyes turned to the side, where the Instructor stood with that same carefree smile, "it’s all thanks to Instructor Jude’s lessons," he stated with a flat, almost indifferent expression, though there was a faint trace of sincerity buried beneath the surface.

Instructor Jude was caught off guard by the reply, his brows lifting slightly before his composure shattered, and he immediately burst into loud, unrestrained laughter, "HAHHAHAHA! I wasn’t expecting that reply," his laughter and words echoing through the air like thunder, bouncing off the surrounding structures and lingering longer than necessary. After a moment, he shook his head while wiping at the corner of his eye and casually released his Astra energy into the air, the invisible pressure spreading outward like a sudden atmospheric shift.

The moment he did, the unconscious students immediately stirred awake as their bodies instinctively registered danger, their survival instincts screaming alarms through their nerves as they rose to their feet with abrupt, sharp breaths.

But they didn’t run or look around confused, nor did they panic, because this was Instructor Jude’s peculiar yet effective way of waking unconscious students, forcing their bodies to sense danger and shock the brain awake, a harsh but efficient method that had long since become familiar to them.

Seeing all of them awake and standing once more, Instructor Jude spoke, "since y’all have already lost, this spar is now between me and the Tenth Sun, y’all can take a couple steps back and watch a battle between geniuses," his voice loud and confident as it carried effortlessly across the entire field, reaching everyone present without strain.

Everyone’s gaze slowly turned to Asher, who stood before the Instructor like a silent pillar, unmoving and composed, and they sighed collectively as they took a couple of reluctant steps back, because they didn’t need to be told that every single one of them had already lost to the Tenth Sun with a single attack, a humiliating reality none of them wished to dwell on.

But then, a small, mischievous smile appeared on their lips, subtle yet shared among many, because at least the Tenth Sun would suffer in the Instructor’s hands, and there was no way he would win against an Instructor, right, no matter how talented or monstrous he might be.

Asher didn’t gaze at the other students or acknowledge their thoughts, his eyes remained firmly locked on the Instructor before him He had never battled the man before now, as every hand-to-hand combat class session had always been training drills or simple spars against fellow students, never once against the Instructor himself, and the thought of testing himself against someone of that caliber stirred something deep within him.

"What are the rules between us?" Asher asked calmly as he wanted to know, because if Instructor Jude fought at full power, then there would be no need or use for their spar to even begin with, since the difference would be insurmountable and pointless.

Instructor Jude placed a hand on his chin as he hummed in thought as though he hadn’t even considered that far ahead, his casual nature evident even now, while Asher stayed silent and patient as he said nothing, simply waiting. A few long minutes passed but Instructor Jude still seemed lost in his thoughts, staring into space as if searching for an answer in the clouds.

"Ok, kid, I can’t think of any rules, we will just spar for five minutes, during that time, just show me whatever you have up your sleeves, and of course I will be matching your speed and strength," he spoke casually as that was the only thing he could come up with, shrugging as though the details truly didn’t matter to him.

Asher didn’t think much of the rules or complain, he simply nodded in agreement, then remained silent, and seeing Asher’s acceptance the Instructor nodded back before taking out a small clock and setting a five-minute timer, the faint ticking sound strangely loud in the quiet air, signaling the official start of their spar.

Asher’s senses peaked instantly, every nerve alive and alert, his body straining and coiling like a compressed spring ready to erupt forward at any moment, muscles tightening with contained violence.

"Come," the moment the word left Instructor Jude’s lips, Asher was already upon him, the wind screaming in his wake as he surged into full throttle, the earth beneath his feet shattering at the sheer force of his propulsion as dust and debris blasted outward. Asher didn’t hesitate or delay, his right foot tearing forward in a blistering blitz toward Instructor Jude’s throat with lethal efficiency and unmistakable intent, the strike precise and merciless.

Instructor Jude merely smirked at the incoming attack, matching Asher’s speed effortlessly, and he took a single relaxed step back, easily dodging the strike as though it were the clumsy attempt of a child, but Asher wasn’t foolish enough to believe he could land an attack against an Instructor on his first try, so he transitioned seamlessly into his next movement, the moment his right leg connected back with the earth as the earlier attack missed, his left foot snapped upward like a viper lunging from below.

Instructor Jude caught Asher’s leg by the ankle with shocking precision, lifting him clean off the ground without resistance, and he threw Asher to the side like a ragdoll with casual strength, but Asher didn’t mind or panic, his control over his body immaculate and graceful as he twisted midair and landed lightly like an agile cat, absorbing the impact without wasting a single motion.

The moment he landed, he didn’t even glance upward, because he already heard and felt the wind pressure and direction shift just in front of him. He didn’t need to look or even guess to know it was an incoming attack, the destination unmistakably clear; his head.

He immediately dropped lower, his stomach nearly kissing the earth below as the attack tore violently through the space his head should have occupied, the force carving through the air with a sharp whistle, and channeling strength into his hands and legs, he shifted to the side before rising smoothly to his feet in one fluid motion without pause.

A sideways blast tore toward his temples with crushing momentum, but Asher reacted instantly, his arm rising in a blur as he blocked with his wrist, the impact causing the wind to explode outward in a burst of force and displaced air that rattled the surroundings.

They locked eyes, purple meeting blue, and in a sundering burst of speed and velocity, they vanished like twin streaks of light, one purple, the other white, their figures colliding and separating faster than sight could follow, leaving only shockwaves and fractured earth in their wake.