C9 Lessons

At Kohes forest, Schroeder was sitting on a rock while drinking wine from a horn and sighed.

"So, the tournament is in a few days, huh." Schroeder said within himself, "Despite all that has happened, i can't get rid of the guilt, concerning the deaths of so many students..."

A flashback occurs 12 months ago as Schroeder was arguing with Zera, In front of many teachers.

"This is insane!" Schroeder said, "Squeezing 5 years of training into 9 months is impossible! It's not done like that, Zera!"

"That's not my problem." Zera said while closing her eyes and folding her arms, "A true elite can succeed, no matter how long or short things are, for him or her.

Plus, this is an order, issued by the headmaster of this academy. If you have a problem with his order, then go and meet him."

As Zera turns her back to walk away from Schroeder, Zotek walks past Schroeder but suddenly stops.

"I understand how you feel and i agree with you. 5 years into 9 months is stupid and absurd. I remember what we went through, during our own training; The casualties... The intense pain we all felt for each other. This plan... Isn't going to end well, so, yeah... I get you.

But however, this order came from the headmaster and there are other teachers, ranked higher than the three of us. There is nothing we can do about it."

After recalling that incident, Schroeder resumes drinking his wine.

"Humph. Higher, my ass." Schroeder said within himself, "There were teachers that were ranked higher than you and Zera but the both of you comatose them.

You, Zotek, comatose Siegen for pissing you off when you were in a bad mood while Zera comatose a lot of teachers and the others had to resign, due to her wild attitude, so don't give me that crap.

I can't imagine the pain of the parents when i sent them those letters of their children being dead. Well, there is no point in whining, now. I'll just have to wait and see who will come out on top of this tournament; Though, it is pretty obvious to me, but I'm just going to enjoy the show."

Outside the academy, Sting and Cloud were walking and discussing with each other.

"So, what do you plan on doing?" Sting asked while smiling as he placed his arms at the back of his head.

"Train." Cloud replied stoically, "The tournament is in a few days from now and it will be held in the Shard court; A place that has birthed the greatest Pilgrims of Agaroth.

Many people from different tribes are coming to watch, even minor tribes are coming; Our mates are coming and the 'Special guests' are coming as well. So, as far as I'm concerned, there is no time for me to relax.

I may have gotten a direct access to the semifinals but that doesn't mean anything. This isn't the "I want to test how strong you are" or a handicap fight or one of those brawls that our class would have with each other. No, this is serious ... completely serious. No one is going to hold back; Everyone is going to give everything they've got, in order to make it to the top. After all, this is their one shot at making it..."

"Man. This guy has been tense, ever since the rumble." Sting said within himself while looking at Cloud with concern.

"Cloud!" A feminine voice called.

Cloud and Sting turns around and sees the person to be Zera, who happened to be folding her arms while having a serious demeanor on her face.

"Meet me at the Erishkal forest, alone." Zera said as she turns her back to walk away, "And don't waste my time."

Minutes later, Cloud arrives at Erishkal forest and spots Zera leaning on a tree with her arms folded while closing her eyes.

"Your late, Cloud." Zera said.

"I'm sorry." Cloud said while smiling nervously with his hand at the back of his head, "Some things happened on my way, here."

"Humph. You're still as incompetent as ever." Zera said.

Zera walks towards Cloud and stares at him with an expressionless demeanor.

"Do you know why i called you here?" Zera asked.

"No." Cloud answered.

"You must be proud of yourself." Zera said while smiling, "For a minor as weak and frail like you to come this far, this is a great achievement. Well, for starters, you don't really look weak and in terms of height... Well, you're just average. However, When you first came, there were a lot of people that thought you wouldn't make it this far; I, obviously was no exception, but you managed to prove me wrong. Congratulations, Cloud.

However, the reason why i called you here, is to tell you to forfeit the tournament."

Hearing Zera's words, Cloud became so shocked that he stared at her, speechlessly for a few moments.

"Come again." Cloud said.

"You heard me." Zera said, "Forfeit the tournament, so that i can give it to a more deserving person."

"Forget it!" Cloud said with an angered demeanor.

Zera and Cloud glared at each other and Zera suddenly bursts out in laughter.

"Oh Man, oh man, oh man!" Zera said heartily while covering her eyes with her right hand, "Things are getting pretty tense here, aren't they? Alright, I'll let you in on a secret; Top three of the contestants are guaranteed to officially become a pilgrim, regardless of the winner.

You may have made it to the semifinals but let's say the truth, you don't stand a chance against anyone. Tell me, who are you going to beat? Is it Karma? Pit? Govo? Onak? Gorn? Dam? Keep in mind, these are some of the big ones, I've mentioned.

Stop overestimating yourself; Everything you've accomplished has been because of luck and you know it. Even if you managed to make it to the finals (which is impossible) you won't still win the final round; Plus, are you considering the fact that if you become a pilgrim, you'll be nothing more than a burden to your own teammates? Do us both a favor and drop that childish promise of yours.

You've lived in your delusions for too long and it's high time, you step out of it. I'm not doing this because of any hard feelings towards you. I'm doing this for your own good and the of others. So, please, Cloud, do the right thing and forfeit the tournament."

Cloud stared at the ground as he recalled the images of his tribe's slaughter and sighed.

"I can't." Cloud said.

"Why not?" Zera asked.

"I just... Can't." Cloud replied, "I'm sorry."

As Cloud turns his back to walk away, he suddenly halts as he felt uneasy presence in the environment. Cloud turns around and sees Zera emitting a green aura while facing the ground as the entire forest began to tremble and the ground, Zera was standing on, quickly leveled.

"So, that's how it is." Zera said while facing the ground and smiling, "It was quite naive of me to think i could get you out of this by talking..."

"W-what's with her?" Cloud asked within himself as he subconsciously stepped back, "I've felt this level of power with the Terror beasts but hers is far more terrifying than theirs. Is she truly human?!"

"Chief Tenya said that if we had taken our time to personally train you, then you won't be as bad as you are." Zera said, "So, starting right now, I'm going to become your personal teacher, since you are so hellbent on becoming a pilgrim..."

"...Hope you enjoy the experience." Zera said in a deepened tone as she lifts her head with a shade covering her face, making her grin look demonic.

Meanwhile, Leorona, who happened to standing outside the academy and enjoying the view of the stars, suddenly clutches her arms and shivers as she felt a disturbing presence.

"This is power.... Oh no...!" Leorona said within herself in horror.

Back at Erishkal forest, a bloodied Cloud crashes on a tree and Zera easily catches up to him and held him up by the throat with one hand, choking him in the process and quickly tossed him to a tree.

"You move well... For a weakling, that is." Zera said as her eyes rolls towards Cloud, "If you don't want to continue, then your chances of winning this tournament is as good as zero."

Cloud quickly rushes towards Zera, trying several attempts to punch her but Zera playfully evades them all in a spinning motion.

"Still doing the same thing, Cloud?" Zera asked while evading his attacks, "Try harder! Try harder! Try harder, Cloud!"

Zera grabs Cloud's by the wrist and draws him towards her face and grins.

"Try harder." Zera said while smiling.

Zera quickly lands a back fist on Cloud's face, causing his vision of her and the entire forest to momentarily turn black and white. The force of Zera's attack, sends Cloud rolling backwards and hits his back on another tree.

As Cloud struggles to stand, blood was pouring out of his nose and mouth and his visions began to blur as Zera walks towards him.

"Oh, are you done, yet?" Zera asked while smirking, "If this is all the power you have, then your tribe will be shaking their heads in disappointment."

Cloud charges towards Zera in anger and tries several attempts to punch her but Zera traps his arm between her arm and side and quickly attacks with a palm strike to his belly, causing him to cough out blood and spittle.

"Wait! I'm not done fighting, yet!" Zera said mockingly while grinning.

Zera began to release a torrent of palm strikes on Cloud's belly and follows her attack with a reverse roundhouse kick, sending him flying across the forest.

Cloud manages to stand on his feet but ends up falling on his knees and vomiting blood while clutching his belly.

"Come on, Cloud, you can do better than this!" Zera mockingly said while smiling with a raised eyebrow, "Or is your tribe, just as weak as you are?"

Cloud rushes towards Zera, again, trying several attempts to punch and kick her but Zera still easily evades them all.

"Aside from being weak, another problem of yours, is that you are way too predictable." Zera said while still evading his punches and kicks.

Zera easily stops Cloud's fist with one hand and began to slowly crush it, causing Cloud to fall on one knee, in pain.

"200 hundred times..." Zera said, "two hundred and fifty times, i could have landed an attack on you. If i were to land a fatal strike, it would have been five hundred and twelve times.

Another problem of yours, is that you are so full of openings!!"

Zera quickly lands a hardcore kick on Cloud's chest, sending him tumbling backwards and crashing through trees.

"You're nothing! You're nothing at all!!" Zera said as she easily catches up to Cloud from behind and kicks him in the air.

"You act like you are strong but the truth is you're worthless!!" Zera said as she quickly grabs hold of his ankle with one hand, "Know your damn place, Cloud!!!"

Zera slams Cloud on the ground, leaving a giant crater in the process and causing Cloud's eyes become pupilless for a moment.

Zera quickly draws Cloud towards her while still holding on to his ankle and punched him in the face, sending him rolling across the forest, again and landing back first on a tree.

Cloud groaned in pain and coughed out a bit, as he stood on his feet while leaning on the tree and breathing heavily.

"If this is truly all the power you have, then you cannot make anything happen, at all!!" Zera said as she advanced towards Cloud at high speed and tries to punch him.

However, Zera misses the attack and accidentally shatters the tree as Cloud flash steps behind her and hurls his fist towards her which Zera easily stops and lands a straight kick on his belly, sending him rolling back, again.

"He just got faster a few seconds ago." Zera said within herself with a suspicious look as she watched Cloud struggle to stand on his feet, "I see... So, Leorona wasn't talking crap when she said he was no ordinary minor. Good! I'm going to test him more and more...!"

"I'm going to dig out everything concerning this boy and see what else is hidden!!" Zera said as she excitedly leaps towards him.

Zera lands a downward punch which created craters on the ground as Cloud disappears from the area and appears high in the air and lands on his feet. Zera appears before Cloud while grinning and hurls her fist at him. Cloud grinds his teeth as his scleras momentarily turns blue and quickly collides fists with Zera, which created a strong wind pressure in the environment while Cloud and Zera, locks eyes with each other.

However, the impact suddenly shatters Cloud's arm, which him scream in agony as he stepped back a bit while gripping his injured his arm. Cloud falls on his knees and began to breath heavily while Zera stares at him with a disappointed look.

"So, I guess this is the end, huh." Zera said, " Looks like i misjudged you and let myself get carried away, forgetting the type of person, I'm dealing with here. What a waste. So much for potential."

As Zera moves her foot to kick Cloud at his temple, another foot quickly blocks the kick which created a strong wind pressure that removed all the leaves of Erishkal forest.

Zera grins as the dust had cleared, revealing the person to be Zotek, who happened to be coldly glaring at her while Zera hops back and folds her arms.

"What the hell, do you think you are doing, Zera?" Zotek asked.

"Training him, of course." Zera replied, "Since the boy thinks that he should become a pilgrim and participate in the tournament, i decided to give him a taste of what to expect there and plus, i was holding way back for-"

"I'm warning you, Zera ..." Zotek cuts in as his irises glowed brighter, "Let this be the end of your little madness with Cloud."

"Oh... Is that a threat?" Zera asked with an evil grin as her own irises glowed brighter.

"Fine." Zera said as she closed her eyes and turns her back to walk away, "I'll let him be... For now, that is."

"Oh and Leorona..."Zera said as she halts and turns to look at her (who happened to be emitting light over the unconscious Cloud), "You were right about Cloud. He is no ordinary minor. I really look forward to watching him participate in the tournament."

Leorona suddenly shuddered at Zera's dark smile while Zera walks away from the forest. The unconscious Cloud began to cough, causing Leorona to slightly panic.

"Cloud!" Leorona said as she resumes trying to heal him.

"Is he going to be alright?" Zotek asked.

"I'm not sure." Leorona answered, "I mean, the beating, Zera gave him was excessive. Holes all over his mid body; Tons of broken bones and damaged organs. As a healer, i can sense it all.

It's even a miracle, he could even stand and continue fighting. This is strange, though. I can't sense any damage from him feeling Zera's power. Many students that felt her level of power, today, are at the infirmary; They were all vomiting blood and they couldn't stand on their feet, but Cloud, who was supposedly the weakest, felt her power and took no damage from it."

Zotek clenches his fist and glared at Cloud, suspiciously.

"Cloud of the Stormwind... Just who the hell are you?" Zotek asked within himself.