Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

"About my progress…

I have practiced a movement spell and an offensive spell. My techniques and spells weren't too difficult and their executions weren't too complicated. So it was easy for me to learn them.

I'm confident about my offensive power. But the movement spell causes tunnel vision as it is too fast for my eyes. So let's see how I perform when I implement the spell in the battles today."

Eren mixed a portion of truth in his lies. That made his bullshittery more believable to his group. They discussed some more before expediting their way towards the battle venue.

*******

Lin greeted the class of 1/C as their homeroom professor.

"Good morning first-year students. Your intraclass battles will start from today. Today will be the minimum requirement matches that LA will randomly set for all of you.

There are five battle rings set for the class of 1/C. Meaning five battles can take place simultaneously for the class.

I have a spectral screen in front of me that you all can see. Nobody has submitted the names of their parties so intraclass wars would all be individual-based.

This screen will randomly show the names of any two opponents and assign them their respective unoccupied battle rings. The students can either choose to go through with the match or call quits before participating.

A part of merit points will be deducted from their reserve as a penalty for their nonparticipation in the compulsory matches. I'd suggest you take part in the matches even if you know you are going to lose. The penalty for a battle loss is more affordable than a penalty for non-participation.

So let's get this thing going already, shall we?"

Eren heard Lin's speech and remembered the first time he saw the beginning of the intra-class ranking war in his previous timeline. He was a non-ranker back then. He had lost pathetically by a non-ranker like him.

But this time, Eren would ensure that the ranking wars become the biggest beneficiary for him. He looked at his base stats to see his progress:

********************************

Name- Eren Elijah Idril (Verified)

Organization- Lionhearts Adventurers' Academy

Academic Status- Class 1/C

Ranked Status- unranked

Merit Points- 22,725

Battle Points- 0

Base Stats:

HP- 3.8 / 3.8

MP- 5.1 / 5.1

STR- 2.3

AGI- 3.3

INT- 3

BTP~ 17

BTP Visibility- Private

Ranking Technique- Five-star, lightning element, Indra's Levin

F-Rank Spells:

LE, Four-star, movement type: Blitz Steps

LE, Four-star, defense type: Blitz Shield

LE, Four-star, attack type: Blitz Bolt

LE, Four-star, Area of Effect: Blitz Storm

LE, Four-star, healing type: Blitz Heal

TE, Four-star(?), miscellaneous: Sedated Perception

******************************

Eren first observed the number of merit points he had accumulated. His E-Rank Mana Blessing had been sold for a fortune from his perspective. It had basically retrieved all the Merps he had lost in the bidding while adding the extra amount on top.

Then Eren looked at his base stat values. He had observed that his agility had gotten the biggest boost followed by his mana points and intelligence.

**************

The focus on particular body stat segments was due to the type of ranking technique he was practicing currently.

Each ranking technique focused on a particular set of base stat values depending upon its type. Since the technique was focused on close combat style, it would prioritize the ranker's agility, mana points, and intelligence over other values.

Had Eren been practicing a berserker technique in the past, it would have focused on raising his HP the most followed by STR.

Apart from raising a particular set of base stat values, a technique would also shape a mana circuit in such a way that it would suit the profession that is focused on. The primary mana circuit within the ranker's body would start to expand itself in a way that would allow them to exert their maximum potential for the field their technique was based on.

That's why it became unavoidable to regress in the rank when the rankers wanted to change their path midway. They needed to turn the profession-specific mana circuit they had built within their bodies into a primary mana circuit before restarting their ranking journey.

It entailed the necessity to destruct the existing mana circuit before a ranker can restart their path successfully. Destroying the mana circuit wasn't a pleasant process. Plus, it meant flushing the hard work one had out into it down the drain. Hence the rankers would think twice or thrice before changing their path.

Eren was weak in agility even in his previous timeline. But this time, thanks to the five-star ranking technique, his agility had been optimized for his profession.

The fine-tuning of base stats and construction of profession-specific mana circuits highlighted the importance of choosing the right technique for oneself. Eren knew that his ranking technique would keep on prioritizing AGI and INT the further he progressed further in his ranking journey as close combat professional.

****************

Eren's spells also received a boost. They were now all four-star spells. But these variants had been revamped from their original creations by a high-ranking entity, especially for close combat experts. Hence the change in their names.

Eren now had a healing type spell in his element as well. Blitz Heal would generate a lightning field around the body's damaged area and expedite the body's normal healing prowess to supernatural levels using mana as a catalyst.

Lightning wasn't known for its healing properties. So the spell had a lot of restrictions compared to the original healing spells used by healers.

First, Blitz Heal was very taxing in mana consumption. So it wasn't ideal for consistent use. Second, Eren needed to stay still to form a stable lightning field. So it couldn't be used during battles or while moving.

Eren also noted in the spectral screen that there was a calibration error for Sedated Perception. It was mostly since Eren's spell had differed from the original.

"Eren Idril. What are you spacing out for? Your name is on display. Get into ring number 4 already!"

Eren was soon pulled out from his thoughts by Lin's shout. He looked at the spectral screen and saw that his name was on the display.

Battle Ring 4: Eren Idril vs. Bryan Grimaldi

Eren walked towards battle ring number four. He could see a teen boy taller than him walking beside him. He had to be Bryan since his destination was the same.

"Hey, little guy. I'd suggest you quit soon after our match starts. Otherwise, I won't be held responsible for your injuries."

Bryan announced as soon as he stepped into the ring. Eren could feel that it was done less for him and more for the audience currently watching them. He chose to keep quiet.

The guy had a BTP of 13, which gave him the confidence to beat any seeming newbie ranker. He only waited for the countdown currently getting displayed on the spectral screen to get over.

3…

2…

1…

0...

Start!

"Little guy, brace…"

Bryan activated his Fire Fist spell as soon as the countdown was over. His fists were first coated in colorless mana before catching fire. He was about to approach his opponent.

But alas, Eren was nowhere to be found! He had almost vanished into thin air after the countdown hit zero.

Bryan felt warning signs coming from his back. He turned 180 to tackle any incoming attack. He quickly swung his fist behind his back to discourage Eren from attacking him from his blind spot.

Bryan's instincts were on point. His blazing fist driven by his instincts had almost made contact with Eren's face. But before the fist landed, Bryan felt a sharp pain coming from his ass.

Eren couldn't wait to execute Sedated Perception and Blitz Steps at the same time. He had done exactly that the moment after the match officially kicked off.

Blitz Steps was activated first. He quickly executed it to go behind his opponent. The speed was blinding even for Eren so he guessed Bryan wouldn't be able to follow him with his eyes alone.

But Eren soon found out that the guy could handle himself well in a battle. That's because he had turned quickly and was soon about to intercept his attack.

Eren's tunneling vision due to the Blitz Steps had him blinded for a short while. That short span was enough for his opponent to launch a counterattack. Bryan's blazing fist was soon going to land

But then…

Sedated Perception was activated!

And everything around Eren slowed down to an almost halting degree.

He could see Bryan's blazing fist was almost stopped in front of his face, just a few inches away from the tip of his nose. It was close enough for Eren to feel the heat radiated from that fist.

But the incoming fist attack had gotten so slow that it almost looked like Bryan was maintaining a steady pose for a live painting.

Eren too felt his body was immersed in water. His body had gotten as slow as Bryan. But then he executed Blitz Steps again and got the movement he needed to dodge the attack.

Eren kept Sedated Perception active while he traversed quickly through the almost stagnant world.

Eren could now launch a frontal attack on Bryan with the stacked advantage offered by his trump spells. But he chose to work extra to test his spell combo.

Eren had consciously controlled the effects of Blitz Steps to lessen the drawbacks of tunneling vision. It meant he couldn't execute the movement spell to its fullest potential during the battles.

But that all changed when Sedated Perception got activated. Eren felt that he could finally let go of his restraints in executing his Blitz Steps.

The Butcher's feet were coated in lightning again in that slow-mo world. He used his extreme speed and got behind Bryan.

This time, Eren had moved so fast in real life that even Bryan's instincts and mana sense couldn't follow him on time.

Eren kicked Bryan's ass with his lightning-coated feet as soon as he found an opening. His movement spell had enabled him to have a serious kicking force. And the same force showed its effect soon after.

In a normal, non-stagnant world, Bryan felt a sudden sharp pain coming from his ass as soon as his opponents vanished in front of him.

'How can this little guy be so fast?'

Bryan had this thought before his body was lifted into the air. Bryan soon found himself getting launched towards the edge of the battle ring where the dome-shaped force field was active.

Bryan's body struck hard onto the force field. He stayed at the position of impact for a while before the gravity pulled him downwards. He didn't get up from that impact because he had already lost consciousness.

Hardly a few seconds had passed since Eren's match with Bryan began. And nobody could believe it was already over.

All most of the students could see was Eren sporadically disappearing from the field and appearing behind Bryan. Then Bryan gets launched onto the force field, flat on his face.

Eren stopped his spell combo after his kick landed on Bryan. He wasn't looking at the opponent he had just beaten though.

The butcher's eyes were searching for a specific person in the crowd. They soon found their target.

Marla was looking at him from a distance with a smile plastered on her face. She nodded at him as soon as their eyes met.

'I'm going to do exactly what you asked me to do, kicking ass!'

Eren's body language and his cunning smile conveyed his feelings to Marla.