"Students, as you can see, Mr. Arc's Aura has now dropped into the red." Professor Goodwitch's voice brought Haruka's attention back to the present, from the novel she had pulled up on her scroll.
She, along with half of the first-year students at Beacon Academy, were seated in a set of audience seats within Beacon's main combat training room, for the class taught by the Deputy Headmaster; 'Introduction to Higher-Level Combat'. This class, as far as Haruka could ascertain, mainly involved organized dueling, with the Professor pointing out flaws and strengths in the students's techniques.
Match over all ready? Jaune really needs some work on his combat skills… Perhaps I can get Pyrrha to assist him? After all, my handful of sword techniques aren't used with a shield, or used in ground-based combat at all, for that matter. Plus, Rosenkreuz's Zweihander Configuration is almost as large as I am…
The Knight shrugged off her thoughts, and listened to the deputy headmistress of Beacon, in case she said something important.
"In a tournament-styled duel, this would indicate that Jaune is no longer fit for battle, and that the official may call the match." The professor turned to the prone student she'd just been talking about. "Mr. Arc, it's been weeks now. Please try to refer to your scroll during combat. Gauging your Aura will help you decide when it's appropriate to attack, or when it is better to move to a more… Defensive strategy. We wouldn't want you to be gobbled up by a beowulf, now, would we?"
"Speak for yourself." Jaune's brute of an opponent, a boy by the name of 'Cardin Winchester', according to the scoreboard, sneered a response to the professor, giving the other student a contemptuous look. His team, a bunch of similar individuals to himself, started guffawing lightly.
I wonder why the Professor doesn't bother even scolding him for his disrespect? Does she just not care?
Professor Goodwitch did, at least, give the boy a stern glance, before turning back to the rest of the class.
"Now, given how short Ms. Schnee's match ran, we still have time for one more match. Who would like to volunteer?"
"I will." Haruka stood. Perhaps a demonstration is in order.
"Very well, Ms. Nakajima. Who would you like to be your opponent?" Haruka gave a very slight smile, turning in the direction of the three members of Team CRDL who were still in the stands.
"I would like to fight Team CDRL." She announced, as her grin turned predatory.
"Who in particular?" Goodwitch asked.
"All of them who accept my challenge." The Knight stated, turning back to the professor.
Team CDRL as a whole laughed briefly, before all three in the stands stood up.
"Sure, we'll beat on ya, 'till you start cryin'!" One of them, Haruka didn't bother trying to remember his name, spoke for his fellows.
Glynda was silent for a moment, before speaking again.
"Are you sure, Ms. Nakajima? That is a three-on-one fight."
Haruka, in turn, simply shrugged.
"I have faced far worse odds. Besides, these three, barely qualify as a single real opponent together. Why should I make our duel even more of a farce than it will already be?"
"Hey, what're you—" One of the boys started to speak, outrage clear in his voice, before Haruka cut him off.
"If you wish to prove otherwise, then do so on the battlefield. If you can."
With that, she turned, and walked off the stage, into the locker room.
***
"Still one chance to back out!" One of the boys from CDRL taunted Haruka as she stood opposite from the other three students. He hefted his rifle-halberd up to his grey-armored shoulder as he spoke.
Haruka simply lifted the Formula Cannon, closed into a lance.
"Now, all of you know the rules, so I shouldn't need to repeat them for the third time today. Begin!" Professor Goodwitch's voice rang out within the arena, and Haruka shot forwards, Formula Cannon held behind her as she ran.
Part of her took notice of the scoreboard, checking both her opponent's displayed information, as well as her own.
Haruka had never gone through the 'Aura Unlocking' process, recognizing that it for what it was; a very crude way of activating Inherent Magic and a rudimentary mana barrier field for personal protection. As a Knight, she had significantly more effective spells than the maximum one could achieve with 'Aura', and thus such a process was completely pointless, even when 'fitting in' with the locals.
This had, however, resulted in a bit of a problem. The systems used to measure 'Aura' strength would consistently read zero when used on her, blocking her from quite a few things within the Beacon curriculum as a result. Out of annoyance at this, she'd asked Rosenkreuz to come up with a solution. What her Device had come up with was to modify her scroll's systems so that it would read the strength of her Knight's Clothing or Knight's Armor as her 'Aura' level, or barrier level, to use proper magical terminology.
Focus.
"Rosenkreuz, link to the scoreboard, tell me when each's barrier level reaches fifty percent."
"Will do, master."
The first of Team CRDL, the rifle-halberd wielder, grinned as she approached, and raised his weapon, drawing it behind himself, winding up for a swing.
Haruka shifted herself into a slide as he swung, resulting in the blade passing harmlessly over her. Immediately, she brought up the Formula Cannon, driving its tip into his chest with all the force her augmented strength as a combat cyborg granted her, adding to the momentum from her run. The boy was launched backwards by the force, his feet leaving the ground. Haruka heard noises of surprise from the assembled students.
"Target barrier level at seventeen percent. Additional information suggests the target possesses a normal strength barrier for his skill level. I suggest a recalculation of used strength."
"Noted."
The next boy, dressed in bronze armor and wielding a gunsword, charged her as she kicked up from her slide. The Knight simply brought the Formula Cannon around to the right side of his head, bashing him with the side of the closed lance-barrel.
The boy staggered back, and she slammed her weapon into the other side of his head, before repeating the attack a third time, into his chest, sending him flying, much as she had his friend a few seconds ago.
"Target barrier at eighteen percent. Again, I suggest a recalculation of strength used, your current level appears to be considered anomalous."
" I'm not trying to fit in like that. The more dangerous I appear, the better. I am a Knight, not some innocent Bureau Mage."
"You sound like Signum."
The last boy looked at his two fellows, both struggling to rise from the impacts, before turning his gaze to Haruka, slowly advancing towards him. The look of smugness he'd had earlier was no longer apparent, now nervousness was his main look. Still, he raised his twin daggers to meet her.
Haruka swung the Formula Cannon around, catching the tip on the back of one of his hands, unbalancing him, before executing a series of swift swipes while advancing forwards. Each individual blow was rather weak by Haruka's standards, but they each did noticeable damage to his barrier, and kept him off balance.
"Target barrier level at fifty-forty-thirty percent, master." Rosenkreuz spoke up in the middle of her rapid-fire combo of strikes, having to correct herself with every blow. Haruka acknowledged Rosenkreuz's statement by stopping her rapid-fire series of blows, stepping back, and sliding the Formula Cannon onto her back. She then launched a quick one-two pair of punches into his face.
The boy fell backwards onto the floor.
"Target barrier level at twenty percent, master."
Haruka stepped back again, and turned to leave.
After a second of seemingly stunned silence, Professor Goodwitch began her usual speech to the assembled students. She says the exact same thing every time, only changing the names she says and her comment afterward.
"Students, as you can see, Mr. Bronzewing's, Mr. Thrush's, and Mr. Lark's Auras have all dropped into the red. In a tournament-styled duel, this would indicate that the three are no longer fit for battle, and that the official may call the match." She turned to Haruka. "Well done. A perfect match is quite a rarity, especially a three-on-one. Mrs. Nakajima, but this is not the time or place"
"Thank you, Professor." Haruka inclined her head in acknowledgement. The deputy headmistress returned the gesture, before she turned back to the assembled students.
"Remember, everyone, the Vytal Festival is only a few months away. It won't be long before students from the other kingdoms start arriving in Vale, so keep practicing! Those who choose to compete in the combat tournament will be representing all of Vale!"