When the class heard Hiratsuka say that, they were stunned; it looked like they had a lot to learn next.
Still, no one would turn down a chance to get stronger.
With a teacher there to guide them, why not make the most of it?
Once Hiratsuka had finished explaining and saw that everyone accepted it, she began her instruction.
She taught them how to condense aura and channel it into their fists.
She broke it down in extreme detail, practically spoon-feeding it into their heads.
Anyone who still couldn’t grasp this might as well drop out of the class early.
A period ran about forty minutes, and Hiratsuka spent more than twenty of them explaining the method for condensing aura.
When she was done, she looked over the students and couldn’t help asking, “Which one of you is Lucian?”
Lucian was caught off guard when she suddenly called his name, and every classmate turned to look at him.
“Teacher, that’s me.” A little confused, he stood anyway; he wanted to see what she was after.
Watching him rise, Hiratsuka looked him up and down.
“Not bad.
You’re right on the edge of breaking through to Rank 3.
I hear your Talent is in learning?”
She’d praised him first, then asked; clearly Lucian had already made a name for himself among the teachers.
“Yes.” Lucian nodded, understanding dawning.
Barring surprises, she meant to test him next, didn’t she?
The students were amazed to overhear it.
A Talent for learning?
Truly enviable.
With that, wouldn’t learning anything be effortless?
“Then have you learned what I just taught?” Hiratsuka looked at him with a smile, plainly expectant.
She was very curious just where the limits of this student’s learning Talent lay.
As for whether he might lie?
She wasn’t worried; if he really did, the consequences would be severe.
“I’ve got it all.
I just need the hands-on practice.” Since you’ve put it that way, Lucian thought, if I said I hadn’t learned it, wouldn’t I look like a total loser?
He couldn’t help grumbling inwardly.
Hearing that he only needed practice, Hiratsuka was instantly intrigued.
She crooked a finger at him.
“Come, attack me, straight on, full strength.
Show me what you’ve learned.”
The test was on.
She’d see for herself just how strong this student was, the one Teacher Hale had called such a great Talent.
Facing her demand, Lucian wasted no words; he accelerated and rushed straight in.
Following what she’d just taught, the instant he attacked, he began condensing aura.
When it erupted, he could clearly feel a wave of heat spreading through his limbs and bones.
The aura sent all of Lucian’s stats shooting up at once, not just his speed, but his explosive power too.
Hiratsuka took in his whole performance, and her eyes lit up.
Her own movements were no slower; she immediately set her stance to meet his charge.
Closing in, Lucian clenched his fist, gathered aura in his arm, and threw an elbow strike.
Hiratsuka answered with an elbow of her own, blocking his attack with ease, and with a slight burst of force sent him staggering back.
“Good lad, that’s really something.
You pulled it off on the first try?
This Talent’s even stronger than I thought.
Come, full strength, don’t hold back!” Hiratsuka was getting excited now.
He seemed to be quite a fine student, and the watching classmates were shocked as well; they’d all just seen his performance.
If they were the ones fighting him, barring surprises, they’d be beaten to the ground in a single exchange.
There was no withstanding that kind of explosive power; the moment Lucian condensed aura, he was no longer on their level.
The gap between Rank 3 and Rank 2 was simply too wide.
Now that Lucian had condensed aura, it meant he’d already broken through to Rank 3.
They’d never seen anyone like him, originally Rank 2, but after a single lesson from the teacher he’d broken through on the spot.
Was that student Lucian’s Talent really so absurd?
It was just too enviable!
Every gaze stayed fixed on the two of them as Lucian charged in again.
Aura flowed through his body, latching onto his limbs one strike after another as he attacked Hiratsuka.
As the fight went on, Lucian’s control of aura grew more and more fluent; the progress was visible to the naked eye.
Hiratsuka felt it most keenly.
She’d blocked all his attacks with ease, yet she could feel the force behind them growing stronger by the moment.
That was the essence of it.
Lucian was getting stronger mid-fight.
A Talent like that really was absurd.
Blocking his next wave, Hiratsuka didn’t keep to a one-sided defense this time; she switched her move and struck back.
Her fist drove straight at Lucian’s stomach, and the sudden shift made his expression change drastically.
He hurriedly crossed his arms to guard, but the gap in power between them was simply too great.
The difference was more than a Rank or two; by his estimate, Hiratsuka was likely already at Rank 5.
This was an opponent he couldn’t beat with all his might; the difference in Rank was still too large.
Though he kept his stomach from taking the full hit, he was still sent flying.
And he could clearly feel that his arms had gone numb.
The force she’d just released was controlled, but far from small, clearly kept within a range he could take.
That kind of power control was truly absurd.
Lucian steadied himself and looked at his arms.
Good grief, already bruised, and still numb; and this was from taking just one punch.
“Can’t move them, right?
Doesn’t matter.
Now, do as I tell you.” Seeing that, Hiratsuka didn’t press the attack.
Instead she started teaching him something else.
The necessary test was done, and Lucian’s Talent was beyond reproach, which left her very satisfied.
Next, she’d teach him a few other things, getting him to quickly master some techniques he’d need in combat.
At her words Lucian paused, and the surrounding students pricked up their ears too, ready to listen closely to whatever she was about to teach.
Whether or not they could use it now, they’d write it down first; sooner or later it would come in handy.
“Aura isn’t only for fighting; it can also heal you and ease internal injuries.” Hiratsuka began, unhurried.
Just like before, she explained it slowly and in great detail, earnestly teaching everyone how to use aura to heal themselves.
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