Laughing thunder [#Wattys 2018]

Chapter 16: Hand me a basket for the heads!!

After our first circle of hell, we made our way towards the Coliseum for Coach Raiders class.

"Alright class as you should know, I told you all that today we would be teaching you in specific groups to day depending on your weapon and fighting style now I have set up multiple instructors, some are other teachers and colleagues you can see around the school, others are your Demi-Angel seniors in the sanctum I myself will teach sword fighting , that's all I have to say now lets break!"

We each separated into groups and CJ, Noel, and I was put under the coach along with other students.

"Okay swordsmanship is an art a deadly one but still as beautiful as music or poetry. I'll be instructing you all on the finer applications on how to use these weapons besides flailing them around like paddles but first is the warm-up" We each groaned.

"Don't give me that it's just the regular ones not anything extreme just jumping jacks, push up and stretches" we all breathed a sigh of relief.

"With weights of course!" This stopped any sense of calm we had and shattered it to pieces. He strapped on the wrist and ankle weights.

"Alright let's start with the warm-up, I want you to do 50 jumping jacks and push-ups and after each jumping jack get on the ground for a push-up and repeat until you reach 50 for each, now let's begin!" We began the warm up with the weights which made things a thousand times harder unnecessarily but what is ordinary in the regular world is too normal for here so we did it reluctantly with each of us counting with each other to keep count.

After the warm-up, we began the lesson which I almost lose my head so Yay!

"Alright first summon your weapons and we'll begin." after we did he continued. "for your first lesson lets start off with your stance. Keep your legs spread out and light for any movement. Now let's begin by working on dodging"

He unsheathed his sword and without warning, and thrusted it towards me with me narrowly dodging. Instantly after this, he pushed his shield towards me forcing me to block forcing me back skidding my shoes on the ground. Afte this he continued his assault. I once tried to increase my speed but as soon as I tried rune symbols glowed stopping the surge.

"what?"

"Not having that this time Di Angelo you have to use your own physical body" This continued until I had many scratches all over my body I officially dodged 40 times out of a hundred.

"That's disappointing listen you won't always have your lightning to save you especially after what I saw earlier you were even more tired of using it especially for how sloppy the technique is and the strain your body goes through to use it. Let that sword of yours be the only double-edged weapon in your artillery and not your powers. Now on to you Cleofis"

"Oh I've been waiting for this"

"Calm down Cleofis your only dodging this time now let's get started" When CJ and Coach began their try we all noticed CJ dodging easily as if it were as natural to him as breathing air for every thrust he sidestepped for every slash he circled or bent. To be honest it was amazing and the coach took notice of this and increased the difficulty and CJ responded by increasing his own experience until on one of the swings he slipped up and received. a slash across his shirt.

"hmmm it seems that is your limit for now good job Cleofis, now on to Ms. Echo lets begin"

For Noel she was amazing for a different reason it looked as if she knew where the attacks would be and as we looked closer we saw her ears they shook slightly, she was hearing the swings moving as well as feeling the subtle vibrations from the coaches feet and muscles. She dodged beautifully sure of herself in every movement this continued until he managed to place the blade on her shoulder.

"Beautifully done Ms. Echo I thought I would have to go easy on you but you certainly proved me wrong."

"Thank you, sir I appreciate it"

This continued for the rest of the other students who were at least close to me in skill but still managed to do better if only slightly. Eventually, we worked on attacks and blocking then onto counterattacks each of which the same result happened again I was horrible each time and everyone else outdid me.

"Now it's time to put all that we've learned together now Mr. DI Angelo try not to disappoint this time" I became annoyed and it seems Coach knew this and on his face was a look of him already seeing the outcome and becoming disappointed again."

"Don't worry dude you got it this time!" CJ cheered

"Yeah, I'm sure you'll do great!" Noel added

"Well, will you change the outcome this time Di Angelo?"

"Heh sure" I smirked

"Good then show me!"

We began the song and dance once again with me showing a little improvement so naturally Coach increased the difficulty. I blocked his swing with the shaft of the cane and thrust the sword towards him but he put his shield to intercept it.

"Nice an instant counter but wrong position to thrust" he kicked me back and swung the pommel of the gladius towards me. Normally I could dodge but the kick left me unable to move in time and the weights stopped me from using lightning so the blow struck with full contact sending pain throughout my body and blurring my vision and sent my body leaning and through the haze, I saw images burn into my mind clearing it. The images were his next attacks. I managed to pull myself back dodging the shield push.

"Hm, what the?"

"Heheheh I haven't seen these in a while, Coach lets keep going!"

"Sure but don't blame me if you wind up hurt again"

The next attack was a thrust. I used my blade to push his blade away and I swung my scythe but when he expected a slash I sent the scythe towards his leg to sweep him but he hoped over it.

"Heh, nice let's see if you can keep this up" he continued and with every movement, I saw the image in my head and with them we blocked paried slashed and thrusted. But on the final thrust I couldn't move quick enough to dodge so I raised up my wrists and I managed to get him to cut them freeing my wrists and with it my lightning to my arms. With this I increased the speed and with each strike I steadilly increased easing my body into the increase and on each of last swings my scythe was at his legs while his sword was at my head.

"hah! that was a good surprise Di Angelo you actually didnt dissapoint me. What was that anyway?"

"Ramiel" I muttered sitting down catching my breath

"Ramiel? Oh you recieved visions didnt you?"

"Yes and it was all thanks to you hitting me in my freaking head!"

"Ah, sorry about that got caught up in the moment"

"Eh dont worry about it but you actually did help me"

"really?"

"Yeah I have to try alot harder but lets keep this going your up Cleo"

"Thomas no stop it Cleofis is bad enough don't call me-"

"Cleo duck!"

"Wha- ah!" he ducked and spared with the coach. Class continued like this until it was time for luch

"Hey C-"

"Dont you dare!"

"CJ I was gonna say CJ, I need you to help me with sword practice"

he looked legitimately surprised

"Really?"

"Yep your the best swordsman I know who isn't halfway across the school and has a wife"

"Alright i'll help you but while we train together dont call me-"

"Cleo?"

"Agh!"

the three of us laughed as CJ bursted into flames from anger causing him to be douced by one of Noel's Runes.