The Old Scholar

With her challenge accepted, Leilani and her fellow students and professors followed Sect Master Sun into the Grand Battleground which was a massive courtyard at the far end of the sect, there were seats all around and they were filled with students from the Golden Fire Sect, except for one side that was empty and reserved for the Imperia visitors. Both sides occupied one end of the courtyard and both sides were busy talking with one another as they preparing their plans. 

"Right, so. Who is willing to fight Xin and his group since they are going first?" Leilani asked her class, seeing all of her students immediately raise their hands to volunteer for the job of putting him and his friends in their place 

"Right...Haggerty, Leticia, Linora, Fabeus,  and Dran, you five will be up against their nine" Leilani added as she pointed to her students 

"But Ma'am, won't that be putting us at a disadvantage?" Leticia, the female elf student asked with an understandably concerned face

"Oh don't worry. The favored tactic of a group like them is to charge headfirst at their enemies. I will leave planning to you gents since I want to see your minds at work. Haggerty is the leader for now, use that College of Battle brain you have on your shoulders to assess what the best course of action is and to properly assess your teammates. I will remind you though not to be an asshole and place too many expectations on everyone, as well as not to underestimate your enemy, is that understood kid?" The Dean added as she looked at Haggerty, a half-giant human who stood head and shoulders above everyone including the already tall Leilani 

 "Alright, head over to the other side, everyone else as well, head over to the bleachers. You three stay however" Leilani ordered as she pointed at her three professor chaperons who were surprised at her order 

"What are we going to do Ma'am?" Professor Sobard asked with a curious expression 

"Well. Considering that the students are only 4th years, it is understandable that I do not want them to fight upperclassmen especially if they are from another school. To that end, you three will be fighting that 'Order Of Fire' and give them a good ass-whooping" Leilani told them with a mischievous smile

"But won't that be considered unfair and cheating?" Martha asked 

"Oh it won't. It's an honor duel and it will be you three against their five, so if they call it unfair we can do the same" Her beloved answered her 

"But, we have" 

"Experience yes. You will use that experience to beat these bastards into the ground. I want us to win, and I want us to win hard. Takana and Sun will forgive me for my actions so let's show them how a Professor runs things" She added with a large grin 

"But they are 6th years" Professor Nalia stated 

"True, but then again, they are 6th years and are expected to have mastered many things in their time here. So consider it as a way to measure them like you would our students, but instead of stopping if you are about to win, win the damn match" 

The three professors looked at one another and nodded as they understood that there was no other way Leilani wanted to go about this, and if she wanted them to win, then by the Gods they were gonna try their hardest to win, not only for themselves but for the school they represented. 

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Meanwhile, on the other side of the courtyard, the Golden Fire Sect was in a bit of disarray, Sect Master Sun was sitting in her usual place in the center set of bleachers at the left side of the Grand Battleground but instead of personally sending someone to relay her wisdom to her students, she just sat there in silence and in anger. The two groups who had openly challenged Imperia were looking at her with some mix of anger and disgust as she had told them that if they were to lose this they were going to be punished instead of being told to win for the sake of their honor. They felt betrayed that their Sect Master was siding with unworthy outsiders and that if they won, they were going to personally challenge and humiliate Sect Master Sun herself for her betrayal, at least that was what was going on inside Xin and his group. 

Han Changpu and his 'Order Of Fire' on the other hand were very much pleased that their plan had landed them in this position. Manipulating Xin and his group had worked so well and they were even able to trick Leilani into openly challenging them, they were dancing to their tune and in the palm of their hands all thanks to their masterwork in trickery and playing the victim. They looked at Sect Master Sun and all of them were disappointed in her for being so easily played like a fiddle by them, they were about to show her what true strength was all about and shatter the outlook she had on the sect as none of them truly believed in the "humility and humbleness is a strength" rhetoric she and the Crown Princess spouted. Even Han was happy to finally test his skills on people he was told were better than them and prove that he was superior, and once he was done with that, he was going to challenge the Dean herself and do the same, since that was the way of things. 

All the while Sect Master Sun looked at them with pity and regret for allowing them to continue this type of thinking her sister and her master had spent so much time trying to root out from the youth. 

"You think our students will be beaten?" Master Roko, a lizardman master who was in charge of the 4th year students asked Sun as he approached her, his flowing purple robes went well with his green and black scales 

"I do not think, I know they will be beaten" Sun replied as she didn't even turn to him 

"Have you no faith in our students!?" Roko asked with wide eyes, a sense of anger building inside him which dissipated when Sun turned to him with an ice-cold glare 

"Tell me Master Roko. As an instructor here at the Golden Fire Sect, what were the tenets you swore to uphold when we hired you?" Sun asked as she turned her head back to the battleground 

"To teach those under our wings, humility, how to be humble, and to know that there are people in life who are better than them and to accept that fact in order to foster a sense of Common Sense and bring about a more accepting youth" Roko answered her hesitantly 

"Mhmm, to bring about a more humble youth who knows humility and acceptance...and yet here we are, with a group failing to accept other students whose purpose here was to simply stay and explore this nation we live in....I know Xin and his friends were your best students so tell me, why have they not learned any of these tenets you were meant to teach?" The Sect Master asked him, her question sending a shiver down the Lizardman's spine as he felt a very dangerous intensity behind the words 

"Uhhh...."

"It's because you don't believe in them isn't it?" Sun added as she turned back to face him

"Like you are one to talk...I know who you once were...wicked Ice Queen of Danjiang" Master Roko fired back as he felt danger in front of him 

"I see, so you have done your research on me then hmm?" Sun asked him with a raised eyebrow 

"Of course, I know that you used to be the wicked Ice Queen of Danjiang, a woman who was so petty and violent that hundreds of thousands were harmed by your hands for the most minor infraction. Until of course, the stupid Crown Princess Takana humbled you into the ground and you suddenly changed your ways. Your sister was also the fearsome "Blood Red Maniac" who loved to fight and would use any reason given to her to fight, she too was humbled by the stupid Crown Princess and suddenly changed her ways...so I do not think you have the right to speak ill of my students like that" Master Roko stated with a growl as he looked at her dead in the eyes, seeing no visible response to his sharp words 

{!} 

He then unintentionally stepped back as Sect Master Sun rose from her seat and stepped to him. His eyes met her unmoving and unreadable ones and he could feel a chill go down his back as she stared at him. 

"If you believe that me and my sister have forgotten who we once were then you are gravely mistaken Mister Roko" Sun stated as she walked towards him, making him step back even more 

"I know the feeling of the humiliation, the anger, and the pain that came with having my pride and my body shattered by someone who was undoubtedly stronger than me and showed me despite me refusing to believe it every single time. A fate that I know I could have avoided if only I were humble and showed a shred of humility. So do not lecture me about not knowing what it feels like to be on the other end of that sword, because I do. And I tell you, it is something I do not wish even on my worst enemy" The Sect Master added as she got up close to Roko's face 

"It is why I try day and night to drill humility, humbleness, acceptance and common sense into these kids because I do not want them to go through what we went through, get that through your head, you idiotic bastard!" Sun finished as she backhand smacked Roko across the face, with some ice forming on his cheek that quickly dissipated. 

"Insulting me and my sister was one thing Mister Roko, but to besmirch the honor of the greatest woman in the empire and my master is another. Since you are so insistent on using the honor system of strength then do not blame me for this challenge I present to you now" 

"Wait-" 

"Roko Haruka. Once the matches between Imperia and the Golden Fire Sect are done, I formally challenge you to a duel for the honor of my master. You have no choice but to accept" Sun added with fire burning in her eyes as she looked at him, seeing the lizardman before her shaking in fear at her challenge, knowing full well he had no chance to say no and was now honor and soul bound to do the duel 

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On the left side of their end of the battleground, Haggerty, the massive half-giant student, with his short black hair, tanned skin color and well-built body was looking over at their opponents and back at his team. Leticia, his friend who had been with him since childhood, was a reliable mage who could deal a lot of damage with her lightning magic. Although she looked modest with a good height of 5'8 and was equipped with modest looks and average beauty, it all helped disguise the heavy hitter within her. Next was Linora, a beautiful lamia girl who had purple and red scales for her serpent half and a pale complexion that matched her beautiful and busty human half with long and flowing dark hair. Haggerty had little to no knowledge of as she was a College of Magical Advancement and based on the information given to him by the lamia, Haggerty learned she was what they called a Magi-Knight as Linora was an avid user of combining her magic and her good swordsmanship into one practice and this lamia loved to play with ice magic to do her duties.

Then there were the two twins Fabeus and Dran who were both Dragonkin brothers who shared the same color of scales which were grey and a mix of teal. The two of them also shared the same look of white hair with red eyes and they were both strikingly handsome although they kept brushing it off as neither of them really believed that they were handsome and thought they were both pretty average. These two were part of the College of Liberal Arts and while the two of them did not seem fit to fight, they were still capable like all Imperia students, and these two brothers loved to get up close and brawl with their transformed claws. 

"Right, since Miss Leilani has entrusted me with coming up with a plan to crush those guys, although we are very much outnumbered, I think we got this" Haggerty stated as he looked at them 

"Alright, so what is the plan big man?" Fabeus asked as he looked up at him 

"From my understanding, they will charge us head first, either in two formations, the first is a frontal line formation that will try to push us from the front then collapse onto our flanks and trap us inside a circle which is standard numerical superiority tactics. The second and less likely formation they may do is to split their forces into two groups of four and then rush us from both sides. Either way, if we let them use their superior numbers, we are royally screwed" The half-giant answered as he looked at them 

"So how do we counter that Ty?" Leticia asked as she looked at him and then to the enemy team on the opposing side 

"With what we know, and our skill sets brought into the equation, the best solution would be a counter-charge" Haggerty answered her 

"But wouldn't that just ensure that their superior numbers beat us anyways?" Linora chimed in 

"Yeah, wouldn't it?" Dran added 

"Not necessarily, in my Battle Tactics 102 class, our instructor taught us that if the enemy has a weak center which will likely be the case as they are going to be spread out, we have to take advantage of that and break through that point, then rapidly fall on one side before the other can help" Haggerty answered them 

"So, I guess you, Fabeus and Dran are going to punch through their center while me and Linora keep their sides distracted long enough for you to fall onto one side and then the next?" Leticia stated as she looked up at him 

"Exactly, with your magical abilities and massive mana pools, you will be able to significantly distract them long enough for us to bash through the center before we quickly roll up one side" The half-giant nodded with a small smile 

"Alright, should be easy, could be worse honestly" Linora remarked as she pulled out her dual curved swords and flourished them around 

"Yeah, it's not like the pride of the school is riding on us here and now" Dran added as he transformed his arms into the dragon version with his brother doing the same 

"Totally...Gods help us" Haggerty stated as he brought out a massive metal club with ridges and Leticia brought out her staff that had a curved blue crystal as the head 

All of their eyes were focused on the group of Golden Fire Sect students who were now walking towards the center and they soon did the same as they walked in unison towards that same center. The crowds in the stands were cheering for their fellow classmates and all eyes were now focused on the fight that was about to go down, a fight of honor and pride of schools, and personal beliefs. 

And just like that, the bells rung and the match began. 

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As both teams stood across from one another, Xin and his group formed a horizontal line from end to end of the battleground, while Haggerty and his group formed a V formation, with him in the center, Dran and Fabeus on either side of him and Linora and Leticia at the ends of the V. 

"Hah! Look at them! Do they think a fancy formation is going to save them?! HAHAHAHAHAAH! What fools!" Xin exclaimed as he pointed his sword at them before looking at his friends who were all laughing with him, the smug look on his average face fitting perfectly for the pompous brat he was

"Ohhhh, they put the women in the back. How courageous!" Another one of his friends shouted, with everyone else laughing along as well as they looked at Linora and Leticia 

"What's wrong big man? Can't speak?" Xin taunted as he looked Haggerty up and down as he kept trying to goad him into attacking him 

"They can't even speak! They are scared shitless!" A person's voice from the stands shouted that got a laugh out of most of the Golden Fire Sect people around him, including Xin and his friends 

But while the crowds of the Golden Fire Sect were laughing their asses off, the Imperia Students, Professors, Leilani and even Sect Master Sun were silent and observing with a hint of hidden rage as they heard these people laughing at them. Imperia, except for Sun who was taught by Takana, had taught them that arrogant bastards who like to boast before a fight are usually the ones who are scared and thus are easy to break. Imperia had also taught them not to get goaded into fights with these surface-level insults and were taught to be mentally ironclad and drown out all distractions. 

"Tsk! If you won't come to us! Then I guess we will come to you! CHARGE!" Xin cried out as he and his friends moved in one line towards their foes, arrogant grins on their faces with their swords drawn and aimed at the enemy before them

 {!} 

But to Xin's surprise, the half-giant and the two dragonkin counter-charged them as they moved forward while the two women at the back fired off spells towards the left and right. Xin didn't even raise his sword up in time before Haggerty's iron club bashed his face in and sent him flying back and crashing into the ground near the edge of the battleground, with two of his friends failing to join him as Fabeus and Dran both landed uppercuts to the guts of these Golden Fire students that lifted them off the ground and out of the bounds of the battleground, eliminating them from the fight. Meanwhile, on the right side of the now shattered line at the same time the first three were sent flying, Linora was able to land a hit with her magic as she conjured up a boulder of ice that two had dodged but hit one and sent him crashing out of bounds and embedding him into the right stands. On the left however, Leticia's lightning magic had all struck true and had basically stopped the advance of these three in their tracks and left them wide open to attack. 

Wasting no time, Haggerty and the dragonkin twins moved on the left side and swiftly clobbered the trio of Golden Fire Students into the ground as Haggerty clocked one in the head with a downward swing while Fabeus and Dran also did the same as they clasped their claws together and struck the heads of their opponents with enough force that all 3 of them dropped to the ground unconscious. Meanwhile, the two remaining people on the right had rushed towards Linora who charged back at them with her curved swords covered with ice that turned them practically into clubs. 

The first of the Golden Fire students tried to do a thrust with his right arm but Linora dodged the thrust and countered with her own double slashes that struck the left then the right side of the guy's face before she grabbed him around the waist with her tail and then used his body to block the incoming slash from second guy before she quickly moved up to him and then landed a headbutt to his temple which sent him reeling and stumbling back before Linora threw the other guy at him which knocked both of them out of the battlegrounds and eliminated them. 

Once Xin Jiang got up, he saw that there was no one left on the battleground except for him. His eyes went wide and he was in shock as his friends were all knocked out and either unconscious on the battleground or in groaning heaps outside it. He tried to get his bearings but before he could, Haggerty got the drop on him and clunked him in the back of the head, sending him down again but not enough to knock him out. He looked up and he let out a gasp as the half-giant placed his massive foot on his chest and began to slowly clamp down, forcing Xin to struggle in gasps as he tried to push the massive foot off of him. 

{!}

A Golden Fire professor from the stands saw this humiliating act and tried to rush out, leaping from his chair trying to head towards the battleground, but as he did so, a set of ice chains wrapped around his neck, arms, legs and body and then pulled him back into the chair. With all eyes focusing on him for a brief moment before they turned to the battleground once more and this time they saw Sect Master Sun standing in the center with her eyes in a cold glare as she looked around her. 

"Is this what you wanted Golden Fire?" She asked as she looked around her, seeing her students and staff's expressions turn into confusion as they heard her question 

"I said, is this what you wanted Golden Fire?!" She bellowed out, her voice sending a small shockwave that struck everyone except for the Imperia students 

She looked around and saw the expressions of her students turn from confusion to a slowly building up fear as they leaned into their seats, with some turning their heads away in shame while most kept their eyes on her. 

"Help....mee...Master" Xin called out to her as he stretched out an arm 

"Why would I help an arrogant asshole such as yourself?" Sun asked, leaving everyone in shock as she refused to help one of her students 

"Hmmm? Isn't this what you all wanted?!" Sun asked as she turned back to her students 

"You all wanted to see a fight! You wanted to see someone get humiliated! Well look at him now! Here he is! Someone is being humiliated! You were all fine laughing at the visitors so why aren't you laughing now?!" She shouted at all of them as her gaze shifted from bleacher to bleacher

"Did your voices suddenly give out?! Were you all hit with a spell so suddenly?! Why aren't you all laughing?! This is what you all wanted right?! Answer me!" She bellowed as she continued to look at her students, seeing some of them lower their heads or turn away as a rush of emotions filled them 

"So no one wants to answer me now huh? Is that how it's going to be?" Sun asked with a growl as she made eye contact with several students 

"What you all just witnessed is what has been plaguing this nation for so damn long. Insane amounts of arrogance and the lack of humbleness and humility. You see this? This humiliation and shame that Xin is in right now? It's all due to his arrogance and his inability to accept others thanks to his lack of humility and humbleness. This is the very same thing that has led to the deaths of so many people, all because of petty reasons and differences that could have been solved through talking. It is not only shameful, but it is also why so many people in this empire have died" Sun began as she walked around the stage 

"You see, the goal of this academy is to not just teach you how to fight, your parents sent you here to learn how to be kind, caring, humble, filled with humility and to wash away the stain of arrogance that has for so long plagued this nation. But instead, you have all become the very abominations that I and they have fought so hard for to eliminate!" 

"You have not only shamed yourself! You have shamed them and your ancestors who have all tried to rid themselves of the very thing you are all becoming! Arrogant monsters that will fight for even the smallest of reasons and kill for the lowliest reasons too! Is that what you wish to be remembered as everyone?! Is it?!" Sun asked with a shout as she scanned the faces of her students and professors, seeing immense shame in their eyes and faces as they turned away from her unable to look her in the eyes 

"If you are even unable to answer me, then you are no more than cowards who hide behind masks when they are exposed to the truth of themselves. Disgusting. It seems that this sect indeed is nothing more than filled with cowards who hide behind everyone else and only jump in when others are at risk" She added, seeing if any one of her students or teachers were going to refute her, but alas no one did 

"So be it. If none of you are willing to admit or even refute the claims I have made, then myself, my sister and the Crown Princess have failed to guide you on the right path, as such, since our talents are wasted on all of you who fail to listen, this will be the final day of the academy after this grand battle of stupid pride" Sun stated, with her statement causing murmurs, whispers and ripples of shocked and surprised voices around the stands as students and professors looked at one another before looking at her 

Han Changpu was about to state something but hesitated when Sun's cold and icy gaze looked at him, seeing the dead and cold expression in the person he revered as an amazing role model sent shivers down his spine and froze him in place. 

"Ah, the 'Order of Failures' I believe it is your turn to get your asses handed to you, so step up here and get it over with. The sooner you lose, the sooner everyone can leave" She added as she turned away and teleported back to her seat, with all eyes of the sect turned to her, with words caught in their throats they were too scared to speak 

"Well?! Get on with it!" Sun shouted as she waved at them to the stage 

Han and his friends looked at one another as Xin was dragged off the courtyard by Haggerty and placed next to his unconscious friends, seeing a hint of pity in the eyes of the Imperia students as they made their way back to their side of the battleground. 

"Han what do we do?" Liang asked him as he turned to her

"I...I do not know" Han answered, the uncertainty in his voice shocking his friends as he was normally not like this, the cool and composed leader and friend they had known for so long was no longer with them at this point, after hearing the words of the disappointed Sect Master 

The group then turned their eyes to the battleground and saw the three Imperia professors waiting for them, fear and shivers going down their spines as they knew that their plan to test the Imperia visitors and fight Leilani had led to this shit show, and they did not know how to get out of this without being sent away to the medical bay.

A/N: New Chapter. Enjoy! Hehehehe.