I Alone Am The SSS-Rank Regressor-Chapter 31: Their Past

Three wispy black claws tore through the wooden moving structures with dot-accurate precision.

"That’s it." Mikhail heard the instructor announce.

At the same instant, the claws vanished and the responsible figure for them in front of Mikhail, relaxed.

He’d underestimated the black-haired boy.

Julian, in fact, had gotten much more powerful from the last time they completed.

And that was shown through his scores.

"79, next."

From a score of 62 2 years back to 79 now. A shocking improvement.

One that definitely wouldn’t be possible without hard work or artifacts and other illegal methods.

But since the latter ones weren’t available, there was only one plausible method.

And Mikhail could see the answer from his proud and happy expression as he turned to walk up to him.

"Did you see that!?" Hee asked, unable to hide his excitement.

Mikhail nodded.

"I did. Congratulations."

Julian smiled happily, a rare contrast to his usual attitude that he showed everyone.

"I know right-"

Not to let his true persona slip out, Mikhail was quick to help him by putting a hand on his shoulder.

"We are in public."

The few words were enough to startle Julian out of his self-joyment.

Looking around, he realized where he was and a bright red came over his face..

"I-"

Mikhail resisted a sigh.

’Whatever.’

To divert the attention from him, Mikhail quickly raised his hand.

"I’ll go next."

The instructor in the distance, looked over at him, his eyes trying to assess him.

A second later, the man nodded.

The words from Mikhail were not only enough to shift the attention towards him, but it also helped Julian compose himself.

Curiosity overtook his embarrassment as his eyes turned to Mikhail, who was now walking up ahead.

It was the only reason he even chose to be even here after the test.

To see how far Mikhail had progressed as well.

***

Mikhail Hendrix.

That was his name.

It was a name that had always intrigued Julian.

A mysterious cadet, rumored to have the same rank as him in Norvalis.

The element in which he was hailed as a prodigy.

Just the idea of someone even being able to rival him in his strongest field disgusted the young prideful Julian at the time.

For him, he was the best.

There could be no competition. There could be no person who’d even dare to take the throne from him.

But deep inside, even he was intrigued to see the boy who was rumored to be as strong as him.

When he saw him for the first time in person, he found him to be even more interesting than he expected.

Not just the powers but as a normal guy as well.

The young boy of 18 rarely showed expression on his face, even with his taunts or challenges.

Unlike him, he seemed to have no intention to challenge him back or beat him.

He didn’t even seem to enjoy showing off his power, opting to just be with his squadron.

Julian found him unique.

His behavior was unlike other boys of his age, having no interest in games or fun.

Rather, he seemed to always be practicing or training.

Unfortunately for the black-haired boy, even with all his tries to avoid a match, they eventually ended up in a match-up.

When they met that day on the ground, Julian could still vividly remember the scene of the battle.

He was crushed, his pride destroyed.

Brutally.

Utterly.

He’d heavily underestimated the boy. The difference between their final scores was shocking.

62 to 69.

A whole difference of 7 points between two people in which he was said to be the stronger one.

A whole difference of 7 points. Julian still knew the whirlwind of emotions he felt back then.

He felt embarrassment, shame and frustration over his loss.

Additionally, knowing that the boy would now rub his loss over his face worsened it.

But once again, the boy proved him wrong by giving the match no thought.

In fact, he gave his hand to him on the ground, pulling him up and commending him with a "Good job."

There was no emotion on his face while saying so but for some reason Julian knew he genuinely meant it.

The praise hit him differently, a reaction one would not give someone on their loss.

It was there that he realized how different Mikhail was from others. The boy was special in the sense of both power and mentality.

Which was why, in a move of surprise, he asked Mikhail to be his teacher rather than his rival.

He wanted him to teach him, despite being the same age.

Julian had learned to set differences and pride aside for improvement.

Even going as far as to request a squadron transfer.

Unfortunately for him, he was denied in both his requests by Mikhail himself.

The boy refused to teach him, telling that he had to improve and figure out his element himself.

It was his part, not Mikhail’s.

He was also disgusted at the fact that he would leave his whole squadron just to join him.

Julian could remember that it was the first time he saw an emotion on his face.

The refusal hit him a little badly. He did not expect it to go this way.

But he was able to take it better when Mikhail offered him a few pieces of advice.

However, the biggest problem for him started after that.

From the point of their friendship where he called him his nickname casually, it suddenly went to a point where Mikhail cut off all contact.

He refused to meet him or even look him in the eye when they were close.

When he called him, he didn’t respond as if he wasn’t able to listen to him.

He had completely cut him off, as if they were two unknown strangers to each other.

The stranger treatment hit him hard, breaking his spirit. He didn’t know what he had done to him for this.

His squadmates gave him no reaction as well.

It was a difficult time for Julian. One in which he then turned to hate Mikhail.

The anger within him caused him to despise him for what he did to him.

And there was only a single way to fuel his anger, by getting stronger and demolishing him the next time they were to battle.

Fast forward 2 years, Julian turned into not just the self-proclaimed strongest Norvalis Magus among the men but also one of the strongest men available.

In the Massacre Of the Gates, he had been given the charge of a whole group after arriving from another castle.

It was where he noticed Mikhail for the first time again after 2 years.

Julian wasn’t even sure if he hated him at this point. At one point in his quest to become stronger, he had forgotten about him.

His true purpose was to get stronger.

But after seeing his performance in the incident, it sparked that fire in him to battle him again.

Which was why the moment he saw him in today’s elemental tests, he knew it was the perfect chance for him.

To truly show him how much he had improved. To thoroughly crush him in the test, making him realize his mistake 2 years ago.

With a score of 77, Julian was very satisfied that he wasn’t going to be beaten.

He didn’t see him using Norvalis Essentia much so hhe knew that he had been slacking off on it for these 2 years.

It would be close.

But he would inevitably win.

Staring ahead at his back that got ready to fight, Julian knew it was finally time.

Time for him to get his win over him.

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