I created my own system

It's my POV again get used to it

With my body being pressured my movements began to falter.

Each trike can extract some of my energy so the thing I should do is avoid direct contact. However, it was hard, even with my fast analytical skills it wasn't enough to keep up with my professor's insane speed.

"What's this are you tired already?" Professor Adolfo sarcastically said.

I breathe trying to calm my raging heart however my opponent wouldn't let me do so.

With the evening breeze touching our bodies, our wooded weapons danced across the air. Then as I moved back to create some distance I saw the professor preparing to strike.

His wooden sword aimed at my chest so I tried to dodge it by sidestepping but as soon as I did the sword moved and changed its direction, darting fast towards me.

Unprepared I hastily bend down to dodge causing my lower body to ache. I move again changing my stance since I can't afford to come in contact with him. I need to strike, a clean shot that could stop my opponent's movements.

However how?

I attentively looked at my professor's swordplay and I was confident enough to analyze it but somehow even with current stats, it was still hard.

"Can you see it now?" he started to ask me.

But I couldn't figure out what he was saying, so all I could do was shake my head.

"You are strong, your speed, strength and brains are above those of your peers, however..."

Suddenly I felt a sudden chill and unknowingly I moved back.

"HUM!"

A compressed air pressure is generated from a simple wave of a wooden sword. I looked back and saw the leaves of all the nearby trees at my back gone. I gasped feeling the intense amount of intent put on a simple wave of weapon.

"No matter how high your speed, strength and mana if you can't use proper skills to utilize it, all of those will only be useless. No matter how much water a lake has, if you are scooping the water using your hands it will still leak out"

Then he showed me a bit of his strength. To my surprise, his mana and ki didn't even drop while he fought me. My stats were almost the same as his but strangely I got tired easily, while his energy didn't change much.

I know it might be attributed to his technique since it extracts some of my ki and mana but still with our close stats the fight shouldn't be this one-sided.

"A proper control and precision can harness great results without consuming too much energy" he confidently told me then he made another slash.

This time it was different, it has the same strength as the last one, however, I could see from his stats that it consumes quite a lot of ki.

"I know you can feel the difference between the two attacks. I just show it to you to set an example of what I was saying before"

"Not because you are better in almost all aspects doesn't mean you can win a fight. There is a limitation of what brute strength and power can do against someone skilled and experienced"

"The saying absolute strength is invicible and no trickery will work doesn't always happen, it depends whose and what kind of tricks are you facing"

"Sometimes even the most mighty gods can fall for a trap"

I stood where I was, looking at my stats and my professor's, it was almost the same yet a small sparring didn't even give me any room to fight back. Attributes don't always decide a fight, I learned that now.

It was different when I fought with spells.

I only need a clear calculation and a set of appropriate spells and I could win a fight. However what if I can't use spells anymore, a fight against someone capable of using an anti-magic circle will become my end. A combination of fighters and an anti-magic will be troublesome to confront. I need something to counter that.

"I hope you learn something tonight"

I unconsciously nodded still in awe of how a fight can change based on someone's mastery of skills.

My reaction seems to elevate his mood making him smile. I have never seen this guy smile like this, the smile I typically see was the annoying face he had whenever he saw us suffer.

Maybe because of that, I fell chilly looking at him.

"You should head inside since class will start early"

I could only nod before picking up the wooded sword I dropped.

"Good night professor"

"Good night as well student"

I stride inside walking straight to my room.

"Apollo?"

I looked back and saw my classmates all cuddling up together. The boys are at the front holding a flashlight while the girls are at the back.

"What are you guys doing?" I asked feeling their set-up goofy.

"The girls wanted to go to the bathroom but they are too afraid to go by themselves"

I chuckle finally realizing why they are like this.

"I'll join you guys later I'll just take a quick bath"

"Next time you train let us join" the boys told me before heading to the bathroom.

I could only shake my head and went to my room.

"Now time for a quick bath"

The water runs through my body taking my fatigue away. As I try to feel the refreshing touch that's cleansing my body, that's when I notice something.

"Hmm?..is this my body?"

I remember looking like a shrimp before but now I look pretty good. There is a fine line of muscle in my arms and legs suitable for my age, while my abdomen seems to be growing with muscles as well. After the bath, I fixed myself then went straight to where my friends were. As I moved closer to the tea room I could hear their loud chattering.

"It's already late why are you guys still awake?"

"Hey Apollo come join us we are thinking about how to celebrate birthdays"

I frown that most of their birthdays are from the eighth month to the first. Did I forget someone's birthday without knowing?

"It is none of us Apollo"

They said knowing how confused my expression was.

"It's Miss Martha, Apollo her birthday will happen next month," Mckenzie told me while holding a banner saying happy birthday although there were a few missing letters.

"We were thinking of having a surprise party since she is such a good person to us" Arabella said while finishing the handkerchief she was making.

"What should I do then?"

"We have thought of dividing the work, Mckenzie, Blair, Casper and Aaron for the decoration. Keith, Vesta, Alya and Jillian for the drinks and snacks while me, Arabella, Matilda and Samael are for the meals. Then Niko and Agness are thinking of playing instruments for entertainment.

"So I am the only one who doesn't have a designated work yet"

"It's fine you might want to join brother Jerome and Gin since they are the ones gathering the supplies for us"

"So they are in this too?"

"Yes even sisters Jenny and Nadia are on it as well"

"So Apollo which place do you want to be assigned?" Alicia asked making me think of something.

"I think I already have an idea" I grin as I think about the thing I want to do.

I soon joined them in trying to make a handmade gift for the woman who took care of us.

...

"So what do you think Gil?" Helios asked while looking at his friend.

The Duke of Arcanebane thoroughly looks at the files arranged by Apollo and his expression isn't good.

"We need to eliminate Nero"

"Can we?" the Duke Lionheart was a bit confused however his thoughts were similar to his friend's.

An enemy must be eliminated before it causes any more damage, but there is a problem.

A member of an imperial family can't be touched unless his majesty gives his order. Even though the four families can make decisions before reporting it to the emperor, this time it's different since it involves the members of the imperial family.

They need to report it first but Helios doesn't want to.

"Your son is involved here that is why you are hesitating"

"If his majesty finds out how capable that boy is, he might give more missions to him"

"Are you worried?"

"No, I am not worried since I know he is capable of protecting himself, but it is not the life I want him to have. I want him to have a life where he doesn't need to run like something is chasing him. One that is peaceful and no more pain haunting him"

"Helios" Gilgamesh looks at his friend before continuing his words.

"What we want doesn't always happen, you know better than anyone else that the pain the boy has already haunts him. You should know since you are part of that pain, you are one of the people who contributed to it. The reason why he runs like that was because you let the past chase after your son"

Helios clenched his fist knowing full well what he meant.

"I will pay for that sin"

His face became determined as if it was the last thing he could do.

"So for now let me protect that boy"