Air Hero

Max vs Giovanni II

Kalina is looking at the paper of Max’s last test result. It was done privately, just like how she tested Max’s ability the first time at the gym.

“I never think that the little boy from back then has grown so much. To see him in the final of the hot newcomer award. However, he has the potential even back then as his sensitivity is almost A-rank. Right now, his stats are pretty amazing.”

On the paper that Kalina is looking at, Max’s current ability is laid out. Strength D, Speed C-, Sensitivity A+, Energy D.

“Following the training course that I set for him. His strength and energy have barely met the standard of D-rank. His speed is surprising as it reached C- while the best improvement is on his sensitivity. Although I didn’t think that it would break into A-rank within our training, it showed how suitable he is to become a hero.”

Watching the live broadcast of the final, Kalina could see clearly that Max took full advantage of his sensitivity to keep on dodging Giovanni’s attack.

Kalina secretly thinks that for Max not to enter the academy might also be a blessing in disguise. After all, if he enters the academy, his growth rate won’t be as abnormal as he is when she first met him. The academy boasted deep knowledge, and with the training menu that they have designed, a student that graduates from it will have at least a D-rank in all aspects.

For Max to haven’t reach D-rank is strength and energy, while his sensitivity reached A-rank might not happen if he is admitted to the academy. She also heard how he enveloped himself in the wind hug every night that served as his training. It pained her, yet it is also the reason how she is able to see him reaching the final of the hot newcomer award.

Clenching her fist as she supported him from afar, she cheered him on. “Don’t lose, little brother.”

On the arena, where the battle is broadcasted live, Max managed to dodge Giovanni’s attack several times. He barely moved his body and evaded, but it managed to attract cheer from the audience.

Of course, the main reason for that isn’t because of Max’s display, bending his body at an unbelievable angle to get out of Giovanni’s attack trajectory, but it was because Giovanni’s body keeps on flashing around the arena.

Just like a shooting star moving here and there as if his body is a pinball bouncing everywhere, Giovanni’s attack isn’t stopping at all. Giving no time for Max to relax, even for a second.

Right now, Max is feeling exhilarated. Although he knows that he is in a dire situation, he feels as if he has entered a new world. If all through the matches until now he depended on the grey world which he doesn’t understand the true form, this time he fully conscious of what is happening.

Max can feel his body is fantastic. As if each and every pore on his skin is resonating with nature. He could sense every movement as his skin caught the signal from the winds around him. Before Giovanni’s attack even reached him, he could feel the direction of the attack and where to dodge with the signal sent to him by the wind.

Max even showed a smile on his face as he is elated and enjoying this feeling. Right now, nobody understands what is happening. Even Giovanni only looked at Max with interest as he thinks Max is finally showing his true power.

Right now, Max is entering an enlightenment state. Something that could never be searched for but encountered when someone is least expecting it. The sensory cells on his body are embracing the wind.

“Is he in an enlightenment state?”

Only Alexandra, who watched the match from her base, can roughly guess what is happening. It was because she has encountered something similar when she is training before. She smiled as he now looked at Max as if a child who just found a new toy.

“Interesting.”

Back to the arena, Giovanni has now stopped attacking Max by fighting close range. After failing to hit his body despite his S-rank speed, he realizes that he won’t be able to succeed even if he tried again. Because of that, Giovanni now tried to attack Max from long range by sending a light beam at him.

*swish swish swish*

Giovanni’s ray of light is heading towards Max one after another, but he could easily dodge it. At this moment, Giovanni knows that even if Max couldn’t attack him because of his S-rank speed, Giovanni couldn't do anything to Max either despite the S-rank speed.

When Giovanni stopped attacking, Max finally got out of his ephemeral state and realized that he is still in a match with Giovanni. However, he knows very well that without even being in that state, he will still be able to dodge Giovanni’s attack now.

Looking at Giovanni in the distance, Max knows that the battle is in a stalemate. However, after his enlightenment, Max realized that he could control the wind better. He even got a vague idea of what is the grey world, and the white particle is.

“I guess I should try it out.”

Max then gathered the wind elements in his palm. This time, he feels that the energy consumed and the speed at which they gathered has improved. Max smiled unconsciously as once again he could feel that some of the wind embraced his body just like what he enjoyed doing at night. Feeling energized because of that, Max looked at Giovanni, who is already putting up his defense once again as his arm is covered in lights.

The commotion in the surrounding air suddenly quieted down. When Max summoned the wind earlier, it causing some disturbance in the area; however, it is now gone without a trace. What’s left is a ball of condensed air on Max’s hand.

Max has shown a similar move before, but Giovanni can tell that this time it was different. The power that is condensed inside Max’s hand is dangerous if it hit his body.