Chapter 55 : A bout (2)

Algadore P.O.V

Before the fight with Embra, I recall Keinnayi's words while stretching my body to get used to it.

"... It was amazing fights, you know. He sees through the attack patterns of Eve based on the body movement alone. His analysis is similar to the system's analysis but, his analysis is better. I was super dumbfounded, you know. He won eight million fights out of thirty-five million fights. Normally, ten-win would already be a miracle. Can you believe it, his winning rate is now, one in ten fight. That is crazy. " (Keinnayi)

For Keinnayi to boast so much about his ability, I am really expecting so much from him. I had known Keinnayi for a long time to know that she is not good with lies. So, I am sure she is not boasting about him because he is her man.

Embra allows me to make the first move, which I accepted. For now, I will be testing the water with a low skill level. So, let's only use 'Master' level close quarter combat.

*Breath in*

*Breath out*

Letting out all of my breath, I kick the floor of the dimension, approaching fast to the Embra's right. Hm?

He is not moving. My speed should not be that fast. Even though I am aiming for his side, he is still not moving and standing still while holding his sword. His posture is completely relaxed that he looks like he is not in a fight. Well, now that I am near him, I decided to focus on his movement more than thinking of his actions.

Arriving in front of him, I kick at Embra's left side where he is not holding the sword. He didn't block or dodge. Instantly, he turns his body and aims his sword to cut down my leg from above. No hesitation, huh? I like that.

Changing my center of balance to my left leg which is on the ground, I change the direction of my right leg and kick Embra's hand that is holding the sword. I know I am using moves full of openings but, I left it open for Embra to take a bait.

As expected, Embra did not take the bait and instead block my kick. My kick connected with his hand just for the smoke to explode out of his hand and hinder my 'vision'. Just after he blocked my kick, Embra moves quickly and attack me from my back.

*Smile*

If it is other people, the smokescreen would have worked but, I am not using my physical eyes to see, Embra. I am seeing with 'mind's eye' or the 'Sixth sense' in other words.

I neither dodge nor block his sword aiming at my neck. Instead, I used a martial art technique, 'Star Fist'. It was just the basic level, first move. Stepping on the ground on my right leg as hard as I can, I let out my aura and attack Embra. The explosion of my aura repel Embra's sword but, the aura exploding is just from taking a stance. The real attack is my fist.

Turning around with the fastest footwork, I aim a punch at Embra but, he met my punch with a thrust of his sword while muttering,

"Third Sword, Warazein" (Embra)

Coating his sword in his fighting spirit, which turns the blade into black, he meets my fist with his sword accompanied by lightning.

Shock waves spread to the surrounding but, our fist and sword are locked in a stalemate. I twist my hips and my upper body to put strength into my fist which Embra Embra also corresponds with the same move. The shock wave from our fighting spirit colliding spread to the surrounding and we both get away from each other.

!!

While I was still in the air from the backlash of the shock wave, Embra sent small star-shaped weapons at me. I retaliate Embra's ranged attack by my own ranged attack of kicking at the small weapons. A martial art technique, 'Star fall' is executed and a half-moon shaped energy attack dispersed Embra's small weapon while also reaching him.

I 'look' at Embra to see what he will do to my energy wave but, Embra goes into a stance as soon as his leg touches the ground. Don't tell me, did he anticipated this?

"First sword. Void Slash" (Embra)

Wow. Amazing. He cut apart my energy wave with a quick sword-draw. It even looked blur to me even though I am using 'Mind's eye'. What a speed.

But, rather than his speed, he took a stance like he anticipated my attack. How did he do it even though his back is facing me? Did he calculate it? How far did he calculate? How much of my move he calculated? 10 moves?

No, No. Let not assume. For now, let's test whether it is his calculating ability by going faster. I get close to him using the same footwork as earlier but, this time, I use the higher-level one, 'Grandmaster' and aim a straight punch at Embra's stomach with my right hand.

!!

Embra parries my punch with the back of his sword and takes the higher ground by jumping. As soon as he is in the air, he aims a kick at my face which I avoid and was about to retaliate with a punch from my left hand but, he met my left fist with his sword blade. This time because he is in the air, he could put all of his weight to his attack and because of that, my fist bleeds a little from a shallow cut.

Our strength should be the same. So, he uses his weight, huh? Quite a goo- He disappeared ?!

!!

A sword wave is coming aiming at my back! What in the -?

I sidestep quickly but, that was my mistake because behind the big sword wave is the real attack,

"Sixth Sword: Birdcage" (Embra)

While my posture was unstable from sidestepping the first sword wave, an overwhelming pressure seize my body still in the air. It is done by his dominating aura focused solely on me that I was standing still in the air for three seconds. But, that three seconds are all Embra needed because his sword soon cut my arm. But, his assault is not over yet.

He reappears behind my back to aim a slash at my back too but, this time, I use my martial arts defense technique 'Star Embodiment' with 'Master' skill level. Just in these three seconds, he slashed at me a total of ten times from my sides, back, legs, and shoulders. Even though I protected my body with a defense skill, I got two shallow wounds on my back and tight on top of the first cut on my arms.

Blood is dripping down my right arm so much that I think, I am gonna have a hard time with this hand from now on if I don't heal it. The two shallow wounds on my back my tights are also bleeding but it is just a little bit.

*smile*

I didn't expect this. I really didn't. His sword. His fighting spirit that is coating his sword black. That is quite sharp.

If it is my original body, NO. Those are just excuses for a loser. So, this is a prize for underestimating Embra, huh?

I face Embra who is still standing in front of me with a smile. From the bottom of my heart, I apologize.

"My apologies. It seems, I underestimated you and didn't use my full power. That was rude of me. This blood. I will accept this as a price for underestimating you. Please, I request another round of bout." (Algadore)

Embra smiles.

"In this world, it is my first time fighting an opponent who shows no opening. The openings I found are all traps for me, too. It is my first time, fighting someone like you. I wanted to fight you to my heart contest but, Goddess Gaia, how much time do we have?" (Embra)

Hm? Is he worrying about the time flow outside of this dimension? Oh if it is that, there is no need for him to worry because,

"Thou shalt not worry over something like that. If I want, I can stop the time of this whole world for eternity. Fight till thou satisfied." (Goddess Gaia.)

Oho? Even Goddess Gaia approved of this fight. I am grateful for her because losing a fight does not sit well with me. So, for this second bout, I will go all out till the limit this new body can withstand.