Chapter 24: The Test & The Journey (Part 3)
*TING*
A sound of two forces clashes...
*BOOM* *TANG* *TING*
And large explosion could be heard between those clashes...
*WOOSH* *TSSSS* *TING* *TANG*
The sound came from inside of the Blumund village, where there's a fight between two person.
The tester–Nel Shubert and the challenger–Kiritsuka Rei (Ray Houston).
The two of them clashed with their respective weapons, spear and sword.
*TING*
"G-guuh..."
Rei deflected the direction of the spear with his sword.
"Oraa!!"
But Nel pulled his spear and relentlessly struck him with it once again.
*TING* *TANG* *TING*
Rei jumped backwards to retreat and keeping his distances away from him.
*WOOSH*
"Heh, you naive kid!"
Nel followed him with such a high speed, spinning his spear then swung it to his right.
*TANG*
Rei quickly reacted to block the incoking attack, deflecting the spear once again.
Nel didn't give him a chance to rest as he delivered another spin of his spear then struck him from the other side.
Emily couldn't help but worry about her brother. Every time the spear was about to reach him, she covered her face with her hand and tried to take a peek when Rei safely dodged them.
Meanwhile, others who were watching from the side-lines were silent all the time but kept their eyes open on their fight. They couldn't keep up with the intensity and the speed of their fight, so they're holding their breath.
Nobody would expect that Rei was able to put up such a fight. Not his parents, or even the kids he trained. His opponent was a former knight so it's understandable that they were sceptical of him and planned to console him when he lost.
That was...until they saw what happeend now.
*TANG*
When Rei deflected his spear again, Nel jumped backwards to keep a short distance away from him.
After that, he stabbed his spear on the ground, using it to jump high before pulling his spear to perform a swing by slamming his spear towards Rei from above.
'[Hammer Fall]!' Nel yelled.
*SWOOOSH* *TAANNGGGG*
The sound of their weapon was very loud. When Rei quickly tried to block it, the impact coming from his spear was so strong it was enough to deflect his defense until his spear went through to the ground, creating a crack on it.
"Is that all?!" Nel shouted with slightly manic grin.
Rei spun his body around then swung his sword to counter.
'[Horizon Slash].'
The older man spun his spear in reaction to that, blocking his sword with the shaft of his spear that was strengthened with aura.
*TING*
'Wha–?!'
Following that, Nel spun his spear again, along with his body then performing a strong thrust towards Rei's chest.
'[One Strike]!'
In that moment, Rei quickly shifted his sword to his front and blocked the tip of the spear using the back of his sword that was coated with his aura.
*TINGGGG* *TSSSKKK*
"G-guuhhh..." Rei could barely hold on after blocking that thrust but...
Nel wasn't finished,
"Haa!!"
*BOOM* *SWOOSH*
"G-gahhaa–!!"
A shockwave was released from his spear and made Rei flew away once again.
However, Rei landed with his feet from that momentum, kneeling with his sword stabbed to the ground, breathing heavily and covered with sweat from head to toe.
Nel spun his spear around before resting it on his shoulder, chuckling and smiling.
Rei on the other hand, was trying to keep his breathing steady and took a moment to rest,
"Hah....hah..."
As he did that, he shifted his eyes a bit to see his status.
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Level: 30
[HP: 2000/4000]
[MP: 475/475]
[FATIGUE: 1000]*red*
EXP: 500/36500
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'Dammit...my fatigue point already increased this much...' He gulped, 'What a monster...even though I already released my aura, I still can't match up to his speed and strength.'
'Yeah, but look...I can see that he slowly getting tired from how he is breathing.'
'That's tired?! he seems fine to me.'
'Well, I can tell since I'm more experienced than you.' Ray retorted.
'I know, I know...but it doesn't seem like he's gonna let his guard down soon despite being tired.'
'He was a former knight after all.'
'Heh, yeah...but it will be boring if I have to fight a weak opponent right?' as Rei spoke, his lips slowly formed into a smirk.
'Well...that's true...' Ray agreed with smile.
'But still...how can I defeat this monster, should I use [Imitation Fire Sword] to defeat him.'
'Are you nuts?! Do you want the whole village get burned to the ground??'
'Then what should we do?! I have limited skill here, you know!'
'Hmmm...then, how about this...I have a plan to win this match but it's gonna be risky, wanna hear it?' Ray offered.
'Heh, do I have any other choice? Just tell me about it.' Rei huffed.
Ray smirked and told him about the plan. After that, Rei grinned to his ears.
'That's one hell of a plan...but I don't hate it.'
'Can you do it?'
'There's only have one way to find out.'
While Rei was having his own conversations in his head, Nel who looked calm in the outside was actually getting tired.
"Huh...huff..." Nel softly panted to make sure he didn't look as tired in front of him.
'Such a monstrosity...to be able to match up with my speed and blocking most of my attack...'
'...although his aura is still undeveloped and weak compared to real warrior and yet...'
'To think a mere [Blacksmith] could force me to use most of my strength...I guess I've become old.'
'Hahaha, it sure are scary...but thanks to that, I could meet someone like him. I guess I should be thanking this kid too...for freeing me from those boring days.'
'But surely it seems he still hiding something...' He thought, 'Well, what kind of surprise that you are going to show me, Ray?'
Nel thought in anticipation, acknowledging the boy despite being a lot younger than him.
Soon he noticed that his facial face slowly changed and it seemd like he's done planning something.
Nel smiled, "So? Are you finally giving up? Or you have something up in your sleeve?"
"Heh, well yeah sort of...but just as you know I'm not planning to giving up yet." Rei replied.
Nel chuckled softly and taking his stance again, "Then show me..."
As he spoke, he released his bluish aura which covered his entire body.
Rei released his reddish aura again as took his stance as well, and then...
'[Shukuchi]!' Rei performed his skill and disappeared from his sight.
But this time, Nel saw that coming and quickly turned his body around to spin his spear, swinging it to his right side.
"Hmm!"
Rei appeared right on the direction of the spear as he connected it with [Vertical Slash] by swinging his sword down from above.
"Huft!"
*TING*
On the moment their weapon clashed, Rei used [Shukuchi] again and disappeared.
*SWOOSH*
When he appeared he used [Shukuchi] again.
*SWOOSH*
and again...
*SWOOSH*
and again...
*SWOOSH*
In that speed, Rei created an afterimage of himself using [Shukuchi] alone and it got even faster each time he casted it.
Nel tried to follow his movements with his eyes as he spun his spear.
Rei swung his sword from all direction using that speed and Nel met all of them by blocking them with his spear whenever he showed up.
*TING*
*SWOOSH*
*TANG*
*SWOOSH*
As he continued to do that again and again, Nel tried his best to deal against his torrents of attacks.
"G-guuhhh!!"
"Haaaaa!!!"
*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*
The screen of Rei's status continued to beep down as his MP slowly depleted and his fatigue point gradually building up everytime he used it.
His muscles start to scream because of it but he endured it for a bit longer and waited for one chance.
When Rei appeared above him, Nel took his chance and used [Spear Art: One Strike] by thrusting his spear towards him.
'Got you!' When his spear was about to reach him, his body disappeared since it was just an afterimage.
'What?!' Nel soon noticed that Rei showed up right under him and swung his sword from below to up.
But he quickly dodged it by moving his body backward, leaving him exposed.
Rei pulled his sword back and focused his aura through his sword.
'No, I got you...[Omni Slash]!'
He swung his sword with such a high speed it created multiple slash towards him.
Nel didn't give up and used his shaft of his spear to block against those slashes.
*TING* *TANG* *TING*
The sword relentlessly struck him multiple times, and when enhanced with his aura...each strike created strong shockwave throughout his body.
"HAAAAA!!!"
"Hmmm!!!"
But then...
*WOOOSH*
"Don't get too cocky!!" Nel shouted and released more of his aura, making Rei stopped performing his skill and flew backward to gain some distance.
Nel panted heavily, his face was covered with sweat while Rei also breathing heavily since his MP and Fatigue point already reached its limit.
"Hah....hah...Damn! I guess being old is hard..." Nel chuckled while still panting.
Rei only listened to what he said and couldn't utter another word as if he was preserving his energy for something.
"But I guess I should wrap this up...no more playing, I shall show you one of my strongest skill."
As soon as he said that, all of the aura he released not too long ago was sucked in and focused to the tip of his spear.
*WOOSH*
After that, the wind around them slowly gathered and swirled around him.
Rei gulped as he took his stance, bracing himself for the impact.
'Kiritsuka...the plan.' Ray spoke.
'I know.' Rei replied as he broke a cold sweat.
Nel took a step forward, "Make sure you dodge this..."
And then...
*BOOM* *WOOSH*
Nel dashed towards him with high speed as the wind was circling around him like tornado before it was focused on the tip of his spear.
'[Spear Art: Gale Thrust]. This is a skill that I created myself...so I hope you can dodg–hm?! what?!'
Nel was suddenly taken off guard for some reason, along with the crowd after seeing something.
Rei was holding his sword to his front and did a defensive stance by using the back of his sword that was coated with aura then slowly gathered it into a single point, preparing himself to block the incoming attack.
'Is he trying to block it head on?!' Nel couldn't help but smile in that moment, 'Heh...what a crazy kid...I hope you don't die on me!'
"Nel!! Stop!!–" Adam shouted but...it was too late.
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*TINGGG* *WOOOOSH*
After the two weapon met, large shockwave burst out around them.
Rei could barely hold on but remained in his spot while blocking the spear that was condensed with the aura of the wind.
'Hold it! Kiritsuka!'
"G-guuuhh!!!!"
*TSSSSKKK*
As the two force clashed...
The wind scattered around them...
And the ground began to crack...
The uneasiness filled the crowd as they were watching the spectacle...
As a blood came out from the corner of Rei's lips, Ray spoke.
'Kiritsuka...not yet...not yet.'
*CRACK*
Slowly but surely...his sword started cracking bit by bit along with Nel's spear.
And eventually...
*CRACK* *BREAK*
The sword shattered to pieces...their surrounding was filled with dust that was caused by the wind.
But in that moment...
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Ray shouted, 'Now!!'
As his spear was still moving towards his chest, Rei dodged it by twisting his body aside.
After that...
*CRACK*
Nel widened his eyes as he saw Rei dodged in that moment and the shaft of the spear...was broken apart by Rei.
He was using his knee and elbow to strike on the shaft by focusing a bit of his aura on his knee and elbow.
'Did he sacrificed his sword just for destroying my weapon in that short moment?!' Nel didn't know how did that happen but...he noticed something,
Rei slowly falling down towards the ground, 'But, it seems that was his last effort and probably cannot continue any longer...sorry kid...it's my win–huh?!'
Nel noticed something...the boy who was about to fall down, stomping his feet on the ground and stood back again while pulling out something with his other...
'What?!'
He grasped on something and a sword came out from thin air.
'Where did that sword comes from?! Wait–...is it [Spatial magic]?!'
Rei smirked with a bit of blood on his lips as he pulled out another sword from his [Inventory].
Following that, he swiftly swung his sword, stopping right next to Nel's neck.
'[Fire].'
And continued by using [Fire] on Nel's surrounding and emptied his MP completely.
=======================================
Level: 30
[HP: 500/4000]
[MP: 0/475]
[FATIGUE: 2000]*red*
EXP: 500/36500
=======================================
When the dust cleared around them...the crowd was stunned into silence. Theyd their jaws opened from the unbelievable spectacle right in front of them.
Rei stood there holding his sword that was aimed at Nel's neck while surrounding him with small fire that was flying around them to sealed his movement.
Rei was still panting but maintained his smile towards his opponent.
"Hah...hah...hah...Uncle... it's my win."
Nel couldn't help the smile forming on his face as he closed his eyes.
"Yes...it's my loss."
Then the crowd was shouting since they couldn't hold it in any longer, lots. They were clapping and shouting excitedly, absolutely thrilled from the match between them.
Rei turned off the [Fire] and pulled his sword down, away from his neck.
And then, he heard a voice...
"Ray!!!"
"Onii-chan!!"
He turned around to see the source of that voice...and it came from his family that was rushing towards him now.
Rei who looked throughly beaten up, was smiling at them with his eyes closed.
"Ahhhh...I've won...Dad...Mom...Emily..."
*THUD*
But when Rei was about to walk towards them, he slowly lost his consciousness, falling down face first to the ground. But before that could happened, Nel caught him with one arm.
"Ray!!"
"Shhhh..he's sleeping right now..." Nel shushed as they nodded their heads, trying to hold onto their tears.
"Adam...you should be proud...to have an amazing son like him." When Nel spoke, Adam cried silently yet uncontrollably.
"Of course...he is...since he is my son after all but Nel...we still have something to talk." Between his tears, Adam tried to look at him seriously.
"Yeah...yeah…I know." Nel couldn't help but sighed and back to smiling again, "What a troublesome family..."
On that day...Rei finally finished his test by achieved victory against the former knight and now he was resting...with a smile on his face.
[Notice!]
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[You acquired a skill!]
To be continue...