Ben Vs. Danton

BEN GRAY

"Zeus, who do you think will win between me and Danton?" I asked the dog laying at my side even though it is dumb to ask since he wouldn't answer.

"Woof!"

"I thought so too."

I left that foul-mouthed elf to fight that pink-haired girl so I and Danton will battle without any of our teammates assisting us.

I took Zeus and Hades to ensure that pink-haired girl won't win against Vin Drale.

I usually won't be this engrossed in competitions but right before it started Grandmaster Windstrum told me he will share a secret on how to grow stronger if I win the competition, plus I want to know who is stronger between me and Danton.

I am currently outside the forest the main battle is located at. I am at an open field close to the waterfall and fenced by thick walls using the help of Gary – the earth-type mage I put in charge of all my troops.

That Grandmaster Windstrum is a mischievous and crafty man. I'm sure he just approached me for his entertainment and I believe he did the same for Danton also, from what I heard from Vin Drale's story.

I am sitting on a stone with the twins at the side of the small stream the waterfall pours into and waiting for Danton so this game will end once and for all.

I look up yonder and can see a figure with his hands in his pocket walk gently.

"It took you long enough." A funny remark to lighten the mood before we battle.

"Zeus and Hades, remember, don't interfere." I remind the dogs I feel are smart enough to understand my words.

"Woof." They bark in unison.

I stood up and walked forward to the middle of the battlefield until we stared at each other dead in the eye.

***

DANTON STONEHEAD

After defeating Vin Drale I immediately started searching for Ben. As I was at it I checked my stats window.

[You are not allowed to view information due to current form]

[You have violated a system rule]

So shocking, since I violated the rules I cannot view my stats? I guess it is because False Strength is like a cheat skill. I will analyse further after I am done with the competition.

I use 9th Sense to search for mana readings and movement. After a while, I picked something up, It is a mana reading that feels enraged, angry and furious but somewhat contained.

I walk towards the direction of the monstrous mana reading and get there in about two minutes.

I am met with a large battlefield with a waterfall and a small stream with thick boundary walls around it made using earth.

I look farther to where the enraged, angry and furious mana reading is situated and see a boy with two dogs beside him, Ben.

I quickly realised what this battlefield is for, his reason for attacking all my teammates until they were worn out and why he took Zeus and Hades.

'He wants a fair fight.' I calmly walk forward to meet him.

"It took you long enough." Says Ben, to provoke me little but such things don't get to me that easily.

'Ttri-ting'

[You have encountered the Beginner Black Candidate (Chess King)]

Is that why those students that didn't even know the basics of magic were so strong? Wow! It is very likely since Garmi said their strength boost depends on the strength of the King. That means the one I fought was likely the Queen.

[Do you want to initiate a duel? Y/N]

'Yes'

[Task successful!]

I didn't speak, I just walk forward until we both stop face to face with each other.

We've stared at each other for minutes now, so now I'm wondering maybe he doesn't want to fight me. But I have to fight him to advance to Intermediate.

I use the speed movement I used on the generals to get to his back and threw a punch at his neck.

I feel my punch reduce force and speed, then when it got to him it didn't even deal single damage.

'This dude, he's a wind user, isn't he? Wait, don't tell me--'

I'm not given the leisure to finish that train of thought as Ben turns around and throws a punch at my stomach.

I use my hands to shield myself from the punch but I'm pushed back some metres.

Without wasting a second, Ben appears at my back with another punch before I can recuperate and react.

I successfully dodge but it was through a near miss.

Since none of us can cast magic like sorcerers we have to fight with close combat. Because of my fighting skills and strength, I and Ben are on par since he uses minimal fighting skills with insane speed and strength.

We parry, dodge and attack each other continuously, but slowly and surely Ben is becoming faster, or maybe I am becoming slower.

After going back and forth in that order we both instinctively jump away from each other to rest a little.

I am using beastly magic and False Strength to boost the strength of my punches but Ben only uses wind to make his punches faster, making the strength of our punches somewhat equal with Ben's slightly higher than. I'm totally in his shadow.

The difference in speed between Ben's normal punch and magically induced can't even be seen with the naked eye, there isn't much difference.

"What…ha...brought you to want to fight me so bad?"  I asked Ben while panting, whose condition looks just as bad as mine.

"I was curious about who is stronger." As he speaks, sincerely, I feel embarrassed. If it wasn't for this skill I stumbled upon I wouldn't have even been worth one of Ben's punch.

We resume battle as we charge towards each other. To enhance our speed I use Bear Charge and he uses wind-type magic.

I can feel my reaction time and punches get slower every second. False Strength is probably reaching its time limit.

I start to think of how to turn the tables around before I lose this strength.

"Excalibur!"

I open my right hand and it instantly materialises.

Ben had a look that says 'he thinks he will win if he uses his shiny sword, how cocky.' Even though that's not what he meant I'll still take it as that.

I use Blink to get directly behind his back and I touch him with Excalibur to stun him.

He was only stunned for two seconds but that was already enough time to do what I have planned.

Ben turns around with his palm coming towards my face and at the same time, I can feel the effects of False Strength disappear.

Slap!

***

*Licking*

".....him Zeus!"

I hear a voice as I slowly regain my consciousness. I started recalling the events that led me to this moment and I can only remember a hand coming to my face.

'Ben slapped me!'

I sprung up from where I was laying and saw the people around me. I am surrounded by Ben, Elise, Arleore, Bruce, the twins and Grandmaster Windstrum in the middle of the training ground.

"W-What happened?" I asked as I used my right hand to cover part of my face.

"By any chance, are you talking about what happened after Ben slapped you?" Arleore didn't say it to mock me but I still shot her a glare.

"Danny, how are you feeling?" Ben asks but I didn't answer because right now I don't even want to look at his face. Am I a sore loser? Maybe.

"Your cheek is swollen, here let me help." Elise brought out a small cloth and wet it using her magic.

I want to object but she already starts applying pressure and massaging the swollen area, which makes me make stiff sounds of pain.

Our faces are currently just a few inches away from each other, so when her eyes meet mine her face immediately flushes red and she stands up because she likely realised how awkward the moment is.

"Since you have woken, we can now announce the winner of the final teams," Windstrum smiles, "I enjoyed the show. I haven't had such fun in years. So for the leader of the winners, I will grant one wish, and for the second runner up I will make my disciple." He adds.

The audience claps and starts cheering 'Ben Gray' or 'Elise Venorth'.

"Now for the results!"

The magitech scoreboard in the air displayed a wheel with every team leader's name on it in a row. Besides the names are points. The points start to add and the names climb over each other.

'Tin-tin-tin-tin-tin-tin-tin--tin--tin--tin---tin---tin---tin'

The first name on the row has a crown at the side of it and the highest amount of points which is 510.

"And the winner is... Elise Venorth!"

"WHAT?!" The audience and my teammates, even Elise herself have their mouths wide agape.