Life at stake

Ryu's condition was not good at all, his shoulder was disabled, his left arm was unable to do any move, his right ankle had a bite that hinders every move he makes. His previous battle style, consisting of dodging to the sides to avoid jumps, could not be displayed anymore. But he is not in panic.

That short but important time he got allowed him to assess the situation; his present capabilities and his opponent attack pattern, with that in mind he reached a strategy. The possibility of it working he was not so sure, he has no combat experience to be properly making a good plan, but he was counting on a few talismans if things went wrong.

The orange wall disappeared, the two fighters keep staring at each other, the dog made the first move rushing to Ryu. His speed is not the same as before, the dog had suffered two cuts, one at the side and the other on the back leg.

Both of them were wounded, the fight is getting close to its unavoidable end.

Pointing the sword forward to prevent a straight path he walked to the side, step by step getting closer to a giant tree. The dog had trouble avoiding the tip of the sword, when it was in perfect health condition the dog could swiftly step aside and avoid the tip of the sword but injured the dog could not do it so.

With no other option, the dog moved to encircle Ryu. A move aimed to make his opponent use his injured ankle, a small gap is just what was necessary to advance and finish this fight.

A few steps and Ryu got to the place he was planning. He put his back against a giant tree, on both sides high roots providing small protection by blocking the path.

This is the strategy he came after thinking for a while, the strength of the dog is its speed, if he could narrow the path, the dog's only possible attack will be coming from just one direction. Of Course, this decision would also make Ryu unable to avoid any attack since he can not dodge in this tight space.

But with his legs failing and his ankle damaged his mobility was deeply affected, dodging was not an option anyway.

The dog clearly understood the plan Ryu had pulled, with his speed locked he would have to rely on the direct attack.

The dog made one assault, Ryu answered with a thrust.

The dog jumped back avoiding the thrust, one step to the side and another assault.

This time Ryu gave a slash hitting a root, white sap flowed down, but he had successfully made the dog jump back another time.

This struggle continued, the dog coming forward and backing in time to avoid a blow.

Ryu swinging his sword time after time. It was not an elegant battle with swift moves and beautiful blows being displayed, no, it was an ugly battle of resistance.

The one who fails and fatigue first is the loser, and its punishment is death.

As the fight progress, the two sides constantly missing attacks Ryu on the losing end, the exchange earlier left him with too many wounds, his clumsy moves have drained most of his stamina which left him utterly exhausted.

In a brief span of time, when the dog retreated a sparkle of doubt arose in his mind, a feeling that his plan would fail. He pushed his back against a wall to lock his enemy speed, at the same time he also had caged himself.

Pushing this thought aside he focused on the battle drifting away from all the thought about losing, going to a fight with a conflicted mind will certainly get one killed. He will not surrender his life this easy, he will fight until the last bit of strength.

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New Skill -> Sword Mastery (Beginner) level 1 acquired.

New Skill -> Heavenly Pillar Martial Art Style acquired.

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A notification screen appeared at the side of his vision, one glance at the screen and shifted his attention back to the fight, more and more screens popping up one after the other, but he had no time to look at them.

The dog saw the gap taking the opportunity of the small frame of distraction Ryu made, it charged with everything it had. This time the dog would not hold back, it made a charge with a decision to take the chance and finish the fight once for all.

Ryu saw the dog coming fast, he cursed the system for distracting him this important time. He evaluated timing, it is not good, he was late. He went for his ring to pull another talisman to defend himself, but the dog is coming so fast that there was no time to use it.

Before he reached his ring a flash appeared on his mind showing him a fighting move, a slash. He acted without thinking, he gave up on the talisman and went for the fighting move there was no time to hesitate. He had no idea of what kind of move it is or how to use it, he just left his body to do the work.

He made a bet, with his life at stake.

First, the sword made a backward down move, going in the direction of the ground. This move going the other side of the dog would cost his life, the dog getting closer with no time to dodge.

The tip of the sword almost touched the ground when it made a swift change in direction, with the tip just a few centimeters away from the ground the sword made in an arc directing to the dog.

Even the tip of the sword at some distance from the ground a line could be seen on the path the sword took as if it had bed risked by the point of the sword. If one looks closer it would see the ground making a wave after the sword passes.

It was like the sword was being pushed forward by the soil and the sword gained speed. The dog confident in his move opened its mouth to bite give a bite.

At the same time, the sword came at full speed, going to the side of the dog.

When the sword touched the dog Ryu's body twisted, the sword changed its course another time going upward, slicing the dog and everything on its path.

Blood droplets went flying high in the sky, following the upward arc made by the final move of the sword move.

The dog fell on his foot, warmth by the flowing of blood coming from the dead dog.

A notification appeared.

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Quest Complete -> reward: 700 exp

total exp 750 / 1000