31. The World is Big

"Firstly, no use of Nova beyond the Low stage of level 1. Second, the first one to knock their opponent down or make them yield gets a point. First to 3 points wins. Any questions?"

Luna raised her hand at her father's question.

"Yes, Luna?"

"Since this is a sparring match I won't be in trouble if I hurt him correct?"

"HAHAHAHA"

Icarus broke out into laughter at the girl's foolish question.

'She might be better because she has more Nova and is of higher grade and level than I am, but if the playing field is fair I will crush this pampered little princess!'

"Something funny, Insect?"

"oh nothing really, I was just imagining the face of our dear princess after this Insect squashes her!"

Luna's face began to redden, but before this escalated any further Chrona interjected,

"Okay, it seems both sides are ready please face each other and begin to prepare on my signal."

Chrona stood between the two with his right arm raised, facing each other on opposite sides. Icarus and Luna stared at each other while taking their stances.

'Father hasn't been training him for long, but from how his stance it looks like he is a quick learner.'

As Luna finished her thought, Chrona's hand descended signaling the beginning of the match.

Not wanting to waste an opportunity to take the initiative, Icarus pushed off with his back foot and shot right at Luna who had yet to move.

'Even back in Vanco Village, I was faster than some of the low-stage grade 2s there is no way someone can keep up if they match my level.'

The training from Chrona had given Icarus a newfound confidence in his already prodigious athletic ability, which combined with an opponent who had to lower their strength to match his gave Icarus the feeling that victory was already his!

He arrived before Luna in an instant and quickly threw two punches before she was able to retreat.

Luna, taken aback by the speed Icarus had shown in closing the distance between them was unable to use her footwork to retreat before he threw his punches.

This forced her to stand and parry them instead.

This was precisely the moment Icarus had hoped to create.

'With her hands up like that, she won't be able to see this coming!'

The two punches Icarus had thrown were to get Luna's hands up and to help get in position to land the only technique he knew, Raging Waves!

Digging into the ground with the ball of his right foot as he pivoted his hips and brought his left knee, Icarus felt the Nova in his body surge as it flowed into his leg and it began to trace its arc to Luna's head.

Both Chrona and his wife, Iyo who was watching from the side were impressed with the setup and execution of Icarus's tactic. Wondering how Luna would react to the foot, now glowing with red Nova, racing towards her, they narrowed their gazes.

WHOOSH!

Luna did not take a step back, nor did she block the kick with her hands.

She had simply turned her cheek away as the kick was about to make contact, and like a gentle breeze, it brushed passed by her without doing any damage.

As the kick passed her, her eyes met Icarus's red ones with a look of contempt.

Before his left leg was able to come down, Luna swept the boy's pivot leg from out under him knocking him off balance and falling towards the ground.

A figure appeared above him before he fell and a light aura began to glow from her palm.

'Oh Shi...'

"Lunar Halo Palm!"

Striking his airborne figure in his abdomen, Icarus's body made a U shape in the air before crashing into the ground.

"Ugh"

A groan escaped his mouth as he clutched his stomach. Not only had the blow hurt greatly and knocked the wind out of him, but the Nova from the strike lingered in his abdomen causing him great pain.

"1 point." She scoffed at Icarus.

Filled with a mix of pride and excitement, Iyo's heart raced as her student skillfully scored a point against her husband's talented student during the brief exchange. She clenched her fist, feeling the rush of victory surge through her, and locked eyes with her daughter, who stood at her starting point, her confident smirk reflecting the thrill of squashing the Insect. The atmosphere around them buzzed with energy, but in that instant, all Iyo could focus on was the look of frustration in her husband's gaze, amplifying her own joy.

"C'mon Kid, you didn't think it would be that easy, did you? Get up and take your stance, you are embarrassing me as your teacher!"

Although he didn't shout, Chrona's words deeply affected Icarus. He had severely underestimated Luna, partly because she had lowered herself to his level and also because she was a girl. While he didn't consider girls inferior, Icarus genuinely believed that a girl couldn't defeat him in a fair fight. He was wrong.

Struggling back up to his feet, Icarus made his way back to his starting position and took up his stance again.

"I apologize for the delay, I am ready to continue!"

Chrona smirked as he raised his hand again to signal the beginning of the second round.

'He has a better look in his eye this time'

"Begin!" Bringing his hand down Chrona signaled the start of the round.

HA!

Icarus shot out at Luna again, this time even faster than the last, and though she was prepared the increase speed of his surprised her.

'He can go faster?'

The only thing that surprised her was the sudden increase in speed of his strikes. As he began to throw them with rapid precision, she instinctively adjusted her stance, her muscles tensing in preparation. With practiced ease, she deftly parried each incoming blow, her focus unwavering as she countered his aggression with graceful movements.

She had expected him to be more hesitant after his tactic had been exposed and he had received a powerful counterattack that left its mark. However, to her surprise, he appeared undeterred, his resolve seemingly strengthened. Instead of retreating, he pressed forward with even greater ferocity, launching a series of bold strikes that reflected a newfound determination.

'This much determination is the minimum requirement to be called my father's student'

Icarus's strikes had become more assertive and confident, though he remained careful not to be reckless. He was strategically searching for an opening to deliver a powerful blow that could bring the match back to even. Luna, keenly aware of Icarus's intentions, refused to let him dictate the flow of the match. Seeing the change in strategy, she quickly transitioned from a defensive stance to an aggressive offensive, ready to match blows with him and seize control of the exchange.

As Luna deftly parried a jab from Icarus's left, she launched a powerful right palm strike, followed by a precise kick from her left foot that landed squarely on his chest, sending him staggering back a few steps. Seizing the moment, she closed the distance with swift determination, unleashing a flurry of strikes—her hands and feet moving like a whirlwind. The relentless barrage caught Icarus off guard, forcing him to retreat and defend against her ferocious onslaught.

Noticing that he had become entirely focused on fending off Luna's attacks, Icarus unleashed a punch aimed at the top of Luna's head, hoping to draw her guard upward. This move opened a window for Luna, allowing her to deliver a powerful strike to the same vulnerable spot she had previously targeted, securing a decisive point in the match.

'Lunar Halo Palm!'

The Nova infused palm strike aimed at Icarus's midsection careened through the air, but that was all.

"Huh?" Luna expressed audible confusion at missing her strike.

Luna had expertly timed her counter, her movements precise and deliberate. Icarus, frozen in a non-striking stance, should have been immobilized, unable to move, let alone vanish. Yet, to her utter astonishment, he disappeared before her very eyes, as if he had never been there.

Before she could collect her thoughts she felt an energy behind her. As she turned her face she was greeted with red light covering her vision.

'Raging Waves!'

BOOM!

the kick landed square on her face knocked off her feet and sent her flying back a few feet onto the dirt of the training ground in the back of the Chereka family home.

"1 point" he scoffed.

Luna sitting up had a murderous look in her eyes.

"I'm going to fucking kill you you damn Insect!"