Ch 52 : Shadow Style

"Why don't you go first, Auron? You didn't even lift anything earlier," teased Eliot, a grin spreading across his face. They all knew Auron had a body that could easily overpower most, especially after he'd beaten a goblin champion in direct combat.

"Hm, alright, I'll go first," Auron agreed, stretching slightly before turning to Walter with a playful smirk. "Walter, watch closely. You might get some inspiration for your combat art."

Walter rolled his eyes but smiled. "Yeah, yeah, show us something good."

Auron strode confidently toward Sir Baldwin and Sir Percival, ready to begin his test. "I'm ready, sirs."

"Alright, Auron, do your best. Show us what you've got," Sir Baldwin said, his eyes sharp with anticipation.

In this match, Auron decided to use the shadow style of the Void Nexus Combat Art, blending the darkness celestial aura into his moves. This style was swift, sly, and vicious, focusing on concealed attacks aimed at vital points. Over the past few months, Auron had refined the technique, and today he would test it fully. The darkness aura coated his limbs, not only concealing his techniques but also enhancing his physical strength.

Thanks to his deep understanding of the Veiled Obsidian Heavenly Rune, Auron could materialize shadows slightly, forming gauntlets, vambraces, greaves, and boots around his arms and legs. These shadow constructs heightened the lethality of his strikes, making his movements more unpredictable. Ripple Palm, however, wasn't as effective when combined with the darkness aura, so he kept it as a support move.

The ring was set, and Auron and Sir Percival stood five meters apart, each in their combat stances, eyes locked. Both were ready, waiting for the signal.

"Fight!" Sir Baldwin's voice cut through the air, and Auron wasted no time. He charged forward, launching a Void Shatter straight at Sir Percival's chest.

Sir Percival, expecting the attack, blocked it, but his eyes widened in surprise. The impact was far heavier than he'd anticipated, as if Auron's fist was covered in steel.

Without pausing, Auron followed up with a swift Shadow Step aimed at Sir Percival's knee. The move was so quick and subtle that Percival didn't notice until it connected, sending a numbing shock up his leg.

"This kid… he's good," Sir Percival thought as he decided to get serious. He retaliated with a heavy punch, but Auron dodged, barely tilting to the side with Shadow Glide, narrowly avoiding the strike.

"That was close," Auron thought, realizing he had to increase the pressure.

Switching gears, Auron began weaving Void Shatter and Shadow Step with Shadow Glide, his movements fluid and unpredictable. He combined these with Ripple Palm to disrupt Sir Percival's mana flow, subtly redirecting his attacks. The flurry of strikes kept Sir Percival on the defensive, and the fight escalated quickly.

As they exchanged blows, Auron felt his shadow style solidifying, becoming sharper, more refined. The combat art was evolving right there in the fight, inching closer to perfection with every move.

Sir Percival, though a seasoned knight, found himself struggling to keep up. He realized that Auron's hand-to-hand combat prowess was far superior. If not for his higher tier, he might've been overwhelmed already.

Suddenly, Sir Baldwin stepped between them, halting the fight. "That's enough. I've seen what I needed to see," he said, glancing at Auron with a satisfied smile. "You'll get an excellent grade, Auron."

Auron bowed slightly, catching his breath. "Thank you, Sir Percival, for the fight."

Sir Percival returned the bow. "The pleasure was mine. You're truly talented."

Back under the tree, Auron rejoined his friends.

"That was intense, Auron! You didn't even fight like that during our mission," Alice said, her eyes wide with admiration.

"Yeah, man, that was incredible. I could barely keep track of your movements," added Eliot.

Thyra nodded enthusiastically, her usual shyness overtaken by awe.

Walter sighed dramatically. "When am I ever going to fight like that?"

Alice patted him on the shoulder. "Don't compare yourself to him. Auron is a freak."

Auron laughed. "Just keep practicing. Watch more matches or try learning new combat arts. You'll find your style."

"I'll train with the knights during the holidays," Walter said, his determination rekindled.

"Time to go," Walter said, grabbing his hammer and shield as he stepped into the fighting circle.

Though his fight wasn't as fast-paced as Auron's, Walter impressed everyone with his raw strength. He wielded his hammer with precision, smashing at Sir Percival with tremendous force while using his shield to defend. However, in the end, his stamina gave out before he could finish the match.

"You're strong, Walter," Sir Percival said, impressed. "You should consider joining a knight school."

Sir Baldwin cut in, his tone slightly annoyed. "Don't try poaching my students, Percival."

Walter smiled, politely declining. "I think I'll stay here for now. Maybe I'll join the army later. After all, I've got great friends here."

After thanking the instructors, Walter returned to his friends, exhausted but satisfied.

"That was awesome, Walter. Your hammer swings were insane, and your defense was solid," Eliot praised.

"Yeah, you just need to work on managing your stamina. You've got the skills; now you just need to last longer in a fight," Auron added, patting him on the back.

Walter nodded. "I'll focus on that. Maybe one day I'll be able to keep up with you, Auron."

The group shared a laugh and went to their rooms to pack up their bags. They will not be seeing each other for two months except for Auron, Thyra and Alice as they came from the same town.

They headed to the cafeteria for their final lunch together before parting ways for the holiday.

"So, what are you guys planning to do during the break?" asked Alice, finishing the last bite of her meal.

"I'll stick with my plan," Walter said confidently. "I'll join the town guardsmen. Sparring with them will be good practice."

Eliot raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure they'll let a kid be a guard?" he teased.

Walter shrugged. "If I show them what I can do, I think they'll reconsider."

"I guess that's true," Eliot said with a grin. "I'll be helping out with the family business as usual. Nothing too exciting."

Auron noticed a flicker of unease in Eliot's expression but decided not to press him. "That sounds like a great way to build connections," he said instead, offering a supportive nod.

Eliot smiled slightly but didn't respond further, leaving his worries unspoken.

"Thyra, Alice," Auron turned to the others. "What do you think about going hunting over the break? Winter's the perfect time—there'll be dangerous beasts around, and we can train."

Thyra frowned. "That sounds incredibly risky, Auron."

Alice nodded in agreement. "The cold alone makes it hard, and the beasts will be desperate and aggressive."

"We'll join Uncle Ray's hunting team," Auron suggested. "He's an experienced hunter, so it's not like we'd be going out there alone."

"Hmm, I'll have to ask my parents first," Alice said cautiously.

"Same here," Thyra added. "I'm not sure they'll go for it."

Auron smiled. "Fair enough. I'll wait for you two to decide."

With their plates cleared, they headed back to their rooms, each of them preparing for the upcoming break in their own way. Just as Auron was about to reach his room, he suddenly stopped, realizing he had forgotten something important.

"I should visit Teacher Garrick first," Auron muttered to himself. "Hopefully, the bow is ready. If not, I'll need more time to train with it." He sighed, feeling a little helpless as he made his way to the Forge of Embers to collect his bow.