The Fight of his Life

Adaceus readied himself from what was to come, staring with unease and shaky breath, with trembling at his feet at the unstoppable foe that was just across from him.

Igrid stood there with her sword ready and an energy gathering to shroud her entire body like the start of a storm.

This was seriously troubling. 

With no other choice he brandished his sword, readying himself the best he can to face into battle.

I'm gonna die..

"I hope your ready," Ingridt said, sending a quick swipe his way that shot out a white energy toward him. Adaceus blocked the incoming projectile with his blade, breaking it away into two, turning to dust as they flew away.

Ingridt then dashed with incredible speed, able to break the barrier of sound causing a loud bang to erupt, and unexpectedly clashed with Adaceus sword, appearing right in front of him. The impact caused a shock of pain coursing through Adaceus's arms, and he was pushed back just slightly. It was a terrible pain, and every muscle he had begged for him to let go of his blade, every nerve he had spiked, and he could feel his bone cracking, but he didn't concede, only bracing himself.

Strong! She's strong! He thought, his hold barely stable.

Ingridt pushed her sword down, sparks flying from the friction, and from the immense strength being brought down he knelt to the ground. In a flash she disappeared in front of him, leaving Adaceus in confusion.

He stood up, staggered from the exchange and took the opportunity to take a deep breath, but the moment of relief was swiftly ended as a sword was let down on his head. He turned and brought his sword and blocked the attack, and he was sent back, fumbling away.

Adaceus glared at her, her sword low to the ground and her body calm of anything he felt-pain and fear.

"Impressive," she said, "Very impressive indeed. You are strong to be able to block my attacks."

Heavily panting, Adaceus said, "You were holding back, and I barely managed otherwise." 

That raised an eyebrow from her, "You could tell?" Adaceus gave her a nod. From what he could sense from her and the power she could command and the displays of abilities show earlier, the strikes that she showed were not up to the caliber he expected it to be, which meant one thing-she was holding back.

"Yes, you are right, I've restricted the strength I used to a minimal degree so I could give you a fighting chance, but even then it is still impressive."

She raised her sword, and pointed to him, "Lets see if you can still keep up."

In a flash she closed the distance and performed and upward swing. Adaceus leapt back, but Ingridt followed with a stab. Adaceus hit it away, and she vanished into thin air, reappearing behind him about with a side slash.

Adaceus blocked the strike, and Ingridt followed with a barrage of attacks that was sent his way. He was being pushed back, trying the best he could to block the onslaught of attacks coming his way. After a few more attacks, Adaceus decided to attack himself, finding an opening just between her attacks top deliver a stab, which Ingridt effortlessly dodged to the side.

A kick was then delivered to his stomach, and immediately the wind was kicked out of him, and he almost fell unconscious. The force was strong enough to send him crashing into a wall, and when he made contact debris fell, and cracks began to form on the wall. Adaceus fell to the ground on his butt, and clutched at his stomach in pain.

How was this taking it easy...

In his sight he could see Ingridt preparing an attack, and lunged toward him. 

Dammit, this is tough, how the hell am I supposed to fight back.

He thought and thought, trying to find in the shambles of his mind a solution into this, until an idea came to him, and he had to bet, even beg for this to work. He straightened his arm, and opened his palm.

Lets try this out...

A sigil appeared on his hand, and a pillar of fire erupted forth in front of Ingridt that served enough as a deterrent that she stopped her pursuit, dead on her track. Ingrdit's eyes widened in shock at the roaring flames sent at her, and he stopped the approaching flames with a white barrier, and watched as the flames burst out every direction.

It was hot, and the heat emitted made Hainan and Rinita cover their faces, and their faces also contained surprised expressions. 

It eventually subsided, dissipating little by little by little after a while. Ingridt let the barrier down, and immediately a sword barreled to her. Her eyes widened, and a genuine look of surprise appeared on her face as he saw Adaceus, launched in the air with his sword in pointed in front of him. He used that spell as a distraction, as cover for this leap of faith of an attack. It was dead set to hit her in the head, but if she weren't as strong as she was it would have hit, but it didn't, and she just swiftly moved to the side.

Adaceus was about to fall, but landed on the outstretched arm that Ingridt had raised for him. Ingridt let him down gently, and Adaceus landed on all fours, out of breath and exhausted from the fight that he decided to lay on his back, panting.

"You really are quite surprising, Adaceus, to think someone as adept of the blade, would be able to use magic as well."

"I saw it fit to be used, considering the circumstances I faced."

Her eyes then glazed over his fallen over body, almost analyzing him wit her eyes filled with a sort of intrigue. 

Hainan and Rinita ran towards them.

"Are you alright?" Hainan said to him. 

He forced himself to sit, before replying, "Yes, I am alright, but after this I really need to lay somewhere."

Hainan chuckled at that.

"Rinita, could you check him for something, the assessment test of the core, to see if my intuition serves me right."

Rinita tilted her head a bit like a puppy confused, but after a few moments and an enunciation of Ingridt's face she finally understood.

"Yes madam."

She walked to where Adaceus was and knelt down just behind him.

"Adaceus, I'm going to do something to you that may be uncomfortable to you, but I will try my best to make it as non-invasive as I can, this will take just a moment."

"A-alright." 

But why though?

Rinita then touched the back of Adaceus with two of her palms, and from within he felt something coursing through his body like a pool of warm water injected into his veins and all of his body. It felt weird, and a little bit ticklish to the pint of displeasure, but he tried his best to stay still. A couple of seconds went by, and the feeling continued to linger, this time it felt like snakes were writhing around him, slithering about slowly.

"Hmm, well, this is... quite something," Rinita suddenly said behind him. She went on for roughly 3 minutes before her hands left his back. 

"What is it, Rinita?" Ingridt asked, which Adaceus was intrigued to know as well what she found in him. 

"Yes, madam, this, is really quite a surprise, unbelievable even."

Rinita expression contained amazement and shock, and Adaceus could swear she was about to open them from the sheer astonishment.

"Adaceus here, happens to possess the Dual Core."

All of their faces fell to astonishment, while Adaceus only sat their confused at the silence that befell on them.

"Is something alright?"