Chapter 11: Spar
Chapter 11: Spar
His Sense had improved significantly, likely due to his focused meditation sessions trying to sense and connect with his own aura.
It had even jumped two subranks.
As the door slid open, Kai stepped to the side, and two figures entered the room.
Ren's eyes immediately went to the woman leading the group.
It was Selena—tall and commanding, with her striking light blue hair that shimmered like the frost on a winter morning.
The rapier at her side was almost a part of her, its hilt sleek and elegant.
Her expression was cool and controlled, as always, but there was a glimmer of amusement in her gaze as she glanced over Ren, as if she were measuring his progress.
Behind her, the second person caught Ren's attention.
It was a boy, just a bit taller than Ren himself, standing with a quiet but confident air about him.
He looked like he was around the same age—fourteen—but already there was something sharp about him, something that spoke of a lifetime spent honing his skills.
His hair was a striking shade of blond, cut short and neat, giving him a more refined, purposeful look.
There was no wildness or unruliness to it, just practicality.
His sharp blue eyes scanned the room, assessing everything with a quiet intensity. He wore a black leather outfit, a sleek jacket that hugged his form with a practicality that spoke of someone who valued both protection and maneuverability.
His gear was lightweight but well-constructed, clearly built for function over fashion.
A bow was slung at his side, its craftsmanship simple but sturdy.
A quiver of arrows rested on his back, the fletching of the arrows slightly peeking out.
It was clear that the boy, unlike most nobles Ren had met, wasn't just wearing the equipment for show—he was ready for action at a moment's notice.
His stance alone exuded the confidence of someone who was comfortable in his own abilities, someone who had mastered his craft.
Ren couldn't help but note that the boy's presence seemed familiar, but he didn't dwell on it.
He knew that a person's appearance alone didn't always reveal their true power, but this boy's calm composure suggested that he wasn't to be underestimated.
Kai gave a small nod, gesturing to the two new arrivals. "This is Oliver, and that is Selena, your senior." he introduced.
As he heard the name Oliver, Ren instantly knew who Oliver was.
There was basically no one in the human domain at his age who didn't know this kid.
Oliver gave Ren a polite but almost detached nod, his gaze assessing Ren without seeming too intrusive.
"Nice to meet you," he said simply, as he raised his hand for a handshake.
Selena, on the other hand, addressed Ren directly with a slight nod.
"Who would have thought Gaia would give you an Aura user." She said, as she addressed Kai.
"Well, what can I say? The world is full of surprises. Anyways, now that everyone is introduced, how about we begin?" Kai mentioned as Oliver and Ren were left in the room.
Selena and Kai moved out of the room.
"This will be a simple sparring match, but don't worry, shields have been cast upon you so any lethal attacks will be blocked. This is a friendly match but that doesn't mean you shouldn't give it your all." Selena explained through the intercom.
The 2 opponents stared down at each other, they were currently 15 m away from each other.
"Begin." Kai's voice rang through.
In the instant the word was spoken, Oliver moved.
His hand shot to the quiver at his side, knocking an arrow with a fluid motion that barely registered to Ren's eyes.
Before Ren could even process the movement, the arrow was already speeding toward him.
Ren instinctively raised his greatsword, swinging it in a broad arc to intercept the projectile.
The tip of his blade collided with the arrow in mid-air, the force of the impact sending a burst of energy through his arms as it deflected off harmlessly to the side.
His heart raced.
The speed at which Oliver had acted was breathtaking.
Ren had barely managed to react, but the shield around him absorbed the force of the arrow, preventing any harm.
Oliver didn't pause.
Without missing a beat, he drew another arrow, his expression calm as he prepared for the next shot.
Ren's breath quickened as he assessed his opponent.
Ren's mind raced as he calculated his next move.
He knew that he couldn't rely on trying to fight from range with his greatsword—it simply wasn't the right tool for the job.
He needed to close the gap.
With a burst of speed, Ren charged forward, closing the distance between himself and Oliver.
His sword swung in a wide arc to the side as he moved, hoping to throw off Oliver's aim.
But even as Ren closed in, Oliver's movements were smooth and precise.
He took quick, practiced steps backward, keeping the distance just out of Ren's reach. With each retreat, Oliver knocked another arrow, his eyes locked onto Ren's position with unnerving focus.
Arrow after arrow whizzed through the air, but Ren's body was already moving with a rhythm of its own.
He dodged and swayed, feeling the wind of each arrow as it passed by, the faintest brush of danger on his skin.
His greatsword became an extension of his resolve as he slashed at the arrows mid-flight, his blade cutting through the air with a precise swipe.
His movements were beginning to settle into a rhythm, dodging the arrows and swiping them out of the air, but Ren knew he couldn't afford to stay in this exchange for too long.
He needed to get in close, where Oliver's bow would be useless.
Just as he closed in on Oliver, Ren shifted his weight and tried to thrust his greatsword forward, aiming directly for Oliver's chest.
It wasn't the most elegant move—his stance was awkward, and the force of the thrust was slightly off balance.
But it was an opening, and he hoped it would catch Oliver off guard.
Oliver, however, was ready.
His eyes narrowed as Ren lunged, and with a swift sidestep, he avoided the thrust entirely.
At the same time, Oliver drew another arrow, his hand moving with incredible speed.
In one fluid motion, he aimed the bow directly at Ren's face, his eyes locking onto the target with perfect precision.
For a moment, Ren's breath caught in his chest.
The arrow was too close—he couldn't dodge in time. It was going to hit.
But then, something inside Ren clicked. His senses flared to life, as if a switch had been flipped.
His body, previously awkward and unsure, moved with fluid confidence.
Without thinking, Ren shifted his weight, breaking free from the ill-positioned thrust. His hand moved instinctively, lifting the greatsword to block the arrow just inches from his face.
The force of the impact rattled his arms, but he held firm, his sword deflecting the arrow to the side.
At that moment, Ren's footwork seemed to change entirely. He felt the ground beneath him shift, his body reacting like it had done this a thousand times before.
He spun on his heel, his sword coming down in a vertical chop, faster than he had ever moved before.
His footwork was impeccable—each step flowed with purpose, his body aligned perfectly with his sword's motion.
The greatsword moved as though it were a part of him, guided by instincts he hadn't known he had.
Oliver's eyes widened as he quickly shifted to block, but the force of Ren's attack was overwhelming.
The slash came down with such speed and power that Oliver had to step back, raising his bow to deflect the blow with the flat of the metal.
The sheer impact of the strike sent a shudder through both of them, and for the first time, Oliver seemed to hesitate—just for a moment.
Ren's heart raced.
Ren's mind raced as the pressure around his throat intensified, the world beginning to narrow into a hazy tunnel.
The tightness of the chokehold made it harder to breathe, and for the first time in the sparring match, Ren felt the oppressive weight of impending defeat.
He had been caught off guard, outmaneuvered, and now, it seemed as though he was helpless.
The sensation of losing gnawed at him, and his thoughts briefly spiraled into doubt.
Was this how it was going to end? Not with a glorious strike, but by being outclassed?
For a brief moment, Ren truly felt like he was going to lose.
The raw instinct to fight, to push forward, seemed to ebb away as the pressure on his neck suffocated him.
But just as the darkness in his vision began to grow, something primal surge deep within him.
It wasn't just his body rebelling against the hold—it was something deeper.
Something that tore at the edges of his consciousness.
Disgust.
Disgust at the thought of being defeated so easily.
The thought of losing when he had worked so hard, when he had trained for this very moment, sparked something vicious and raw inside him.
His senses flared.
His pulse quickened.
..
Authors Note:
Hope you guys will enjoy this novel.
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