Staff Expert

Yamato is not one to fear any opponent but with his life on the line he was greatly discouraged about this fight. Still he fell into a stance and readied a battle plan in his head. His opponent was no doubt powerful but he was going to give it his all!

However in contrast to Yamato's seriousness, his opponent looked carefree. "Before I kill you you have the right to know why you died," Luka suddenly said. "I guess you are curious who I am as I can't be any normal mercenary, right?"

Yamato gave it some thought. In truth he didn't know anything about mercenaries to know if Luka looked like a normal one. All he knows is that the man is currently giving off the aura of a street fighter but since it bought him time he nodded and went with it.

"Your aura is very profound," Yamato said.

"You are quite preceptive kid, I almost feel bad about killing you," Luka smirked in satisfaction. "What do you think is different about my aura compared to Saldo, the guy you fought earlier?"

In this world there are different kinds of Auras. An aura is originally a strong intent to do something that is so intense it could affect the real world. Mercenaries usually give off a bloody aura filled with killing intent, while soldiers give off similar but sharper auras because they are more focused and disciplined than mercenaries. Street fighters have a sort of valiant or pure fighting intent.

Street fighters are people that love fighting too much but are not stained by the killing of people. Surprisingly Yamato could feel this kind of aura from a mercenary who makes money on conflicts. Conflicts which usually end in killings and slaughter. Though admittedly this guy's aura wasn't as pure as normal street fighters, in fact it might be called murky with killing intent but it is still a street fighter's aura.

So hearing Luka's question Yamato nodded grimly. "You have the aura of a street fighter,"

Luke smiled and nodded. "I was originally a street fighter, I also grew up in this Band E streets,"

Yamato was shocked. "You?"

"Hmm, back in the day I was quite famous. I fought a lot of battles and spread my name. I don't know if you have heard of the staff expert?"

"You.... you are the staff expert?!" Yamato was greatly frightened. He thought the man is lying but looking at that golden cuirass and the long black staff... It indeed overlap with the image of the staff expert as described by word of mouth in the street.

Yamato felt his world view turning upside down. Bullshit, I was attacked by mercenaries but one of them is the legendary staff expert? In the streets of Band E who doesn't know the story of the staff expert? He was one of the strongest street Fighter about 15 years ago but suddenly disappeared one day.

Many thought he's dead, who knew he'd actually became a mercenary. Maybe some street fighters knew but didn't say it as it was too embarrassing for a respected street fighter to end up like that. Who knew I'll meet him here?

Seeing Yamato's pale face Luka laughed. "Hehe hehe that was me, I didn't know I still had some reputation. But on second thought I beat up a lot of people back then so my reputation might have some lasting power... Geez if not because of that stupid cosmic arena. Alas I was too naive,"

The man sighed and continued. "Back then I fought old demon Risla and got defeated but it was still alright, I thought I am still one of the strongest in the world since I came from Kreal city who has the best street Fighters in the country and even the whole world,"

His eyes went distant. "15 years ago when they called for the cosmic arena selection tournament, I hurried and join thinking that as a top Kreal city street fighter I'll definitely defeat many and make the cut among those that will defend the Human Realm,"

"You were defeated?" Yamato asked in surprise. It could be said that the Staff Expert must be very powerful to be feared in a place like Kreal city and to be talked about for a decade and half! These days where people has short attention spans even talking about you for a year is something. They said back in the day besides Old man Risla everybody has to be polite to the staff expert in Kreal city. How could such a person be defeated?

"Hmph as I said I was naive, I thought I was unrivalled in the world and could beat those soft martial artists. However reality was different, when the selection tournament started I was beaten up badly and sent out in the group stage after winning only one fight. And that's against another street fighter from Kreal city."

"What?!"

"Surprised right? Those traditional martial artists are very powerful! At least dealing with street fighters is nothing to them, the only street fighter to make it to the cosmic arena was Risla and another person from the Jade country."

"How's that possible? Those martial artist are so powerful?"

Luka glared at him. "Didn't I say that? Back then I was beaten up so badly by a little girl that was not even in her twenties yet. After that I no longer saw the point to continue fighting.... All my life I had fought desperately in the street to climb to the top only to find out I'm just a frog in the well.

"As a frog I can never rise up to those powerful people. I realized then that I can never be the strongest,"

"You gave up," Yamato sighed.

"Shut up damn it!" Luka sneered. "What do you know? It is not a matter of giving up I just know my limit. Even before that selection tournament I already noticed I reached a wall in my strength. At that time I learned about chi but I was already too old to start cultivating, do you know the difference between your random street fighter and those martial artists that learn in schools?"

"I am not sure..."

"Don't be stupid, didn't I already spell it?"

"So those martial artists are stronger because of chi?" Yamato thought for a moment then asked.

"Yes, it was later on in life that I knew why I keep loosing to Risla, he also use chi." Luka shrugged. "Thinking of it that old man must have became even more powerful by now. Anyway, I gave up on fighting and went and became a mercenary. My thinking was since I can't be the strongest I might as well use my skills to earn some money,"

Street Fighters are prideful people, even though they are strong they disdain to use their strength to make money. Fighting for money is okay, but something like joining the military, being a bodyguard or hired thug is a no go. So Luka must have lost his street fighter's pride to go and become a mercenary or maybe he just saw no value in that pride.

Yamato felt tragic. "So that's how it's..." He muttered. Unexpectedly he had heard this kind of story today. If the man wasn't trying to kill him he'll be more sympathetic with him.

Luka suddenly pointed his spear at Yamato. "So now you know my story, time for you to die. This way you won't regret being killed by a nameless person, moreover you'll die in a fair duel. How about it, excited?"

Yamato shrugged. "What's there to be excited about? It's just beating an old man,"

"Hmph how arrogant, fine then I'll send you off,"

"Then senior Staff Expert, please advice," originally Yamato has slacking up while listening to the man's story but he quickly fell in a stance again. His legs were spread shoulder length apart with one of his hands held in front of his face and the other tucked close to his chin.

Luka just stood straight. His staff resting on one shoulder, he lifted a hand and beckoned at Yamato.

Yamato didn't quickly attack, instead he summoned the undying mind flame in his mind. Gravity, air resistance, and weight were thrown inside the fire.

Yamato immediately felt lighter. Done with the preparations, he kicked off the ground like he was shot from a spring. Immediately, he had closed the distance and appeared in front of Luka and threw a punch.

Luka lifted his spear and blocked. The spear is not an Astral weapon so Yamato naively expected it to break under the force of his punch, after all it's common sense that there's no weapon comparable to Astral weapons in the Cosmos. But to his shock, when his punch collided with the spear he felt like he punch an iron plate.

There was a "dang" like sound and the spear didn't budge. It was not that Yamato's hand was hurt by the collision but the spear was just unmovable and successful reflected his blow.

Yamato quickly drew away from Luka and asked in horror. "What's this spear? How can it block my Astral weapon?"

Luka sneered. "Hmph what do you know kid? You think having an Astral weapon makes you invincible? Since you don't want to attack, let me help you,"

Before Yamato could react Luka lifted his spear then kicked off the ground appearing in front of him in an instance and swung down his spear. Yamato lifted his hand. With a dull sound of metal meeting metal his gauntlet blocked the spear but he was pushed back five steps.

"You think you are good huh?"

Luka twirled his spear then swung down again. This time Yamato did not meet it head on, he jumped to the side to avoid, letting the spear crash on the ground, forming a crater. Such strength! Cold sweat covered him after witnessing such destruction comparable to an Astral weapon from the unknown weapon.

"Haha haha, that's right run, but it won't help you!" Luka did not seem bothered that Yamato dodged his attack he just laughed and twirled his sword attacking quickly with a side sweep.

Yamato bent his body backwards, avoiding the sword by a razor thin margin. He watched the spear brush past close to his nose as he lay in the air. Then he rose up and used his movement skill to step to the man's side and threw a punch.

Luka tracked his movement, sneered and lifted his spear to intercept. But it was a trick, Yamato suddenly changed his punch midway and instead grabbed at the spear with his gauntleted hand. Luka's eyes went wide and he quickly tried to wrestle back control of his spear but Yamato's grip - supported by Hus gauntlet - was like an iron wrench, holding it in one place, no matter how hard he pulled.

At that moment Yamato punched out with his other hand.

Luka finally felt a threat to his life. He had no choice but to let go of his spear and draw back. The punch hit empty air. But that's what Yamato wanted, after seizing the man's weapon he grabbed the spear with both hands and thrust forward.

Luka was forced to twist his body to the side to avoid the spear. Yamato twirled the spear expertly and continued attacking, shocking the man greatly. How would the man know that Katrina demands that Yamato learn how to use every weapon, especially the spear which is the expertise of her family in Alrer?