Roles are reversed

The Blood Legacy Competition.

The only reason why I started all these trainings.

And after a long wait of four years, it's finally here.

"So... what exactly did you hear?" I enquired.

"The Blood Legacy Competition this time as well, will be held in Lumina Town since it's the place where 'Peace Treaty' was signed between the elves and the humans. That being said, there will be all sorts of people coming to participate. Be it elves, dwarfs or humans. Sometimes even a few demi-gods of small nobles also come to participate."

"The demi-gods?? Why though?"

I was slightly surprised by the fact that demigods also come here.

My first phase of thoughts was that, if I play my cards right, they can also help me return home even if I fail to win.

'Well, I guess I shouldn't think about losing now.'

"For various reasons, to be honest" Rowan replied. "Some come to learn the combat, some to get experience, some to explore and some to just escape in the human lands after committing some crime there. But mostly, those who come are the products of the nobles, those who have enough money to send people here, but still not enough to get their hands on the Blood Potion. They send their trained soldiers below 20 years old to participate so that they can get their hands on the Blood Potion for their children."

'Monopolizing the Blood Potion by using other trained warriors. Not only the demi-gods but I guess other races will also try this.'

"So when is the competition? "

"It's five months from now. You should leave this week. You'll need a month to reach there without using the portal. Well, if you use the portal, you'll need proper verification. So I prefer the former. "

This week...

For some reason, I only felt complicated hearing the news. Four years was quite a long time, and during this time, I really grew attached to him.

Looking dazed for a few seconds, Rowan spoke up again.

"Now Owen, show me what you've learned. I'll give you my last task today."

"Yes, teacher."

I knew staying was never an option. Who knows how my family is doing right now?

'I can say my goodbyes properly at the end of the week. I still have many things to learn from him.'

"Do you remember the goblin camp you destroyed on your first task?"

"Yes."

'There's no way I can forget that incident.'

"Well, some of the Minotaurs took hold of that camp. Facing a large number of Minotaurs still might be a little dangerous for you but that place is different. It's because only two or three of them are present at the Goblin Camp, so I assume you can handle that much''

"It won't be a problem" I replied.

To be honest, I really wanted to get back at those monsters before leaving. I doubt I'll meet the Minotaurs I fought that day, as there was a high chance that they're already dead.

Fights between two or more different species wasn't uncommon in this forest.

But still, a Minotuar is a Minotuar.

"Well then, prepare yourself now. You'll leave in two hours."

****

I soon arrived at the Goblin's Camp, that now, some of the Minotaurs used as their base. I already recovered most of my mana after fighting the gnolls as I was quite proficient in manipulation.

'Four near the main camp and one just ahead me. Total five. It's a little troublesome but still not something I can't handle.'

I decided to follow the same plan like I did with the goblins with 'Memories of Silence' and then going all out with my training sword.

But here, I can only kill one of them using 'Memories of Silence' because once that large body of the Minotaur falls dead, they'll be alerted.

And that's the only downside of this archery. It'll still work better than normal archery but it'll not be enough to kill them in one go once they raise their guards.

My choice of weapons were still the same but now I didn't use the handmade arrows. And this time I also brought a sharp knife with me.

My first fight in the Goblin Camp made me realise how deadly these knives can be.

So I thought about making some very sharp but short knives, as a long knife is not always possible to carry. I also made a secret leather scabbard for my knife inside my shirt and I tried to carry one knife with me in it as frequently as I could.

I made a perfect plan to kill all four Minotaurs smoothly but as there's one Minotaur more than Rowan's expectations, I have to manage a little.

'Wait, did he misinformed me on purpose? More than that, I think he said there might be three of them. That liar... And here I was sad about leaving him.'

Slowly closing my eyes and listening to the sounds around me, I shot my arrow.

Twang.

The ethereal arrow made with mana flew and pierced the head of one of the Minotaurs standing a little further.

'This thing is just too powerful when executed secretly.'

Thud!

[You have killed a 'Minotaur' Lvl. 24]

The others soon raised their guard but still couldn't sense me. The one near me sensed something wrong and came towards my direction slowly.

But as soon as it reached near me, I launched myself at him and pouring half of my mana into the sword, I cut down its legs.

Roaaaaaaaa!!

It fell down and let out a loud cry but before it could realise what was going on, my sword had already sliced through its neck and the large body fell to the ground.

[You have killed a 'Minotaur' Lvl. 23]

I looked back and saw the others rushing towards me from a distance. I too ran towards them as fast as I could and just before I was about to collide with one of them, I stopped and jumped backwards.

A Minotaur slammed its club to the ground at the place I was standing just a second before.

'This is it.'

My only disadvantage was that my height was very short compared to the large body of the Minotaur. As it hides its vital parts behind that large club, it's quite difficult to fight them head on.

I jumped on the club and stepping and running across its large hand I jumped again and thrust my mana enveloped sword deep into its head.

[You have slain a 'Minotaur' lvl. 24]

The other two Minotaurs tried to tackled me before the lifeless body could fall on the ground.

I pulled and navigated the dead Minotaur slightly to fall towards the side in which the other two were approaching, while still holding on its head. Then I jumped higher to land on the other's body.

I failed to withdraw my sword in time but successfully landed on the other Minotaur's back and before it could shake me off, I balanced myself holding onto its horns and poured all my remaining mana into the short knife I was carrying and sliced its neck.

Thud!!!

[You have killed a 'Minotaur' Lvl. 23]

Both of us fell to the ground almost at the same time and I rolled my body as soon as I reached the ground to avoid the remaining Minotaur's attack.

This time again, the large club of Minotaur missed me by a slight second.

{Mana Borrow}

{Fireball}

Warm mana began entering my body rapidly and I distanced myself by casting a fireball hitting right at its face.

The Minotaur swung its club vigorously as it charged at me and I dodged and backed off every time.

Well, it should be an easy outcome here but the only problem was that I didn't have any weapons with me now.

'That damn training sword is too dull to withdraw quickly.'

In a fight, even a single second can change the outcome between life and death. I would be dead if I wasted a second there to withdraw my sword pierced deep into the minotaur's head.

I dodged again and kicked the minotaur's leg. I could see his face grimacing in pain for a second. My strength stat has increased by leaps and bounds these past few years.

Before he could even react, I raised my other foot and kicked it again at its stomach. Then punching right below his jaw, I poured more mana to my right leg and kicked him in the wrist holding the club with all my strength.

He still didn't let go of his club and punched me in my stomach followed by another right in my face.

During this time, I tried to snatch away the club and finally succeeded in doing so from its half-broken wrist.

I backed off a step and rotating my whole body, I swung the club as hard as I could letting inertia do the rest.

Crash!!

The club crashed against the unarmed Minotaur. More precisely, it hit its legs.

I didn't look back at it but I knew its legs have suffered a major impact. I threw the club as far as I could. Then instead of facing it again, I ran towards my sword.

After recovering it in a couple of seconds, I made my way back towards the monster.

It was limping its way towards his club, his left leg looked damaged which reminded me the first time I encountered a Minotaur.

'Heh... Looks like the roles have been reversed'

I reached the minotaur before it could retrieve its club then penetrated the sword through its chest.

[You have killed a 'Minotaur' Lvl. 25]

[Congratulations, you have levelled up]

[All stats increased by 3]

[Your luck has increased by 2]

[Your understanding of 'Beginner's Swordsmanship' has reached 100%]

['Beginner's Swordsmanship' has been upgraded to 'Intermediate Swordsmanship']

'Well, that's a good bonus, I guess'

A smile appeared on my face as I watched the sun sinking down the horizon.

With the bloodied sword in one hand, I sat down on the ground to finally catch my breath.