* STRIKE—CLASH—CLASH *
The path my left sword takes is lower than the right—yet both intend to meet at the same point—the center of Code's mass. However, each time the wooden blade inches closer, it's as if the distance needed to be covered suddenly increases. Somehow Code's movements were snakey and windy, tough to pin down while simultaneously being extremely physically overbearing.
While we hadn't been using any applications for our Aura, even having it pulled out from within our bodies made a grave difference when it came to physicality.
Code was without a shadow of a doubt stronger than me.
" You're fast. "
My opponent's words fell on deaf ears—not that I was ignoring him. It was more like my mind filtered out any sound that wasn't solely from our bodies and weapons.
" Juri— "
" Shush for a sec— "
I silenced Haruo immediately, stepping in toward Code and swiping downward with both swords. He jumped back again, that same slippery pattern.
" Predictable. "
My boot dug into the dirt and I pushed back, all my strength shifting as I rushed forward with a sort of reckless abandon. Code's blade thrust forward seemed quite intimidating while running forward as I was. However, I wielded two blades and with my enhanced strength from the Aura, it was easy to offhand parry it. The flat of my left sword slapped against the thrusting end, setting it on a completely different course.
With a pivot in my right heel, I could turn in, allowing my body to twist and tilt, lifting the left leg and extending it at full force toward the chest of Code. Finally, he was within range.
* THUMP *
It connected with a loud thump, the boot crashing into his chest. However, since I was already on a turning course, I was able to spin once more, this time the sword in my right hand swinging around with the tip pointing right at Code's throat.
" You were taking it easy on me, weren't you? "
With my grip as tight as could be on the sword, I felt a little slighted.
" How could you tell? "
" You kept stepping back out of my effective range but that inadvertently left you unable to attack. I'm sure you would be the first to realize trying to strike at me while being at an ineffective range while I had two swords was silly. "
" Juri, you noticed on your own? "
Maybe that was what Haruo was trying to tell me earlier. However, I figured that out on my way before he even started speaking.
" Hmph. You're right—but not in the way you think. "
Lowering my wooden sword, I stepped out of Code's way as he made his way toward the weapon rack closest to him. He dropped the sword onto it and grabbed something much longer. It was a wooden spear, pointed at the end to fully simulate the blade's complete reach. Though, it was a blunt point.
" A spear? "
" Yeah, Code's primary weapon of choice is the spear! "
RJ spoke up from back in the crowd.
Code circled me, waving the spear around in the air and flicking it as he lowered his stance, the spear coming forward. His leading hand came closer to the upper section while his backhand was towards the end. He seemed ready to pounce.
" Ready? "
His voice crawled out like a serpent's flickering tongue.
" Ready! "
* DASH *
Aura poured from Code, much more than before. Was he holding it back?
A thrust came before I could even properly register that he was within range to throw such an attack. Both my swords came up, colliding with the thrust point. In an X-shape, the spear is caught in between the two biting wooden blades.
" HMPH! "
With a hefty grunt, Code stepped down with his right foot, pressing harder into the ground as he dragged the spear's blade downward. He had broken through my guard with sheer strength and force of will.
It wasn't even a clever technique and yet it completely opened me up.
A warping mixture of cerulean and midnight blue hue began to cover the body of Code, his vibes completely shifting. Before each time he made an attack, it was almost effortless to shrug it off thanks to him distancing himself.
But now...I was a sitting duck waiting to get smashed into the ground by someone with full optimal range.
Gritting my teeth, I pulled all the strength I could muster to counteract the forced movement of my arms being flung away from their guarding position. Feeling the muscles contract in my arms as I fought the natural wave of motion that would follow from being opened up by the spear's force, I thought my arms might just come off.
However, I was too slow.
* THRUST—SHOVE *
The tip of the spear jammed into my chest, my sternum being ruptured and knocked back, sending me onto my back. It completely took the wind right out of my body, making me nearly completely go flat on my back.
" You can't lose. "
Haruo spoke in my ear and as he did, I wrapped my Aura around my body into a tight compact form. I then shifted it toward my back and used it to expel large amounts of force from the Aura's sudden explosive release.
It allowed me to have just enough momentum to send me right back up to my feet. My eyes were heavy from the strike and my legs slightly shook, however, I was up.
" I've got it now... "
" You got up from that? I hit you clean. Let's just end it here. "
" If I give up and lay down flat on my back...how will I ever become stronger than you? "
Power began to gather in my legs as I lowered my stance as well. If Code was a spearman that fought with range and extended dominion of attack, I'd have to be faster. The spear may have had good thrusting capability but if I got in close...he'd have to waste time pulling back the spear to counter me.
" Hmph! "
* DASH *
I went into a full sprint, and both of my swords fanned out to my sides, prepared. Before I could get into the reach that Code had over me, I switched which orientation I held my left wooden sword in, now holding it in a reverse grip. It was more uncomfortable, however, it helped.
Code gritted his teeth and stepped in, his body still being much farther back from his spear's tip. He extended it outward and I went to guard with my left blade. With the reduced distance and less stable grip, he must've caught onto how reckless and unfounded it had been.
He went straight for it.
Just as planned. As he approached the left sword to blow it away with a counterparry, I raised my right, banging it against the side of the spear and slapping it toward the left. The left sword, while in a reverse grip, scrapped along the spear's tip, the sword coming in contact with my arm and held there for extra support.
Had there been a blade, my arm would've been cut. However, these were wooden.
I had now managed to get past his spear's tip and offset the trajectory of his strike. With one resolute step in, I was within range. The left sword was quickly flipped around and the right was brought overhead. From below came the left one.
* HALT *
" So, you're a reckless bastard. "
" It was the only way I could think of getting in close. Two swords versus one spear is not a good match-up. "
My right sword was to his neck. And the left placed right against his heart. I had gotten close enough to checkmate him.
" Though, of course, I lose. If your spear had been real...I would've lost my life right then and there a moment ago. "
" Good to know you recognize that. "
Reckless abandon and rash decisions won't lead to true victories. If I want to become the best I have to...
" But don't beat yourself up about it too much. I've been in this game much longer than you have. Even if it was at the cost of your 'life', you still managed to checkmate me. "
Code lowered his spear and stood up straight, turning away from me.
" In my eyes, you win, Juri Zo. "
Though it wasn't a complete victory as I would have liked, I did it.
" Good job, Juri! Seriously, I was surprised you managed to get up like that! "
" Haha, it was hard! I was way more focused on the fight than anything—that's why I could do it! "
" Hopefully you'll be able to keep that kind of energy up for the Killer Bear extermination! "
RJ's general disposition was extremely welcoming. Despite looking much older than me, he seemed like a peer I could be equal with. It was enough to relax me and get me to let my guard down. I raised one of the swords and placed it against my shoulder, walking toward the weapons rack.
" I'll have to remember that Killer Bears won't be so kind and won't be fighting with blunt wood. "
" Your instincts will guide you. Just focus on resting up! We'll be heading out to the forest in 6 hours now that our final member has been decided upon! "
I nodded before setting the weapons down. Next to the rack had been my sword in its sheath with its back strap attached to it. I equipped it, placing it across my back and settling it.
" Sorry, Haruo. I was a bit rude. "
" It's fine. We're partners but it's not like you'll always need me to tell you what to do. "
" No—it's not like that. I was just so focused on fighting I wanted to try to win on my own. I may have figured out he was going easy on me...But I couldn't do anything but be reckless to get past his range. "
" Sometimes that's just how it goes. Combat isn't black and white—sacrifice is needed if you want to win against someone that much more skilled than you. "
Haruo's words weren't gentle but they were affirming. Though I had been quite reckless, I managed to do something.
" Though, I've got a question... "
" What? "
" When he was using his aura with the sword, it was practically colorless. But when he started using it with the spear, it became a blue color. Why's that? "
" Ah, you've noticed it. That Sebastian guy left something out about applications. Depending on the shape of a weapon and your thoughts about that weapon, your Aura will take on a different color and the efficiency of its flow will change. Colorless Aura is a base and neither efficient nor inefficient way of using it. But colored Aura will always flow smoother and be way less taxing. "
Huh...So...
" You're going to ask what rainbow means right? Well, I don't know. I've never seen it before. "
My Aura even when it was used without a weapon I felt comfortable with was always a rainbow color.
" Don't stress it too much. It probably has something to do with the sheer amount of prodigal talent you have with Aura usage. "
If Haruo, a Celestial that studied Aura, didn't know...then maybe no one did.
I started walking off in the direction of the Guild's main hall. I needed something to eat and then I'd get back to training until it was time to go.
. . .
" Hey, Juri! Come on! "
Sweat fell from my forehead and bare upper body.
" R-right! Coming! "
I quickly wiped myself off and dressed, situating my gear as I followed behind three Adventurers.
There was RJ, the first person I had met upon arriving here at the Guild. He wore rather light armor, primarily leather gear with a few plates of armor across the chest, shoulders, and knees including his gauntlets that had leather padding on the inside. With the depth of quality and design along the gauntlets, you'd imagine they were made for brutal hand-to-hand combat. The metal on the gauntlets overlapped each other with gold and black coloring. It was a bulky design, however, it was extremely effective it seemed. And to top it all off, across his back had been a mighty war hammer. It was silver in color with a hefty head. The handle had grooves within it made specifically for the gauntlet-covered hands that'd be holding it.
It was a masterpiece of a weapon.
Then there was Code, the man I battled. While he wasn't as tall as RJ, probably due to RJ being a giant, he was still rather lumbering. He wore much heavier armor than RJ, being nearly fully plated. However, his head was uncovered and his greaves were made with parts of leather and fur poking out. Around the collar of his chest plate was fur, probably for both comfort and warmth. While originally Code had first fought me with a sword, it became even more apparent his weapon of choice was the spear as along his back was a beautiful spear with an extremely large blade. It was obsidian black with blue markings along both the handle and the flats of the blade.
" Hurry up, Santa! You too, Juri. "
Right, like I said, there were three men. Santa, the much shorter of the group, roughly about 4 inches shorter than I had been, was quite an enigma. We hadn't exchanged words at all and it seemed that they were quite quiet.
However, their features were delicate and their face exuded a sort of feminine vibe. However, their body was defined and muscular with no breasts showing due to the light leather gear they wore. It was hard to tell whether it was a male or female. However, under their long androgynous haircut, I could see the poking and pointed ears.
" An elf? "
" Yeah, they're not as common as Humans in the Human Territory but they are abundant. "
" So this is the party, huh? "
I shifted my sword on my back and ran to catch up to the three.
" How are we going to get to the forest? "
" It'll take too long to procure, feed, and watch over horses. So we're going to run! "
" Run? Sounds fun! "
CHAPTER 16 END