I found myself back in a familiar basent, yet not. It was once a spacious underground laboratory, only with enough space for sparring, but now it had been converted into a straight up empty space for combat. Mom and Dad had dug a second smaller basent and moved her things there in order to prepare this space, because they knew that I needed a place to practice, away from prying eyes.
I felt a warmth at my chest at that as I looked back at the far wall where my parents stood. Both the Piss Hunters and The Harvesters were here, for I had decided to duel literally everyone. I wanted to see how far my friends had co in my absence.
First up was Therick. The man swung his wooden sword around, observing with a forced and nervous smile.
“Go easy on , yeah?”
I chuckled. “We’ll see.”
And then the fight began. I imdiately dashed forward and then slamd my sword into Therick’s own. He staggered from the force, shaking, but he quickly recovered and stabbed at . I managed to deflect the strike but he was already on the move again. More slashes ca and I t his attacks, but I actually found myself being pushed back. Therick t my sword with his at all the right places and with impeccable timing, all while he danced around with an agileness that was hard to keep up with.
I found a way to still et him blow for blow of course, as I just turned my body to always be facing him. That required a lot less movent than what my opponent was doing, which was circling around. But still I found myself completely on the defensive.
It was exhilarating. I was proud of him. He’d surpassed in pure swordsmanship in the ti I’d been gone. Not that I neglected my training, and live battles certainly counted for a lot, but those were against animal-shaped creatures, and I had certainly been focusing far more on my magic and other related things rather than honing the basics swordsmanship.
At this rate, I might actually lose. Therick’s human physique had beat in speed, and that sa species had granted him unmatched endurance. He would outlast if I let this stalemate continue.
Hmm. A dillema.
I watched my friend’s movents. My strikes were still heavier, but his were just that much more nurous and precise. It was also troubleso that I had let him set the pace already. Therick looked so happy and surprised at how he was keeping up with now, that I almost wanted him to win.
But I didn’t want to hold back. I wouldn’t. So I dug my hooves into the ground and then charged along with my swing.
Therick was pushed back by the force, but he recovered surprisingly quickly, having sohow anticipated the move. I pressed the attack, but my friend chose to focus on defense while I tired myself out, actually managing to stave off my fury. He had truly grown since I last saw him.
The battle raged on. I tried to kick, or to grab, but Therick proved slippery. I couldn't catch him no matter what I did. I was still losing even after going this hard.
“Hey,” I spoke after a particularly intense clash. “Would it be cheating if I used magic?”
“Uhh… I’m not sure. We didn’t really talk about it…” He stopped, seeing that I intended to talk.
“I wasn’t sure if it was allowed either,” I shrugged. “Also, I don’t an to wither your flesh or break your mind. I only an to empower my strength and speed with it. So maybe that’s actually just part of my physical power?”
His face fell a little, but then he shook his head and brightened up once more. “What’s this, Haell? Have you been holding out on ?”
“No. It’s just… I haven’t sparred like this in a while. Well, I have, but it’s always with people… kind of a lot stronger than right now. And they used their magic sotis! But you haven’t used yours at all, so I thought maybe this was a magic-free spar you challenged to?”
Therick shook his head. “No… I’m just not that good at magic, and using it with an unorthodox magical apparatus, in the midst of such an intense battle, wouldn’t really produce any good results.”
“Ah. So, can I use it?” I’d definitely lose in an hour if we just continued to fight like that. Except I did still have my demon eyes, and that wasn’t really magic. At least, I didn’t have to feed it mana… So maybe I still had a non-magic path to victory?
“Use it,” Therick sighed. “You’d just be handicapped if you don’t. And it’d be far more indicative of a real battle.”
“Alright, okay!” I brightened and fixed my stance. “Ready when you are!”
My friend nodded and also took position. The well of negativity that constantly flowed through my blood flared in that mont, conveying great power through every action. I surged forward, at the sa ti that Therick did, but his speed paled in comparison to my own. I slamd my sword against his, and Therick’s weapon ca flying out of his hand.
He stepped back, only pausing for a second before deciding to take evasive maneuvers, but it was too late. The wooden point of my blade struck his chest.
“Ah damn…” he said, slumping. “Is it just , or has the gap between us actually widened?”
“No, no. You’ve improved a lot!” I praised him. “In terms of pure skill with the sword, I believe you have beat at this point.”
“I have been training a lot. Rallem has been kind enough to teach , and I also took on a more rogue-warrior mix role in the party.” A smile crossed his face, but then fell again. “Fat load of good that’ll do though if you can just overpower like that.”
“Hey, no need to compare yourself to . I’m actually able to consistently defeat level 20 opponents at this point, so you can consider the equivalent of an evolution above.”
Therick himself was… I’d say halfway there, to level 20.
“You know what? That actually makes feel better. Thank you, Haell.”
“You’re welco!”
~~~
“AAAHHHH!!” Therick scread as the full force of both my aura and my eyes slamd into him. He asked for a few more spars, and I found that while my eyes did briefly stun him in a way that could easily be fatal, he was actually able to sohow not imdiately panic in the face of my gaze. That was better than what any other creature below in level could accomplish.
When my demon eyes were used in conjunction with my aura however, my friend just had to scream. He could barely move, but he still tried.
I slamd my greatsword against his and then pressed the blade to his neck. He glared at , unyielding til the end even against such pressures. My friend had really beco a proper warrior in the ti that I’d been away.
“Well… I give up. You just keep getting stronger...” Therick panted in defeat once he had accepted it. “How much more power are you hiding?”
“I’m not hiding anything. But yes, I have a lot more to give. I’m like an iceberg.”
“An… iceberg? What…? What do you an?” He took a deep breath before continuing. “They’re just large pieces of ice floating in the ocean, right? Are you saying you’re cold?”
“I’m cool,” I corrected. “But don’t worry about it. It’s an Earth thing.”
“Right…” Therick finally sat down on the bare ground. “It’s still crazy that you’re from another world.”
“I just retained my mories. Pretty sure everyone reincarnates.”
“Not that I’m an Angelist at this point either. But does no one go to heaven?”
“Oh. Hmm. I an, maybe they do actually. Magic and powers are vast, so their god could be just… plucking out souls like that, if he exists, which he actually might. But I believe that people in general reincarnate. That’s what happened to , and it’s what the elves believe. I think it’s what the countless cultures of Varyala knew as well before they were conquered.”
“Could also be lies.”
“Could be, yes. But hopefully it won’t matter. Because I do not intend to die today, tomorrow, or ever.”
~~~
“Alright, Haell,” Angerly stretched. “I’ve gotten a good look already at your current powers, but I wanna see it for myself!”
“Bring it on!” I smirked in a challenging way. The ogre woman felt like she was closing in on level 20, but wasn’t quite there yet, and this was with her head start of level 10. Not that she sucked or anything, and this was actually still a little bit above average, and I really shouldn’t be disappointed but I just expected more!
I realized so of it was due to my nace mana. It roiled at my superiority, it gloated at the failure of another where I had succeeded. I did not bla myself for those thoughts, as I'd learned not to do, but I made sure not to make Angerly feel bad about it. My friend was just doing her best, I was sure.
The battle began. Angerly charged forward, and so did I. We t in the middle, and my sword was nearly yanked out of my hand by the force of Angerly’s wooden mace. My arms went numb.
I activated my eyes, and she froze. My friend gritted her teeth and managed to move again a second later, but that was when I flared out my aura. She stopped again. She took a step back. I pushed my sword into her stomach.
“Ah, you got !” Angerly exclaid with a silly smile once she had gotten her fear under control. “Hot damn you’re strong. Way too fucking strong.”
I smirked. “That’s right! But you did well too! I can tell that you’ve gotten more experienced since!”
“Yeah! I’ve been going on quests with everyone else! I know I lose to you 1 on 1, but my swing was pretty fucking strong, right?”
“Oh yeah, for sure!” I admitted.
“Hehe, well. That’s what I’ve been working on mainly! I might not be the strongest in a duel, but I dish out the damage! So I’ll be counting on you to set those up for !”
“You got it! Whenever we’re working together, it’s a damn good tactic.”
I ignored the treacherous voice in my head that insisted it was because of this attitude that she was weak. That I’d surpassed her despite my lesser start.
It didn’t matter if it were true. There was more to life than levels or fighting, and Angerly would remain a very dear friend to regardless.
~~~
I sparred a few more tis with Angerly, which only confird what I already knew. I found out just how much harder she hit compared to , even with my nace magic active. Of course, I was using a wooden greatsword and her a wooden mace, and I could still push a lot more power to my body if I really needed to, but it was still impressive that she could match and even slightly exceed my common usage of nace magic.
Not that there was ever a chance for Angerly to win even if I refrained from using any magic whatsoever. She was just too fucking slow and predictable. Her swings were wide, ant to convey the maximum amount of power everyti, and she was an absolute master at that to the point that she might already be tapping into an anatomic mastery. But those super strong attacks would just never hit. They were so telegraphed, and she barely knew how to feint.
I thought that was a problem better fixed, so I decided to give her so advice.
“Hey, Angerly. I know you’re all about dishing out the most damage and all, and I am happy to help set that up for you. But you just never know what might happen out there. I think you need to get just a little bit better at protecting yourself solo.”
“Eh, I don’t think I’m too bad against opponents of my level. Beyond that, well, we can’t prepare for everything. So I’ll just put my trust in you guys! We can cover each other’s weaknesses. I know you won’t let down!”
I scratched at my head. “Well, it’s up to you,” I affected a shrug, then sighed. “I’m not your boss.”
“Well… yeah. This is what I’ve been doing. But while you’re not my boss, you are my friend! And I’m happy for the advice!” The ogre woman pulled into a hug. “You’re right that ergencies could happen. I’ll… try to do better, and be good enough to survive on my own. Just in case.”
“That’s all we can do. But you can bet your ass that I’m not going to let that happen while I’m around! We’ll be a terror like no other!”
“Damn. I love my ass, so you better not let down!”
~~~
“Okay, Haell! I’m ready!”
I stood on one end of the sparring basent while Granuel took a stance opposite . He was hiding behind this massive shield, especially for his proportions, and was wielding a large earthen staff in his other hand. I was actually wearing my armor for this one, because Granuel’s magic wouldn’t be as harmless as a re wooden sword.
I charged forward just as the first projectiles of Earth shot out. They were weaker than a pearthguin’s, but still more than enough to injure if they hit, so I started to map out the best path forward. More and more earthen bullets ca, so big and so small to try and herd to a more disadvantageous position.
I decided to dodge the larger ones, firm the smaller pebbles, and slash away at the dium-sized rocks. They ca fast and in great numbers so I didn’t really have the leeway to dodge everything, especially with my sowhat lacking agility. I only minimized the damage, aiming to end the fight quickly with an overwhelming offense.
The distance between us shrank. Granuel’s maximum range for actively manipulating earth mana surpassed my expectations, and I felt the clumps of willfully moving magic long before I thought they’d be present. The ground underneath my feet rumbled, breaking my stream of mobility just a little. Spikes exploded out from all around , and one hit quite badly in the shoulder. More projectiles followed, and my armor was ran through its paces. Moonwash would have to fix it again later.
I growled, grinning ferociously, not that it could be seen through my helt. My eyes activated and so did my aura. Granuel scread and the stream of attacks stopped. I activated the nace mana in my legs and shot forward like a ravishing train, though I didn’t think it was necessary. I swept aside Granuel’s shield and then pointed my blade at his throat, but the ishkawtan man was still shaking from fear. He wouldn’t be able to fight for a good few seconds more, an eternity in the battlefield.
“That was…” he gulped, after a long while. I had stepped to his side and was patting him on the back. “Terrifying.” I pushed down the thrill of that statent, and the desire to terrotize my friend more. He looked back at our parents and friends watching from a side wall. “I saw you use it on Therick and Angerly. I didn’t think it would be that bad…”
He really is a lot weaker-willed than those two… “Don’t worry about it. You won’t really know how it’s like until I smash my full might into you, and my aura especially is far stronger than when I first got it. It’s weird, but the way I and Moonwash think it works is that it reacts when perceived by an enemy of mine. Or an adversary or opponent in this case. It definitely only affects those whom I want it to affect.”
“I thought I was doing well with my magic. I help out a ton during our excursions! But maybe I’m really not ant for this…”
“No, no. Don’t think like that, Granuel. You’re doing great.” He was the lowest-leveled of everyone at only past level 10, but he was also the youngest of us all. “You’re at a decent level for your age, and your skills and accuracy with projectiles are great. Just like Angerly, I’m sure you’ll have a great role to play in a team, and you’re also the one who’ll be managing the business side. So it’s all good! Play to your strengths! But also don’t hesitate to get better at your weaknesses.” I would’ve offered to help, I believed I had even stronger willpower than either Therick or Angerly, but I was aware that my thods could be… extre.
Exposing Granuel to my aura until he developed a resistance to it and other similar things was probably a terrible idea.
“Yeah…” Granuel whispered. Then his voice grew louder, “Yeah! Yeah, you’re right, Haell! I was just a bit shaken by earlier. But I promise to do my best on everything!”
“That’s the spirit!”
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