Chapter 33: Untouchable

Crowd's PoV (3rd):

From then on out Asura turned out to be one thing: Untouchable. The next two opponents showed clearly how much face he had given the guard captain. Both times he didn't even draw his daggers.

The first one was a young swordsman from a noble family. Expensive leather armor and a fancy long sword he looked like an image of a swordsman. But he never even started the fight. Asura only stared at him and took one step forward which made the other fall onto his back and declare his defeat.

The one after that did a slightly better job at least trying to attack but it took Asura a single move and the seasoned veteran an old quiet experienced soldier that was nearing the end of his career collapsed on the spot.

Not until the finals did Asura have to make more than a single move to dispatch of his opponents. In the finals though he was about to meet Alexus von Hochburg. The king's son and the empire's most gifted swordsman.

He was twenty years old, shared his sister's blond hair and had shining blue eyes. Paired with his fair face even though not as gifted with magic as his sister was by the age of seventeen he hardly had any more match among other swordsman and hence was extremely popular.

Elros was the only one last year who could hold his own against him and had to rely on every ounce of his skill to scrap the closest of victories. But last year's Alexius can't compare to this year's in the slightest. Knowing that most likely his sister would succeed the throne he had dedicated his life to becoming the supreme commander of the human forces.

Every day he would study the art of war and hone his swordplay. Together with Theresa these two outstanding children were Kalius von Hochburg's entire pride. He dearly loved them. Until now Alexius had won his duels in a similar fashion to Asura. Using one move: a lighting fast slash with his right sword, his left sword he had kept sheated the entire time, had always disarmed his opponents until now.

So the anticipation of this match was extremely high. No one could predict how this would turn out so the excitment level rose by the minute. And finally those two prodigies entered the ring. Larius stepped on as well and shouted magic amplified:

„Ladies and Gentlemen. This is what we all have been waiting for. I don't think I need to introduce any of them hence we will go straight into the action! Let the finals of the one hundred and seventy fourth swordsmanship competition begin!“

With that he jumped of the platform. Alexius didn't underestimate his opponent immidiately drawing both of his swords. When he took his stance Asura gave an appraising look and nodded in approvement. He drew his weapons.

Alexius nodded back signaling he was ready. Again Asura started by kicking off the ground immidiately shooting towards his opponent. Alexius on the other hand steadied himself and took the attack head on!

This was the first time someone had blocked Asura without having to back out. The crowd got excited. Asura started of with a flurry of attacks his daggers only a blur hardly anyone being able to follow. But he got blocked perfectly!

Alexius did not move back even an inch and blocked with flawless swordsplay every incomming attack. The sound of clashing blades sounded throughout the entire field and the spectators could almost feel the wind created by every slash.

Alexius with a highly concentrated face now started his own series of attacks and Asura actually went on the defensive! A high slash from the right Asura blocked with both daggers while he jumped over the incoming low slash from the left. He dodged more than he blocked unlike Alexius but he did so while manouvering around him so their position's hardly changed.

Circeling around each other and trading blows it was breath taking how those two clasehd over and over. A full five minutes had already passed since the two of them had begun but they were still not slowing down one bit.

It would seem like they are evenly matched but if one would look very closely he would see that Alexius started to breath heavier and few drops of sweat started to build on his forehead. Asura's face on the other hand had not changed one bit and he was still breathing normally as if going for an afternoon stroll.

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Asura's PoV (1st):

Now this was fun! Seems like the prince can actually fight. I attacked and attacked but he still blocked everything I threw at him it was refreshing. It had a bit of nostalgia because this exact same way I used to fight every day with my master. We would spar in front of his little house while Mia was watching often chatting with Caro. I had really enjoyed those peaceful days with the three of them.

But it seemed i can't enjoy myself for too long. After only five minutes I noticed that his breathing became quiet heavy and even though he still fought back admirably his movements weren't as crisp as before. Well it can't be helped let's at least give him face.

So i jumped back and said: „It seems I have found someone worthy enough for me to get at least a bit serious. Well done.“ That's more praise than I have ever given a human. I get into the first stance of the shadow dance.

„Careful here i come.“ Until now I had just fought freely more on instinct than anything else. But now I would show him the greatest fighting style there is. At least some of it.

The shadow dance was based on years of research about the human body and the way it works. The movements were perfected and it allowed one to draw out the maximum potential of his own body. It relied on concentrating all your power only on the part of your body that you need at that moment highly surpassing what was normally possible and that was without even using magic or shadow power.

I revolved my strength. First: foot. I kicked off and for everyone Alexius included it looked like i vanished. Second: other foot. Break directly in front of him. Third: Arm. My right arm shot out with the dagger aiming for his throat. Last: Arm. The tip of my dagger was just a paper thin margin away from his throat. I released my breath and said: „You loose.“

Alexius's PoV (3rd):

When the fight began Alexius was still quiet confident. Yes Asura had shown amazing skill but it was not on a level he couldn't follow and indeed after the fight had started he was able to go blow to blow with his opponent. It took him a while but after about twenty blows he found his rhythm and he became more and more aware of Asura's movements.

Nimble but after a while predictable. It seemed to him that Asura was the typical instinct fighter that fought however he pleased. For most that would be a disadvantage but Alexius was a genius after all so he was able to discern a certain pattern after a while. And that gave him the opportunity he was waiting for to press forward.

Now it was him that threw slash after slash towards the young mage but he was surprised how easily the latter was able to dodge and block every blow he threw. No wasted movement at all it was simply outstanding.

The longer this went on the more uncomfortable Alexius became because this high speed battle left him with less and less breath and unlike the audience he was aware of the fact that Asura was still breathing as calmly as he was at the beginning of the fight. So he was about to throw a last attack with all of his power when his opponent suddenly jumped back and said:

„It seems I have found someone worthy enough for me to get at least a bit serious. Well done.“ He couldn't believe it. He wasn't even serious until now? As he was about to respond he heard: „Careful here I come.“ And then he vanished.

In that same instant he felt an ice cold an piercing aura from below and when he lowered his eyes there was Asura in front of him and his dagger was about to cut open his throat. Cold sweat came down his neck and he knew that if this was a real fight he would have died long ago.

It was not a case of Asura being stronger, no he was simply on another level.

„You loose.“ came from the young prodigy that was already sheathing his daggers. Alexius forced his thoughts back to reality and bowed towards Asura: „Thank you for the lesson.“ And Asura actually glanced back and answered: „Be proud. You are the strongest human I have faced so far.“ With that he left.

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Well I thought I might just as well keep posting while I keep writing as the chapters flow in.