Edited by tommyjl7

The weapon of my choosing was also a spear. Despite the fact that I feel most comfortable with swords. Why? Because if this bastard is as good with spears as I think he is, then picking a weapon with smaller range would be an instant suicide.

- “You want to challenge Devris using the weapon he masters? That will be quite a show!”

- “Mavik.” My sparring partner looked in direction of annoying comrade

- “Yes?”

- “You talk too much.”

- “But can’t you see that he is mocking you with the very idea of…”

- “Mavik. Shut up already.”

- “Apparently we found Loki’s equivalent among the elves.” I whispered to Giselle

I took off my robe, standing only in my trousers. And ballast, of course.

- “So you got scratched here and there, did you?” female elf, the hexblade, said while looking at my scars.

- “Scars means that someone wasn’t skilled enough to avoid the blow…” guess who said that and why Mavik?

- “Or that someone wasn’t being sheltered most of his life and actually fought with enemies stronger than himself. What do you think about someone, that can withstand such injuries?” Giselle decided to protect my good name

- “And what do you think about creatures that can deal them?” Stubborn elf never shut his trap

- “They are all dead.” I decided to shut this conversation.

And for the first time in hours, that arrogant son of a nice lady became quiet. Oh, like the sweetest music to my ears.

- “We can start as soon as you are ready.” Son of War Herald said politely. I nodded with gratitude. One last inspection of weapon.

Spear was pretty much nothing but a piece of durable wood, dulled on its tip. Damages wouldn’t be serious, but very, very painful. In worst case scenario it could break bones. I balanced weapon in my hands and started slowly shortening the distance between two of us.

The spear danced in his hands as he took the stance. His left hand was stretched forward as his dominant arm, holding the spear, was hidden behind his body, with spear becoming almost completely invisible, covered by his posture.

Step forward, step to the side, step forward, step to the side. We were walking in a circle, looking for openings in our defenses. Well, my was full of holes like swiss cheese, while his was splendid. Should I attack from the front?

No. I already can see him withdrawing his spear from behind, countering my strike and pushing his weapon against my ribs. So, from the side?

No. He would spin around, trap my spear with his hand and strike me with the blunt edge on my forehead. So jumping attack from above?

Sure, if I want him to impale me.

In the end, I didn’t have to decide on any strategy of my own. He was the one to make the first move. I had no idea that one could use spear like that. It was spinning all the time as kept throwing it from one hand to another. He spun his body, and in the middle of his pirouette, he attacked from the side, using it as staff. I raised my own weapon vertically to block the attack, in the same time he kicked me in the guts, forcing me to take few steps back.

The way he walked changed, he was making lots of short steps as if he was dancing to some un-hearable music. That would explain all these unnecessary, hypnotizing movements.

I lowered my spear and thrust it aiming at his thighs. He parried my attack pushing my spear to the side, grabbed his weapon in the middle adjusting his range for close combat. That’s what I wanted.

I jumped back, and attacked once again, as fast as I only could. There was no way he could change his grip fast enough to parry it once again.

He didn’t. He just moved off the spear’s trajectory.

I was mildly irritated. As always, in heat of the moment, I focused on one aspect so much, that I forgot about other ways of attack evasion.

Once again, I corrected balance over my weapon. Left hand behind, right forward, closer to the tip. I raised my weapon high, he answered with the same stance. We started trading blows furiously, or actually, word trading cannot be used here. Our staffs would cross, he would hit my shoulder, once again a sound of wood hitting wood would ring, another blow would hit my leg. He had this battle completely under control.

There is no way I could hit him even once. Not if I wouldn’t play dirty. Hey, but why can’t I?!

Once again we exchanged few fast blows, but then I throw my spear high in the air. For a split of a second, his gaze followed dulled weapon, when he looked back at the place where I was, he noticed I wasn’t there.

I lowered my body, almost squatting and charged at him grappling him by his legs. The only advantage I had over him was my body weight. As soon as we landed on the ground I started hitting him with my hands, aiming for his face. He raised his own to guard, to stop the thunder of attacks.

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- “… Well, isn’t that cheating?” guess who raised the objection.

- “Technically? No. They only picked a weapon to fight with, they made no special regulation of what kind of attacks they can or cannot use. If you would think about it that friend of your also kicked Zari at the beginning.”

- “But come on! One kick against grappling?”

Elf twisted his body, apparently, he was also trained to fight with his bare body, also in lying position. Somehow he managed to free one of his legs, then the other one, before I noticed he managed to leg-lock my head. Jerked his body to the side pushing me on the earth next to him. We struggled for few more moments changing our positions every few seconds. He was trying to dislocate my shoulder as I was hitting his stomach with my elbow. Eventually, we both decided to break our “loving”-embrace, jump few steps back and pick back up our weapons. I thought he didn’t appreciate my little stratagem, but I was mistaken. His eyes sparkled with joy. Despite small bruise on his neck and little stream of blood that came from the corner of his lip, he enjoyed himself. At beginning he almost looked bored, having complete control over the battle was nothing different from training the youth. And now I brought the sparkle of entertainment.

I still have this little trick in my sleeve, it’s low rank skill so I have to be sure to catch him off guard, otherwise, he will simply parry it.

I swiped from the side, changed my grip and started thrusting furiously, with each attack making a step forward reducing the distance. Once again both of us switched the grip of the weapons. And once again he proved his dominance with spears. He started treating me bit more seriously. Each time our weapons met a few new bruises appeared on my body.

Quick rotation to the side, I managed to push our spears bit to the side and using momentum I managed to land a blow on his face with my elbow. This was my chance. I took step back, entered the state and activated the skill.

Performing [Heartseeker]

Holding spear with just one hand I put my whole weight in thrusts. He barely blocked the first one, yet still, the impact shook his balance. I withdraw weapon and attacked again, this time also pushing my leg forward. This time my attack forced him on the ground.

Heartseeker boost my three next attacks, as long as I target heart. I got one more left. My enemy was pretty much defenseless, I thought it was a good idea to jump in the air putting all my strength into that last attack.

Narrator: It was not a good idea.

As I was in mid-air, Devris with two quick moves get back on his feet and prepared his counterattack. He was also a skill user. Up until now he simply didn’t find it worthy to waste his stamina and focus for performing mind-exhausting abilities.

After a second of delay once and for all he stated who was owning who in this battle from the very beginning. A dim aura covered his body, then the speed of his movement increased. I saw his attacks as a blur when his spear yet another time ended in my belly, that will not end with just a bruise. Every attack was perfect. He stabbed my leg, forcing me to kneel, then on the shoulder making me drop my spear. With the corner of my eye, I saw weapon coming dangerously close to my head.

The instinct kicked in, I raised my hand casting mana shock wave. It disturbed his skill and knocked him in the air. He fell back on his shoulder.

He started laughing hysterically.

- “I thought we were not supposed to use magic?” he called not getting up

- “We? Are you magic caster yourself?”

- “Not really, because of elf’s blood I have some basic talent, but all I can do is to light a fireplace.”

- “A-ha.”

- “Do you mind if we stopped it here?” he asked rising his body on his elbows.

I quickly compared our conditions. He was barely scratched, whole my whole body was in mess.

- “Let’s… Let’s call it a draw.” I answered weakly

He laughed again.

- “I think Miss Lanele can heal you…” indeed, priestess got up from her place and started walking toward us.

- “Thanks, I am some of a healer myself.” I could use hydra regeneration, but I don’t want to tell everyone around I am a freak of nature.

I started treating my wounds.

- “Are you sure about that? I could risk stating an opinion that my magic would bring better results.” She tried to be nice.

- “No, thanks, I am fine.”

Giselle was pouting. Because of my state, she couldn’t bully me with her training. I think I just got another reason to reduce the power of my healing spell a little. Still, it hurt as hell.

- “I told you Devris would win…”

- “MAVIK..!” it was the first time I saw any elf yelling

- “Yes, my friend?”

- “Can’t you stop being such a talkative cunt?!”

Oh, his face. I think I will like Mr. Lancer.

- “But…”

- “Between the two of us who would win a duel?”

- “That’s a hard question. We are pretty much on the same level.”

- “And what if I was fighting with a sword with my body restricted? Just look at him! Fighting with the weapon he is not that used to, without using his main skills.”

- “Even if, I doubt that he would win…”

- “I won’t allow you to disrespect my opponent.” He poked him in the chest.

- “Hmp. Suit yourself.” Swordsman rolled his eyes and went to sit under the tree.

- “I must beg your forgiveness for my comrade words and actions…” he lowered his head “… he is a great friend and warrior, but he just tends to look down at other races. I hoped that after our little sparring you would earn his respect. Unfortunately, he appear to be even greater asshole than I wanted to admit.”

- “Rise your head. You did not offend me. Still, could you please, by any chance, give me his hair? Or nail?”

He looked at me bit confused.

- “Could I ask why do you need those?”

- “You know, I thought that I could also train my magic a little… there may a little branch of magic that I wasn’t using for some time, I am afraid it may get a bit rusty…”

- “What branch of magic?”

- “He..x.gs..” I mumbled

- “Pardon me?”

- “Hexbags?”

- “I understand that you may not like him, but casting a curse just because of that…”

- “I won’t turn him into the lycan!... just play few pranks. It may not sound very seriously, but I specialize in bad dreams and diarrhea…”

Serious elf once again lost his composure.

- “You promise me, that you will do nothing more?”

- “Even if I would want to, he is not worth my time to make a spell specially for himself.”

- “In that case, I will see what I can do.”

- “I didn’t think you would agree on that.”

- “I am also doing that for myself. If Mavik would spend more time in the toilet, he would spend less time talking and wasting my time. And damn, I have already grown tired of his voice.”