[https://i.imgur.com/sfHqwWT.jpg]

Can't you evade an old man’s cane?

You didn't see it either!

A faint glow surrounded the tall and slender older man; his cane pulsed softly with Aura.

“You old bastard! What's your fucking problem?”

Dodge!

A round gold pommel came for Drac’s face. He crouched, letting the cane break the rock above him. From down low, Drac punched at the handler's body. The cane guided his arm down and swiped up again at his face. Drac leaned to the right, evading the stick. Drac Aura jumped away, trying to get space between him and the old man. The handler followed beside him, swinging his cane down. Drac crossed his arms to block, groaning as he tried to handle the power. Stone cracked under. The cane was lifted and swung from the left side, beating the air out of Drac. He keeled over in pain. The gold pommel hit his chin from below. Drac’s balance was wonky, and his legs felt like rubber. The cane smacks his face, and then again. A third attack was parried, and Drac threw out a hasty left punch tuned to fire. The handler moved out of the way. Drac took this chance to escape and recollect himself.

That was shit Drac. Do Better.

Why don’t you swap in?

…

It wouldn't make a difference, right? Now help me with the spells. We need to beat the answers out of this old fool.

Drac inhaled and exhaled. Drac summoned a copy. The handler’s eyebrows lifted. Drac’s party looked at the battle with bated breath, their weapons and spells ready to be used.

Drac kneeled to rest. His copy sprung into action. With Levitation and Ventus, it became a dark blur. An aura punch is thrown. The handler vanished again. A cane was swung at the original Drac. A second copy was summoned, blocking the cane with a leg. The Drac countered with a right punch and was parried with the stick. The first copy threw a hook at the old man’s body. The attack was slapped down with the cane, and the copy’s nose was broken. The cane swiftly moved from the second Drac’s temple. The two continue their relentless attacks, getting bloody on the way. Every attack was swatted away. Every block was crushed.

Marina watched as she saw the copies getting walloped with worry. She tuned into Ignis.

“Drac!”

“Wait. I will deal with this,” Drac said to Marina with Loqui.

“But-!”

Drac turned to her on the other side of the cave, by the waterfall. He smiled with his face covered in bruises.

“Ok…” Marina relented. “But if he fucks you up more?”

“I will beg for your help once again.”

“Are you sure you don't need the mage’s support?” The handler asked Drac. "By the state of your summons, I don't think you should refuse help, boy.”

“I will decide how I fight my battles.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Battle? No. This is a scolding. I am spanking the little boy who won't do as he is told. Leave. And I won't leave you a mess like them.”

The copies wobbled on their feet; their brown skin turned purple. They cough blood from broken ribs. Drac could feel it all. And see it with aura sense. How the handler controlled his aura and his footwork.

I think I'm ready.

Drac stood up and pulled up his mask and hood. He flared his aura. It reached far, then was collected again, making his body glow bright. Without his blade, Drac put his right fist to his chin and his left down low.

“So the rude boy decides to get more of a spanking.” Wind blew from the cane. “Maybe a few more bruises will get you on your way.”

“Why are you doing this? Your job is over."

“Don’t talk back to your elder, you little upstart!” With a swing down, a wave of aura flew at Drac. Drac made his copies disappear. Drac bounced on the spot, getting into a rhythm. The vertical wave splits the ground, travelling towards Drac.

Drac slips to the side. The handler met him on Drac's left, swinging the cane at the young man’s head. Drac bent to escape, countering with a right uppercut. The handler nonchalantly moved to the side, causing the fist to miss wide. The shock wave from the missed punch flapped the handlers long beard. The uppercut turned into a hook imbued with Aura. Like thunder, the air exploded as Drac first collided with the cane.

“Will you see now that-”

A left fist aimed for the handler's ribs. Unable to react in time, the old man blocked it with a palm.

"See what?!”

The handler jumped away from an aura kick from the scrotum.

“Now you are using dishonourable tactics!?"

Oh god, not another one.

“I fight to live. How I win doesn't matter.”

“Respect matters, boy. And you have none.”

“Respect is earned, you old fart!”

“Don’t talk back!”

The handler pounced again, swinging. Maintaining his stance, Drac evaded the attacks. Concentrating Aura on his vision, he was able to slowly figure out the old man's pattern. The handler swung diagonally to Drac's left. Drac sidestepped and jabbed. His punches were a blur to outside watchers and clear as day to the handler. The bearded man thwarted the jabs like he was flapping away a mosquito. Drac grabbed the cane between jabs, pulling the handler off balance. The handler received an aura kick to the body that blew the surrounding air away. The handler looked at Drac’s leg, blocked by his palm. He shook his head and looked at Drac.

“That can't be all.”

“Of course, it isn't,” Drac said with a smile and tuned Igis on his leg. Fire exploded, and the handler flew back in surprise, pulling the cane from Drac’s grasp. His arm trailed smoke. Drac jabbed fireballs at him, pushing him back. A blue line was tied to throwing knives on the floor, tripping the old man.

A chance!

Levitation, Ventus, and aura, Drac broke the ground with his feet as he blitzed toward the old warrior. Drac jumped high to punch down on the handler. Air was split by the velocity and force of his aura-enhanced punch. On the floor, the handler calmly awaited the attack.

“GRANDPA!!”

A crescent light flew at Drac. Heilong was unsheathed to block the wave pushing him into the waterfall. Pushing it up with all his might, Drac landed in the water, and Aura jumped back through the waterfall to meet the new enemy. Dripping wet, Drac found the opponent rushing to the handler on the floor.

Hugging the fallen handler was a boy in a sleeveless cotton top, brown trousers, and boots. A wooden sword lay by his side. A wild afro grew on the boy's head. Their muscles were large and lean enough to see striations in his dark skin. With a scar on his full lips and eyes full of innocent anger, Drac sheathed his sword and put his arms up.

“Hello, Me.”

“Did you do this?” The copy examined the handler's burned clothes. Fury distorted his face.

“Huh? Well, he wouldn't let me see you.”

The copy flared his aura. Drac felt fear like never before.

“Axton, wait," the handler said in vain as Axton picked up his wooden blade and flew toward Drac in a rage.

My sword, Drac!

Drac swiftly unsheathed Heilong. Wood slammed with steel, and steel was blown away into the waterfall again. In the air, Drac flipped, landing on rocks by the stream. Like a dragon, Axton’s aura turned and twisted in the air toward Drac.