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

The morning sun broke through the clouds as a sword point nearly sliced Drac’s throat. A poke and Drac leaned to his left. Another jab and Drac moved his head to the right. With hands behind his back, he slightly bent forward, letting a sword pass over him. Drac closed in, and a sword was brought downward. A sidestep brought Drac to his opponent's right and a knee to his stomach. The helpful swordman keeled over, holding his sore belly.

"Don't over-extend. Brent. Unless you’ve got other options to block, you will leave a huge open spot for fast fuckers to attack.” Drac stepped backwards, his waistcoat nearly clipped. Brent coated his sword with aura and started his barrage. Slashes were dodged and evaded with confidence. Brent’s sword came down on Drac's head. The dark man looked up as if he were watching a raindrop fall. Drac brought his right leg behind his left. His body twisted as it followed. His back faced a falling blade and a quick left kick stopped short of Brent's dark hair.

“Attack isn't always the best defence, especially when your opponent is better than you in every aspect.” Drac lowers his leg. “Keep your body close and tight. Use that armour of yours and focus your aura on it. Withstand and endure attacks until you are sure of victory, then unleash that powerful strike I saw earlier. Understand?” Brent nodded his head.

“Good.” Drac walked up to the swordsman and brought Brent’s sword grip close to his face. Drac guided his sword down to point to the ground. Brent's stance was repositioned till he was facing sideways.

“There. Less surface area for the enemy to target. And your sword is always ready to strike down with force. Try for yourself.”

Brent wrapped his fingers around his dull sword and focused. Aura was collected around his sword. A quick snap downward, and a large wave flew out.

“Woah…” Brent looked down at his blade. “It's like gravity let it fall. I hardly used any energy. Thank you! I don't know how to repay you!”

“No, I am repaying you.”

Fergus sat on a log, eating the rations he brought with him. It tasted like bark compared to the meal the black man made last night. Stew made with venison. Caught by the creepy woman with a dog. Seeing the deer hang from the dog's mouth gave many, as well as Fergus, a fright, but was soon forgotten when the food touched their tongues. The thought of it made Fergus’s mouth water. He took a bite of rough, dry jerky as he watched a training session. Or, rather, a teaching lesson. Even though the ages were close, the skill gap was unbelievable. The dark man weaved and jumped from attacks like a circus acrobat. No sword was needed to utterly dominate the opponent. This foreigner defeating an OrcLord in a duel was inconceivable until he saw how he moved. With confidence and a controlled aura to a fine point.

Then Fergus saw the spin kick. No aura, just athleticism. Fergus saw Drac's eyes. The man didn't see a sword, but a pattern. Years of experience have moulded this man into a master. And Fergus had not seen it all yet.

Fergus threw away his jerky and picked up his silver sword.

Uoro, who sat behind, asked with a mouthful of food. “Woah, where the hell are you going, young man?”

Fergus trudged on. He took out his sword and levelled it on Drac’s chest. “A duel, goodman. Sword vs. sword. No holds barred on Aura.”

The dark man’s eyes darted between Fergus and his sword with a confused look. Then his face turned arrogant once again. ”You sure want to embarrass yourself again in front of your girl.” Drac winked behind Fergus. Fergs turned back at his team, staring in shock. Uoro stood aghast. The archer runs for more rations. Lisa shakes her head. Fergus turned back to Drac with his anger relit. His sword brightened with aura. Adventurers gather around the light.

“Do you accept?”

Two fingers coated with aura pushed the blade aside. "Sure, why not? May I ask how old you are?”

Fergus put his sword by his side and answered. “23 years young. Is this pertinent to the duel?”

A loud laugh from a man and woman came from the caravan. “No, no, I was just curious, is all.”

The two warriors move into an open area by the trees. Boulders litter the floor, big and small. A crowd gathered to watch the morning duel between the saviour and a shiny stranger. Fergus’s party stood in front to spectate.

The men separate and go to their sides. Once a few yards were between them, they took their stances. Fergus stood firm with his orthodox, two-handed fighting style. Fergus looked to the crowd, trying to find someone.

Sword upright and in front. The mainstay of beginners. Although basic, in a master’s hand, any attack can be blocked, and all strikes are possible. His form is okay and secure. But the noble ain't no master, that's for sure.

Oh god. This poor man. This is going to be fun.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Drac unsheathed Heilong slowly and placed it by his left thigh.

Oh! Going with full force from the beginning?

Brent walked out of the crowd. He juggled a copper coin in his hand. “When the coin touches the floor, are you ready, boys?” Both nod.

Brent flicked the coin with his thumb, and it flipped in the middle of the fighting ground. Aura coalesced around Fergus’s sword and he prepared himself for Drac's speed. The coin dropped to the floor and Drac exploded with fury. The waft blew the crowd of adventurers back, and a few weaker ones fell from the sudden gust.

The coin bounced, and all was still.

Drac's arm flickered in and out of view. A ten-metre-high crescent light flew towards the noble. Fergus stared at the tall aura slice as it broke the ground. The shocked warrior regained his awareness and aura-stepped to the left. Hot white energy almost singed his skin. Drac stood close and swiped up. Aura clashed with aura and the air reverberated with the energy of a million claps at once. Fergus was pushed back, stopping himself from going further with his sword on the ground.

Good awareness.

Drac beckoned Fergus with a taunting finger. “Come on, sire. Tis all you got?” A riled-up Fergus jumped at Drac. With one hand, Fergus's blade collided from above. Drac braced against the sudden strength. turned and diverted his opponent's sword, causing Fergus to go off balance. A backfist was evaded. Fergus continued turning and slashed at Drac from his right. Heilong blocked the strike and Fergus’s silver sword bounced off and attacked low to the body. Metal hits metal and Drac twisted and stuck down at the noble. Fergus put his empty hand to block before he realised something, and aura stepped back.

The hell?

As if remembering, he switched back to his two-hand stance.

Stop him, please. It seems to me that this idiot isn't giving it his all.

“Where is your second sword?”

Fergus’s eyes widen. “How…?”

“That two-handed stance cages you.” Drac turned to the crowd and asked, “Can any one of ya spare a sword for my man here?"

Brent stepped forward and offered his sword. “It may be old and worn, but it is reliable.” He chucked the weapon at Drac. Drac threw it to Fergus, who caught it like a hot coal.

“Don’t insult me and take your true stance, Noble.”

Fergus stared down at Brent's sword like a thousand thoughts were running through his mind. He sighed. A silver sword in his right hand and Brent’s in his left. He went low like a cat on the prowl. Both swords glowed, flaring with a fiery aura. Drac grinned wide.

A new style to copy.

The soil exploded under Fergus’s feet as he rushed forward. Drac took a two-handed basic stance and waited. Fergus stepped with aura which burst him close. Two swords pommelled at Drac's sword with no rhyme or reason. Swords blur as they slice at Drac. He weaved through the silver sword attack and countered with a cut upward. Brent’s sword guarded and the silver sword aimed for Drac's neck. Drac's blade escaped the worn sword and bat the silver away. Drac pressed forward, going low for a lunge. Fergus escaped with a aura-step back and two swords hit away the incoming sword. Another Aurastep and Fergus blitzed. Both weapons stab at Drac like sideways rain. Fergus’s speed blurred the aura-coated sword into a shower of white. Drac stood firm, blocking with his sole weapon. But even he couldn't endlessly block the torrent of stabs. Cuts appeared on his jacket. Sweat dropped on his brow. Drac dodged a stab and an old sword came from above. Heilong saved his life and he was pushed back.

Fergus stopped his barrage. His breathing was haggard and dry.

Drac dropped his two-handed stance and said, “My turn."

A pulse step caught Fergus by surprise. His swords were brought to guard. A single strike blew Fergus off his feet. Fergus’s eyes widened as he realised what is going on. A pulse forward and Drac's arm blurred. Red lines leaked blood on Fergus’s shoulder, forearm, and cheek. Scared out of his mind, Fergus used the rest of his aura on his feet to retreat.

A third pulse-step and the flat Drac’s sword hit Fergus's stomach. Chainmail cracked under the force. He crashed into a boulder a few metres away. The noble cracked the rock and Heilong came for his temple.

Two blades block with a cross. Fergus trembled, blood leaking out of his mouth, he said. “It's not over yet.”

Tenacious. I like.

With a roar, Fergus pushed Drac's blade away, and with his swords on his sides, he flared his aura. His silver and worn swung in unison, bringing out crescent waves of aura. Two waves utterly destroyed the ground and a large groove that could fit caravans was left in the wake of his power.

The dust cleared, and Fergus’s jaw dropped. The groove in the soil split in two, where a single man stood undisturbed. He flared his aura, and the air shook. Drac appeared suddenly in front of a frightened heir. Drac swung an aura bare one-handed horizontal left slash. Tired arms strained as Fergus lifted his swords to block. Three swords sparked.

“This was fun.” A pulse of aura pulsed the tired warrior back to rock.

Heilong became imperceptible.

Out of energy, Fergus fell before Drac caught him. The rock behind broke into chunks. Drac sat Fergus on the floor. A flip of the sword, and Heilong was sheathed.

“Understand now?”

Fergus nodded his head. He placed both swords on the ground before him.

HAHAHA

What the fuck is he doing?

He went on both knees and bowed his head close to the ground.

“Sir. Please be my master.”

Hahaha, what a great start to the day! My first student!

Nip it in the bud.

“No.”

Fergus brought his head up in disbelief to ask, “W-w-why? Why not?”

Drac sighed and rustled his afro. “I am too young to take anyone under my wing.”

“Too young?” said Fergus with a confused face.

“I haven't even turned eighteen yet.”

In the caravan, Drac and a hungover Marina sit together on a bunk, eating cheese and meat. Drac flicked meat at the wolf.

“I won.”

“Of course you did, but what did his face look like when you told him?"

Drac grinned. “It was priceless.”

Bob bent as he walked through the caravan. Flida stared at the big fellow as she finished her meal. "Everything is packed; we can leave soon.”

“Wait a minute, Bob.” Drac was focused elsewhere. “Let me tease him a bit longer, then we can leave.”