Chapter 4: Duel.

“Didn’t I tell you to get me one of my blades Shipo?” Shikimodo stood tall in the sun stamping one of his feet into the ground impatiently. “Hurry up.”

“Yes father.” Shipo yelled running back into the house.

“How long has it been since we last duelled.” Ivan laughed as he spread his arms to soak in the sunlight. “Eleven years, can you believe that.”

Shitari stumbled out of the back door, her movements hindered by her dress’s corset. She glanced over at the two generals facing each other off before looking to the side where she saw Okimodo watching on enthusiastically. In the opposite corner she saw her mother and Sharron who were both rolling their eyes.

“Move it.” Shipo said pushing Shitari to the side as he carried one of his father’s swords.

He immediately tossed the blade over to Shikimodo who caught it effortlessly before examining it.

“This one?” Shikimodo sighed. “Out of all of my blades this one is of the lowest quality.”

“I’m sorry.” Shipo apologised. “I just thought that it would be better for you to save the better ones for actual warfare.”

“Do not insult Ivan like that.” Shikimodo scowled reprimanding his eldest son. “Do you really think such a worthless blade deserves to clash with the legendary White guillotine that Ivan wields?”

“I’ll get you a more suitable one straight away.” Shipo said before turning back.

“Wait.” Ivan said stopping him. “This is a friendly duel there is no need to chip our most valuable weapons.”

“A friendly duel?” Shitari was confused. She could’ve sworn that Ivan and her father wanted to kill each other just seconds ago.

Petra saw her daughter’s baffled state and immediately walked over to comfort her. “It’s okay Shitari, they’re not going to kill each other. This is just how they bond. They’ve been challenging each other for foolish reasons for years, it’s like a tradition at this point.”

“Oh really?” Shitari felt a wave of relief come over her.

“Your corset!” Petra jumped with shock. “You’ve done it way too tightly.”

“The tightness is optional?” Shitari felt like a real idiot in that moment.

“I’m assuming you won’t be using the white guillotine then?” Shikimodo asked irritated at the implication that Ivan wouldn’t be going all out.

“No of course not.” Ivan chuckled. “I’m getting old you know, you and me both. I can’t control that thing like I used to.”

From his corner Okimodo watched on intently. To see his own father and a great general of the Ukosyranian empire clash in battle was an experience he wouldn’t miss for the world.

He had always heard stories of the legendary duels his father and Ivan would engage in, now it was time for him to witness one first hand.

Shikimodo and Ivan both stared each other down waiting patiently to see who’d make the first move. This intense moment persisted for a short time before Shikimodo took a stance that Ivan as well as Okimodo and Shipo recognised immediately.

“That stance…” Shipo observed his father’s movements carefully.

Shikimodo stood with his legs far apart and his sword held diagonally in front of his body in a manner that offered him the option of attacking or defending.

“That infamous stance again.” Ivan laughed out loud as long lost memories and emotions began to emerge from deep within his heart, boiling to the surface before springing to life before his eyes once again. In that moment he felt as if he was once again twenty years old. As nostalgia overcame him he threw back his long coat revealing two Ukunese curved swords on his waist. One was pure white with the image of a swan carved into its hilt, it was none other than the infamous white guillotine. Fortunately today was not the day for this blade to be drawn. Instead, he drew the second blade which was far more generic in its appearance save for the black stallion carved into its hilt.

“He’s using a dark Pegasus?” Okimodo’s eyes lit up with brilliance. “That’s only a mid level sword though? I guess he really meant it when he said this wasn’t a serious fight. I wonder who will take initiative and attack first.”

Okimodo circled around the two generals until he stood next to Shipo.

“I’m not familiar with Ukosyranian swordsmanship, so I don’t know the exact name of Ivan’s stance.” Shipo said. “It seems to be one designed to allow the person to simultaneously attack and defend, just like father’s.”

“Let’s not drag this out for two long.” Shikimodo said deciding to take initiative.

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His stance shifted suddenly slipping into a variation that was more aggressive. He then charged Ivan starting the duel. He opened up with a series of arcing slashes that kicked up dust into the air and sent sparks flying everywhere when his blade clashed with Ivan’s. Like fluid the two blades slipped off one another and Shikimodo continued to follow up with upward and downward arcing slashes, gradually pushing back Ivan who maintained his defensive posture.

The family dog named Fuji ran out into the backyard having likely been awakened by the commotion. Shitari breathed out heavily from the relief of having her corset loosened and immediately picked up the small dog and cradled it before watching on as the duel continued.

Step by step Ivan was pushed back waiting patiently for an opening.

“You’ve really gotten old.” Shkimodo taunted him before a sharp pain erupted from his lower back. “Dammit…”

Shikimodo’s movements slowed immediately providing Ivan with an opportunity to strike back which he promptly took. He swerved to the left around Shikimodo’s downward slash before sweeping his blade around intending to land a devastating attack on Shikimodo’s mid section. Before Ivan’s blade had the chance to taste flesh it was caught in a wall of water that spontaneously formed in between Shikimodo and himself. The blade was held firmly in the water which wrapped around it like a snake constricting until the blade started to bend.

“You’re resonating?” Ivan gave Shikimodo a slightly surprised look. “Weren’t our duels supposed to be contests of pure skill? Why are you relying on Heshea for protection? I should take this as you admitting defeat.”

“Stop running your mouth.” Shikimodo sighed as he raised his right leg before kicking Ivan through the wall of water sending him flying.

With extreme precision Ivan jabbed his blade into the ground to slow his momentum and regain his footing.

“Dad decided to use his resonance?” Okimodo was taken aback. “Does this mean that Ivan will use resonance as well?”

“I doubt it.” Shipo said as he anticipated Ivan’s next move. “We already know they won’t be going all out, especially with us watching. Dad is a class nine and if I’m not mistaken so is Ivan. If they really both use resonance the entire clan residence as well as half of the mountain would be destroyed.”

The two generals began to circle around each other once more while occasionally hurling insults to provoke one another into attacking first. Eventually Ivan grew tired of this and took the initiative by charging Shikimodo directly. Much to everyone’s surprise Shikimodo turned away from the approaching Ivan and swung his blade at seemingly nothing.

“You’re not slick at all.” Shikimodo said as his blade clanged in mid air producing sparks that cascaded across the sparring ground. At the next moment Ivan disappeared as his body dispersed into fragments of light.

“That wasn’t the real Ivan?” Shipo stroked his chin before watching more closely. “The real one is actually invisible? What kind of archetype must he be resonating with to get such an ability?”

Shikimodo then swung his sword again with sparks continuing to be produced. He repeatedly did this over and over again striking at an opponent that couldn’t be seen.

“Do you see it Shipo?” Okimodo asked.

“See what?” Shipo asked back confused at what his brother meant.

Okimodo then pointed towards the ground where dust was being kicked up by an invisible force. Once the dust cleared the distinct imprint of a boot could be seen on the soil.

“So he really did turn invisible.” Shipo said before continuing to observe the fight.

Shikimodo focused his mind deeply, increasing his speed with every slash. He knew all of Ivan’s attack patterns and was able to predict his next move.

“What’s this?” Shikimodo suddenly jumped back a few metres as he watched the dust start to get kicked up more aggressively. He smiled as he knew exactly what this meant.

He immediately took a defensive stance readying himself for the incoming attack sequence from Ivan. He felt the first blow shake his blade thunderously as sparks scattered everywhere. The second blow was stronger and the third much stronger. Ivan continued to slash away at Shikimodo’s defensive stance ruthlessly accelerating until a vortex of dust was formed causing all of the onlookers to be assaulted by intense winds. With the exception of Okimodo and Shipo the rest all fled inside of the house to avoid getting dust in their eyes.

Shikimodo grinned as he was forced down on to one knee by Ivan’s never ending onslaught, a wave of electricity surging through his body every time their blades connected. Gradually tiny chunks of metal where melted off from his sword which had now turned a molten red colour from the friction of Ivan’s own curved blade. While it may have seemed like Shikimodo was about to lose the duel to the untrained eye, the reality was quite different.

“Bingo.” Shikimodo said striking forward with his sword. The dust vortex was immediately obliterated by a force of immense wind pressure that shattered all of the surrounding windows. Both Okimodo and Shipo were pushed back a few steps but remained sturdy in their observation.

“Is it over already?” Okimodo said with slight disappointment.

The molten tip of a curved blade fell from the sky lodging itself firmly into the ground beside Okimodo and Shipo, burning the surrounding grass with its heat. Okimodo made his way back into the house leaving Shipo alone to see the result of the duel.

As the dust cleared both Shikimodo and Ivan stood staring each other down with both of their swords reduced to charred stubs of molten metal.

Shikimodo threw what remained of his sword to the ground before rubbing his lower back in discomfort. “Let’s call it a draw.”

“Honestly the duel wasn’t like what our duels used to be back in the old days.” Ivan laughed before throwing his own burnt stub of a blade to the ground. “Still, it did bring back old memories.”

“How are you two feeling?” Sharron asked walking back out into the back yard. “Was it really worth it Ivan darling? We could’ve just enjoyed a normal dinner with an old friend but you just keep acting like you’re still a young man.”

“I’m still young at heart.” Ivan laughed before immediately drawing forth white guillotine.

“What the hell are you doing?” Sharron asked with extreme confusion before she saw a blur dash past her towards Ivan.

In a flash sparks flew everywhere as the two blades collided with immense force.

“What the hell are you doing Okimodo?” Shipo yelled out in a panic seeing that his brother had attacked Ivan for seemingly no reason.

“Relax.” Okimodo said before returning his eyes to Ivan. “I just want to see how well I match up against a great general, what’s wrong with that?”

“You cocky little brat.” Ivan chuckled before spinning his body around in the wind up for a mighty kick. He thrusted his right leg towards Okimodo who immediately dodged by flipping backwards.

“Hey, that’s my prized blue stone double edged sword.” Shikimodo scowled eyeing the sword that Okimodo used to attack Ivan with. “If you’re going to challenge Ivan then do it with another sword. Do have you have any idea how expensive that thing is?”

“Shut up old man, just withdraw my allowance to cover the damages.” Okimodo said dismissing his father. “Ivan, I Azurai Batari Okimodo challenge you to a duel.”

End of chapter 4.