Chapter 33: Duel

The entire outpost and half the island came to the sparring match, which had quickly grown to be something bigger than a simple practice fight. Adriana couldn’t say she disapproved, as it was the best chance she had of highlighting her skills and maybe proving to everyone that she was as capable as any of them, and would only get stronger.

In order to accommodate spectators, the match was set for sunset, a meaningful time for any follower of Hessius. Adriana spent the day resting and exploring and enjoying some solitude before it drew her crazy, then showed up at the Arena more or less on time, with Davos at her side.

Markus wasn’t happy to see her, nor were his crew. If looks could kill, she would’ve been ashes, but she ignored him and instead focused on the legion of spectators pressed against the chain fence. Davos was with her in there, double-checking her leather armor for any defects and for mobility.

“I still think this is a bad idea,” said Davos as he tightened her shoulder strap. “You have nothing to prove and everything to lose here. They still don’t know what you can do for the most part, right? If you aren’t sold on them, why show off?”

Adriana endured his worry, knowing he had good intentions. “Because right now, all they know is that I’m an angry woman who doesn’t want to be told what to do. They don’t respect me or my power. They view me as an obstacle, or a problem. I’m going to change that. Best case scenario? They realize I won’t be an easy target if they turn on me.”

Davos sighed and threw his hands into the air. “You are infuriatingly stubborn, and I hope you win. If nothing else, I guess I’m grateful you’re spending time with them and giving them a chance.”

“That’s the spirit,” she said, clapping both shoulders affectionately. “Besides, I think I can take Lucas. He thinks he’s hot shit because he’s a Child of Stephanos, and has his friends, and all that. I’m going to bury him.”

Lucas stood at the opposite end of the Arena, with Eva serving a similar purpose as Davos. Her opponent wore his usual armor, which seemed heavy and like it would restrict mobility. That’d be one of her many advantages. If he had Sun Divinity, there was a good chance he’d fine if he got a bit of smoldersap on him. Maybe that would make his impassive mask of a face crack.

“You realize he’s got nearly twice your Divinity, right?” Davos shook her from her thoughts. “He’s at the fifth level of ascension, nearly the sixth. He’s solidly a demiGod. You’re at what?”

“The third,” Adriana muttered. “That’s all I need. He might have more abilities than I do, but I’m stronger and meaner, I guarantee it.”

Davos smiled. “I hope you enjoy this as much as I’m about to,” he said. “And I wish you the best of luck.”

She laughed and waved him off. He and Eva both left the arena, and then a hush fell over the crowd. Adriana felt the presence coming before she saw him.

A short, balding man with glowing gold eyes walked into the arena. He wore a robe a century out of date, and his rings covered his fingers. Much like Hessius, he projected an actual aura of strength, tenacity, and determination. Lucas had warned her the island’s patron God Patropi would oversee their match, and he didn’t disappoint.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” He called out in a booming voice ten sizes too big for his body. “Welcome to today’s special sparring match. And on such short notice, no less!” The God smiled at the cheers he got, then continued. “Here we have a clash of sunspots. We have our very own Lucas Vaughn, head of our local chapter of the Children of Stephanos. The immovable object himself has been challenged!”

Lucas stepped forward and summoned his spirit spear. He raised it high in the air and turned in place, accepting the audience’s applause and support with good humor. Part of him even looked uncomfortable at the attention. Exasperated.

With a sweep of his arm, Patropi gestured towards Adriana. In the semi-shade of the arena, his perpetual glow showed more. “His challenger? The newest hopeful for his group, out to prove herself a match for our best. She is a fiery, scrappy young woman, and hungry. Give it up, for Adriana Belleros!”

The applause paled compared to her foe, but Adriana spread her arms and covered them in black, bubbling Smoldersap. She roared at the sky, playing up her barbaric appearance and temperament.

“The match will begin as soon as I leave and the gate locks. Warriors, are you ready?” Patropi looked from one to the other.

“I am ready, my lord,” said Lucas, bowing graciously.

“Ready and eager!” Adriana called out.

Patropi nodded. “Then may you fight cleanly, honorably, and decisively. Remember that we are all allies here, and that if anyone dies, there will not be a third chance.”

That earned a chuckle and nod. She had that one coming, but she had no desire to kill Lucas. Without any further ado, Patropi left, and the gate closed. The second she heard the click of the lock, Adriana attacked.

Lucas stood a good head and a half taller than her and was built like an armored bear. She gambled on him being slower than her, and her Mystery of Precision showed his possible movements at a crawl. His eyes widened in surprise, and he didn’t move when Adriana slammed her fist into his jaw.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

The force sent him flying five feet through the air, right into the chain fence. The metal strained as it caught him, and then flung him forward again. He landed on his feet and stabilized instantly. “Huh,” he said as he worked his jaw in circles. The Smoldersap clung to his skin and sizzled harmlessly. “You hit pretty hard. You ready for mine?”

Adriana’s blood ran cold. The trajectory snapped forward so fast she couldn’t read it, and then Lucas towered over her. He slammed the bottom half of his Spirit Spear into her forehead.

The world whited out.

She blinked furiously and ducked the followup. Instinct drove her to dive directly into his middle. When she hit his armor and pushed, he went nowhere. She felt the rumble of his laugh, then he grabbed her around her middle and then she was upside down. Adriana had enough time to be dizzy before Lucas slammed her head-first into the ground.

Everything stopped, and she had the funny thought that she expected this to hurt more, and then it all came crashing down into her at once, and her senses failed her. It took a few seconds for her to pick herself up, but Lucas waited patiently. The bastard even offered his hand to help her up. Adriana stared at it for a second before she took it.

“You alright?” Lucas asked, with no traces of gloating on his face.

“You hit pretty hard,” Adriana conceded. “But not as hard as I was expecting.”

“Is that so?” He dismissed his spear and dropped into a fighting crouch.

Adriana mimicked him, marveling at just how much bigger he was, and how much that was going to work against him. “Punching you was like hitting a mountain. But being hit like you felt like being hit with a club. Barely worth mentioning, but good for ringing my bell.” She winked.

This time, she was ready for him. Her focus went to her Mystery, always two steps ahead. She saw where the movement paused, and acted. Lucas’ fist came down on her like a hammer, but she’d already bobbed to the side and countered.

The feeling of her knuckles crashing into his perfect jaw was sweeter than she expected. Smoldersap splashed all over his face. She followed it up with her hardest strike into his armored gut. The force of it split her knuckles open, and her bones rattled from the impact. She suspected the only thing saving her hand from breaking was her recent ascension.

Lucas stumbled back a step, and the crowd gasped. He blinked the pain away and swallowed. “Damn. What the hell is this you’re hitting me with?” he scooped up on his finger. “It really stings.”

Her heart sang. No one blow was going to take him down, but Adriana had been meaning to test something out. Why not try it on the seemingly indestructible Demigod? “That’s my smoldersap,” she said. “Most things are screaming by now. Just how tough are you?”

He flicked the sap off his fingers and got back into position. “No matter how dark the night gets, the sun is always there waiting, forever if need be. Getting tired?”

“Hah! You wish.” Adriana threw herself to her right as Lucas swung his newly summoned Spirit Spear like a club where her head had been. Her senses twisted and crossed as she rolled and his movements still echoed in her vision. Instinct guided her throw and more Smoldersap covered his shielded legs before momentum carried her back to her feet.

His next attack came just as fast, but Adriana could read his movements like oracles read the stars. Lucas moved like a battering ram in short, sudden bursts of speed and power, each one so predictable as to feel inevitable. But then, she had a feeling he was holding back and playing with her. Well, she was more than willing to play.

Every dodge came with a handful of Smoldersap until the Demigod was covered, and his movement slowed. He breathed harder now, and sweat trailed down his temples. He swallowed hard and his next attack never came.

“What’s the matter, Lucas? A little warm?” Adriana bounced from foot to foot, heart singing with joy. The audience booed her, and it felt almost as good as worship.

“I’ve dealt with hotter,” he said, looking her up and down. The bastard actually smirked at her.

“Then check this out,” she said before hitting him with her Flamespitter. The flames hit him and spread the rapidly heating black tar. She cut it off after only two seconds.

Lucas stumbled backwards, but there was no escape from the heat now cooking him. His eyes lit up in alarm and delight. The last thing Adriana expected was a smile, but that smile was enough to stun her. The next thing she knew, his fist collided with her face, again and again. It wasn’t enough to hurt her but she couldn’t regain her balance.

His palms closed over her face and swung her around by her head. Her gut tumbled over itself for a second before he released her and she sailed through the air. The chains caught her and deposited her on the dusty ground.

It was harder to get up this time. Adriana had pushed her body almost to the limit, and the best she’d managed was a draw against an opponent not taking her seriously. Although, that changed. Lucas frantically ripped his armor off, piece by piece. He kept up eye contact the entire time, smiling.

“I’m ready to accept your surrender anytime,” she said, dusting herself off. “If I wanted you dead, you would be.”

“I believe you. And you know what? I’m ready to call it a draw if you are.” The last piece of armor came off, and he wore only a simple shirt underneath, soaked through with sweat. Lucas breathed deeply and wiped his brow.

Adriana cocked her head to the side and allowed herself to relax. “And what does that mean for our little wager, and our audience?”

“Screw our audience,” he said, though his voice was hushed. “You come with us to Hessiopolis, and I give you some of my Divinity. You’re fast, but how would you like to be faster?”

The best traps were obvious, and Adriana was tempted. She looked around the edges of the arena for Davos. She found the other Children of Stephanos, watching intently, and Patropi with an inscrutable expression, but her friend was nowhere to be seen. This was all on her.

“If it helps,” Lucas added cautiously, “My report on you so far is favorable. I think you have what it takes to live up to that potential I see inside you, and I’d like to personally work with you. Give me a chance.” His smile was different now, with his own bright fire.

The idea of agreeing to anything so long term, so restrictive made her throat want to close up, but more than anything, Adriana wanted to get strong and keep her Divinity. Even if it meant temporarily agreeing to a leash.

“Okay,” she said. “A draw.”