The entire lower layer gathered around the outside of the village to witness the battle before them. To the left was the town’s favorite, Grimm. The tall older man who everyone respected. To the right was Ezra, the newcomer. Having only a few friends with him yet gaining a bit of appreciation by some of the girls in town. Yet to them he still paled in comparison to Grimm.

“So If I win you’ll let me fight for the village?” Ezra asked.

“If you suffice. That’s all you need to do.” Grimm answered.

“What’s the point in doing this? I know how strong I am, I don’t need you to decide if I can fight old man.” Ezra bickered to his opponent.

“Exactly. But if your going to put your strength into the hands of others, you better be good enough before you draw your weapon. I won’t take anyone who can’t hold their own in a fight to protect any life!” Grimm stated aloud for all to hear. Ezra scoffed at his words. Dismissing the older man’s advice and warning.

“Fine. The people here are pretty cool. This place is even better. I got to hang out with my Anabelle for the first time since we met, without there being any attacks or missions. Well until now. So. If this means I can spend more time with a talking horse. I’ll take you on.” Ezra declared even louder than Grimm did before him. Making the man smile slightly. Ezra walked over to the Mare on the sidelines. “Here.” He removed his cloak and wrapped it along Anabelle’s neck. Revealing his full frame. Ezra was smaller than Grimm yet still tall. He was a well built young man for his age. His sleeveless battle shirt showed off his large arms. He took his position back before Grimm. Ready for combat.

“Then let’s begin.” Grimm said, and as his sentence finished, Ezra had already dashed over to the tall man. He had his foot inches from Grimm’s head. The white haired man moved ever slightly away from the attack. Making Ezra’s foot crash into the ground at blinding speed, causing dust to come up.

Ezra grabbed his sword and swung it at the man. Grimm noticed it emerging from the dust and saw the young man was going for a not going for a less lethal attack. The sharp end of the blade was coming towards his torso, and the flat, unsharpen side was faced upward. Grimm raised his hand quickly and chopped the large hunk of metal downward. Lodging it into the ground.

The dust still had not cleared, and Ezra took the opportunity. He raised his knees and jumped high enough to reach Grimm. Yet was stopped by the man's unused hand. Which froze him in place. Then it actually started to freeze. Ezra’s leg was being frozen by ice. However it was burning through his thin pants. Grimm raised his leg and kicked the young man back to the ground and away from him and the sword in the ground.

Grimm immediately went for the blade. Yet he tried to pull on it and it didn’t budge even in the slightest. Ezra broke the ice off his kneecap and stood back up. He raised his arm and summoned forth a lightning spear. He tossed it at his opponent.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

Grimm did not falter or even move. The spear hit him directly, or so everyone believed. The lightning was concentrated in his hand still taking the pointed shape. He raised it and Ezra watched as his attack slowly shifted from lightning to ice. The thunder spear was now a frozen spear.

Grimm dashed quickly right in front of Ezra and tossed the spear towards the ground heavily. An eruption of ice came to the young man encasing him in a prison of frost. The crowd watched as Grimm proved his strength to the young swordsman. Anabelle however felt different. Ezra was far from finished.

The ice started to crack, and Ezra was freed from it. He backflipped off. His feet and left hand ignited with fire. The swordsman leaped at Grimm at an incredible speed. Yet Grimm found much more time to evade the attack. Ezra flew by like a hawk. Yet his idea was never to strike Grimm, but to reach his sword.

Without hitting the ground his hand grabbed the hilt, and he landed back on his feet. The sword then began to be lifted out of the dirt, and back into Ezra’s grasp. He wasted no time. With his back still turned he engulfed the large sword in a roaring thunder. He then leaped into the air, just slightly, and turned towards Grimm with the sword raised above his head. Once he came down the lightning from the blade fired off and flew on top of the ground and towards Grimm.

This time Grimm took a stance. His hands readied for defense. As it approached, he clasped both of his hands on the sides of the attack. The people behind him fearing the attack would come for them. Yet Grimm was far stronger than to let that possibility happen. He started to lift his arms, and the lightning was thrown back at Ezra.

The young man dashed with the blade before him. It pierced his own reflected attack and tore right through it like paper, Grimm took a small step back as the blade crashed into the ground again, kicking up more dust. He was still in a trance about ths young man, his sword, and his technique

Ezra lifted himself up and raised his foot to Grimms face, it was imbued with lightning for extra damage. Grimm was slammed into the earth creating another massive crater in the ground. Ezra had finally did some damage to his opponent.

The crowd were in awe at the display. An outsider had harmed the village's favorite person. Ezra was breathing heavily. He watched the dust ride around him. And then a figure stood before him, it was purely black due to be hidden in the dust. Once it settled. Grimm was before Ezra, fresh as a rose. The crowd began to cheer. Grimm showed no sign of injury or fatigue.

“You fool!”

“Did you actually think you could harm him?”

“He’s invincible. That’s why he’s the strongest warrior in the Freelands!”

Grimm ignored the villagers' remarks and walked out of the crater. He stood opposite Ezra.

“Alright. Kid your good. Let’s continue.” Grimm said. However now, he reached behind him and grabbed his large scythe. He brought it to the front of his person and held it with both of his hands. “Let’s see what holds out the longest. I frozen great scythe or your electric greatsword.”

Ezra jumped back. He then took a defensive stance. Grimm dashed forward, his scythe slashing away at Ezra’s defense. The young swordsman felt his stance ready to fail him, so he deflected the last possible attack and darted away to safety. Only, he was tracked. Grimm had moved at the same pace as him, and went for a great slash to the boy's torso. Ezra felt that this may be where he loses. His only option was to defend. He raised his arms and put them before his body. Grimm slashed at him, making him drop his blade and be pushed back. His feet dragging up the dirt as he went.

Grimm retracted his scythe. Ezra remained heavily breathing.

“Seems you got what it takes. Most of my boys can even last half a second against me when I have a weapon. You're a kid.” Grimm congratulated the swordsman. Ezra walked over and grabbed his sword.

“Yeah. Thanks.” he said casting a healing spell on himself. He took his place back over near Anabelle, where he slouched over her body.

“Alright. Nicholai!.” Grimm yelled for the sorcerer. “You’re up next. Let’s show everyone some real magic.”