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JULES
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Jules knelt down on the dusty ground in the center of the arena. The crowd surrounded him from all angles and erupted into a mixture of applause and taunting. Soil, dirt, and small rocks crunched against the leather armor that covered his knees. Fake sunlight scorched him from above. The air above the ground shimmered like a mirage. Kat looks pretty good in her new armor.
Jules watched her, also clad in leather armor, though it didn’t look as clumsy on her, circle around her opponent. She looked tough, fierce, determined. She gripped an ashen bow in her left hand and wore an empty quiver on the small of her back. The Painter supplied her arrows whenever she drew for them.
Just Archery left for Kat, and she’s absolutely hating it, but she’s nearly finished. Maybe she’ll cap out this round and I won’t have to fight her again, but with those injuries, it shouldn’t be too bad a fight if it comes to it.
Jules meditated while he had the chance. He often snuck it in while out of combat, which grew increasingly rarer. He wondered if The Painter was aware, or able to dip into his mind, but he had to go for it anyway.
Cyrus, on the other hand, looked beat to hell. He was clearly tired, but still stoic and focused. Wouldn't be so bad to fight Cy again. That iron armor encumbers his movement. He’s been holding on by a thread for the last week. Sure he hates this right now, too, but he just needs one more Level in Heavy Armor and he’s capped as well.
So what you're saying, Rukia thought, is that you're gonna come in last place? We don't finish last, Jules.
Jules swatted her out of his mind. That should buy me a few minutes of peace. Relentless twerp.
Cyrus traversed an invisible circle along with his opponent, Katarina. The iron armor looked as heavy as it looked stupid. He was slower because of it but also the only one in the group who could use the Skill effectively.
Kat and I just Leveled it by taking hit after hit. Convenient when you can't die. Oh, now Cy’s getting defensive. Probably ready to get it over with. Here we go.
Jules attempted to hush out the crowd and the atmosphere surrounding him. He felt the room they were in—the real room, at The Painter’s art supply shop—for a brief moment, then he was back in the gladiator’s arena.
Kaizen watched as well, and Jules sensed how happy it made him. Wonder if The Painter made it a colosseum just for you? Jules knew he spoke to a brick wall—he couldn’t communicate directly with Kaizen while meditating. Yet.
The Painter stepped forward between the two combatants. “Today is your final day of combat training. Finish out the day and earn your rest! Now, ready, set—"
“And what about our bet?” Jules asked The Painter. Though Jules eyes’ were closed, he could still sense the other smile through his voice.
“Yes, our little side wager, eh? I haven't forgotten. For completing your training three days early, I’ll tell you all about the Tragedy and the Horror. Fight well, my children!” He raised an arm, then flung it down to start the bout.
Jules inhaled sharply and opened his eyes, fully focused on the fight. He’d seen brutal combat between them in the preceding months, but he expected today would be a much lighter day. For their match, anyway. Neither will go easy on me.
“I said fight to the bloody death!” The Painter shouted, and he was joined in by howls and jeers from the crowd.
Katarina knocked an arrow and loosed it at Cyrus, who took it full force.
Jules laughed. “Worth a shot,” he cried out to them. We’re all still friends, after all.
Cyrus rolled his eyes and lifted the shield he’d been dragging through the dirt. He pressed towards Katarina. She ripped a dagger from its sheath with her right hand and sprinted toward him. She slammed the dagger down toward his shoulder. Always avoiding kill shots with Cy.
Cy raised his shield and blocked the blade, then he grabbed her bow arm. Katarina planted her feet on his chest, released her dagger to grip his helm, and then turned 180 degrees and flipped around his head in one graceful movement. Jules’ heart skipped a beat. For an instant, she stood on top of Cyrus. Katarina kicked off his shoulder and launched herself away from him. The force pushed Cyrus face first to the ground. Good. Maintain the distance. Knocked down, Cy should be an easy—
She loosed another arrow at Cyrus’ back. How? Did she knock midair? Getting faster, better prepare myself. The arrow deflected off the armor.
“You never go that easy on me,” Jules shouted.
Cyrus spun around and howled at Katarina. He’s just trying to survive the beat down now, all his offensive Skills are Leveled Up like mine. Katarina knocked back three arrows simultaneously. Cyrus got low to reduce his target area. She blasted the arrows at him, and Cy dodged one. Wait, just one?
The second arrow pierced through Cyrus’ upper arm and knocked him off balance. The third arrow struck the dirt just next to his hand, which he’d extended to catch himself from falling over.
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“Stop! Stop! Stop!” Everyone froze at their teacher's voice, full of wrath. The Painter walked out and shook his head. “It’s pointless for Envy to continue this fight. You won’t take a kill shot, so Jules will fill in until Cyrus Levels Up.”
“I don’t put as much faith in your Restoration Skill as you do,” Katarina snapped.
"Observe." From his open palm, The Painter shot an arrow at Cyrus, who parried it away. “You don’t put enough faith in your comrades.” I never even saw him form that arrow. But Cy did.
“I figured if I tried to hit a smaller target, like a bullseye, or a hand, then I could game the System.”
“Hm. Not a bad idea after all.” The Painter turned to study Cyrus’ hand, but he was already using it to rip out the arrow in his arm.
“I hate being on the defensive only,” Cyrus complained.
“Children whine,” The Painter said. He looked at the ephemeral sky and sighed. “Alright, Envy: hit Wrath. Wrath: get hit by Envy. Go.” He muttered to himself as he walked to Cyrus and healed the boy's arm.
“Just take it, for both our sakes,” Katarina said. “I’m ready for my day off.” She knocked back three more arrows and charged each one with a Rune. The hair around her left ear lit up a little from underneath.
> « Speed »
Nah, I've got a better idea. One that doesn’t involve me dying again. Jules ripped off his helmet and hurled it at her. One arrow struck it. He dove into the path of the other two arrows and twisted to avoid them, but he let one graze his leather armor. He rolled onto the ground and back to his feet, smiling.
“Idiot. What was that about?”
“Figured I can game the System, too. That helmet was still a part of my Inventory until it hit the ground, and I figured a graze would increase XP. Just wasn’t enough. I thought you were right there, at the edge?”
Katarina glared at him. "Like you'd ever know."
He sprinted toward her. She scowled and leapt backward at various angles to keep her distance. Wait for it…
Katarina drew an arrow from her quiver—
Now!
She slowed down to shoot it, but Jules lunged for her front leg with both arms. He looked into her wide eyes, then lifted her up and tripped her backward. Katarina wedged her free leg in between them as they fell and kicked him hard. Oof—
Nothing broken, at least. Jules still landed on top of her and pinned her down. But still nothing, dammit. Whoever Levels Up here first doesn’t have to fight again. I’m so tired already…
Katarina grabbed his head in a guillotine choke and pressed his head hard into her chest. She wrapped her legs around his back, just under his armpits. Jules leaned back in a deep squat and slammed her back onto the ground. With her grips loosened, Jules snuck out of her chokehold. They continued to wrestle for a while, and the crowd went wild. Eventually Katarina kicked him off of her and rolled back onto her feet.
She quickly knocked an arrow, but Jules tackled her back to the ground, and she loosed the arrow straight up into the air, just as her back pinned to the ground. She pulled another arrow from the quiver and stabbed him in the forearm. Jules unbuckled a strap of his armor. See if this works to Level Up…
He wrapped it around her arm, entrapping it. He felt at the edge of Leveling Up—but she wrapped her bow around his head and twisted the string around his neck. Jules tried to peel the string off his carotid arteries. They looked into each other’s eyes, and her grimace turned into a smile. “Sorry, Jules.”
What? She flicked her eyes up to the sky. Oh shit.
“AHH!!” Jules fell back and tried to rip it out of his shoulder blade. The arrow she’d shot straight up a moment before had finally come back down.
“Yes! Level 10!” She cut the bow string with a dagger. Jules coughed up blood. She rose and dusted herself off, then threw her broken bow onto the ground and walked away. “Thanks Salvos that’s over.”
“I think you pierced my—hack—lung. From the top.” Jules wheezed and focused on spot-healing his wound. Both he and Katarina had Leveled Up their Regeneration Skills into the 30s by now.
“Envy has proven her combat prowess once again,” The Painter said. He bit into an apple. “You two are limited matches for her. She excels at extremely close distances, plus her intuition, agility, and knowledge of leverage keep you all at bay so you can’t use your own strengths. That, and she has an uncanny ability to predict your utter stupidity.” Katarina smirked at Jules. “Don’t let that get to your head, dear. You’re no match for Jules when he’s not restricted to Leveling Up Skills he hates, and both of these toddlers are far superior to you in magic. In a real fight, you and Cyrus would be an even match.”
Katarina scoffed and joined Rukia and Whiskers at the side of the arena. The Painter studied both the boys. Nope. Hellllll no.
"Alright, let's take five," Jules said.
“Hm, you know, I think I’d rather have you two fight ragged. I'd say you’re good to start now.”
Jules sighed, and Cyrus rushed him. He closed the distance immediately, but could only slice at the air as Jules dodged him. Cy’s grown a lot. Never shies from killing blows anymore, either. I obviously won’t go for it, and neither will Kat, but it would be more responsible for us to get the practice in…
Still, Kat and I know what it feels like to die and come back, so we’ve kinda agreed to a non-spoken peace treaty—
Shit, that one was close! We all know Cy has to train this way, though. Best for everyone involved. Maybe I should lean into The Painter on this one and try it out, just once. Could do Cy some good.
Jules' fresh wound slowed his movements, so he just danced around Cyrus’ curved sword while he meditated and healed his lung. Wait for the right moment.
You're doing too much at once, Rukia chided him. You already lost first place, don't get last—
Scram, fox.
Jules parried a blow, instead of dodging it this time.
“Cheater,” Cyrus said.
“You try using one lung."
The two went in full force, blow for blow. They were pretty evenly matched—Jules had a speed advantage in defense with light armor, and Cyrus had the speed advantage of offense, with his curved sword accelerating faster than Jules’ longsword. Even though Cyrus had an extra lung, each friend received a heavy beating from the other. Jules pulled back from one particular slash that almost took his head off. Decapitation would be a new way to go.
He stepped back and felt a slice split across his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. Rage and fire took hold around his eyes and cauterized the wound shut, separate from his Regeneration Skill. Make note of that, could come in use later.
Jules took to the offensive now. Gonna make The Painter and Cy both work here. He slashed wildly, left to right, from armor to blade, to blade to armor. Show you what it’s like to face death. Jules slashed at Cyrus’ exposed neck. Time slowed down. Jules saw his friend’s eyes grow wide. Cyrus hesitated to block the blow, and it was too late for Jules to pull back. He’s distracted—
The blade crushed into Cyrus’ neck and sent him flying back into the stands. Terror gripped Jules as Cyrus landed on a group of flattened spectators.
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