13 Combat

As I left I saw Carol just leaving she smiled at me and walked over with her lithe figure.

"We were never properly introduced I am Carol and you are?" She said with a blooming smile.

"Lucas," I said in a curt manner, last time I had her attention. Raynard started to show murderous intentions.

'I have no intentions to befriend her but she'll be useful in a moment.' Thinking about this I couldn't help but smile a sinister smile.

"It must be tough to get here without any resources." She said in pity of me.

"Indeed it was rather tough," I said with a sigh.

"Well my family is always willing to support a genius and I rather love supporting a genius as well…." She smiled and winked at me seductively.

"So what do you have to offer," I said with complete enthusiasm.

As we spoke I could feel two gazes, one of hate and the other of curiosity. I looked behind me and saw Teacher Elton and Raynard both staring at me.

'Causing trouble with the nobles on the first day. I wanted to see how he handles pressure before deciding on accepting him as my disciple. Though this proves his courage it borders on arrogance. If it's not unfounded then I will make him my disciple.' Teacher Elton said while stroking his beard in contemplation.

'This bastard with just his little talent he wants to take my woman.' Raynard thought as his rage soared.

He stomped his way towards Carol and me.

"Since when did the rabble gain the qualifications to talk to their betters?" Raynard said in an icy voice.

"You're right, now piss off with your little bitch," I said in a mocking tone, she reminded me of Anna. That brought forth my anger from the past.

Carol next to me looked on in anger to be referred to as a bitch. Her face became pale with embarrassment and anger.

"Quite a lot of balls kid, I hope your keep your balls for later," Raynard growled at me, almost unable to hold back his murderous intentions.

"Talk is talk don't make a threat, why not show me?" I teased with a knowing smile

"Shut up no more bickering, if you want I was planning on having all of you do 1v1 in the arena anyway. You can fight it out there let's go." Teacher Elton said with a strict tone

"Why not bring the stakes up a bit, let's bet sword marks." I said to Raynard

With that Raynard's face hardened, getting those sword marks are tough enough. Even buying them requires a ridiculous amount of money. Betting them was like betting his entire livelihood. He had a lot to lose but also a lot to gain.

"Alright, how many do you want to bet?"

"How about 200," I said with a smile

"Hehe, how would you get 200 sword marks?"

"Naturally I would have to work for them and of course I would pay interest if I am not fast enough."

Raynard's face softened, getting me into massive debt would be just a delight for him.

"Fine deal," Raynard said reluctantly

"I'll get in on this as well." Said, Carol, as she handed her medallion to Raynard

"Just don't back out at the last second." Said Carol with schadenfreude

"Of course, but who will make you pay up?"

Now it's time to make Teacher Elton involved as my witness I thought in confidence.

"Naturally I'll be the witness if anyone refuses to pay they will be made to pay," Elton said almost commending our bet.

We walked to an Arena right next to the Weapons Temple and near the Divine's Temple. The Arena was a large stage colosseum style with view stands all around. Currently only some small groups of people were around.

When we walked in they turned their attention towards us as if they had been waiting. Teacher Elton looked around at the people in the stands. Today he wasn't wearing his armor so he wasn't as intimidating so no one ran away from his stare.

"Here is the arena you are allowed to use any weapons you own. But you must not kill on the arena. Those that kill will be severely punished so I suggest you keep your cool. A warrior is weak if they cannot control themselves." He said as he stared at me and Raynard.

Raynard's face started to burn of embarrassment but I remained indifferent. I was getting free money because Raynard was angry that his little bitch came to talk to me.

"Since you two want to get at it first, just hand over your medals to me and go into the arena," Elton said as he put his hand out waiting for the medals.

I handed my medal to Teacher Elton and walked over to the arena. Raynard did the same he had his sword on his waist. It was a black sword with a grey and worn out sheathe. But from its age came an undying power and force.

Raynard noticed my gaze on his sword as he started to speak proudly.

"This is a sword crafted from a level 50 undead ghoul. Though it was just a bone, the essence lets it have the power of at least a level 30. Don't get too envious of this sword though you wouldn't be able to wield it."

"Less talk."

With that, I unsheathed my sword and took a two-handed stance. I need to finish this with speed and control. I need to be so fast that they won't know what hit them.

Raynard also readied himself although he looked down on me, stakes were too high to mess around with.

I flew at Raynard at attacked with a cross slash intent on bisecting him. The sword in his hand turned into 3 illusion. One for each slash and the third a strike. Each illusionary parry would bring my sword away from Raynard. I narrowly dodged the strike so I could hit again.

I swung my sword at his legs he then parried it mid travel. With that, we both retreated from each other.

'Those sword illusions make it hard to react, I am faster and stronger but it's like he can make extra moves.'

'Shit, why am I forced to use the illusionary style already. Unless I can reach a state of weapon fusion I can't use the Formless style. Which means I am stuck on the defensive. Alright keep calm he'll tire out and won't break my defense then I'll strike.' Thought Raynard

"Having a hard time keeping up commoner?" Raynard said with a sneer

"Funny coming from Mr. Defense only why don't you just attack me?" I said as I pointed my katana at his throat

"You don't have the qualifications to receive my sword. I just want to destroy you entirely, so try your best only to find you are just pathetic." Raynard pontificated, but I didn't bother to listen. Instead, I spoke to Drrak.

'Drrak what is with his sword?'

'It's a weapon technique it allows him to use illusionary swords to parry your attacks. It's defensive in nature because it just redirects attacks so don't worry about him attacking you with it.'

'Does it have any type of weapon intent?'

Weapon intent is qi's generated from weapon affinity. The higher one's prowess gets, the closer they get to intent.

'Really minuscule intent otherwise he wouldn't be able to use it.'

I concentrated all my thoughts onto my sword my affinity took form. As the sword trembled with Saber Qi, back in the basic training camps. I reached the realm of intent on accident, I never needed to use it so I never made use of it.

I went on the attack again meeting his sword with my sword. Each strike creating sparks and a scratching sound as our weapons met.

Raynard would block each strike using his illusions but with each strike, I got faster. My sword moved like the wind striking at every illusion.

He started to get overwhelmed and pushed back.

'Not bad use of speed he must have a nearly flawless physique before breakthrough.' Thought Elton appreciatively

But only Carol remained in the stands biting her nails in nervousness her money was on the line as well.

Our strikes kept meeting and at this point, I was one move ahead of Raynard but I need him to slip up at least once.

"Come on Raynard at least strike once," I said with a smile

I even revealed my side unguarded, Raynard hesitated on attacking but the fight going this long was already embarrassing for him.

So he gritted his teeth and parried my final blow before he attacked my side. He slashed towards me I guarded my side with my sword and used the momentum to push him forward and make him retreat.

He moved back two steps and inside of me the lotus started to rapidly revolve. Levitating over the lotus, the spatial rift started to morph to various shapes with increasing speed and intensity. My eyes flashed with violet energy, but I didn't activate it just sent it all into my sword along with the Saber Qi.

I concentrated everything on this next swing. I ran in and slashed across him he met my strike with his illusions. But this time the Illusions were dispersed as my Saber Qi crushed the intent in the illusion. Dispelling the illusion my sword bypassed everything and flew towards Raynard's body.

He tried to move back and nearly escaped until my void energy activated for a single moment. My sword moved closer and cut his shirt and left a small cut across his abdomen.

He retreated and took up a guarding stance once again unaware of the cut to his chest.

I looked at the cut gratified and sheathed my sword much to Raynard's surprise.

"Giving up already commoner?"

"I expect you to shut up from now on, you've lost," I said as I pointed towards Raynard's abdomen.

'Huh,' Raynard thought as he saw the cut.

"When did you get me?" Raynard said in anger

I turned my back to him.

"Teacher Elton that will be enough right?"

'That last strike how did he get him, it shouldn't have hit him….' thought Elton

"Indeed that will be enough, you've done well."

Raynard stood still infuriated by this turn of events.

"I want a rematch."

"Excuse me what did you say," I said quizzically

"You heard me I want a rematch, there is no way you beat me fairly," Raynard said enraged as he turned to look at Elton.