The Final Strike
"Prepare for the final strike, kid! Since you use Wisp Movement I'll see how good you are compared to me!"
"Wisp Movement"
Arthur did not dare make any unnecessary movements because one slip up could kill him. Using all his senses to the extreme, Arthur tried to locate where Joseph's father would come out but not being able to detect as much as a single disturbance was too nerve-wracking for Arthur so he also used Wisp Movement.
Arthur went to the waterfall trying to limit the possible attacking route of Joseph's father. Joseph noticed this and was satisfied seeing that Arthur used his head not just his strength for once. Arthur closed his eyes and fully focussed on his sense of hearing as everything he saw could just be an afterimage or illusion caused by the Wisp Movement Technique.
"Hahahaha! Closing your eyes! Not bad! You found one way to counter the technique but can you handle the full technique?" Full technique? Was the Wisp Movement Technique not a full technique? Then how was it able to reach such a profound level?
"Whispering Wisp Movement"
This time Arthur heart shook as he realized this technique was much more fearsome than the Wisp Movement Technique and it resolves the flaw of hearing as there are voices that kept on whispering in his heard and illusionary strikes coming towards him. This technique was too scary as there was no flaw in this technique and was only limited by the strength of the user of this technique.
Arthur was still steady as a rock as these illusions went after him. "Hmph! I have to admit not even people at my rank could ignore those attacks so bravely! As a reward, I all counter your attack with my full strength as the final strike! If you manage to hit my body I will consider teaching you Wisp Swordsmanship! Now come!" Joseph's father stood in front of Arthur floating just millimeters above water.
Arthur knew that even if he would attack with his full strength and speed he will still lose, even with the new method of striking that Joseph taught him. This was if he was at his peak but after experiencing two deadly attacks from Joseph's dad his strength could be only utilized by 70% and could have his life be forfeit.
There was only one way to beat Joseph's father as of now, he needed to do the unpredictable which was learn this Whispering Wisp Movement Technique even for just a single sword distraction. This move integrated everything he had learned since he arrived at the Colosseum of Guilt.
Arthur went in ignoring the aching muscles all over his body. He used Wisp Movement to appear behind Joseph's father but was futile. Arthur revealed a small smile on his face.
"Whispering Wisp Movement"
Arthur then once again appeared in front of Joseph's father and as his sword was about to hit Joseph's father's body a sword blocked the way, "Hmph! I knew you had this monstrous comprehension ability but even then I only expected one distraction from you so this is checkmate." Joseph's father's sword was about to block Arthur's sword and felt a hit but then Arthur once again appeared behind Joseph's father with another attack. "WHAT'S THIS?" Another strike was landed and another then another.
Joseph's father had a solemn expression and knew that there was no true attack yet only afterimages but these afterimages contained a bit of strength. Joseph's father was weakening and only Arthur knew what was happening. It was a fragment of Will of Soul Erosion which erodes the soul of the enemy.
Slowly but surely, Joseph's father's reaction time was beginning to slow down but Arthur was also slowing down, the injuries he had sustained were not easily brushed off there were aching muscles all over his body every time he did this and kept on getting more and more painful with each usage.
"Let's see how well you could keep up with your attacks!" Joseph knew that this was an endurance battle between his father and Arthur.
Think! Think! What else could I do to win this? Wisp Movement focuses on movement and speed while Whispering Wisp Movement focuses on illusions and agility. What if I combine both? The drawback would be terrible but I have to do it. What else? I could use that striking method Joseph made me but I only have enough strength for a single strike. It's do-or-die no turning back now.
"This is it my final attack be prepared!" Arthur roared out in frustration as the pain he was experiencing was already unbearable.
"Wisp Movement"
"Whispering Wisp Movement"
"Full Strike"
"Hmph! Using both these techniques at once but the drawback would be extremely horrible! I see you have commitment child! Come and we shall finish this!"
There was only dead silence after that and even the heartbeats of these two fighters could be heard filling the heavy tense atmosphere. Arthur seemed as if there were 10 of him all charging towards Joseph's father who was still standing still not budging even a single step from there.
Strike after strike, Joseph's father was still experiencing the accumulative erosion to his soul and there were more strikes with this effect from one attack to the next. The 10 Arthurs then attacked all at once where Joseph's father defended against all of them but there was one thing he missed. What if those 10 Arthus were all just illusions? The another Arthur came from behind him from a tree using Joseph's striking method to convert strength into speed.
Joseph's father's reaction time had already been lowered, his strength lowered as well and, he was distracted by all the illusions this was the perfect time to silently attack Joseph's father. With all of Arthur's might, he shouted at the top of his lungs as he struck Joseph's father's back as he was distracted by what was in front of him.
"Hah... hah... you've done pretty well to have tried to strike me but alas it was all futile." Arthur's sword shattered as Joseph's father used his bare hands to crush it into dust. Arthur looked at his shattered sword and sighed. "Yeah... it really was all futile." Another Arthur appeared behind Joseph's father and used a makeshift shiv to stab Joseph's father in the back, this was done by the real Arthur.
As the makeshift wooden shiv scratched Joseph's father's back Arthur fell down on his back and yelled, "VICTORY!" Joseph was just as speechless and just slept as his body couldn't catch up with the pain anymore.
"Father, what weakened you was a Will so there was no--" Joseph was interrupted by a hearty laugh from his father.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I can't believe you managed to find someone with this much potential! It really would be a waste if he died in this wasteland."
"I'll look at his status first"
Status of Arthur Reeve:
Guild: Adventurer's Guild: Bronze (Recruit)
Body Strength: 300 -> 350
Soul: 140 -> 34/180 (It lowered cause its the HP)
Mental Strength: 150 -> 180
Magic: 5
Talent: 10 -> 15
Rank: Unranked
Will:
- Will of Evolution-when exposed to a certain environment/ attribute will show signs of resistance and talent growth
- Will of THE ??? - Growth Tantamount to the ???
"Even though I already knew how scary his development is, it still surprises me on how much he grows in such a short amount of time. Although this is the case, he still needs to be refined to fight properly." Joseph's father sat on the ground leaning back on a tree.
His growth and improvement just keep on shocking everyone around him as he keeps on breaking the norm. With his potential, he might reach ranks that were the human right now have trouble breaking through. With all this said, it doesn't mean that he could survive the upcoming war and assassinations. There is still a 50% chance for him to die in this war as of now.
"Father, teaching Arthur Wisp Swordsmanship could improve his survivability by leaps and bounds. With this once he reaches the height of this realm, he could do us a favor of sending us back to our realm where mother's grave lies."
Joseph's father then understood what his son was thinking, to help and guide the youth through thick and thin so that when he reaches the top he could help them back for everything that they did where they could ask the youth to send them back to their own realm.