Chapter 10: Unrivalled Offense, Unparalleled Defence

"I don't need lessons from you!"

Her rage was once again burning in her violet eyes, if she could somehow turn that in...

"You sure about that pipsqueak? Let er go kid"

Ota was already stronger than me, she could of pushed me aside with little effort, now she had permission and she wasn't going to hold back. Right as a let go she lounged forward with a punch straight to Riders stomach.

She took it without flinching, right into her tank top, ripping a hole into the clothing I was sure she wore over two years ago.

"You've trained yer' body, without any technique, that means nothin'"

Eager to show exactly what she mean, Rider bent down and struck Ota with her right arm in an open palm strike, fingers towards the ground, that stopped just short of Ota's stomach.

Much to my surprise, not even a second later Ota was sent flying back straight into the training hall we left smashing the doors as she was slammed into it. Every time she always took it too far, no matter who it was!

"What the hell Rider!"

"If you want my respect, you gotta work for it. Right now you're weaker than er', maybe I'll send you flyin' too!"

Now her sight was set on me as she took the same stance, bent knee, right arm down.

"Y-you're kidding!"

"If yer don't have the strength ter conquer me, then you'll only die a horrible death in this world"

Bloodlust filled the workshop as time slowed down once again and a cold sensation swept my face while I felt mana pour into my relic at an alarming rate.

"RIDER!"

A blood curdled scream rang out, loud enough to make my ears sting as a grey and red blob moving at incredible speed slammed in Rider sending both crashing through the workshop sending projects, weapons and armour flying.

Rider had slammed into her forge, knocking hot coal over the place and onto her while Ota landed underneath a few sets of shields.

Rider was the first to get up, brushing off the hot coal that left burn marks or holes her clothing without damaging her semi tan pink skin, a High-drake through and through, practically immune to heat.

"One down, one to go"

She spat out a tooth and began to walk towards me slowly, I knew I was in danger but I didn't know how to fight someone like her. My relic is the only defence I have.

As I slowly backed out into the open courtyard I saw the stack of shields rustle and saw one thrown directly at Rider.

What emerged from that mess was a suit of bloodied dull grey plated armour. It wasn't thick like a paladins set, nor was it complete as pieces around the stomach, head and legs were missing.

It was Ota, barley standing as she pulled out a red rock from her back pocket then crushed it against her chest and a wave of energy flowed over her.

"I DON'T-"

Blood gushed out of her mouth and she coughed in continuation, speaking while grinding her teeth.

"GO DOWN SO EASY!"

Her aura was of the charts, as if slowly pushing everything by her aside, this is must of what Enda said of 'Enhancing' that aspect. Banging her gauntlets together, shields formed in a circular motion as a perfect copy of she threw.

That was the power of her relic, turning her emotions into a defence like no other, her will to not go down nor give up, that is why she was chosen. If something existed to protect, she could create it, as long as her mind believed that was its use.

In truth, her relic was very similar to mine, I just didn't know how to use it.

Ota rushed in front of me sensing my hesitation, transforming her circular bucklers into tower shields that formed a wall, closing into a hut with another circular shield on top.

Practically perfect defence.

"Don't think, just swing dammit! You'll feel it out. I'm about to drop this wall, you rush her and just believe in that thing ok!?"

"How did you do it!?"

"I didn't do anything! It just did what I felt it should do... Urgh! Times up I can't hold this longer"

That move only lasted a few moments and its toll was apparent already.

As the shields collapsed into each other, Rider did not hesitate in attacking again.

Using a closed fist with her pinkie out, she struck right in the middle of Ota's collapsing shield with her left hand.

This time Ota had braced for it but she still slid back a considerable amount, falling to her knee after.

"Oh? You ready teh' strike now?"

I widened my stance, gripping Thousand Cuts in both hands over my head.

If this thing could really change into whatever I liked, then there was one attack I was deeply interested in pulling off, one that came from the Kitsune that named this relic.

Seeing my determination, Rider kicked a long wooden staff against one of the many stone pillars that held the roof up. It flexed and bounced back into her left hand as she flourished it like a monks quarter staff. If Sister Naji was here, I would expect a rivalry between monks to occur.

Rider thrusted the staff at me fast, I barely had time to react as I swung my arms down.

I felt the mana cycle through my hands as I envisioned what I looked like with Arisu's blade.

A half second later, the clack of metal on wood rang out and I was sent flying.

An overhead strike was not a good idea against the quarter staff, I was struck right in the stomach.

If I didn't clench, I would of lost my breath and been out for the count.

I landed against Ota, hitting her with my back.

"You did it-"

She coughed up blood again, while applying pressure to her left arm. Despite blocking Riders pinkie strike, she technique allowed her chi to pass through Ota's defence.

"-wrong. I told you, don't think- *cough* fuck"

"Shit. You going to be alright?"

"I told both of you *cough* I don't go down so easy. Next time I'll do it right with Aura"

With Aura! I forgot!

Out of all the dam lessons, using it only anything that extends past your body like weapons or shields needs manual contact. It's why Arisu always ran her fingers along the flat side of her Tachi.

I don't know what good it'll do me now, struggling to get up, but rider stood under neath her forge as the blizzard turned extremely cold rain pelted us.

"Hey- *cough* you want to show her something right? *cough*"

I did, and it was only a hunch, but it might work. High-drakes, depending on their nomadic constantly moving tribes, gradually adapt to their environment. In doing so they can inhabit areas that would mean death to others, but lose out on other resistances.

My relic had almost changed perfectly to Arisu's 'Unforged' relic, only the grip remained, I knew what I had to do.

First things first, I took off my shirt and used my newfound blade to cut it into strips of cloth and bandaged Ota, judging by Riders annoyed looks, I hit the jackpot.

"*cough* second time you've taken- *cough* off your shirt for a girl now *cough*"

"Shut up, let me handle this"

Making fun of such a serious situation isn't what I would call my idea of a great time, she'd lost so much blood already and I could see her start to go pale.

I grunted.

"This is why I need to learn healing dammit!"

Basic first aid is all I could pull off, casting such spells took as much time to learn as other advanced magic and where extremely draining like Calegriss.

Wait... Calegriss... was that a hint from Ota? No way, surly she didn't listen to my rambling of my past... Ota isn't that smart... I think.

All I know is using wind and rain isn't the only way I could get an advantage on Rider and spotting a damaged crate of assorted potions behind her, I need to strike fast.

I walked slowly towards her, making sure she knew how pissed off I was at what she did.

"*cough* go get her *cough* tiger"

Arisu's sayings seem to have rubbed off on her.

"You crossed the line Rider"

"And? If ye don't have the power to back up yer words, they best be unsaid"

Not leaving it to chance, holding my blade with my right hand, I formed a vortex with my left allowing it to naturally pick up the surrounding rain.

Picking up on this, she changed her stance instantly as I threw it.

To counteract the freezing water, she span her staff extremely quickly spreading the water while taunting me.

"That all you-"

I had already gotten halfway through my next cast as she talked, she noticed it immediately.

With my left hand in a claw I created a magic circle, with my right hands index and middle finger I created rune words of heat, cool and my target.

She sprinted forward into the rain knowing defeat was the only outcome of staying under cover.

If she had worn magic resistant armour, this spell would of failed.

But she didn't and now her internal temperature was rapidly cooling, approaching that of a humans, or a hibernating dragon, the goal.

Knowing her speed and that breaking the spell would cause her blood to slowly rise back up I took the same stance as before after running two fingers against the blade.

Rider, despite having slowed down considerably, moved like her attacks would still destroy me.

She gripped her quarter staff like an oversized sword and when she barely got in range, she swung.

I felt the heat rush from my face again as time slowed, I was ready to strike.

I closed my eys.

Left for forward, right foot back to the side. Arms up and over my head, an overhead strike.

I was not swinging, no, I was not the one who performed this move.

It was her.

And she struck like she did before.

I cut through Riders staff perfectly, a slice that left the wood slowly sizzling in the rain and she collapsed in the rain, lack of warmth finally got to her.

"You've changed kid"

"It's Touji Himura now"

"*chuckle* Vickie... or Vic, hell Vs fine too. You better pull me out of this here rain. I'm freezing my tits off"

"Rest Touji, I'll handle this"

Enda and a few of her copies emerged out of nothing in the pouring rain, as if watching the whole ordeal, crushing a red crystal rock against Ota's chest while coating her wounds in a potion.

One day, I want to learn that damn camouflage spell, right now, I was almost out of mana to the point of passing out and need to rest a bit.