Let's Learn The Power of Magic! (3)

"Who dares to try and steal from me?"

As the accusation thundered from his lips, I found myself in a perilous dance with danger. With a heart pounding like a drumbeat, I shifted to the side just in time, narrowly evading the deadly arc of his sword. Seizing the moment, I launched a swift kick towards his abdomen, forcing him to stagger back a few steps.

The fire in his eyes blazed hotter, his anger simmering on the edge of a boiling point as he raised his sword to point it towards me. "You...! If I ever manage to get my hands on you, I'll end your existence!" His sword trembled with his fury, a physical manifestation of his intense emotions.

A forced grin tugged at the corner of my lips, a defiant spark lighting up my gaze. "That's a big 'if'," I retorted, the thrill of the confrontation coursing through my veins like a jolt of electricity. My fingers tightened around the hilt of my sword, a familiar weight that felt like an extension of my very being.

With a deep breath, I settled into a practiced stance, the cold determination in my eyes mirroring the blaze of his anger.

"Haaaa!"

The warrior's battle cry echoed through the air, a challenge hurled into the silence. It was met with a pregnant pause, his adversary neither fazed nor moved by the vocal eruption that had punctuated the tension-laden atmosphere. In that charged moment, the stage was set for a confrontation that was as much a clash of wills as it was of blades.

The clash of steel and the dance of danger had begun, a symphony of metal that harmonized with the heartbeat of defiance. Victory wasn't just about skill; it was about the audacity to stand one's ground, a bold proclamation in the face of overwhelming odds.

With a flash of determination, he executed a downward slash, steel singing through the air. In a split second, my sword leaped to life, interposing itself as a barrier against his assault. Yet, what caught me off guard was how he held my sword from both blade and hilt, a move that defied convention and flouted expectations.

"Urk-!" The exertion of deflecting his attack forced me to lean forward, and in that precarious moment, I seized the opportunity to push him back. My pulse quickened as I surged forward, the momentum of the clash propelling me towards an offensive counter.

But he wasn't one to yield easily. Just as I closed in, he swung his sword in a renewed attempt, only to be intercepted by the frantic clash of metal against metal. The impact reverberated through my bones, a testament to his mastery of both offense and defense.

Not one to be outdone, I seized his wrist with calculated precision, a daring move that culminated in a whispered incantation. "Ignite."

Soon enough....

"Gaaaah!"

The cry of pain that erupted from him was my cue to exhale a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. The sensation of searing heat radiated through his wrist, and with a slip of his grip, his sword clattered to the ground. Yet, he was far from defeated.

"I'll kill you!!"

Determination blazed in his eyes as he abandoned his weapon, relying instead on the precision of his fists. A master of close-quarters combat, his knuckles sliced through the air with a menacing accuracy, almost reaching their intended target: me. It was a testament to his unyielding spirit, a testament that told me this battle was far from over.

His strike hit me square in the stomach, a bone-jarring impact that sent me hurtling a few meters through the air. The world spun for a brief moment before settling, leaving behind the dull throb of pain as a cruel reminder of his formidable strength.

"Haaaa..."

A sharp inhale filled my lungs as I steadied myself, determination smoldering in my eyes. My grip on the sword tightened, fingers trembling as I used my free hand to wipe the taste of iron from my lips. Blood spilled from my mouth, a testament to the relentless intensity of our clash.

Damn, he hits like a gorilla...! I can't keep taking blows like this. I need to find an opening, exploit a weakness...

As my thoughts raced, his hand rose, and a taunting smile graced his features. A challenge made manifest, a dare I couldn't ignore.

Ah... this guy just signed his own fate.

The once flickering flame of resolve in my eyes transformed into an icy resolve. With a renewed burst of energy, I surged forward, sidestepping with uncanny speed to dodge his incoming fist. Opportunity danced on the edge of my perception, a chance to turn the tide.

As I closed the distance, my fist met its mark with a satisfying thud against his chest, my voice a low chant of power. "Ignite."

His body buckled against the onslaught, sent sprawling several meters away. But I didn't stop there. Momentum fueled my every move as I pressed forward, my sword finding its mark in a precision strike aimed at his right arm. Pain rippled across his features as his arm became momentarily useless, his face contorted in pain.

Yet, the battle was far from over. My grip on the sword shifted, its blade a silent promise as I raised my free hand to cup his chin, cold determination etching my gaze.

"Who's dying again?" I quipped, a sly grin inching its way across my lips.

With a deft motion, I retrieved my sword from his arm, the blade relinquishing its hold with a sickening squelch. His body unwittingly became a platform, a fleeting stepping stone as I propelled myself away.

As I landed gracefully on the ground, I stretched my arms in a nonchalant display. My gaze shifted back to him, pity oozing from my expression like honey from a jar.

"I may be weak, you contemptible fool, but I am willing to exploit any available resource at my disposal, even if it means resorting to the excrement of a creature, just to imbue my strike with a hint of poison."

"You despicable bastard..." The adventurer's stomach churned, and he retched uncontrollably. "What in the world is this nauseating sensation? Why am I losing my balance?"

Before long, the adventurer collapsed onto his knees.

Observing his pitiful state, I approached him and offered a smug grin. "In case you failed to comprehend my words earlier, allow me to reiterate. I am perfectly willing to harness every conceivable means within my reach, including a creature's excrement, to infuse my attack with a slight poisonous effect."

He let his weapon fall to the ground, his focus now fixed on his wound. "You... You actually employed feces to..."

Soon enough, he collapsed onto the ground, his mouth bubbling and his eyes rolling back, indicating that he had fallen unconscious.

"Losing blood, along with your wound contaminated by germs and bacteria, I'm sure you'll succumb to a severe infection sooner or later.... Not a very humane way to meet your end, huh?"

With a sigh, I turned away from the scene, leaving the bandit behind to face the grim consequences of his actions.

In all honesty, my intentions didn't quite veer towards the realm of assassination. It's my fault, yeah, I admit that, however, the "grand" scheme that occupied my thoughts orbited around liberating a certain valuable item from its owner — a gem I could offload in town and fatten up my wallet so that I can buy more high-graded beast crystals. All I aimed for was a sly incapacitation of the pesky adventurer, nothing more, nothing less.... I'm kind of in a hurry to get stronger so that I can defend myself during the Waves that will be happening after three days, you see.

But let's be real, there's an unspoken rule: no pointing at my face with fingers, sticks, or any other frisky objects. That right there's a one-way ticket to heaven.

And so, the scene shifted.

The hubbub of schemes and bla bla bla~ was traded for my secluded training ground, an epicenter of growth nestled deep within the forest's embrace. This enclave, secreted near the tranquil waters of the lake, was where I train my mastery on using magic.

Crouched low, my fingers pressed into the earth as I began the incantation, my voice weaving a symphony of arcane words.

"Freeze," I intoned, the command carrying a weight that echoed through the air, promising an icy response.

But lo and behold, reality decided to play a whimsical card. As if it relished the opportunity to switch up the script, the expected chill racing through the ground refused to manifest. Instead, the cold tendrils of magic snaked back on themselves, a prankster's trick, and froze my very hand in a sculpted block of ice.

A beat of disbelief coursed through me, a moment where I questioned whether I had accidentally rewritten the rules of magic with this bizarre twist. A wry grin curled on my lips, the kind that comes when you realize the universe has its own sense of humor. My hand, the unwilling star of this frosty spectacle, had successfully executed the ultimate plot twist, turning me from the caster into the castee.

With an amused shake of my head, I decided that perhaps it was a sign to thaw out my aspirations before attempting any further feats of elemental mastery.

"I guess my Ice Magic still needs more practice..." I conceded with a wry grin, acknowledging my frosty fumble.

The words hadn't fully left my lips when a swift change swept over my palms. Like a fleeting meteor streaking across the night sky, blue flames ignited, casting a cerulean hue upon my hands. It was a display of the fusion between two opposing elements, fire and ice locked in a momentary embrace.

In an almost orchestrated dance, the fire's warmth surged forth, a counterpoint to the lingering chill. And as quickly as it had appeared, it dissipated, like a passing comet leaving a trail of brilliance in its wake. The ice, though initially reluctant, proved no match for the fiery interlude.

Within a mere heartbeat, the ice yielded, surrendering to the brief but intense heat. It surrendered its solid form, acquiescing to the inevitable fate of water. Rivulets traced ephemeral paths along my fingers, a silent testament to the eternal dance between opposing forces.

As the fire faded, leaving behind a lingering sense of warmth, I couldn't help but chuckle at the spectacle. Mastery, it seemed, was as much about embracing the unexpected as it was about wielding the elements.

Understanding the three main components of Fire is easy: Fuel, oxygen and heat.

As for Ice, it requires more understanding of how energy transfer works and the ability to manage the intricate formation of crystal structures. Additionally, ice can be influenced by environmental conditions and impurities, adding more complexity to its manipulation.

"Nevertheless, I definitely need more practice when it comes to handling my sword..."

After all, this isn't just some fancy decoration; it's a finely crafted weapon that deserves more than neglect and rust. Moreover, various situations might call for a skillful blade rather than relying solely on magic. Not to mention, there are adversaries who won't be easily outwitted by mere tricks and illusions.

"Sorry for covering you with monster's sh*t, okay?" I offered with a sheepish grin, diligently scrubbing the blade clean of its unsavory coating before rinsing it in the waters of the lake.

With the task completed, I stretched, the satisfying pop of my spine punctuating the air. My gaze shifted ahead, determination gleaming in my eyes.

Throwing the pouch I took from the adventurer to the sky and catching it, I said to myself.

"Now, let's indulge in a little shopping spree, shall we?"