Chapter 4 - Sparring

"Fight-

Before Vance could finish his sentence. Claude stepped forward.

Stepping up to Drake and unsheathing his saber, he slashed in a mighty slash, utilizing all the inertia of his movement. His saber blade seemed to bend with its speed.

Drake drawing his sword, blocked from the front. With a metallic sound and sparks, their swords clashed, causing Drake to absorb all of their impact in his arms.

"uh"

The heavy blow made him let out a grunt, forcing him to take a step back.

Claude, seeing this, let out a smile. With a movement of his feet he prepared for another blow.

Taking note not to take the hits directly, Drake decided to take a different approach. Being the weaker side, blocking was out of the question.

With the sound of something cutting through the wind. The saber descendeds towards his head. The feeling of being in a "real" fight brought an inexplicable satisfaction in Drake's heart.

Placing his sword at a diagonal angle, while thrusting in at the last moment of impact. Causing the saber's trajectory to deviate. The weight of the saber suddenly changing its trajectory caught Claude off guard, forcing him to change his steps, causing an opening.

Drake grinned as he advanced wildly.

Taking advantage of the base he used to deflect the attack, the sword moved fluidly as it rose above his head and descended, where Claude's opening was most exposed.

Claude felt a bit of pressure after their exchanges, making him take this match seriously. The sword brushed against his hair as he backed up and created a space of a few meters.

Claude was sizing Drake up and down. There was something different about him since he met him. His eyes were different. From the little they talk, his personality seemed to have changed.

Now looking at Drake, He felt something that he only feel looking at his older brother or his superiors.

He sensed danger.

The feeling of having someone who just a few days ago was afraid to look you in the eye. Suddenly, he was facing him and even managing to retaliate.

It pissed him off.

Bending the knees and holding the saber in a lunge position. Claude prepared for his charge.

Of the people watching the duel, many recognized this position. Claude's signature combat technique.

" The young master is finally going to take this fight seriously with his Vicious Snake technique " Said a passerby.

"Isn't he taking this sparring too far?" someone asked.

"Perhaps, but young Drake must recognize the moment to give up" Another replied.

Vance, who was watching everything happen, had a heavy expression. From here he was pretty sure Drake was going to leave with a few broken limbs.

In the arena.

Claude still kept his saber pointed at Drake, while his eyes stared at Drake as if he were his prey. His body felt like an arrow pulled tight by a bowstring, ready to be released.

Just when silence takes over the arena. Claude moved in a burst of speed, thrusting his saber toward Drake's sword.

Drake felt like he'd been hit with a hammer, blasting his sword from its defense.

Claude's saber made a continuous attack. His saber blade curved like a snake's body. Exploding like a whip as his attack connected with Drake's left hand.

Drake felt a throbbing pain. Making him back off as he reconsidered his options. Trying to move his arm, he felt that his hand was broken, making him grunt in pain.

"Shit" Drake said as he gritted his teeth.

From the short exchange they had, Drake sensed that the danger of Claude's blade was his point of impact, where the blade would connect.

His technique moves incorporated the movements of a snake, making his attacks unpredictable. His strength was in his unpredictability and malleability.

A wild smile crept across Drake's expression. A very bad plan was formed in his mind.

From Claude's expression, it was clear how pleased he was to watch this scene, his eyes twinkled as he walked forward. His saber, again bowed, as he followed Drake's figure.

Looking into Drake's eyes, he noticed something different. His eyes weren't following the saber blade. Drake's eyes traced a path, the path where the saber blade would be a few milliseconds away.

In Drake's mind there was nothing. His body just reacted while his soul screamed to hit that spot.

Clang

Sparks flashed in the eyes of the two fighters as the deafening sound of clashing metal echoed throughout the arena.

--

In the audience, everyone had a stunned expression.

The Vicious Snake technique, which was created by an ancestor of the Crimson family, was repelled. It was in the beginning stage, where there was no interaction from Aura, but still, repelled.

"That... was luck... right?" A passerby asked

"Of course it was, there's no way a technique passed down through generations could be interrupted by a child... right?" Another voice came up with uncertainty.

"Have either of you seen this happen before?" His doubts rang out.

Vance, who was next to the arena. He saw the whole situation. Luck? With those eyes and conscious cut? He didn't believe it, but only the course of the fight would bring answers.

--

Claude felt his hand go numb.

The slight vibration that his saber emitted, having received the impact of a direct attack, brought discomfort that went beyond the physical body. That was luck, right?

Allowing his saber to rush forward for his next strike, Claude was exerting all the physical strength his body would allow.

Drake held his sword in one hand, calculating the trajectory of where the point of impact would be. He again swung his sword with all his might.

Clang

The metallic sound, along with sparks, exploded throughout the arena.

Clang

Clang

Clang

Their exchanges continued.

Claude wore a fierce expression as he continued his relentless attacks. His pride, unbelief, anger and fear. His mind was running wild. He had a disbelieving expression on his face. He believed he was superior to Drake, he was.

He had superior techniques, he had a stronger body, he had Aura.

That

Drake has no Aura. He can barely feel mana.

The mental pressure Claude was feeling was driving his mind to the brink of insanity. Making him not consider the consequences.

Clang

After an explosion of sparks along with the metallic sound. Claude stopped his movements. His vicious gaze scrutinized Drake as he slowly lowered his saber.

"My dear brother, I think you'd better get ready, because now I'm going to educate you"

Claude said as he tried to look composed.

As he uttered such sentences. Claude again bent his knees, posing for a vertical attack.

When his foot was about to leave the ground. A translucent green aura enveloped his ankles.

His speed was instantly boosted. Making it explode in one swift motion towards Drake.

For Drake. All that was seen was his opponent about 3 meters away, when suddenly, he was in front of him.

When Claude's body appeared before Drake. His partial aura, which was at his feet, was now wrapped around the arm that held his saber. The saber curved like a snake, following its master's attack.

Drake didn't have time to react. Suddenly, the saber's trajectory was about to hit his face. His only option was to block with his left arm, which would make him receive all the impact on his bones.

With dry sound.

Drake's body was flung away. His body floated in the air, before landing about 3 meters away.

As he landed, his body kicked up a trail of dust, while a small trail of blood was left on the ground.

Vance, who was watching the whole thing unfold, decided to intervene. Today, Drake surprised everyone by showing off his improved combat ability. He was mildly proud of Drake's progress.

Vance said aloud.

"Very well, that's enough-"

Before he could finish his sentence.

"Not yet!" Drake's shout echoed through the training field. As he rose, leaning on his sword.

His body was dirty with dirt, his left arm was down. Drops of blood fell from where his arm had been hit.

His breathing was heavy, but his determination burned at every turn. He would risk his life if necessary.

His heartbeat was accelerating, surpassing that of an ordinary person. The blood under his skin was running all over his body, giving him a reddish tint.

Red energy sparks came and went, showing all over his body.

His eyes were barely visible under his black hair. His eyes that were originally dark. They were slowly turning red.

In his mind, the satisfaction of being in a battle reached its peak.

In his face. A wild smile formed.

" I'm the one who's educating "