Chapter 41: Fake vs Imitation

[Analysis Complete]

[Tobias]

[Level: 39]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Soldier]

[This is your Friend and Ally, Tobias.]

[Are you not friends with him?]

[... Hostile Intent detected!]

[Lower Level Target...

Scan Completed:

Vitality: 32

Endurance: 35

Strength: 34

Dexterity: 34

Intelligence: 16

Wisdom: 16

Magic: 10

Willpower: 29]

[Advice: Level up Physical Attributes.

+67 Free Points ready to be used!]

How thoroughly insulting, as always.

What kind of advice was that? This shitty [System] did not seem to understand that it, itself, was incapable of doing so for him.

Tobias... had come to grow leaps and bounds ever since he first laid his eyes on the boy. Yes... his [Stats] had suddenly, drastically increased twice now. That really was a confirmation of his own [System], if nothing else.

But this man was still standing in front of him. He wasn’t claimed by the Gods for stepping past his bounds... No, that was just a fancy way to cover it up. What Jacques meant was; Tobias’ body was still functioning.

His heart did not explode from the strain – his brain did not fry itself trying to compute the sheer mathematics involved needed to operate a [System]...

That only meant that... His [System] was an imitation, then.

Then again... Jacques had no right to say that.

Because he himself... his [System] was fake. It was no better than his.

Well... no matter. Right now, numbers were meaningless, and words were useless.

Only swords spoke truth.

The only thing which mattered right now – was to defeat his opponent to the point where Tobias would never dare to challenge Jacques ever again.

Tobias will never give up. Even if you strike him down, he will keep challenging you time and time again.

Tobias wants to step past the point of no return.

It was only Jacques’ will to make him turn back before he regretted it.

This is a battle you will lose.

Jacques only sprang forwards to reply.

***

!

Tobias barely managed to step back to dodge the faster than expected slash! It managed to graze through his chest, cutting a gash through his coat and tunic horizontally, but didn’t draw any blood.

And when he raised his longsword to deliver a retaliatory strike, Jacques quickly stepped away while parrying away the strike – a testament to his skill and speed.

Since... Since when was Jacques this fast?

Tobias raised his guard for the first time.

It seemed like he had underestimated Jacques. After far too long of serving as their primary Vanguard, he had thought that Jacques was more suited towards diplomacy, leadership skills, and handling their party logistics.

He had forgotten those focused eyes – which knew how to duel against a single person in particular. He was noble born, after all, and were they not trained in the art of dueling?

But those eyes were too focused, and too narrowed...

It was almost as if he knew what Tobias’ next moves were...

But more importantly... Jacques had a System of his own, didn’t he?

The capability to make himself stronger through numbers and experience... It was only proven as of this very moment to him.

That was the only explanation he had.

Because he had never remembered Jacques being this fast...!

Their swords met each other – and the force from Jacques’ swing made Tobias’ wrist slightly strain.

Jacques was also strong...!

Eyes the color of the Earth glared against Eyes the color of the Heavens, as both of them circled around each other, looking for any weaknesses or openings they could use.

“How bothersome.” Jacques began, and Tobias flinched from his words, not expecting him to begin talking. “You underestimated me, and I wanted to use that to end our little duel to end right there... But I didn’t expect you to actually react to that.” While he was speaking, his guard was still raised.

“Yeah... The moment you attacked me, that only confirmed that you’re a System user as well.” Tobias replied, his own guard kept up as well. “That only means I have to fight you seriously.”

“Really, how inconvenient.” Jacques sighed. “No matter. That only means that defeating you while you’re serious would serve as a good lesson for you.”

A good lesson, was it? Tobias let out a laugh.

“Don’t underestimate how much I want those answers, Jacques.”

Silence, again. That was the end of their little spoken exchange. It was time for swords to force victory, and to the winner goes the spoils.

And if Tobias wanted those answers... then staying on the defensive like this was useless.

So he raised his sword, and swung the longsword downwards, intending to force Jacques to backstep or to block it.

Jacques raised his saber, meeting the longsword for the briefest of moments, before he angled it. His technique caused the angle and momentum of his attack to slide against his saber, redirecting his strike towards the side...!

And in that same moment, while his longsword was falling off to the side, Jacques raised his sword and with a looping strike, sent a swift cut through Tobias’ forearm –

But Tobias was also fast.

The ringing sound of steel against steel only told Jacques that Tobias managed to twist his longsword fast enough to block the slash aimed towards his forearm.

The saber’s slightly curved middle edge only clashed against the longsword’s near-guard edge, as both of them tried to find a way to disengage from the bind without leaving themselves open.

Saber could easily slash at any weak point. Longsword could be easily thrust at any opening presented.

A true bind, really. But all Tobias had to do was to use his superior leverage and strength to simply push on the saber, so he could aim the longsword at his opponent...!

But Jacques realized this. He tried to leap backwards to avoid such a fate.

Tobias’ sword lashed out to try to catch him while he was mid leap –

But his saber only deflected the hasty strike once more, before he managed to leap away from Tobias’ reach entirely.

Even an ungrounded parry was able to deflect that thrust, after all. That was because Tobias had prioritized speed over strength at that moment.

“You’re real flighty, aren’t you?” Tobias asked, as he raised his guard and carefully inched closer towards his Leader... no.

Right now, he was his opponent.

Nothing more, nothing less.

“You’re much stronger than me.” Jacques admitted, without any sense of shame at those words. He just spoke them as fact. “You’re also surprisingly nimble when it comes to handling that longsword of yours... Not much I can do aside from try to be flighty, don’t you think?”

This feeling was only too familiar. A flighty opponent who tried to attack from all sorts of angles, and even used one’s overexertion of strength against themselves as they deflected each strike to the side...

Was this the feeling that Magnus had whenever he fought against Tobias back then?

Stop. It wasn’t the time to think about the distant, melancholic past.

And when they were within striking range again, Tobias sent a thrust towards Jacques. In turn, his opponent only parried away the strike, and that was when his experience had failed him.

Jacques raised his right foot, and with a quick sweep, sent it towards Tobias’ leg, intending to disrupt his balance while he was in the middle recovering from his attack which was parried away.

Tobias had never experienced a real sword fight against a person with two fully functioning legs.

So his instincts – they made him desperately raise his right foot even if it compromised the positioning of his longsword, and he moved to block the incoming kick with a kick of his own.

“Ghrk...!” Tobias winced when he felt his shin crash against another shin. But that was better than simply accepting that kick for free, was it?

“Gah!” But for his opponent – it was a different matter entirely.

Jacques grit his teeth together, letting out a pained hiss, and hopped backwards with his other foot, as he seemed to balance himself on his left foot entirely.

Was Jacques’ right shin shattered now? Possibly.

Did Tobias care? It would help him win – so the answer was a morbid yes.

He stepped forwards –

But when his right foot met against the ground, he almost tripped, if he didn’t plant his sword into the ground to support himself. His leg flared with major pain like someone had violently placed a few glass shards in his leg – and he knew that he couldn’t take a step with it anymore.

Of course... He also fractured or shattered his right shin, and he didn’t notice until after he tried to place all his body weight on it.

In front of him, Jacques only grinned at him, even if he was in pain as well. Just like him, he also placed all of his body weight on his left foot.

“Just because you have higher Vitality and Endurance... That doesn’t mean you can’t ignore your bones fracturing, Tobias.”

“Yeah... Lesson learned.” He said, and he raised his sword again, trying to find his new point of balance now that his right foot was no good.

“You never know when to give up, don’t you?” Jacques said, only watching him adapt to his new injury. Then he let out a sigh, and raised his saber as well, but his stance was balanced far too much to the left.

Not that he could judge him. His balance was also leaning towards his left. And when he found the optimal balance and stance, he carefully limped forwards with his left foot.

Tobias knew...

No. He understood that in the next exchange of strikes... A victor would be decided. He could see it in Jacques’ eyes – he would never back down from this challenge, and neither would Tobias.

Especially not now, when Tobias’ enemy can’t run away anymore.

Especially not now, when Tobias could see his victory in sight.

Especially not now, when the questions to his answers would be answered by his victory...

Then bearing through the pain of a fractured bone or two would be worth it.

He crossed the final hop to meet Jacques in sword range.

He had already passed the point of no return. Therefore...

This is a battle he must win!

Tobias sprang forwards, to turn his will into reality.

***

Tobias was faster.

Tobias was stronger.

Tobias was more determined to win.

What did Jacques have to match that?

Why do you keep fighting an unwinnable battle, Jacques?

Why was he fighting an unwinnable battle?

It was simple. Those innocent, unknowing eyes of pure earth...

He did not want to stain them. He did not want those eyes to contort into one of pity, cast towards him...

He wanted Tobias to keep seeing him as his Leader. And even if not his Leader, then his equal, at the very least.

What a shallow reason. You already know that even if he were to know the truth, he would still respect you.

What is your real reason for fighting, Jacques... No. 15426, What is your reason for fighting?

The real reason why he was fighting...?

It was hopeless. There was no use hiding anything from himself.

If there was anything this sudden duel proved... Then it was the fact that Tobias seemed to bear a certain disposition towards revenge, and was incredibly impulsive to a fault.

Because when he learns what happened to Jacques...

There was no telling what he would do next.

A hopeless fight that even he would not be able to win. They were unbeatable...

It was for his own good.

That was the reason why he was fighting against this man who was far faster, far stronger, and far more determined than he ever would be.

... You are a very selfish man, Jacques. But nonetheless, I understand. Unlocking non-lethal [System] feature...

“Gah!”

His left eye – it felt like a red-hot needle pierced through it, blinding it...!

“Jacques!”

This is the price for power, is it not?

You, who only selfishly saw and understood things from half the full picture – Only from your perspective. You know that Tobias needs those answers, correct? You know that it would be a great boon to his journey, do you not?

Then my gift to you is only fitting, is it not?

[Skill Acquired!]

[Precognition (Vision)]

***

“Jacques!” Tobias yelled out, when he saw that his opponent only crumpled to the ground. Jacques clutched his left eye in pain, as he hissed loudly to himself.

What was going on?!

His own instincts as a friend overruled his desire to win this fight, so he didn’t go for a cheap shot even if he could easily do so.

There would be no honor in such a cheap victory...! And at the end of the day, Jacques was his friend, no matter how much he hid the truth from him.

He limped forwards, and tried to kneel down to help his friend – but when he did, Jacques only glared at him, and raised his sword threateningly at him. His right eye burned even brighter than the sun, but his left eye...

It was sealed shut, and blood trailed from it like a macabre tear of crimson. And within that blood, he understood that his left eye... would never be able to see again.

Tobias managed to parry aside the desperate saber strike when he stepped closer.

“What did you do...?” He asked slowly, while Jacques only pushed himself to stand on his left foot. “Jacques, what did you do?!”

“Does it matter... What I did?” Jacques hissed back, his left eye completely shut now. “Our duel... still goes on, Tobias!”

It was no use; Jacques had already raised his saber, pointing it towards him.

Was Jacques that desperate to attain victory? Was he that desperate to the point where he would ignore the pain he was in? Where he would shove aside Tobias’ own feelings of consideration?

No... He had simply forgotten. His will had wavered from seeing his friend in pain like that.

This was still a duel to see who attained the right of victory.

He had foolishly thrown aside his pride and desire to win, even if he would end up dealing far more damage to Jacques’ pride than his own eye at the end of it.

“My apologies.” Tobias said, and raised his longsword once more to match his opponent’s stance.

And without any further words, Tobias burst forwards, raising his longsword to split Jacques’ saber in half.

Surely... now that Jacques only had a single leg to balance himself with, such a high-powered strike would only make him fall to the ground. And to fall in battle – was tantamount to defeat.

But Jacques...!

Even with only his left leg, he somehow managed to deflect such a strike! Once more letting his longsword slide against the ground, Tobias could only watch as Jacques looped his arm around, and sent another slash aimed towards his arm –

He managed to step back far enough to dodge most of the attack. The saber still slashed towards his arm – but it was reduced to a mere cut, instead of dismembering him.

His balance fell, because he forgot for a split second that his right leg couldn’t properly support him anymore. So with a pained hiss, he let himself roll backwards, before pushing himself off the ground to recover his stance.

Tobias stared at Jacques, and began to think.

Jacques had managed to shift his center of balance to properly allow him to deflect such a strike... It was almost as if he could knew what he would do...

“This is amazing...” Jacques whispered lowly, while his right eye glowed brightly. “But it seems like I still have to get used to my new depth perception... That strike should have slashed through your arm.”

“You... What exactly did you do? Why are you faster than before?” Tobias asked, his voice as low as his current kneeling stance, ready to pounce forwards at the slightest weakness presented.

“Faster?” Jacques asked, and then let out a small grin. “Yes... Let’s say that I’ve grown faster than before, shall we? Do not worry, Tobias. I will win this duel, eventually.”

“...”

Tobias only said nothing, raising his longsword instead. And with a quick hop towards Jacques, he sent a thrust aimed towards his stomach.

But Jacques only shifted his stance – already before Tobias had even prepared his strike to begin with! Jacques only parried away his longsword, before his saber initiated a counter attack aimed towards his shoulder –

Tobias managed to shift his stance low, so that such a blow was only glancing, even if it drew blood.

Once more, his longsword swept diagonally upwards to a strike, but Jacques only met it before it even gained momentum.

...!

Tobias realized something at that moment.

Jacques was not faster.

No... Jacques could seemingly read his every move, as if he could see the future...

And for the first time, Tobias realized that...

He might actually lose this duel if he kept holding back in fear of killing his friend... no, his opponent.

If Jacques was giving everything he had to win this fight...

He only needed to respect it.

Tobias breathed in deeply, and steeled his resolve.