Even I feel a little damage from that and she’s indirectly complimenting me. I hear Marthe snort in amusement, which is the final straw.

“Raahhh! Forget the stakes! We’re fighting now. You’re going to eat those words when I knock her head off her shoulders!”

“We’ll see.” Her arms come off my shoulders and I reluctantly let her go as she steps back. “I’ll see you later, dedia.” Her fingers brush my cheek as she walks away, heading for her garden.

“Your wife just signed your death warrant,” Arthur says in what I guess is meant to be a menacing tone. His intimidation rolls right off me.

“It seems we’ll be starting our training off with bouts. As team leader—”

“Who made you the leader?” Alana interjects but I ignore her.

“—I’ll set an example and go first. Arthur has kindly volunteered to be my opponent.”

He makes a rude gesture with his hands.

“No stakes for now.” They really have nothing to offer me. “Let’s get the rules settled. No leaving the garden, stay out of the trees for your own safety, no aiming spells at the house, victor goes to first blood.”

“Oi! You’re not escaping with first blood!”

I sigh. “Yes, because beating each other unconscious is a great way to build camaraderie. First blood. You get one hit so better make it count.”

His scowl says he doesn’t care about my rules. Fool, these rules are more for your protection than mine. Though I plan to make my one hit count as well. “Any other objections?”

“First blood is acceptable,” William says with a nod.

Marthe scoffs and turns her head.

Alana grins, hand falling to the hilt of her sword. Likely imaging she has an advantage with her blade.

“Then it’s settled. Bell will be refereeing.”

My favorite imp, who’s been lurking under the table, swiftly jumps on top of it. She hugs her tail to her chest and bows, raising her head with a “Coo~”

A hand goes to my heart that feels like it’s been pierced by an arrow. Gah! Why is she so adorable?! “Don’t let those big eyes or adorable little arms fool you. She’s strong and she will hurt anyone who breaks the rules. Won’t you, my little saint?”

She launches herself into my outstretched arms and lets me cuddle her, her tail going to its usual place around my neck. “Coo coo!”

“Ah. Except you, Alana.”

“Thanks?”

“Have you finished talking?”

“Sure thing, Arty.” I put down Bell with a chuckle as he stomps away from the table and follow him. The others trail us. Alana scowls as Bell jumps onto her shoulders but after several unsuccessful attempts to brush her off, she reluctantly allows the imp to stay.

I take a dueling distance from Arthur. “Then—”

“Rahhhhh!!”

I watch with a hint of amazement as a large section of earth surrounding Arthur lifts into the air as a loose cloud of dirt. It’s incredibly similar to what Bell did yesterday, but at a reduced speed. She gathered the earth and condensed it in a matter of moments while Arthur’s cloud is still forming.

However, his gaze tells me he’s prepared for me to try something. Oh, this must not be a continuous spell. If that cloud of earth is an already cast spell, it’s a good way to bait an opponent with a fake opening.

Not that I intend on attacking him either way. He seems intent on hurting me but this is a training match. A show to demonstrate what my teammates can do.

I can’t see what they can do if I stomp them before they have a chance to use their trump cards.

The cloud of dirt around him becomes so thick I can no longer see his figure, rising several meters into the air. After a minute, it starts to condense. Slowly, a vaguely humanoid figure appears, made from stone. I crane my neck up to stare at the giant featureless face except for two hollow eyes.

“Are you stupid? Letting your opponent do whatever he wants.” A voice that might belong to Arthur if he were, well, a giant, rolls over the garden. “You’re going to pay for being so cocky.”

“Uh-huh.” Not impressed.

The earth giant takes a heavy step forward, it’s large body casting all of us into shadow. Its next step is forceful, shaking the ground. Then it’s running toward me.

I jump out of the way of the feet trying to crush me. “Is this all you have?” I shout up to the dancing titan. “Maybe if you keep it up, I’ll choke on the dust you’re kicking up, haha!”

Objectively, it’s a good technique. His stone suit is a powerful defense, what earth casters are known for, while its size and weight make it a fearsome weapon. I imagine the average solider would simply drop their swords if they saw it walking towards them.

Very impractical in terms of war. It’d be nothing but a giant target. A hail of spells would bring it down instantly. Then the collapsing giant would fall on its allies, causing—

“Choke on this!”

His shout interrupts me from my musings. I stumble as Arthur’s earth puppet jumps high into the air, momentarily blotting out the sky. Then it’s falling, limbs splayed for maximum coverage. Quite a bit of coverage. From the corner of my eye, I see the others hurry off to escape the falling giant.

I suppose it’s time to show what I can do.

I raise both hands, splaying out my fingers as the giant gets closer. There’s a dull thud as he lands on my palms. My arms buckle but the strain isn’t anything I can’t handle.

“What?” Arthur asks. “How are you—”

“Not the time to get distracted by the details.” I bend my knees and quickly shoot up as I throw Arthur away. The giant is airborne for several long moments before hitting the ground hard, tearing up a large section of the garden before being stopped by the trees.

Oops. Accidentally made more work for Gajin.

“Saints.”

I turn to see Marthe watching me with a dropped jaw. William is in a similar position, shocked into silence. Alana is less surprised as she is frustrated. Mm, I like competitive women too, but she’s going to drive herself crazy trying to pit herself against me.

I wave to her before turning back to Arthur. “Anything else?” I call to the prone giant. I really hope this isn’t the extent of his abilities.

Luckily, the giant begins to shift, curling in on itself until it’s a smooth ball. Spikes slowly emerge from the surface, the cones as thick as a tree’s trunk. It rocks back and forth before rolling toward me, rapidly gaining speed.

“Don’t want me catching you again, huh?” Too bad for him, I’m not just strong. I’m almost fast. Fast enough to easy move under the incoming spikes, grabbing two under their smooth bases. Again, I throw Arthur’s construct into the air, jumping after it. The spikey ball starts to spin. I kick out, foot going between the spikes and catapulting the ball backward.

If they were any other trees, Arthur would barrel right through them. However, these are Kierra’s. Nothing she grows is simple.

Arthur’s little ball cracks against the trunk of the tree like the shell of a peanut, the spikes shattering on impact before it snaps apart down the middle. The rude man falls out of the hollow center. He’s on his feet instantly, staring at me in disbelief.

“The fuck are you?!” he shouts, the faintest trace of fear in his voice.

“Bell, is he bleeding?” I ask.

“Coo~” [Not at all, Master Lou.]

“You heard the imp. Match is still going. What else you got?”

“I don’t know what kind of monster you are…” Arthur puts a hand on one of the larger chunks of stone. The stone begins to move, transforming into a spear. “But I’ve put down bigger.”

I motion for him to get on with it.

With a shout, Arthur charges at me. Mm. Again, I’m forced to recognize his ability. I’d thought he be a brute trying to spit me like a boar before a feast but his movements are masterful. Dare I say, graceful. The tip of his spear seems to track me no matter where I dodge. He’s always ready when I try to get past his range, smoothly changing the position of his hands and wielding his spear like a staff. And the wooden spearhead is sharp, easily slicing my clothes with each narrow dodge.

However, the gap between our physical abilities is simply too much.

He jabs his spear at me and I lean backward, grabbing it just under the head. I clamp down and snap the head off before yanking on the shaft. Arthur doesn’t let go of his weapon and gets pulled along with it, into my range.

I grab him by the throat. I lift him but with his height, it’s just forcing him to the tips of his toes. He immediately punches me. I can tell from the grimace on his face and the tension in his arms that he’s swinging with all his might.

I don’t feel a thing.

Slowly, I raise a hand, making sure he’s watching me as I make a fist. “Grit your teeth,” I say cheerily. I don’t wait to see if he follows my advice before punching him in the gut.

He flies backward, hitting the ground hard and rolling six times before he comes to a stop. Tough bastard tries to get to his knees before violently retching and collapsing.

Bell leaps from Alana’s shoulder and hurries over to him. Seeing the small imp drag him by his ankle makes me chuckle. “How is he?”

“Coo coo.” [A little internal damage but nothing I can’t fix.]

Don’t fix him up too much. A nice bruise might shut him up.

[As you wish, Master Lou.]

I turn to the others. William takes a step backward when our gazes meet. Aw, did I scare him? I give him my friendliest grin.

He pales. Hm. Kierra might be influencing me too much. Can’t even smile right anymore.