Part 1

I had no time to really think about what kind of spell was best at that moment. Neither to consider the possibility of countering Danthe’s spell. The best option I could think of was “stone cannon”, a slow but powerful earth-type spell of the third tier. At such close range, it was the most destructive. What I could not expect was that my opponent would have the same thoughts. By the time I noticed that Danthe was also casting “stone cannon”, was already too late to switch to a counter.

The two cannonball-like chunks of stone rushed against each other and, with one hand now free, me and Danthe had the same innate instinct: covering our eyes. And that was the right call since, upon impact, the two “stone cannons” shattered into hundreds of smaller pieces. Those smaller pieces began flying in every direction, piercing walls, the roof and, of course, our now defenseless bodies. But of course, we were defenseless since, other than having one hand busy carrying our weapon and the other covering our eyes, we were also being pushed backward by the impact.

With my ears still ringing and my head spinning, the first thing that stroke me back from that momentary absent-mindedness was a piercing pain located on my right side. A wooden spike was piercing right below the waist, not a fatal wound and certainly it didn’t touch any organ but it still was one of the most burning pains I had ever felt. It was soo painful that my other wounds paled in comparison to the point where I didn’t even notice them. A swallow cut on my left cheek probably from a piece of the stone cannon, a deeper wound on my left triceps and a couple less deep on both forearms. Then a couple light wounds on my shoulders and chest, and finally, some more wounds of different degrees on my legs. All in all, I was in a rather bad shape, with my uniform all battered up and bloodied, but luckily not bad enough to prevent my movements. Except of course for the spike the size of a hilt on my side.

My opponent was not as lucky as me. Though, compared to me who was sitting down with my back against the wall, he was standing up thanks to the help of his spear, he was in a worrisome condition. The worst was a deep wound on his right shoulder that prevented him from using that arm and forced him to keep it limp on his side. The rest were smaller flesh wounds but their sheer number totally made up from their lack of depth. Chest, abdomen, legs and arms. Danthe was covered in wounds from the neck down. I don’t remember seeing a single part of his body not covered in blood.

“That’s what I’m *cough* talking about!” Shouted Danthe as he tried to take a step forward by shifting more of his weight onto the spear.

[He’s crazy! How can he walk like that?! Just stop…]

His legs were trembling with every tiny movement. It was clear to me that he was in pain and was pushing himself not to show it. But why didn’t he use any healing magic? I thought it impossible for the son of a noble not to know at least the basics of healing magic. He could’ve at least taken care of the smaller wounds. Yet there he was, completely ignoring his wounds and only looking to continue the fight.

“Just stop! Let’s not go *grunt* too far” I replied as I painfully took out the object in my side and applied the most basic healing magic at the same time.

“Stop? Stop you say?! Don’t talk like a weakling, Bluescale! I know, I know you can still go on. I can see how you’re healing your side, you still have mana left to spare uh!?”

[Fuck! Is he able to see the flow of mana? Wasn’t it a rare ability to have, huh Kyvern?!]

“So what if I’m healing? It fucking hurts you know!? And you should probably do the same. Your shoulder is not looking good, Hannes”

“Healing? Hahaha! I don’t know any healing magic!” He shouted between a couple of coughs.

“What?”

“Haha, you thought that since I come from a noble family I would have been taught it, right? Well, you are wrong! I won’t ever learn healing magic! I’m not so weak that I’ll need to heal myself in the middle of a fight. I’m not scared of getting hurt!”

[He’s crazy. He’s fucking crazy!]

“Now come on-” Continued the redhead “- Stand up and keep fighting me! I can still move my body, see? Are you not worried about your little friend!?”

“Stop it with your jokes!-” I shouted, angered by him suddenly bringing up Kiara “- How can you fight like that, you can barely stand up! Just tell me where she is and I’ll act as nothing of this happened!”

“Tch, how boring…if you won’t attack, then I’ll do it instead!” Shouted in a crazed tone Danthe before dashing towards me with his spear ready to strike.

I tried reaching around me in search of my sword but my hands only touched burned wood. My sword was nowhere to be seen. I was defenseless against his spear. I couldn’t parry or strike back, not even redirect his strike. Furthermore, he was less than three meters away from me so casting an attack spell was out of the question. All I could do was dodge.

“Fuck! Medium speed boost!” I shouted as I barely began to crouch in a squat-like position.

In a second I was out of his spear’s reach. My body felt light and my legs’ muscles fresh, as if they sustained no cuts or fatigue. The sensation of freedom that came from being in a boosted state never ceased to amaze me. It felt as if my body strayed away from the path of being human. Something that felt wrong, out of place yet incredibly satisfying.

[So that’s how they feel…the strong!]

I took Danthe’s surprise as an opportunity. He was still in the middle of his dash, his spear extended in front of him but his eyes full of dismay were following my movements. He indeed had sharp senses. Nonetheless, I was still too fast for his tired body to react.

Before he could fully rotate his spear towards me, I took my chances and rushed in below it. I was crouched a meter before his exposed side. He couldn’t react and most certainly not dodge or counter. I brought back my elbow, preparing to spring my fist. My goal from the beginning wasn’t to kill him or hurt him but rather to render him immobile but apparently, though my words said all that, I still felt excitement at the prospect of the battle and before I realized it, I was already casting a new spell.

“Medium strength boost” I whispered to myself moments before delivering the punch.

Upon contact with my opponent, I could feel his flesh squshing, his muscles tensing and his whole body arching. I had never realized before that, how destructive the strength boost was against other humans. Only when seeing Danthe falling meters away even before I could retract my fist, did I really grasp what kind of abyss was the difference between Kyvern and everybody else.

Unexpectedly, Danthe didn’t stand down for too long. Still helping himself stand up with his spear he faced me once again. His side was still a bit arched, probably aching with the pain from my fist as drool mixed with blood was falling from both sides of his mouth. But what was most unexpected was that the first thing he did as we locked eyes was laugh. A crazed laugh, without a single hint of sanity in it.

“That’s it! THAT’S IT! I knew you still had it in you! Now come on, I’ll face you with everything I’ve got!-” Shouted my opponent while raising the spear over his head “- Roar, Phoenix!”

Just like that, Danthe’s spear began shining a bright red light, warm almost, while something totally out of the reach of my dreams took place. Danthe’s mana began flowing into the spear. It was as if a new gate of his mana flow had opened and began forming a new vein inside the spear. I couldn’t really see it in detail but that was the sensation I was feeling. That was a mana connection with an inanimate object. I was amazed…simply astonished.

“Hahaha! I bet you see it too, my mana flowing into my spear-” Said Danthe with a satisfied grin “- This is the only good thing I got from that heinous place, this spear, Phoenix. I don’t know the specifics but, isn’t it amazing? A metal that can absorb mana and function as a catalyst just like a wand would. Hahaha, better dodge Raphael Bluescale, I wouldn’t want to burn off one of your arms hahaha!”

He was getting too cocky for my tastes, but he had all the rights to do so. That weapon was amazing. I had heard of weapons that could conduct mana only in legends and rumors, and they all involved heroes or legendary knights. How could a weapon of such caliber be in his hands? I was so amazed and shocked that I failed to notice the changes in the spear. It shone a bright light no more, instead, the whole spear was enveloped in flames from the handle to the tip. With the only exception being the place where Danthe placed his hand.

“It’s time to spread your wings, Phoenix!” Shouted Danthe once again before swinging down the spear.

[Eh? We are three meters apart how can he reac-]

My thoughts were cut short as a wave of fire erupted from the swinging tip of the spear. Not only did the wave cover the entire distance between Danthe and me, but it also went further ahead and burned the floor for at least twice the distance. I was only able to dodge the last second but my pants still got caught in the fire.

“Told you to dodge” Said Danthe behind a playful smirk. He was having fun. I didn’t know what kind of existence he lived that led him to develop such a fierce love for fights but in a remote place in my mind, I thanked the heavens…since they gifted me with such an exciting opponent. A noble who seemed to defy the most basic description of one and is also strong enough to actually be considered a challenge? I only hated the fact that he was under Gallher’s banner.

“Yes…you did” I said as I took a stance. My center of gravity slightly lowered with one leg in front and the other in the back. Both arms in front of me in a box-like bearing with my fists clenched.

I was about to enter an armed fight with only my fists, though even if I had my sword with me the result wouldn't really change, the fire generated from that spear would have still hit me even if I parried it. I was fast, fast enough to dodge his strikes, and my body was light but I still had to end the fight as soon as possible. Even though I bluntly treated the wound on my side, blood was still gushing out with every little movement.

The start of this second round was determined when Danthe raised his spear once again only to swing it diagonally. I could only dodge until an opening would show up.

His movements were slower compared to when we first crossed swords since he was now using only one arm, but the troublesome thing about them was their unpredictability. Danthe was way stronger than I took him for. Even with only one arm, he was still able to change the trajectory of the swing, even if slightly. In a situation where I tried not to make too many movements, having to adjust my dodges with those random trajectory changes led to constant pain.

And so, we kept at it for what felt like only a couple of minutes, though I lost count of both his swings and time after the first ten swings. Even with my speed, finding an opening without the risk of either getting burned or re-opening the hole on my side turned out to be way more difficult than I imagined. In the end, our exchanges weren’t fair. After all, I was only able to land a couple of punches and a kick, while the damage I sustained was far greater. My right side was now covered in a sticky crimson color and 2nd and 3rd-degree burns were forming in various places around my body. It was only thanks to the “medium defense boost” that hardened my muscled and skin that I could still stand, though I had to sacrifice some speed.

- DANTHE HANNES’ POV-

“You’re *pant* harder to hit than a *pant* damn snake, Bluescale!”

“I’ll take *pant* that as a compliment!”

We were both out of breath. Our movements were starting to lack in both speed and power, plus my Phoenix’s flames seemed colder than before. Neither of our manas’ were infinite and we were reaching our limits. Though I believed he was in a worse state than me since the color of the silhouette his mana formed around him slightly changed towards the end.

“Keep fighting, Bluescale! Keep fighting! I don’t wanna stop now! Who cares about your friend? Who cares about everything else? We are both breathing the same air, bleeding the same blood!”

“What are you *pant* trying to say?”

“Fight me, Raphael Bluescale! Fight me as the equal I’ve been searching for!... The only reason I came to the academy was to find someone like you. Someone I could really go all out and still struggle while unleashing Phoenix. So keep fighting my equal…let’s keep on this fight to the death!” I shouted against the will of my fatigued lungs.

“Equal?... Fight to the death?... You seem to have misunderstood something”

“Eh?”

[Something’s wrong…his whole aura…changed]

There was a shift in the air that surrounded us as Raphael pronounced those words. The mood darkened and the air became somewhat heavier, as if I’d just entered a small closet. Not only heavier but also cold. I could feel it, deep within my lungs. A stinging sensation that was preventing me from grasping full breaths of air unlike before.

[Is this what they call pressure?]

An unsettling feeling of fear began rising from deep within my being, more like a primordial instinct than a sentient feeling. Just like the beasts in the wild nature know not to challenge those who stand above them and run instead, so did I feel the need to escape.

[He’s different from when he entered the shed. I knew he was strong and enraged but I didn’t feel like running…why now? What happened?... Am I…cold sweating?]

“I’ll spell it out for you since you don’t seem to notice. You and I…we are not equal. Did you really consider this a fight to the death? I’ll have you know that I never had the intention to kill you, nor anyone else… Do not overestimate yourself”

“W-what are you even saying?!”

“Oh…If words don’t get to you…actions will-” Raphael said. His head still facing slightly downwards preventing me from looking into his eyes “-...Thunder boost armor”

In the blink of an eye, his whole body was surrounded by small, bright, light-blue thunders as if to create an armor clad around him. I remember it vividly, every single detail of his appearance. From hair to toe, small thunders the size of a finger began crackling a few millimeters away from his body. Only his face was spared from them.

On his waist, on the left, a small circular-shaped black mark began growing ever so slightly, until it became the size of a kid's fist and its shape resembled that of a stretched egg. It was a curious detail. I had never seen a mark that looked like it burned away skin as it grew. Not that I had ever seen a mark grow in the first place. But what really piqued my interest was his face. In particular his eyes. Finally, I was able to see them and they were a sight I would never forget. The first time I understood what the word fear truly meant. Emphasized by his dark hair, a bright glow the same color as his eyes began shining around his iris. His eyes were unlike the eyes I had ever seen on his face since then. There was no emotion, no anger, no rage, no pity…nothing. They were simply cold, as if he was looking at nothing but a stone brick. Something unworthy of his attention. Those eyes of his were both charming and frightening. Something inside me was urging me to lower my head but I could not do that. It’s as if I was lost inside them.

Before I could even react, he had already disappeared from my sight. Light as a feather, without making any sound, and as fast as lighting, he moved all the way behind my back. I could feel the mana erupting from his skin all over me. I wasn’t paralyzed, simply not fast enough to react.

“Do not compare yourself to me…you’ll have to cross the sea before you can call yourself my equal” Whispered Raphael in my ear.

I turned around as fast as I could, trying to raise my arm to protect my face but I was slow. Compared to him I was nothing but a snail. I could only see what was happening with the edge of my eye. His fist clad in blue thunder approaching my face. It was already close the moment I laid my eyes on it. So close that I could feel the crackling sensation of the thunder pricking my skin.

His eyes cold. His posture perfect. His fist deadly.

[Ah…I screwed up]

That was the only thought inside my head.

Part 2

- RAPHAEL BLUESCALE’S POV -

Something grabbed my wrist right before I could make contact with my opponent. It moved fast. So fast that I could barely see a shadow jumping over us and grabbing my wrist. But its speed wasn’t the most concerning thing. To be able to stop a fist powered up with a “medium speed boost”, a “medium strength boost” and a “thunder boost armor”, one would have to be way over my current capabilities.

“Fuuu… made it just in time!-” Said a voice coming from my right “- You guys are both pretty damn scary. HaHaHa, no one would believe me if I told them you guys are students!”

His voice was masculine yet excited like a little kid. When I turned around to face that strange voice, the smiling face that greeted me was one rather familiar. A pair of shaded black glasses in a very particular circular shape, long black and blonde hair that fell over his shoulders and back, and a cocky grin that showcased his perfectly white teeth. A professor at the academy that I had yet the pleasure to meet, Constantine Gildoor, ruby tier adventurer.

“Ah…I’m saved? Eh…hahaha…fuck” Said an out of breath Danthe before collapsing right below my feet.

“You didn’t kill him, right?” Asked Constantine as he gave me a puzzled look.

“N-no I don’t think so” I rapidly replied, still shocked by the fact that he was able to grab onto my wrist at that speed.

“Ehm-” Said Constantine as he scratched his neck with his free hand “- Do you mind turning off this spell? It kinda tickles you know”

“Mh? Ahh, yes, yes I’m sorry!” I blurted out as I followed his suggestion and stopped the flow of mana.

[It tickles? My “thunder boost armor” tickles?]

“Uhh, much better thanks. Though I must say, I’ve seen something similar to this in the demon continent but never to this extent! It’s amazing how those demons were only able to clad their fists while you had your whole body covered! Tell me, tell me, who’s your master?”

“Ehm, I…don’t really have a master”

“Ohhh is that soo?-” Replied Constantine. This time his expression changed from his interested grin to a questioning glare “- Oh well, if you don’t wanna tell me that’s fine!... Now I’ve seen what I wanted and asked my questions, time to go. See ya!”

“Wait, wait!” I shouted as I tried to grab his wrist.

“What?”

“What do you mean what? I’ve got soo many questions! What’s this whole story? Why are you here? How did you know we were fighting?”

“Wo woo, pipe down with the questions. I don’t want to have anything to do with it, just ask him what you wanna know when he wakes up. Here,-” Said the man as he tossed a couple of thick-looking roots of deep purple color with red veins “- you eat one and give the other to him, once he wakes up sort your business!”

“Wait, those are “Crying princess roots”?” I exclaimed with a surprised look.

“Uhhh, we got a smart one in our hands, HaHaHa!”

“Those are extremely expensive healing roots?! Why are you giving us these?”

“Why you ask? Of course it’s because I’m a teacher. Do you think I would let my future students wounded and bleeding? Now, don’t be picky and do what you’re told. See you at the academy!... Oh, by the way, don’t worry about your friend. She’s already back at the academy” Said Constantine with his back turned against me right before sashing out of an open hole in the wall.

“...What the fuck just happened…”

Part 3

It had been an hour since Constantine left me and the collapsed Danthe alone, and finally, he was waking up. I spent that alone time treating both mine and his wounds. It was mostly done thanks to the “crying princess roots” since my mana was almost completely depleted but I still used some basic healing spells to cauterize the hole in my side.

The “crying princess root” was an extremely expensive item that has incredible healing qualities. I once read in a book that, if treated in the right manner, it could even help grow back small appendices like fingers. The “crying princess root” is extracted from the “crying princess” a peculiar type of tree with red leaves that drip some kind of red wax, hence the name crying princess. This tree is only found in the elven continent and requires a special environment and treatment. To have in my hands such exquisite items seemed like a waste to use it.

“Oh you are finally awake!” I greeted Danthe as he rose from laying down on the corner I put him.

“What is….Why the fuck am I tied!?” He shouted when he tried to stand up, only to find both his hands, legs and arms tied.

“What? Did you really think I would just happily let you go after healing you? Do you take me for a fool or some kind of saint? Be grateful that I let you sleep in the first place!”

“Ohh, I get it, I get it! So this is how the great Raphael Bluescale treats other people! How brutal! You are just like an evil jailer…no! An executioner!”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, princess. Want me to prepare you your dinner too? Maybe a hot bath? Oh, right. Want me to carry you on my back all the way home? Shut the fuck up!” I shouted as I threw the closest piece of wood to a now sitting Danthe.

“Tch, you are no fun!-” Replied him as he dodged “- So, what happened after I fainted?”

“Look at him! After all this, he even has the balls to ask questions!”

“Aarghh! Just reply dammit!” Screamed in frustration.

“*sigh* Professor Gildoor came and stopped me right before I could deliver the punch. You then fainted like the little girl you are. I’m surprised you didn’t piss your pan-”

“Just stick to the facts, asshole!” Interrupted me Danthe.

“Right, right. As I was saying, you fainted and I had to heal you with “crying princess roots” that the professor gave me. I had questions but he said to wait for you to wake up before leaving. Satisfied?”

“Why are you so angry at me?” Asked in a relaxed and rather perplexed manner.

“Why? I don’t know, maybe because you kidnapped my friend and forced me into a fight?”

“Ah! So Gildoor didn’t explain anything to you?”

“THAT’S WHAT I JUST SAID!”

“Jeez calm down! Do you mind untying me so that I can explain?”

“I don’t think you need your hands to speak”

“Tch, fair enough”

Patiently, Danthe then explained to me everything that happened to him from the beginning. From my declaration of hostility towards Gallher to the meeting with Constantine in the tavern after the meeting and how Danthe decided to leave Gallher’s group. Though he explained everything in detail, I had the feeling that some facts and names were conveniently left out. I didn’t voice my thoughts since I had no actual proof of that but I made a mental note to check those facts for myself later on.

“So let me get this straight. The whole reason you started this kidnapping incident was because you wanted to fight me but you didn’t find any reason for it?”

“...Yes. I guess you can summarize it that way”

“Pfft HAHAHA, you really are out of your mind!”

“Oi don’t laugh asshole! I told you that the only reason I came to the academy was to search for someone to call an equal!”

“Then what about the upperclassmen? I bet there are strong individuals there”

“Probably, but it’s not like they’ll grow any stronger. I was looking for someone that I could get in a competition with. You know, the good type of competition. The one where you motivate each other to do better. That kind”

“Yep, I’ll say it again. You are a nutjob”

“Oi fucke-”

“But it’s not like I don’t understand-” I interrupted him “- That rivalry you are looking for is something I already know since I’ve been training with my brother since I was young. It’s just the way you did things….did you really have to get people involved in it?”

“I know, I know! But I was desperate. If words went out that I had left Gallher’s group you wouldn’t have fought me with as much excitement as you did!”

“Yeah, yeah I get it. Can you walk?” I asked as I cut the roped tying Danthe’s body.

“Mmh mhn, I think I rested long enough”

“Good. Then I’ll head back and forget about this whole story….ugh I’ll have a lot of explaining to do-” I lamented as I began walking towards a hole in one of the walls “- See you around!”

“Wait!” Shouted the man behind me.

“What now?”

“...Can we…I mean…Fight again some other time? In a more contained manner I mean!”

[Why is this dude acting like a shy girl all of a sudden? It’s gross]

“Eehhm..sure. I mean if it’s a spar you want then it’s ok from time to time”

“Ohh does that mean we are now fr-”

“Stop…don’t even go there! Do you really think that I would consider you a friend just because I understand your situation? Get real dude! Just yesterday you were part of the group that tried to kill me and my brother. Are you seriously asking me to just forget about it all and welcome you with open arms to my friend’s group?”

“Oh…you are right...I guess” Replied Danthe with the most dejected expression I had ever seen in my life.

[Ugghhh why does he have to be like this?!]

“Ughh! I won't make promises but…just go ask them! If they say no you are out, ok?”

“A-are you sure? As you said I was an enemy so I understand if-”

“Don’t make me change my mind!”

And just like that without another word I began slowly walking back to the academy, still fatigues by the fight, with Danthe a couple of meters away looking like a happy tail-wagging dog.