Chapter 22

“Welcome welcome! TODAY MARKES THE FIRST TIME WHERE AN S CLASS STUDENT IS CHALLENGED FOR HIS SEAT!” said the voice of a commentator.

She was one of the school personnel. The arena looked grand with many people lining up to see the event. A lot of them were servants and most were nobles that came to watch out for boredom.

The royal prince is nowhere to be seen probably not interested in his sister’s bullying rampage…

The old man who was at the gate yesterday was now on the sidelines watching the event.

Lady Lissandra was not here though, and it was almost noon.

What is taking her so long?

The pressure I was getting at standing alone within the arena was not something small. Everyone was now appraising the one that challenged one of royal lineage, a double negative challenging an S class student, one with enough power backing them to change the fate of the country while another is nothing but a speck of dust in the dirt.

Lady Akari and Melinda were both watching the stage attentively.

I even hoped for one moment that Lady Lissandra would not come, this would make it much simpler to solve this problem. However, I doubt it.

‘Indeed, this is a psychological attack from her part, she has commenced combat with you long before you sat stage on the arena, making you wait here, giving you hope that she may not come then abruptly breaking it when she shows up in the last minute for you to be demoralized. This is a tactic that was often used in the past. Giving hope to the weak then snuffing it. Forcing their world to crumble as they grew reliant on a fleeting hope’ said Nocturne

‘Hey… no need to make my situation sound desperate’

‘Ah don’t worry about that, when worse comes to worst I will take over and finish this farce, I wouldn’t want that root to go into their hand. After all, you came in with a 100% chance to win. As long as I am with you that is.’

‘That is cheating… assuring, but still, it is cheating.’

‘One uses all their resources in a fight, there is no such thing as cheating. The one who is right is the one who is standing at the end of the fight.’ Said Nocturne

‘However, don’t for even a second believe that I will help you if you do not give it you're all. Afterall if you fail me and show weakness, or show yourself to be unable to exert all your potential, then I will not help you and will give up the root. We can still find another one someday, but the honor you will lose will scare you forever. And that is a lesson you must learn in order to always give it your all.’

‘Honor? What honor does a mere orphan have’ I said

‘Not yours Basara, you are now carrying the honor of your house and mentors. Your Lady of flame, the swordmaster, and the Just lord’s honor are all on your shoulders… no pressure…Kekekekek’

The announcer then spoke once she looked high in the sky, it was noon.

“It appears that Lady Lissandra will not be showing up today… the Victor of this match is”

“Hold up!” said a woman as she walked forward, wearing a black as night suite of leather, perfectly showing her blasphemous curves. While her long golden hair was neatly tied into a bun.

She had the emblem of the lion on her back while she exuded a sense of charm and dominance.

“I had some things to do, I hope you didn’t think I was going forfeit the match?” she said

“Ah don’t worry about it, I knew you would come. It was getting a bit boring here.” I said while shrugging

The confident look on her face disappeared as she knit her brows.

“Enough with the ramblings, I have better things to do, now ready up for a whopping.’ She said as she brought forward her sword.

I stood still like an idiot there.

“What are you waiting for? Bring up your weapon? Or are you a magic user?”

“Ah… I didn’t bring any weapons…” I said as I scratched my head a bit in embarrassment.

The people around us began to laugh…

“What a waste of time… Someone throw’s him a weapon.” She said as she looked more confident.

“Here you go.” Said a guy, and as I turned I saw him again, the red-haired dude of the House Dantess, Victor.” Use it well” he said.

I picked up the sword and looked at it.

It was alright, a bit heavy on the hand, but was of good quality, it had a nice patterned design on it. More of an accessory than a sword but it will do.

Once I held the sword the smile on the girl’s face grew wider.

“You have no stance, you are not even wielding your weapon properly, your grip is too tight like you are afraid it will run away from you. Are you sure you want to fight against me using swords… no matter prepared to lose” she said as she moved forward.

She was… slow?

No, she was actually moving really fast, but… why does she look slow? I thought to myself as a chopping swing came forward, she was not trying to land a killing blow as her swing was calculated, she was trying to injure my shoulder, probably rendering me unable to fight.

Before the sword would make contact, I sidestepped.

And her sword struck empty air.

“Huh?” she said as she looked at me with wide eyes. She immediately jumped back without hesitation afraid of an incoming retaliation.

‘What are you doing? You could have finished the fight right there Basara…’ said Nocturne

Everyone turned silent at the scene.

‘Hang on, what the hell is going on, she is way too slow…”

‘She is not slow, it is your eyes, and the training we were doing, you were accustomed to a much higher speed than that of a human, of course, she will look slow, however, don’t underestimate her. That was but a probing strick that failed, her next attack will be more serious”

“I don’t know what you re trying to do, Servant, but why didn’t you retaliate? I obviously overextended and made myself vulnerable, this is a mistake that anyone other than you would have took and ended the fight. Indeed I underestimated you, but you underestimating me is a stupid thing…” she said

“Ah, sorry I just didn’t think you would be that slow…” I said in all honesty.

The girl’s face turned bright red

“ME?! Slow! Alright, do you know even when lions hunt rabbits they use all fo their power, I have failed to abide by that rule. Next time shall not be like this” she said as she moved, much faster than before.

She then pierced forward with her sword.

I moved my sword in order to push her weapon away, but it was like trying to move a mountain, the weight of that sword was amazing.

Forced to dodge I moved aside while my vest was cut from the side.

Oh…

“You should be careful, your body is still not able to coop with your eyes. You can see the speed of their sword, but your body cannot move accordingly, at least not for now.” Said Nocturne.

Another attack soon followed. Then another, while I was forced to retaliate with less efficiency each time.

Her attacks would shred and withling at me, without apparent injuries however they still cut my clothes.

She is moving faster and faster.

“Lion’s dance!” she said as a flurry of attacks soon followed, her sword turning to hundred of needles as it tried to destroy me from all directions.

“Wind that moves all, Haste!” I said with an extremely rapid chanting. As I moved back ten meters with a single step.

The place where I stood was riddled with holes as the ground was pierced by many invisible powers.

“Holy shit…” I said a bit too loud.

“You can use magic?!” the girl said… “Incantations still…” then her stance changed that her sword was of the same length as her shoulder.

‘ A defensive stance, she fears that you might be able to use magic…’ said Nocturne ‘She is adapting to your battle style, while you are showing all your cards rather fast. Now her attacks will be more dangerous, you must end the fight soon’ said Nocturne in a nonchalant way.

How can I end the fight soon…

I can’t even use Master Shen’s Lotus art as I only know the first stance, but vaguely understand the following stances…

I can’t defeat her using weapons at least not this sword… I should really use my scythe.

‘Don’t, like I said you still don’t understand the power of that weapon, killing her is the same as making yourself an enemy of the royal family, that was never a wise idea..’ said Nocturne

She moved forward while I chanted

“Wind that moves all, Hast!”

“Water that submerges all, Water geyser!”

Were both said in a single breath!

Moving to the side instantly dodging her extended pierce then pulling my free arm forward shooting a torrent of water.

However, the girl didn’t even look fazed as she flicked her hand and a fireball much too huge soon consumed the water torrent.

She then followed up with a horizontal chop.

“Lightning that destroys all, lightning bolt!” I cast then using double casting

“Ice that freezes all, Hailstorm!”

Soon a wave of cold ice washed over a side of the arena while a bolt of lighting was shot from my sword.

I wanted to electrocute her once my attack lands on her own sword as it acted as a catalyst for electricity.

However without batting an eye she threw her sword and jumped both her hands summoning an enormous globe of fire that destroyed the cold air and turned the arena into an inferno, she shot it forward.

‘This is cheating! She is using both magic and weapon to a much more better ability than I! you said that it is rare to find people that excel in both categories!’ I said complaining to Nocturne.

‘Relax, this is nothing compared to what a true magic user can use, your ability to summon magic is still small while she was tempered in it from birth. Her progress must have stopped at this level however it is still ar from yours, just suck it up.’ Said nocturne in a laughing manner as he was amused at my suffering.

I waited until the globe was close to me before I used once again Haste and dodged to the side letting the fireball explode on the arena.

However, the shockwave sent me tumbling, as I rolled over until I halted to a stop.

Yet before I could move she was already before me trying to chop away at my side with her sword.

I hastily pulled mine up, and without a proper grasp on it, it was sent flying outside the arena.

Then she soon tried to end the game by finishing the fight with a pierce that I dodged right in time while landing a punch on her left ribs luckily I somehow thought about using reinforcement and my hands became harder than steel Which served to force her to groan from pain.

I moved a bit away. Weaponless this time and really in a deep trouble.

The girl looked a bit surprised as she said

“There is no way you are a double negative…” she said. “I doubted that the moment I saw the blackout, however, this confirms it… how come you have reflexes like these and are not even considered at least with a B class potential.”

‘She is buying time’ said Nocturne ‘that attack right now, must have bruised her ribs, with your hand reinforced in the last moment while she didn’t expect it, she must have taken a heavy hit right now, you should end the fight.’

‘I don’t think I can, the sword is now outside the arena and cannot be taken back… using magic against her is idiotic and I will not win. However, using my hands… no with carelessness I might end up injuring myself. It was lucky that I managed to reinforce my hands at the last moment, but I don’t think I can do it again.’

Using monochrome vision I saw that she was reinforcing her side ribs with Qi.

“I am sorry for causing you such pain Lady Lissandra,” I said apologetically

While her face turned even redder

‘You have no tact, Basara… people of her status, saying these words to them will only serve to infuriate them, and antagonize you. She didn’t want to look weak and now a servant has claimed that she suffered pain at his hands…’

‘oh… shit I should probably stop talking’

‘That would be a wise idea…’ he said

“Don’t worry about that. She said, however, I don’t like bullying people without weapons, you should take your weapon again and we can resume the fight. She said”

“Here you go Basara,” said the Victor who came bringing the weapon.

“Ah thank you, However.” I said as I looked at the announcer,” Is it possible that I get another weapon? No offense Mr. Victor, but I am not that proficient with swords.” I said

“You may if your contender agrees,” said the woman as she looked at the royal princess.

“I don’t mind,” she said

Hmm, it must be a good chance for her to regain some stamina as I get a replacement.

“Ah is that so, I was wondering why you were holding that weapon in that sloppy manner. What would you like I could bring you, a hammer? A long sword? A bow?”

“Euh… is it possible that I find a scythe here?”

“A scythe? Like the ones used in harvests?” he said

“Yes preferably one with a long shaft,” I said

“Lady Natalia, do I have permission to go and get one from the gardening house? I am sure I saw one yesterday there.” Said Victor.

“You may, in the meantime the game will pause if both parties agree once again,” she said

“It is alright with me,” said the royal princess as she sat down in the lotus position.

Oh… meditating in the middle of the arena

I then smirked as I sat opposed to her and did the same.

In a time of wait, the both of us closed our eyes regenerating the lost energy.

‘Quite an interesting view there, the many people watching must be unable to understand what the both of you re doing right now, however, use that time to replenish your lost power.” Said Nocturne ‘You have lost more energy than you should as I told you before don’t use dual cast for prolonged periods of time, you still don’t have the power for continuous casting.’

It took about ten minutes for Victor to come back and in that time he came back. The both of us were still meditating.

“The fight may resume now,” said the woman named Natalia

The first to open her eyes was Lissandra as she stood up

“Hmm… this is even more proof… someone able to assimilate and a double negative… that orb needs to be checked once again… it must be faulty” she said as she stood.

“Well, I wonder if they would let me take the test once again,” I said with a smirk.

“Here you go, Basara, I hope this is to your liking,” he said as he handed me a wooden shafted Scythe with a long blade. This compared to Nocturne’s Scythe is lacking. However, it should do…

“This is a bit too light though,” I said then ripped my right and left sleeves

On it were five metal rings. On each hand. These were part of the limiters that Master Shen had given me.

He gave me permission to remove them if the need askes for it, however never to remove the whole thing. Just two at most…

Everyone looked shocked… but I still didn’t understand why

“Five! You have Five on each hand!” Said Lady Lissandra! “They must be fake! There is no one capable of even walking with that!”

‘I should probably not show her that I have another ten five on each leg and that the linking mechanism is set at max value…

“it helps a bit in controlling my balance,” I said smiling as I removed two one from each hand.

I placed one of them on the end of the wooden shaft, then another on the top. Using a bit of Qi, they locked and made the weapon much heavier. Just to my liking.

Using a bit of power I swung it around, the sound barrier broke as the scythe made sounds like a while striking at empty air.

Her ribs looked brand new, or even stronger than before due to the time she meditated, she must be proficient in reinforcement.

“Begin!” said the woman as the girl dashed towards me.” With a heavy horizontal chop, she tried to break the wooden shaft of the scythe. After all, it was its weakest point.

“Cleaning!” a sound of metal hitting metal was then heard.

A look of surprise was painted on Lissandra’s face.

With a smile I said

“I forgot to tell you, I am quite good at reinforcement too,” I said as my counterattack began.