I have been passing corridors looping for some little noble to pulverize him into dirt. And since I had blessing of his dad to do so, it was no longer bullying but educating! I am almost a private tutor!

Aaaand I can already tell what kind of surprise Old Mortworh prepared for me. The mercenaries I saw in front of the mansion where now standing in hall leading to the place where guild masters should be waiting for me.

“Hello gentlemen, somehow I doubt that you will just let me pass, do I?” “Indeed, dear sir, I am afraid that, as you can see, the dining hall is a bit overcrowded and thus we can’t allow anyone else pass.”

One of them said while bowing with courtesy.

“oh my, oh my, and here I thought that I am a special guest everyone is waiting for…” “And I am sure that this is truth. Yet still, order is order.” “And what does this order say?” “Don’t let anyone pass. Fight for this till last of you is standing…” “My-my. So in the end I CAN get inside.” “Look, sir, we are here just to earn a coin. No one has to get hurt.” “… I don’t think that you believe in what you are saying.”

Still bowing mercenary smiled.

“Indeed sir. No, sir.”

And he dashed forward. And by forward I mean at me. In half of the way a dagger appeared in his hand.

“Think fast!’

He yelled trying to stab my neck. Two fast steps to the side. One hand used to change the trajectory of knife, to shake his posture, elbow strike in guts to deprive him air, change grip, twist his wrist. He dropped his dagger, I watched it fall to the ground yet I caught it and stabbed him in his thigh.

Everything lasted about 10 seconds. Man was screaming in pain on the floor.

“Don’t act smart, it doesn’t suit you.” I looked around “One down, six more to go…. Are you coming? I don’t have whole day…”

Rest of mercenaries looked upon each other and then rushed at me. Levels 12-16. Pretty strong for humans. The problems is that being strong as human won’t be enough. Not against drugged me.

The dining hall, as the name suggest, was a fucking big hall that had one main purpose – having a dinner. It was big enough for over one hundred people to dance in the middle, around it the tabled were placed on which servants would put dishes. Good to be rich.

Yet this time it was bit different. Indeed quite few people were sitting around having some pleasant meals. In the middle the head of family was sitting on slightly better armchair, few other members of family, two guild leaders and two guests – young lady and her father.

And on the dancing floor only one person stood. Our beloved Christopher. Clothed in high quality reinforced leather armor, he was warming up performing swings and stabs with his extremely well balanced bastard sword. Enchanted, bastard sword. And poisoned, bastard sword.

One had to be said, he certainly know how to use his sword, profits of being taught by best instructor since he finished 9 years old.

“Father, are you sure that he is about to come? That cowardly, backs-stabbing…” “I am sure.” Head of the house cut him in middle of his sentence. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he would simply turn his tail and run away after knowing who he is about to face…” “Christopher.” “Yes, father?” “If you have time to talk, use it warm yourself up properly. He is adventurer with higher rank. Don’t ignore anyone who managed to achieve more than yourself. Especially in front of your future wife.”

The young lady only averted her eyes.

“I… I am sure that mister Christopher will perform greatly…”

Jericho that was drinking fine wine from fine chalice has choked with liquid.

“Pardon me, my lady, but I doubt that.” “W... why is that so? Mr. Christopher is a wonderful fencer, and I heard that difference of one rank rarely means that skills of two different individuals are that much…” “My lady, again sorry for disturbing you, but this brat…” here he nodded toward Christopher “… Stand no chance. And I can BET that…”

Fat man elbowed Jericho

“Whatever would happen, my lady, don’t make any bets with this man. Never. If he wins, you lose moneys, if you win, you win nothing, for his life in made 25% of misery, 25% of drinking poor booze, and 50% of money debts.”

Jericho offended wanted to say something in his defense, but in that moment someone knocked in the door to the dining hall… well, if by knocking you mean throwing someone inside, that is.

Door was slammed wide open my body throw inside. Man was heavily bruised and his shoulder was dislocated. And after him a cheerful young man stepped inside.

“I see that you even cared for my warm up! So very kind of you!”

I walked further inside and stopped about ten meters from young noble. Then, with some hesitancy I asked.

“After this comedy show is over, mind if I would dine with you? Pardon me, but I rarely see such delicacies in guild.” “After this would be over you won’t be able to sta…” Christopher started “I am… not… talking to you, fly. I gave you a lesson – do not offend those who are mightier than yourself. I allowed you to learn it in humility… but apparently you came for more.” “Mightier than myself? In that whole stinky guild there is none that…” “Can we stop it now?” once again I turned my gaze toward old Mortworh “… I will gladly tutor him once again.” “You can begin.” He nodded.

The servant stepped inside pulling cart covered with cotton.

“You may pick the weapon of your liking, sir…” “I am fine the way I am.” “Sir, it is at least offending to not oppose your enemy unarmed.” “D’iabel… spear.” “I am blade of your will…” ring whispered “This is a weapon of my liking… what, surprised that not only you wiled magical weapon?” I asked in mocking tone

He only shifted his position and charge forward.

“Welcome everyone in this sunny, beautiful day! We have completely clear sky, the nice breeze is blowing, meaning that his perfect way for some once sided battle! My name is Jeremy Jericho and together with my friend – Esteban Makoolch we will be commenting together duel. So, Esteban, as you know our fencer better, mind describing him a little to us?”

His swings were focused, his footing was nice and he greatly balanced his body putting just right amount of strength in each blow, so they weren’t either to weak – which would made them easily parried, nor to strong – so his whole posture wouldn’t be shook as he would be countered.

“Well, he is young, so more or less agile, also somewhat skilled with sword. Normally I would tell that he can be very promising adventurer if not his attitude. Let’s just say that he is not fit into teamwork mission. Also he has tendency to underestimate his opponents and act without thinking. This is why he failed quite few important missions that better prepared newbie could handle. Mind telling speaking something about our spear wielder, Jericho? He is said to be your student!” “Indeed, my dear friend, indeed. This kid must be complete opposite of Christopher then. Easily offended, yet cold blooded. Someone you don’t want to offend. One – he has connection, two -… trust, you would prefer to deal with his friends more than with him. Despite being a mage, as you can see, he fits into every role that team would require. Front melee leader? Scout rogue? Trap rouge? Healer? Enchanter? Supporter? Magic damage leader? As it was already mentioned, he is rank C, but it’s only a matter of time he reach A and higher. This is why I claim that battle will be one sided.”

I tried annoying him by keeping my distance. I pierced aiming at his shoulder, but he moved bit to the side avoiding the attack and lunging trying to stab me in belly. I had to rise my spear using it as pole to push it away from me, but I used my position to twist my body while doing so and hitting him with open palm in solar plexus. He stumbled, took few steps back. I turned the spear around and hit him once again with dull end, forcing him on his bottom.

“That what I was talking about! Young noble could have learn fencing for years, but he is lacking real life experience. He is focused on his sword too much! He forgets that his whole body is a weapon! Just look, Zariel used his hands when his weapon was locked. If he would use the end of spear with blade, the battle would be already over!”

Christopher jumped back on his feet and charged again. Piercing didn’t work so now he focused on slashing. From over his left arm toward his right side, turn his leading leg and slash back horizontally.

Each time I would either move aside, or block. I was teasing him, waiting for an opening. Of course I could trade blow, I could finish it with strike or two. But I wanted to show everyone, that he can’t even land a single blow. I wanted to make him tired, to gasp for air, to see as his confidence turn into anger, anger into passion, passion into disbelief and disbelief into resignation. I wanted him to surrender.

“Why.. Won’t you… Fight?!” He yelled angrily between swings

Slashings are annoying, hard to counter without shield, other sword or heavy armor. So I waited for him to stab again.

“I am avoiding your attack like elegant wind…” I giggled. He made an opening “…Yet time will come when I shall strike back as a raging… STORM!”

He stabbed, I changed my movement pattern, instead of running away, I stepped closer getting into blind spot of his blade. He couldn’t threaten me now with it in anyway.

Again I used my fists. Left hook into his face and fast punch into belly. As blow pushed him away, I grabbed him by part of his leather armor and pulled him back. I dropped on one of my knee putting my whole weight into strike. My elbow hit his thigh, I hit perfectly the muscle. It will hurt him for couple of day, but for next hour or so, he will really have some serious problems with walking.

“I am as a coursing river…” I sang “With the force of a great typhoon! With the strength of a raging fire! And mysterious as the dark side of… THE MOOOON! Are you on your feet yet?”

I looked in his eyes as he was getting up, and I saw exactly what I wanted to see. Anger. Stage one completed. Entering stage two.

“…You will pay me for this insolence…” “Insolence? You are weaker, slower, and trust me, you actually do have worse education than me. I am higher rank than you, I excel in magic and combat, and right now, I have twice knocked you down, while you didn’t even got closer to landing a hit on me. Kid. You are right. This very battle is insulting. I rarely enjoy tormenting helpless little creature… but I am merciful! I am generous! And so very handsome! This is why, in my endless love, I shall hit you and kick you over and over again till you learn your lesson! This is my gift to you! Aren’t you overjoyed?!... this is the moment then you attack me again and fail horribly.”

He raised his blade and charged while yelling

“THAT’S THE SPIRIT!”

Phase two –I started actually fighting, just to let him gain some confidence. To let him think that I begin struggling! To pretend need a break to catch a breath…

I raised my spear as staff to block the strike, and I let him pushed me back. I started reacting slower, avoiding blade by inches, making someone from the audience gasp from time to time.

He saw that, he smiled widely and instantaneously his attack became faster and stronger. He wanted to finish me off. Poor bastard didn’t know that he only lose his stamina faster.

“SWORD ARTS! MIGHTY SLASH!” he granted himself some space, changed his position and stood on his legs far from each other slashing vertically. The slash really had some serious strength behind it, for I felt a breeze made by sword.

But what shocked me, was that he didn’t perform this skill for purpose of damaging me, but to push me away from himself so he could get more space of performing another move. His eyes were burning with… passion. Stage two done.

“SWORD ARTS! RAPID LUNGE!”

How do you think, what can skill called rapid lunge do? He jumped forward piercing the place I stood a split of second before. Did he… wait… did he just… he totally did…

“SWORD ART! HEAVE…” “Did you just damage my coat? That’s it kid. Play time over.”

I punched him in the face before he could even finish yelling. I admit. I poured some mana into that strike. I felt his nose crack under my fist.

I pushed him away with dull end of spear… then I turned it back to the one with blade. I swept rapidly from sides to side, cutting his armor in few places. Then…

“Spear arts… Heartseeker.”

First stab wasn’t even aimed at his chest, instead of this one of straps on his shoulder holding his armor broke. Another attack burrowed the tip of spear in his leg, depriving him of his movements, third strike one again landed on yet another strap. His armor fell on the floor.

Then I saw it. Disbelief.

Stab into arm, he dropped his blade. This battle was pretty much over, so I put D’iabel back to sleep.

“We will finish it as commoners. As peasants that can’t even afford a blade. Fighting like lowers of the low, how do you feel about this?” I hit him one, twice… and again and again…

I pushed him on the column and start hitting his stomach. He has some muscle, but they weren’t enough to stop barrage of blows. At first he groaned few times, then he yelled. And then he didn’t even had strength to yell as he was fighting for air that I forced out from his body.

Focusing back on his face. One of his eye swelled.

When I got bored I moved behind him and locked his head in a grip slowly suffocating him.

“Now… now… stop resisting. Now you’re going to sleep. Why do you fight with that? Don’t ya want this to be over? All this pain? Humiliation?”

He was giving up

“It’s enough.” Old Mortworh said. Yet I was still holding my grip “…Please.”

Damn.

I released him and let his body hit the ground. He started gasping, almost devouring air.

“… The part with dinner is still valid, is it?”

Head of family wanted to say something, but from behind my back I heard angry scream

“SWORD ARTS! HEAVENLY SLASH!”

Somehow he managed to once again pick up the sword and charge at me

“SEMI-SERIOUS PUNCH!” I yelled as instinct kicked in. and this time I actually packed the blow with far too much mana.

Blow after hitting the target even left bluish afterglow of magic, body flew good three meters before it landed on the ground. This time he didn’t stand up.

I turned once again to the old noble

“What were we… ah. Dinner… Can I? pardon me, but sausage roll looks divine!”