Sorry it took a while for me to sort back my ideas again and remember the whole plot I was going through. But now I'm back.

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Chapter 47: Tournament Arc! Part 3

Foxy and Emi’s battles progressed with no problems, easily dominating their opponents far quicker than I had. It seemed putting our lives on the line against real monsters in real life and death situation had paid off. From what I could see most of the people here were those who had only learnt to swordfighting and did not have critical experience we had. Their forms were too rigid against the Foxy and Emi, Foxy easily struck out her opponent with a quick jab from daggers destroying the footwork of her pitiful opponent. Emi on the other hand seemed to employ a strategy similar to a defensive boxer, constant small hit to goad the opponent into striking and countering their strike with on her own. Their strategies worked splendidly and before I knew it, my next opponent was in front of me.

The obnoxious man who we had met at signups was right in front of me, Christopher Helmsworth. He seemed to have donned heavier armor and had outfitted himself a heavy oaken shield on his left hand and a claymore on his right. His whole visage pissed me off, he laughed as he looked down at me, his armor glistening flawlessly in the afternoon sun, “Oh it’s the shrimp I saw at signups, the gods have blessed me with an easy win.”

“We’ll see.” I kept my anger in check even with his repulsive behavior, I knew my actions would speak louder than any callous insults he could come up with.

“Yes we’ll see.” He winked and turned around walking out onto the battlefield.

Instantly I became suspicious of what he had up his sleeves but what could I do?

As we both stood in our respective positions and I searched for whatever plan he had up his sleeve but I just couldn’t figure it out. The ref greeted both sides and readied both sides for the beginning of the match. Helmsworth and I both nodded and took our respective defensive positions.

“Begin!” the ref shouted. I immediately went on the offensive. Striking with Light at his shield but as I was just about to make contact with it my sword was forcefully rejected by his shield. It took me by surprised and caused me to get off balanced. The bastard took his chance and body checked me with his shield. I felt something sharp go into my kidney and as I stepped back to regain my balance I felt a warm liquid coming from the area.

“What the hell is that?” I muttered.

“How do you like my surprise?” He laughed arrogantly. Steadying his form again with his shield in front. I was at a loss, this was what he was going for and I was dumb enough to fall right into his trap.

The wound was a worrying thing but that shield had me far more surprised. How was it able to repulse my sword? I had struck using enough force to break the protective body of a spider but how did that shield rebuff me let alone survive my attack. I’d been too arrogant. I laughed at my own stupidity for believing just because my last battle had been easy that all the duels would be so. This guy had experience and he was not above using dirty trick to win against me. But what the hell was that shield?

“My surprise seems to have had the appropriate effect.” He smiled and I as I was looking at him my vision seemed to blur. My head started to getting dizzy and my body started feeling like it was being weighed down by lead.

“What the fuck did you do?” I shouted at him.

“Just a little insurance you could say.” Tapping the middle of the shield a spike suddenly shot out and back in. “Don’t worry this shield’s going to be able to hold up against anything you can throw at it.” His laughter had turned into a cruel sneer as he readied himself.

What could I do? Time was obviously against me, whatever was that shield was somehow rebuffing- He suddenly lunged at me and swung his sword at me. I ducked at the last moment and rolled back onto my feet. Shit I hadn’t been paying attention. I had forgotten he was a lightning style user. I refocused my mind on the problem ahead of me and considered my options. Speed was the name of the game. I drew a deep breath and steadied myself, I charged at him this time using Dark but the same result occurred, luckily I was able to keep my feet and move away from the counter he had. But he moved onto the offensive and took to beat me down with his claymore while he hid behind his shield. My body soon had many small cuts all over my body. My consciousness weakened as I steadily was getting pushed off.

I tried a different plan using my footwork to try and get behind him. If he was going to cheat I might as well not play fair. I faked one way and went the other striking with my sword. However this cost me as he yet again rebuffed me and hit me with his shield on my face. Blood splattered out of my mouth and tainted the shining armor. He recoiled with a look of disgust as the blood spread on his armor.

I could feel myself getting steadily weaker, none of my attacks had gotten through… Every time I struck that shield seemed to push me away. All my attacks had been useless, the only thing that I had managed to do was ruin his perfectly shining armor. Wait so something did go through then… It was a crazy idea but what other chance did I have. I could feel I had maybe a couple minutes max left in this fight. The poison was sapping my strength away bit by bit with every exertion. I grinned as I spat some more blood at Helmsworth he took a couple more steps back his face now a in perpetual look of repulsion. There! That’s my breathing room, my clothes were now dripping with blood from the countless wounds he had inflicted on me. Now it was my turn to turn the tables on him.

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