After meeting Terran, Roger and Chris were directed to a tent. Chris was still taking in what Terran just told him earlier.

"To spar with that huge man? Will he tickle Terran to submission?" Chris's mind kept running through these thoughts.

In fact, his mind was so occupied he didn't ask Roger all the questions he had from earlier. Larka joined him in the tent. Roger stayed outside. The thoughts kept running through him until sleep took over him.

The next day morning was the scheduled spar with Terran, Chris woke up, and in an instant, all the worries from last night came back at him. Even Larka could notice that he was troubled, she would often start nibbling his hand when she felt that he was worried.

This time though it kind of did the trick "No more being in the backfoot, I will face him with all I have." Chris decided.

He came out, Roger was already outside. "Master Philip, hope you rested well?" Chris nodded.

"Very well it's time for the spar, shall we head there?"

Chris accepted and followed Roger. Larka stayed behind.

On their walk, Roger spoke, "It was courageous of you Master Philip to accept the challenge from the Vice Commander of the Adamah order, not many would even risk it."

Chris thought inside "I could have denied it?" Sigh.

"So he is from the Draconate Clan?" Chris asked.

"Yes Master Philip, he is considered one of the strongest warriors of the clan. He heads the outpost in the absence of Aaron your uncle who is the commander of the order."

Chris had heard about Aaron from Sarah.

The outpost acted as a defensive line between the Beazard and the Farlan kingdom, between both these borders, was the no-race zone to which Aaron had gone. As the name suggested it belonged to no race and was a neutral zone for all the races.

It was a huge expanse of open space, mostly wilderness. In order to reach the Draconate village, they would have to pass the same and thus Roger wanted to meet Aaron to request an escort. Roger was yet to intimate Chris on what happened in the discussion with Terran on this.

Roger added, "And Master Philip I had myself asked Terran to spar with you, as I wanted you to experience live combat with someone other than me. It will be a new experience for you as Terran practices a different martial art than what I practice."

To this, Chris couldn't figure out if he should be angry at Roger for setting up the spar with Terran, but he was also not surprised knowing Roger, who would find any opportunity to train him.

Roger continued "He like your mother practices the "Pankra" style of martial arts which is different from the one I showed you. I would advise you to give it your all and remember the training."

"The training yes, but not being a magic-user how do I fight him" Chris kept worrying inside.

What made him more nervous was that this will be his first official fight.

They reached an open area, in the center, there was a huge dais in the shape of a circle, and right across it, he saw Terran along with two men.

Seeing them arrive he got up and came closer. "What a fine morning to spar Ragar" then he looked at Chris. "Are you ready my little Dracon?"

Chris nodded. Terran replied, "Alright wear your protection, we shall begin."

Roger took him to the side and made him wear the protection he used to wear while sparring with Roger, they would protect his head, hands, torso, and legs.

Chris looked at Terran and saw him wear his protection, which also meant he was taking the fight seriously. He also noticed that the protection was mostly on his hands, torso, and thigh area. He kept his lower legs exposed, he found it funny to see such a big man all covered up except his knees below.

Roger finished equipping Chris. "Good Luck Master Philip." He was ready.

They both stepped onto the arena. One of the men in the green robe entered along with them to act as the judge of the spar.

Terran spoke, "Ok my little Dracon, we will have three rounds, each one with its own rules and the best of three wins."

Chris nodded.

"For the first round we shall measure our physical strength, I shall give myself a handicap by not using magic. All you have to do is move me from my position, I shall not attack you, use any means you need, you have five minutes, if you are unable to do it within the time span, I win."

The rules were simple, so Chris acknowledged.

Chris was a bit confident now and felt that he had a chance as Terran was not going to use his magic and though he is huge and heavy, Chris has been training on his physical strength so he should be able to move him at least the slightest.

The judge gave the signal.

With his mind made up, Chris charged at Terran at full speed using his momentum to barge into Terran's legs with his shoulder, Chris felt like he made a sizable impact.

He looked at the judge. The judge replied "No movement."

He looked up at Terran, "Nice try little one, but you need to try harder than that."

Dismayed, Chris got back into position and tried again, the result was the same, he kept trying and trying. He tried attacking all the way he can with his hands and then with his legs but the result was the same. He just couldn't move Terran, how physically strong was he?

And before he realised it, five minutes were over and the judge announced the end of the round, Chris was drained out. While Terran just stood there as if nothing happened.

The judge spoke, "The first round goes to Vice Commander Terran and the score is 1-0." He called for a small break before the next round.

Chris went to Roger all exhausted mentally more than physically, he knew he was weak, but even without magic, he was so weak?

Roger sensing Chris's thoughts, "Master Philip, this is just the first round, have belief in your training and yourself." Chris nodded back with what little enthusiasm he had left.

The judge called them back to the arena.

Terran didn't taunt him this time.

"Good try my little dracon, for the next round I am going to attack you, and if I hit you three times within five minutes I win, and if I fail to do so, you win. You cannot move beyond the dais and this time again I will not use magic"

Chris nodded and was sure that this time he had some chance, a major part of his training with Roger was his agility, and looking at how big Terran was he doubted he will be faster than Chris.

The Judge gave the signal.

Chris looked at Terran in the distance and in the next moment he was right in front of him, he patted Chris on his head, leaving Chris stunned, he smiled and walked back. It all happened in a blink.

Chris was shocked "What was that speed?" He was so stunned that it took him some time to notice the transformation in Terran. The exposed part of his legs was shimmering in the sun, and at a close look, he realised they were scales, similar to the ones he saw on Roger's hands.

Chris regrettably remembered Roger's teachings, the Draconate clan were heavily dependent on their martial arts, and there was a difference in the form among the clan members. There were two notable types of style and a less known one.

He realised now why the martial arts were different, it was because of how the scales originated for the clan members. The combination of their martial arts with these scales gave them a huge advantage in fights and the reason why they were such renowned warriors.

The judge announced, "That counts as one hit. The second attempt will be made now, please get to your positions."

Chris quickly gathered himself and said to himself he won't be taken by surprise anymore. He took his position and was ready.

The judge called out "Begin."

Terran did the exact same thing as before he charged in, but this time Chris was ready, he dodged to his left, Terran turned immediately and came at him, Chris's reaction was a bit slow but he reacted just in time. Terran didn't give him a moment to relax, he just kept coming, Chris kept dodging them all at the last moment.

The only reason he was even slightly able to keep up with Terran was because of Roger. In terms of sheer speed, Roger was faster, though Chris has never been able to dodge Roger for long, sparring with Roger was giving him this advantage. His body reflex was used to Roger's speed and thus even so by a hair's width he kept dodging Terran.

Chris kept at it, moving left, right, right, left, Terran kept a single pattern, no matter which direction Chris moved, he would follow. Chris was dodging them, he was dodging them all, he felt the exhilaration, he didn't want to stop.

Terran in the start was maybe going easy on him, but the more Chris kept dodging him, the more serious he got.

He wasn't some pushover he was a battle-hardened warrior, what difference he had in his speed compared to Roger he made up for it with his instincts. As time passed Terran got more purposeful in his attack and after nonstop dodging, Chris's fatigue was taking over, making his reflex slow just a bit, Terran noticed and caught up, and before Chris could move, his hand was on Chris's head.

The judge called out "That counts as two, one more hit, and Vice Commander Terran wins the second round"

Chris stood there trying to catch his breath, but what was that feeling, it felt so good. He didn't want to stop, but his body was not able to keep up with that feeling.

Chris saw Terran look at him, but this time there was no smile on his face, he turned and went back to his position.

The judge looked at the Sinop time crystal and said "One minute for the second round to end"

This made Chris realise how quickly the time went while he was in the battle.

This also meant that he had a chance to win, all he had to do was dodge him, and unlike before he had to do it for only one minute. He got this.

But his confidence shook up the moment he looked up at Terran, his eyes were not playful anymore, they looked like someone who was dead serious about what he is going to do. Chris gulped, but he was not going to back off, not this time.

He got into his position. The judge called out "Begin"

Terran was right over Chris, he was faster. He barely managed to dodge at the last moment. This time Terran was even more relentless, the attacks felt real, he knew if he got hit he was in serious danger. Maybe sensing this danger, his senses heightened and due to that earlier spar, his body was not a stranger to Terran's movements anymore and so he kept dodging Terran again and again and again.

The more Terran came at him the more he dodged, Roger's words kept ringing in his head "While in the middle of the battle one must learn to let go of all thoughts."

Chris let go of all his thoughts, it was only him and Terran. He could see his movements clearly no it was not that, he could feel his presence.

The judge announced "Last ten seconds". It was now or never.

A movement change, Terran moved faster. Chris felt the change in that split-second, he had to dodge it, and he will win. Dod....g.....e

Terran hands were on his head.

"Huh? No, I felt it coming, I knew I had dodged it, did I slow down?"

But it was his loss, he came so close this time.

"Foul, use of magic, the round goes to Philip" The judge called out.

"What?" Chris looked at the judge and then at Terran.

He stood there with his eyes closed. He opened them and spoke, "I am sorry my little Dracon, I got carried away, please forgive this uncle of yours, I know I have ashamed you." Saying that he walked back.

Apparently Terran used his magic at the last moment, Chris wondered "That's why I slowed down?"

As the rule clearly said he cannot use magic, using it disqualified the whole round and the second round went to Chris, it was 1-1 now.

"Well done Master Philip, you were excellent in the last round," Roger said the moment Chris went down to meet him.

"It is all thanks to you, Roger." For Chris this was the first time since coming to this world he won something, even if it was a disqualification victory, it meant so much to him, to win.

Chris didn't have much time to celebrate, the final round was about to begin. He was really tired but he was looking forward to the final round.

They moved to the arena again.

Terran Spoke "Well done my little dracon, you have surpassed my expectations. We will move to the final round, the rules are the same as the last round, but this time there won't be any handicap as I will be using my magic. Do you accept?"

Chris knew he cannot back off. "Yes, Terran I accept."

"Very well." Terran looked at the judge.

The judge gave the signal.

Everything followed the same as before, Terran moved in the same pattern as before. Expecting it again, Chris decided to dodge, but he couldn't, he just stood there. Terran yet again pat his head and walked back.

"Why was I not able to move, is that Terran's magic?" he wondered.

The second time Chris knowing what will happen, prepared to dodge before he came closer, he dodged right before Terran arrived, he followed, and yet again Chris couldn't move. The result was the same.

The third time was no exception.

With that, the Judge called out "The winner of this spar is Vice Commander Terran."

It all happened too fast even before he could think of something the final round was over just when he thought he made some progress he hit the wall again, when will he be able to cross this gap, this gap that felt so wide without magic.

Terran looked at him and with a loud voice called out. "Look here Philip of the draconate clan, remember you are a proud clan member, you have strong blood in you, today you have nothing to be ashamed of, look up and look high, you have made your clan proud"

He patted him on his shoulder and went straight to Roger.

"You have trained him well Ragar. He will one day make our clan proud."

Roger in turn looked at Chris "Well done Master Philip, Terran himself has acknowledged you."

He really couldn't believe all the praise being showered at him, it felt surreal as if he was in some dream.

He was barely standing, he allowed Roger to guide him to a bench.

"Hey Ragar, little dracon has awakened my fighting spirit, and I feel like I need more. What say for old time sake we go at each other and show the little dracon how the big ones fight?"

Chris suddenly held his breath.

Roger turned and looked at Terran. "How can I deny a challenge from you Terran, yes it will be a good lesson for master Philip." Roger's eyes were sharp when he said it, giving away his desire to fight Terran.

Chris couldn't hold himself, all his fatigue just washed away. He was about to watch two draconate warriors fight each other.

Terran's eyes just lit up. "That's more like the Ragar I remember"

They were going to fight.