Chapter 8: White Skill vs White Skill?

Vincent’s father grimaced. His senses were definitely not wrong, how could an initial 9th grade novice tie that exchange of blows with an experienced 9th grade novice?

Certainly, if Fang was normal, this would never happen. However, no one could expect that Fang practiced a different method; one that would absorb all energy at a rapid rate. So even if Fang recently got to this rank, he was able to fight on par with Vincent.

After discovering he still couldn’t take the advantage with just normal blows, Vincent was enraged, and started to change his movements. This wasn’t much, nonetheless, it was enough to break the impasse.

Fang’s parents died on the battlefield while Fang was only ten, so he never got to learn the family fighting skills. In addition, the training school only taught the basic movements of combat. So how was Fang able to contend with my punches?

Vincent shrugged off his anxiety. Fang, if you want to compare our strengths, skills and experience, I’ll always be superior!

Aggressively, Vincent sped up his punches – unexpectedly, there was a chance, and Vincent hit Fang with a brutal punch.

However, Vincent felt like he had punched a brick wall, and screamed in pain as he backed off. The concentrated light on Fang’s body slowly dissipated from that spot, as he calmed stared at the furious Vincent.

The judges widened their eyes in surprise.

Instant parry!

At the moment of contact, energy was focused onto the point to improve defense and greatly reduce the amount of damage. But this skill was tremendously difficult to achieve; it required keen eyes, a calm mind, fast reflexes, and mastery of energy. As well, this skill wasn’t very common, as it required special training to practice this. Usually, a person would have to have reached the advanced rank to use this. Fang though was only a 9th grade novice!

After that punch was deflected by the instant parry, Fang slid back a small distance. Just a lucky trick, Vincent thought, and prepared to send out another array of punches.

As the fight continued, Fang remained unwounded, but Vincent appeared to have complete control over the course of the fight, seemingly overwhelming Fang with large punches. Another glancing punch hit Fang.

Oddly, the same thing happened again, and even though Vincent’s fist was filled with strong light, it was offset by the instant parry.

If the first was a coincidence, then what was the second time?

The peaceful expression on the beautiful judge’s face changed slightly, colored in pleasant surprise.

To execute instant parry as a 9th grade novice wasn’t easy, to say the least!

However, no one knew that what Fang was doing wasn’t instant parry, instead a fighting method he was taught by the elders. He didn’t try to predict or react where he would take damage. All he did was exert a thin layer of energy around his body, and train to passively condense it around any breaks in the shield.

Damn, is this guy really using instant parry?

Vincent felt envious, he knew how difficult it was to use instant parry.

Dust flew into the air as the fight continued, Fang defending and occasionally using “instant parry” as Vincent attacked frustratingly.

With this energy shield protecting him from harm, Fang’s mind settled down completely, and he started to analyze the battle.

Fang wasn’t doing too badly; although he had never learned advanced techniques for fighting, his basic skills were solid. Slowly, but surely, he realized the patterns of attack Vincent showed, and the frequency that he got hit lowered. Now, deep into the fight, Vincent couldn’t touch Fang at all with his wild punches.

The endless method also displayed its advantages over the conventional methods – sustainability. Because of the method constantly repairing the lost energy in Fang’s body, he stayed in the same condition as he started the fight, while Vincent was short of breath with his body exhibiting fading light.

Vincent started to feel the pressure as sweat poured down his face. Every fist started to become heavy, but relentlessly, he kept up the assault.

Momentum was clearly on Fang’s side now, and seeing the exhaustion, the audience started to discuss amid each other.

“I didn’t expect that Fang was so strong, able to take so many punches.”

“That isn’t his body, it’s just a very good skill called instant parry!”

“Fang must have learned the skills at a young age, practicing in secret.”

“With the way this is turning out, Fang will surely get the recommendation.”

People were fickle. When you’re weak, you’re surely just a joke. But within a day, all grudges were forgotten if you were strong, Fang laughed bitterly.

Hearing the voices, Vincent was a bit unsettled.

Do you think I will lose?

Nonsense! Fang can never be stronger than me! I’ll show you the real winner!

Vincent stopped his punch, lifting his bent arm, fingers together in a sharp line. Light started to flow around the length of the arm, energy condensed into what seemed like a blade around his fingers. Shockingly, Vincent had something else than the barrage of punches: a martial technique!

Different energy concentrations into unique poses allowed the maximum potential of a combatant to be displayed; a martial technique outclassed regular fighting abilities by a large portion because of the focused energy.

With the sharp energy surrounding his arm like a sword, Vincent drew a circular arc from the top to the bottom.

White skill – Sonic Cut!

Skills were divided into levels as well with 5 grades: white, yellow, green, blue, red, purple, brown, and black. The level of the skill was decided by how much energy the skill would require in addition to the difficulty of mastery.

Although the white level of skills were not graded, it still was formidable. Originally, Vincent intended to wear down Fang with punches and then kill him with the skill, but the plan went completely awry.

Your instant parry can’t block all this energy, Fang, if this doesn’t kill you, you’ll at least be crippled!

I’d like to see how patient Mii would be, waiting around for a crippled vegetable. Would she follow you forever? She’ll eventually lose hope, and when that happens, I’ll take her from you, ahaha!

Vincent’s father wore a proud sneer as he looked. It seems that my son is better than Fang, even though he knows instant parry, it won’t be of any use when the Sonic Cut hits his body!

Seeing the lethal cut coming towards Fang’s head, Mii cried out, “Master, just give up!”

But it was no use; Vincent sped up and prepared to strike Fang in one blow.

Fang had no escape, no way out of this.

He blinked. Fang didn’t try to run, instead, he rose his right arm high, bent it slightly and shaped his fingers together pointed straight.

This position… it can’t be!

Fang’s hands, and Vincent’s hands were almost identical, was this… Sonic Cut?

Vincent hesitated for a second, and then threw that idea to the side, Fang must want to intimidate me, that’s all!

But the next moment, he found out he was wrong again.

Fang’s right arm also radiated a strong light, energy condensed together like a sharp edge.

White skill – Sonic Cut!