With a silver spear tournament looming the following morning, I spend the rest of the day near the training grounds to see if I can catch a glimpse of any of my potential opponents. I won't know who I face until the morning, but I should at least try to prepare. Looks like most contestants are just going through repetitive exercises. No one wants to show off their real skill this close to the tournament. I say no one, but the four guys who ranked up from the bronze tournament don't seem too bothered. They know that they will struggle in the tournament, as they go up against higher level opponents.

I observe them sparing. They are all skill fighters, leveraging their technique to try to make up for their lack of strength and speed. The winner of the group is a middle aged man, level 9 life force and level 7 spearmanship. He would be a difficult opponent, as he clearly has a lot of experience. If he gain more life force he will be starting in the silver league next year. His skill level is the same as mine with a spear but fighting Brute I have learned the hard way that experience counts for a lot.

Unlike the polearm event, in the spear event only successful stabs will count, but strikes are a good way of either disabling or off-setting the opponent to score a win. Stabs to the arms and legs give you an advantage point as in tennis, with the second point in a row winning the match. Stabs to the body or head counts as instant kills if they properly connect. Double kills don't count.

Thinking back to my training sessions with Brute I am reminded of the basics concepts of spear dueling while watching the bronze rankers spare. Technique goes a long way towards winning a duel. Brute strength alone is pointless, but speed and brute strength is a different matter. Also, if the fight drags on the fighter with higher stamina will draw the long straw. Lower rank fighters will generally use a soft technique against a higher rank fighters, using small and subtle movements to save time and turn the opponents strength against them.

The spears are blunted and all fighters are given a magic barrier around their head like the fist fight in the arena. Looks like I can go all out without worrying of killing someone. Even a blunt spear can harm, but healers should be available on the day. Satisfied I know all that is expected of me in the morning I head back to the inn for an early night.

Even with sleep interrupted by the girls coming back to the room, I wake up reasonably rested the next morning. The girls get up the same time as me and we eat a quick breakfast before heading to the tournament grounds. I am aware that I haven't asked the girls what they have been up to lately, I have been too distracted. Guess I am a bit nervous. The girls must have noticed, they are all trying to cheer me up and build my confidence. Even though I should be able to objectively assess which opponent I have a chance to win against, I still appreciate their encouragement.

I look at the Silver Spear Tournament boards to see who I am up against. Looks like I will be facing the winner of the bronze tournament. Since neither the life force level nor the technique level is on the board I have no way of knowing if I am in a difficult group. At least I should be able to win against one guy. I head towards the designated area to see if I can spot my other opponents.

As the members of my group assembles I notice that only the bronze fighter has lower life force level than me. Looks like level 12 is an inconvenient number in this tournament. I see a level 18 in my group, but most are just a few levels higher. The level 18 has only a level 5 spear skill, but he could still prove too hard. I am more worried about a fighter with a level 8 spear skill, higher than my own. They are probably all much more experienced than me as well.

My first fight goes surprisingly well. Sure my opponent was only a couple of levels higher, his technique was pretty mediocre. Surely the others are better than this guy. As if to prove my point, the bronze fighter steps up next and swiftly takes launch into a flurry of excellent stabs at another fighter with slightly less skill but higher level. Only his high speed saves him. The fight starts to turn against the bronze fighter. The referee deciding the points stands facing the fighters with a flag in each hand. As soon as he deems that an advantage point has been scored he raises the flag for that fighter. When the advantage is lost by a the opponent scoring a limb stab, the advantage flag goes down. In the end the bronze fighter loses by points, but only after breaking the advantage twice.

Soon my break is over and I face another higher level fighter. Again my skill is higher, but the fight is a lot closer. I still haven't faced the strongest opponents of my group. Looking at the fighter with spear skill 8, I can tell he has the edge over me. Clearly the strongest of the group. The level 18 low skill fighter is fast, but his technique is too clumsy.

Next up I face the bronze fighter. He seems unfazed by his loss in the last match. I manage to barely pull off a critical stab by leveraging my higher speed. To be honest my other skills are probably giving me more of an edge than I give them credit for. I might just manage to pull through and win this group. Still high on my three consecutive wins I beat another less skilled opponent before I hit the wall with the guy with the spear skill 8.

No matter how hard I try he is faster more fluid and far more experienced. I hear the ping from a new skill being learned. Looks like I picked up his fluid movement skill. I am one step closer to his level, but my confidence is unwarranted. I feel a stab to my shoulder. The flag goes up. I recover and defend. No matter how hard I try, I can't break his defense. He is expertly avoiding my counter scoring. I am reminded that so far no one has been able to even hit him with a strike.

With the advantage against me looming I continue hoping to wear him out before I remember that he is higher leveled than me and even with my stamina skill we are probably even on stamina. As when I was fighting Brute I try to learn his skill and turn it against him. It doesn't work, he seems unfazed by my attack. He is not an aggressive attacker, which is also what makes him so dangerous. Every movement has purpose.

As I launch into an intense flurry of probes, faints, stabs and strikes my skill suddenly jumps. Not the one level up jump, but the booster jump to level 10. The sudden change in technique and pace takes my opponent completely by surprise. His defense breaks and I score a critical hit. The fight is over and my opponent looks up dazed sitting on the ground, still not sure what happened.

With my maxed spear skill the level 18 might as well have been an ogre for his comparatively clumsy movements. It is a clean quick win. I continue taking out all my remaining opponents without too much difficulty and take first place in the group. Skill trumps strength it seems. Can anyone beat me now at all?