Chapter 19: Fighting the Demon Worshippers (2)
POV Ren:
[Connecting scan results to Host.]
As that message appeared, a flash of white light entered me. My mind was instantly filled with the detailed movements of Marcus's sword and the flow of his aura. It was so detailed that I felt like I had personally performed those movements and utilized that aura before.
'I'm using this for the first time, and it's truly insane!' I muttered in awe.
Then Calez's voice was heard from across from me. "Hey kid, are you done daydreaming? I'm starting to get bored, you know. If you want to fight, step up."
He clicked his tongue, twirling his dagger, and said again, "Let me give you some advice, little boy. When you fight, there's no time to think. Remember that."
My brow twitched. How many times today had I been called a 'boy'? Too many. But his words were true. In a battlefield, thinking is not a good thing.
I smiled, "Thanks for the advice. Now let's finish this."
He tilted his head slightly, genuinely curious, "Wow? You talk as if you won't die fighting me? You're very confident, kid!"
I ignored him and pulled a sword from my system storage—Where did I get a system storage? I only realized it these past few days. The system said I could store anything except living beings within my soul.
Turns out it had been there for a long time! And I hadn't realized it until Noll informed me when I was about to put money in my cupboard.
White light gathered in my hand, and then slowly the silhouette of a sword emerged. From initially being like flickering white starlight, it turned into a single-edged, curved sword, an odachi.
Seeing it, Calez's eyes widened, "You have an affinity for space? So you have two high-level affinities?... And you use a sword? Aren't you a mage?"
Slowly, he grinned, which sent chills down my spine. He lowered his stance slightly, preparing to fight.
"Fascinating... you're really fascinating, kid. After seeing this, I've decided I won't kill you. I'll take you back to our order."
I stared at him coldly and said with a hint of arrogance, "I know I'm great, so die for me, you ugly bastard."
I bent my right knee low and stretched my left leg straight back into a low stance. I placed my sword on my left side, the blade slightly drawn from the sheath, my left hand holding the sheath and my right hand holding the hilt in a reverse grip.
We both took our respective weapon technique stances. And in that moment, I spoke.
"Get ready, bastard, I'm coming." I said softly. My lips hissed, letting out smoke wrapped in small bolts of lightning.
[Lightning Breathing Technique: First Form:]
[Tenfold Speed!]
Lightning bolted from my whole body, writhing wildly. My blade was enveloped in lightning mana mixed with aura that was stronger than before, because I had watched Marcus use it.
I shot towards Calez at incredible speed. He was still stunned watching the power I unleashed.
I reached him and slashed downward; tendrils of lightning struck from my sword. In the last second, Calez tilted his body. My sword passed him, but I didn't give him time to think.
The moment my foot touched the ground, I immediately attacked from the side of his body. The air hissed as my sword sliced through it.
Zraaak!—boomm!!
Calez was sent flying. But he didn't fall; he spun in the air, performing a flip. I stepped forward again, attacking.
"You are quite—no, very fast for your rank, and you can use both aura and mana?! You just keep getting more interesting!"
He twirled his dagger, then threw it toward me. Seeing it coming, I dodged to the side. Not wasting the opportunity, Calez disappeared.
[Stealth Technique: Mist of Despair.]
"!! Where—!?"
But before I finished speaking, he appeared beside me like a mist and stabbed me with a dagger wrapped in black aura and poison.
I parried it just before it hit me, then with a swift movement, I ducked and attacked from bottom to top. I sliced the empty air—Calez disappeared again.
He reappeared behind me, kicking me with great force, sending me flying past the scorched and damaged trees.
"Argh..." I groaned, not from pain, but trying to balance myself in the air.
I immediately did a half-turn before landing on the ground and stood up, lightning still crackling from my body. But Calez was already gone.
"...Where is he?" I asked, slightly out of breath.
[Stealth Technique: Territory Mist.]
Then, as if I were in a horror genre, mist enveloped the area around me. The fog was so thick I couldn't see anything.
[Host! Behind you.]
Based on my instinct, I spun my body and slashed backward.
Taang!
The sound of clashing steel echoed through the air. The attacker, Calez, was surprised again when I parried his dagger.
"You noticed? How?" Calez asked, astonished. I didn't answer his question and attacked with my aura and mana.
Lightning exploded from my sword, jolting him back and forcing him to retreat. Then I released mana from my body, spreading it around the mist.
Calez disappeared—but it didn't matter. With a mocking grin, I said, "Fool!"
Boom!!
Instantly, with a flick of my hand, the misty area exploded with lightning energy. Calez quickly retreated, abandoning his attack. Half of his shirt was scorched by my attack.
"H-How did you do that!?" Calez asked, enraged.
I smiled, seeing him injured. You want to know how I made it explode? I converted the lightning mana into positive and negative charges, spread it, then merged the two—and boom! The energy exploded.
"You want to know?" I raised my left index finger, pointing to the side of my head, grinning widely with lightning still crackling from my body.
"Think, kids."
You must be wondering why I didn't just let him attack me, right? Yes, I have the [Untouchable] power. But here's the thing: if I let him attack me, he would quickly realize it, and he wouldn't use all his techniques because they wouldn't work.
And I'm not stupid enough to pass up this opportunity to learn how to fight and study his techniques. It's like throwing one stone and hitting two birds at once.
But if his attack was actually going to hit me, of course, I would hold it back with my [Untouchable] power. Who wants to feel pain for no reason? Sorry, that's not going to happen.