Ancient Pasts - Tbate

Adventurers

Cathan Leywin Pov

"N-Next up, e-examinee A-Aurora! Please come down!"

"Good luck." Arthur and Jasmine patted me on the shoulder.

I could see the examiner- George, visibly stiffen when he saw me. He's thinking of Arthur's display of strength and skill a few moments ago. Arthur became an AA class adventurer right off the bat, which is extremely rare and happened almost never.

"Stand down, George. You won't be testing the examinee either." Kaspian interrupted before either of us could even draw our weapon.

"S-Sir? Then who will?" I could see George visibly deflate from relief.

Without saying a word, the hooded man Kaspian arrived with stood up, he pulled back his hood to reveal a young blond man, he seemed to be young—maybe in his mid-twenties, with a high-bridged, straight nose up to his narrow eyes. His shoulder and waist weren't too wide.

"I will be testing him." He spoke with a cold voice.

He made his way to the middle of the ring and withdrew a double-bladed spear. I took time to observe what I knew of the man. He was around the same height as Kaspian, with a reach about a foot longer.

His weapon and stance suggest he relies on speed and power. His elements are either earth or fire. He must be strong, probably a solid silver augmenter.

"Aren't you going to draw your weapon?" He asked with a raised brow.

I lifted my stick and imagined a short sword, thin and sharp. That created a replica of Dawn's ballad. My sword was pitch black that one would not see during nighttime.

I ignored the gasps and whispers from the audience and focused my senses on the man in front of me, he was surprised by the function of my weapon, but he quickly recovered and got ready.

"Begin!" He shouted.

I quickly lunged forward, with mana increasing my speed. I went for a quick jab to the heart. He blocked it using his spear that glowed red. He quickly tossed his spear to his other hand and started his assault.

His speed and strength were no joke. He fought like a tiger. He relied heavily on offense, but his defense was fluid despite his fire augmentation.

His technique with the spear was able to keep up with me and my sword skills. To the eye, it would look like we were at a stalemate, but it was clear we were both holding back too much.

He slashed his spear downward as I raised my sword to defend, but it was faint. As his spear struck, he covered it with lightning increasing the power of his attack.

I imagined a double-bladed spear, one of the blades shot out towards him, using fire magic he created an explosion below his feet, the spell launched him back.

It was similar to the spell Arthur used in his duel against Kaspian. As he recovered a safe distance away from me, he covered his entire body in lightning rather than just covering his spear.

"I underestimated you. Your weapon and technique are superior to my own. I am curious how good you are at magic." The blond man smirked.

With a nod from both of us, we lunged forward. Our strikes became a blur. After every pause, I changed my weapon, from a sword to a spear to an ax. It was clear my fighting style was a good counter.

His magic and weapon suggested he isn't used to prolonging battles, while my fighting style, based on the water and wind sects, allows me to fight for extended periods without getting tired.