Living Again as a Man of Faith in Another World from Zero - Volume 1

[ Arc 4 - 3 ] A new change - Viu moves to the final phase.

Garfiel's gaze darted between Viu and Otto, his expression a mix of surprise and grudging respect.

- You're damn perceptive, I'll give you that, he admitted, shaking his head in disbelief. I ain't ever met someone who can just... know things without moving. Like you got eyes and ears everywhere or somethin'.

- Okay, I have a deal. Let's have a duel.

Garfiel's eyes lit up at Viu's challenge, a mix of excitement and caution on his face.

- A duel, huh? You want to fight me? he said, a smirk spreading across his face. Bold of ya to challenge the captain of the Sanctuary's guards, I'll give you that. You sure you know what you're gettin' yourself into?

- Oh but I know. You have the divine protection of the spirits of the earth, can transform into a humanoid tiger, and you are extremely gifted in close combat but for you to listen to me and let me move freely I must therefore speak in the language that you know. Otto, you will be the referee.

Otto, who had been quietly observing the exchange, nodded in agreement.

- Alright, I can referee the duel if you both agree to it, he said, his eyes flickering between Viu and Garfiel, gauging their determination.

Garfiel nodded as well, a sly smile on his face.

- Fine by me, he agreed. If a little duel is what it takes to satisfy your need for freedom, then I'm game.

***

A heart of an arena located in the middle of the forest, Viu and Garfiel were preparing. Before starting he wrote the following situation: " The winner decides the fate of the loser. PS: No healing or regeneration is allowed before the end of the fight." Which created a huge domain taking up half of the forest.

Both Viu and Garfiel stepped into the arena, their gazes locked in fierce determination. The atmosphere was charged with tension as the two opponents prepared for the duel ahead.

Garfiel glanced at Viu, a smirk on his face.

- Ready to get your ass kicked, kid? he taunted, his hand hovering near the handle of his shields.

Viu took out his bōō and struck the first Garfiel, with a touch at the maximum of his power. Garfiel's eyes widened in surprise at Viu's sudden attack, but he was quick to react. He twisted his body to the side, avoiding the blow, but the force of the hit sent him sliding backwards.

- You're fast, he grunted, regaining his footing. But that aint enough to take me down.

- I see.

Viu changed his bōō for a hammer which when attacking Garfiel grew bigger to crush him.

Garfiel's eyes widened in surprise as Viu's bōō transformed into a hammer, growing in size as it charged towards him. Despite his reflexes, he was unable to fully evade the massive hammer, and it slammed into him with tremendous force.

Garfiel let out a pained cry as he was sent flying backwards, rolling across the ground before coming to a halt, gasping for breath.

Viu did not let go of the hold and continued until Garfiel agreed to give up. Except that his opponent had protected himself with his two shields and now cornered ended up transforming into a 2m humanoid tiger. Viu immediately withdrew his hammer and stepped back. Fortunately for him, Garfiel was greatly injured by the previous attack.

- How does it feel to no longer be able to heal yourself via your divine protection? And in case you call me a cheater, I can't heal myself either. We have to wait until the end of the fight.

Garfiel, in his tiger form, roared in anger and pain. He was clearly hobbled by Viu's previous attack, his movements noticeably slower and more labored.

- Damn you, he growled, his voice distorted by his transformation. You think you can just disable my powers like that? You're cheating!

- Cheating? You can literally heal yourself infinitely as long as you keep your bare feet on the ground with this divine protection. Also, I remind you that I can't heal myself either because of this same rule.

Garfiel growled in frustration, his claws sinking into the ground as he shifted his weight. He knew that Viu was right, but it didn't make him any happier about the situation.

- Damn it... he grumbled, his eyes fixed on Viu. Ya're making this fight a lot harder than it needs to be.

- That's the goal!

He attacked him with his hammer.

Despite his injuries and the restrictions placed upon him, Garfiel did not back down. He leapt towards Viu, claws extended and teeth bared in a snarl. His movements were fast and calculated, his years of training and combat experience shining through.

Garfiel dodged Viu's hammer strike, rolling to the side before lunging forward with a furious roar, his claws aimed at Viu's torso.

Although he had taken it, he dodged to avoid it being more serious. Especially since he counterattacked and gave him a super powerful punch in his village, hence the fact that he accepted to be hit and injured.

Garfiel roared in pain as Viu's punch landed square in his gut and sent him sprawling backwards, gasping for breath. The force of the punch was immense, and it left Garfiel winded and disoriented.

- Damn you... he wheezed, struggling to his feet again. You hit... like a damn truck...

- You're worse! I would be dead without my muscle memory. You literally hit like an ultra-powerful magic bomb.

Garfiel chuckled through gritted teeth, wiping the blood from his lips.

- Yeah, I guess we're even in that department, he conceded, a hint of grudging respect in his voice. You're a tough one, I'll give you that.

- You're not either. I've so far faced an assassin who can regenerate, a girl who controls Mabeasts, a spirit knight, an evil spirit of the earth that possesses people, but you're really high level.

He went down and prepared for his final attack.

Garfiel watched as Viu prepared for his final attack, a mix of anticipation and caution in his eyes. He couldn't let his guard down now, not when the outcome of the fight hung in the balance.

- You've fought some tough opponents, huh? he said, a hint of a smirk on his face. And I'm up there with them? I'm flattered.

- .... Authority of Sloth: 8 petals of the lotus.

Garfiel's eyes widened as Viu unleashed his final attack, his instincts telling him that whatever was coming would be dangerous.

- Authority of Sloth...? Garfiel muttered, bracing himself for the oncoming onslaught.

The petals of the lotus appeared at each of the vital points on Garfiel's body, their presence causing a wave of unease to wash over him. Before he could move or react, the petals suddenly transformed into full lotus flowers, attaching themselves to his body.

Garfiel let out a strangled cry as the flowers locked onto him, their grip tightening as their effect took hold. His body went limp, his eyes rolling back in his head as he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The sphere then disappeared and thus both Viu and Garfiel were able to regenerate. Otto ended the fight.

Otto hurried over to where Garfiel lay, checking his condition. Seeing that he was merely unconscious, Otto let out a sigh of relief.

- He's out, but he'll be fine, he said, shaking his head in relief.

Garfiel began to stir, groaning as he slowly regained consciousness.

- What... happened? he mumbled, rubbing his head as he sat up.

- It happens that you lost to me.

Garfiel let out a groan, his eyes flickering to Viu as he remembered the outcome of the fight.

- Damn it... I guess I did, he muttered, a hint of bitterness in his voice.