A Slave's Story Also Has Hope In It

Chapter 16: Technique vs Talent

A lot of people had made way. On the field, there were just me, "Shizu" and Reida to count down

"Do both people accept this battle?"

A small gap for me to give up anyway huh..? I know i will lose. It's obvious. But i can still prove to this woman that i can become strong

"I do"

"I do too"

Then, Reida started to count

"3, 2, 1, go!"

This time i was patient. I didn't have my original sword for obvious reason, so this one felt new. I still hadn't used them anyway, so using this one was not THAT unfamiliar.

"Aren't you rushing in?"

"No, but there is no hole in your pose. Unlike that other guy. So i am observing my options"

I ran multiple options through my head. I observed her posture, even the slight movement of a breath was taken in by me. Through my own rule set, using the future seeing eye would be a no no. It would be a full on cheat. As such, running situations through my head with her having a set amount of mana was best. I gave her mana for 3 saint classed magic attacks in my head. But don't get that wrong. To actually use 3 saint classed attacks she would first need to thouroughly research the magic like i did. I can run 2 saint classed attacks right now so that is lower then hers. A mana contest i already lost. But she underestimates me for sure. 

"Are you attacking or what?"

No, i shouldn't get provoked. If she tries to attack she would be at a disadvantage. But at the same time she is right. A actual opponent would have slit my throat and split me in half already

"Sorry... your just that strong. But i won't let that make me lose!"

I ran at her like i did the man. But this time i wasn't going for the back. A greedy technique like that would make me lose for sure. The ultimate goal wasn't to attack with this sprint after all.

"That doesn't work" 

She slashed me in that second. But she didn't "Hit" me. 

"Peekaboo"

I was in her back anyway. I slashed her. I knew for sure. By using my sprint as a decoy and going at absurd speeds i could make room for one gear higher by putting a higher amount of mana in a burst of speed and getting in her back anyway. But she deflected and launched me against the wall with full power. I was close to passing out. But...

"This battle is-"

"No! To hell it's not! I still haven't proven my worth!!!"

My heartrate began to heighten. My heartbeat was going dangerously hard, but i held on.

Seth's pupils were clad in pure red. As red as his blood itself was. 

"There, i can still fight!!!"

I burst at the woman with full speed and gave 10 highly presured slashes all precise in where they would hit. Shizu was on defense, but couldn't find a gap for an attack. The slashes were that fast. But the next second she launched my body away with one higher power slash.

"Hahh... even that didn't work huh..? Then. Time to make my own technique! Seth original!"

I brought my leg downwards in a round movement. Half a circle was made with my leg, and i almost touched the ground with my left foot. I closed my eyes. Concentrated on any and every sound around me. The wind mostly. I tried feeling the mana, wich i succeeded in. I stood still in perfect fashion in utter concentration. Any mana that would be disrupted were a sign of human. The second anything or anyone stepped in, i would attack with one slash at the neck.