Pokémon : Black Rising

36. Aura Battle

My heart pounded with exhilaration when I eyes opened in the next morning.

" Once you master every form you can imagine, we'll proceed to the final stage, " those words were scratched into my thoughts. Whole day yesterday, I had practised forms and made satisfactory progress. With a gap of two seconds and a half, I could generate anything I wished.

I woke up to see Neil's back facing me. He was probably grooming his gloved nails or something. He said, " We can start once you are ready. "

I gulped and got ready for the day.

Half an hour later, I was facing Neil who was ten feet away. He yelled from the side, " Ready for the final test Tyler? "

I gulped, " Y-yeah! "

" Good! The test is actually very simple. Beat me. "

My jaws lost strength, " What?! "

" You heard me! Beat me in a fight and you will be worthy of the title Aura Guardian. Ready or not, here I come! "

With superhuman speed, he crossed the ten feet gap in a second with arms raised. The training kicked in and adrenaline filled my blood. I ducked to avoid the direct attack only to be hit with an Aura Sphere from his left hand. The sphere should've been the mastered form or something 'cause it hurt like never before.

I was flying before I knew it and crashed into a boulder. In an instant, Neil was above me, plummeting down for an elbow crush. I rolled out of the way and barely avoided the incoming Aura Sphere. Neil apperaed in front and attempted a jab to my side. I caught hold of his arm and tried to throw him. But, he yanked his arm off and blasted mine with another sphere. He was not joking at all...

A knee collided with my stomach. As I was reeling, Neil yelled, " At least try to put up a fight! You are barely doing anything. "

Something in his words ignited me and I was ready to deliver some punches. I formed an Aura Sphere in my right hand and charged at Neil. He waited patiently for me to approach. I roared and released the Aura Sphere which darted towards Neil. After tipping his hat down, the sphere was charging at nothing.

From our training, I remembered that Neil loves attacking from the back. So by a habit, I swung my arm back and it hit something solid. Jerking my neck back, I saw Neil taking a hit  to the shoulder. I formed an Aura Sphere in my free hand and blasted it at Neil. After the recoil, a smirk crossed his face. " That's more like it. "

I took the bait and ran ahead for close combat. He easily parried my left hook and performed his own. Unfortunately, I was not as fast as him so the fist caught my ribs. I recoiled from the attack and Neil sent an axe-kick to my head. My face tasted dirt, not defeat.

I willed for a battle hammer to form in my hands. With that, I swung it at the Aura Guardian's legs. He landed on his bottom that instant. I took the opportunity and hurled the hammer at the fallen guy. He took it to the face.

He was back to his feet after full ten seconds. He smirked again and created a blue longsword. I prepared a shield, a big one at that. The sword clashed with a clang and tore my shield in half, no effort at all.

Seeing my shocked expression, Neil adviced, " Strengthen your focus. The less the size, the more the durability. Put all of your energy into it! " The longsword stabbed the earth where I had been jiffys ago. The longsword, already long, elongated another feet or two and slashed at me. I was quick enough to parry with a quick shield. With all the focus I could muster, I summoned an Aura Sphere and fired a shot at Neil. He adjusted his sword to deflect the force. As soon as the bait was took, I fired another massive Aura Sphere and directed it at Neil.