章 11: Spar (2)
(General POV)
Ais launched forward covered in a shield of green air. Garth held up the flat of his blade again to intercept the thrust like he'd always done up until this point. Ais narrowed her eyes and further increased her speed up to maximum she could push it.
Ariel, a magical power bestowed upon her courtesy of her lineage was a Wind Elemental based skill that covered her in raging winds like a shield. Using this shield, she was able to lower any wind resistance trait that any opponent of hers had.
And because of the boost in agility and striking power it granted her, she was able to hit one level above her own in a single strike. Those who knew of it classified it as one of the highest classed skills that someone could come across, let alone obtain.
While it still fell short in some ways compared to Liaris Freese or Realis Phrase according to some, it was still a deadly attack not just because of the momentary level boost it gave to the demi-spirit but also because of how the attack worked. It was a combination of attack an illusion.
While expecting this, Garth was still taken aback when Ais seemingly phased through him without making contact at all with his weapon nor any part of his body. He felt the air pressure created by Arial lift him off his feet slightly.
Ais who was behind him saw this small moment of opportunity and turned, as was part of her attack 'Lil Rafaga' and lunged towards Garth's back. To the spectators, all they saw was Ais blade, Sword Ale make contact with Garth's back before an enormous dust cloud was kicked up, which only joined the rest that had been created during the entire brawl of a spar.
The 14th floor appeared to shake from the effect of the collision as a large rumbling noise was sent reverberating through the many tunnels and cavern's of the upper floors. the noise reached other lower level adventurers who were having a hard time trying to find some monsters to kill.
Little did they know that on of the causes of this disturbance was our hero one shotting everything in his path that the dungeon seemed to exhaust itself of lower level mobs to throw at anyone just yet.
They passed the noise off as a great battle happening on lower floors as the amount of echoes cast the illusion of multiple of this disturbances occurring in tandem.
Passing it off as more powerful adventurers taking some monsters out of the way to reach the middle floors, they returned back to their hunt. Some were immensely frustrated that they could not find any monsters to kill whatsoever.
One particular Chienthrope supporter waggled her ears under her hood in annoyance as the arrogant bum of an adventurer she was following today screamed in frustration about not finding even a single goblin to kill.
Her eyes drifted over to a wall that looked strange and deformed, as if somebody had targeted it with a high flame spell and completely melted the rock off the wall face. If that is what had happened, then it seemed it had already cooled because even though it had darkened and looked more solid, it was still slightly warm near that place.
Seeing a sudden glint in the rock that had melted to the floor, she left the adventurer who was still raving and went closer for an inspection. Upon coming closer, she felt warmth on her face as if indeed, the rock had only just cooled.
Looking at the object that was reflecting the pale light in the cave, she gasped slightly as she saw a monster core mostly buried in the rock. Looking behind her to see the adventurer ranting to nobody in particular, she took out a small knife and pried the core out of the rock.
The rock was still slightly soft but very hot. It was easy to take the core out but her knife immediately became a little too hot and she pulled it away before she could burn herself. She didn't pick up her prize but instead stared at it inspecting it closer.
Although caked with bits of rubble, she saw that it looked similar to some goblin cores. Looking around, she caught sight of more glints around her, indicating more cores were hidden underneath here.
Now that she thought about it, this entire area was different. This part of the dungeon should usually have arches of rock and stone with pieces sticking out of the floor and ceiling like teeth.
But instead, all she saw was stumps and shattered rocks everywhere. It was as if this entire area had somehow been damaged all at once. She tensed slightly, half expecting the fabled monster that was said to appear when the dungeon took a bit too much damage. But nothing.
'What happened here? And who would be mad enough to leaves all these cores just lying around?'
---
Back on the 14th floor, the three spectators waited for the dust cloud to recede. Once it finally did so at a painfully slow pace, their eyes widened as they took in the sight before them.
Finn was the highest level adventurer in that group. It was because of that he was the most shocked. He was certain that Ais's sword had contacted Garth's back, and he was half afraid she had punctured his organs from behind. That was what his enhanced perception told him before the smokescreen appeared.
But instead of that, what he was seeing was completely different and outright impossible if he was not seeing it with his own eyes. Garth had somehow in that split second turned around, sword in hand, and with his free hand had caught the tip of Ale between his thumb, index and middle finger.
Ais herself fort he first time in her life appeared genuinely shocked. She had felt her blade make contact, but she hadn't even seen him turn around let alone grab her blade. One moment her sword had struck the back of his armour seemingly, and the next it was between his fingers. He carried an expressionless face on him this time, as if their roles were reversed.
"Wooh!" he said breaking out into a small relieved smile. "You nearly got me there Ais. A moment too late and I'd either be dead, in the infirmary or at the blacksmith's trying to polish the nasty scratch that would have left."
The smile fell as Ale suddenly gained multiple cracks on it, before shattering into small pieces. Everyone stared at it.
"Oops? I might have gripped it too hard." Garth said sheepishly.
"GRIPPED IT TOO HARD!" Tione was up in his face in an instant yelling into it. "That's a million Valis down the drain you dummy? And how were you able to destroy something like that to that effect just by gripping it!"
"Say it, don't spray it!"
"I'll do whatever I want! You're the one who has to explain how you're able to to things like this so callously and nonchalantly when you're not even at a level to justify having this kind of strength! What the hell are you?"
"...a human?"
A resounding slap echoed throughout the cave as Tione buried her face in her hand. Ais simply stared at the remains of her sword before collapsing in a daze. While the fight was not a test of skill nor did it really have any exciting element to it, the fact that this person who just came out nowhere with no Falna on his back, and was able to fight off her best attacks and dismantle her honed techniques with amateurish deflections and blocking as well as clearly inexperienced and unrefined swings, all the while not seeming consume any stamina and doing all of that as if he wasn't doing anything different that required more effort than walking...
She should be feeling despair, despair that all her efforts seemed to be thrown on their head. That everything she had experienced and achieved up until now just didn't matter because there was someone out there who was apparently born strong.
But instead of negative feeling consuming her...she felt a hot fire. One that burned deep in her soul. The same that yearned for revenge against the One Eyed Black Dragon. But now it had taken a different hue, as another purpose for it to continue burning emerged in her heart.
She looked up at the man who had bested her, rubbing his head meekly as Tione pulled on his collar and yelled into his face. She gazed at him in silent wonder as her eyes opened for what seemed life the first time in her life.
Behind the handsome barbarian, she could see a metaphorical bonfire, that burned with heat and intensity that put the meager flame in her soul to complete and utter shame.
She felt her senses fill with his power, and her heart was filled with wonder, as she gazed upon someone, someone who did not seem driven by hubris or arrogance, someone that did not look at her in lust.
Someone who had stared at her in amazement and joy as they fought, despite him clearly having already won just by possessing that kind of power. Someone who didn't look down on her just because he had such a gift but had continuously fought her with the same spirit she had even though it took him no visible effort on his part.
Someone who could help her reach her goal. All her life Ais sought power on her own, believing she could grow on her own efforts. But in the face of this kind of might, why compete with it, when she could simply learn from it, follow it, join it and eventually become equal with it.
No, that was wrong. Follow HIM, join HIM, learn from HIM and become equals with HIM.
And thus Ais Wallenstein gained a new purpose in life as she stared at the most powerful person she had ever seen, a purpose which unlike her usual naïve self she immediately recognized. A purpose that now meant as much to her as did her thirst for revenge.
'I want to be like him. I want to be someone he sees as his equal, someone he can be just as amazed in as I am of him.'
In that singular moment, Ais Wallenstein, daughter of Albert Waldenstein and Aria the wind spirit, felt an onslaught of emotions that she had not felt ever in her life, and in more quantities in a single second than she had ever felt in all her life.
---
In the Twilight Manor, Loki felt a sudden grip of annoyance as her hair bristled.
"Somebody is seducing my Ais! I have to go an see who it is...and kill them nice and slowly!" She said darkly as she leapt our of her chair. But before she could even leave the desk she was at, a hand grabbed her collar and pulled her back down on her rear.
"Sit down and be quiet! You haven't even finished signing all these tax documents." Riveria snapped.
"But momma~ Somebody is trying to taint my Ais. Besides, paperwork is so boring~"
"Should have thought of that before you decided to expand your Familia. Now sit before I smack you again!"
Loki relented.
---
Misha was packing up the last of her work for the day. Only a few people were left in the guild, and even fewer adventurers were in the receptiona area, waiting for the last of their cores to be exchanged.
The sun would soon be setting, and Garth still hadn't returned from the dungeon. After asking around the adventures for a bit, and giving descriptions of him, some adventurers told her that he had been seen hanging around with some of the Loki executives.
That provided some small form of relief for her. If he was with them, then he would be safer in the dungeon. But it had still been too long for comfort. She was beginning to worry that something might have happened to him.
Technically he was free lancer. Why would any of the Loki Familia executives hang around on the upper floors for the convenience of a nameless adventurer when they would want to go to the lower floors to farm monster cores? He was most likely hanging around somewhere on the upper floors.
But even assuming the rumors about the altercation between him and Bete Loga were true, what's to say he didn't encounter some monster in the dungeon too dangerous for him. Adventurers still died to mere goblins after all from time to time.
The doors suddenly swung open, catching the attention of all who were still currently present. Immediately she heard a burst of whispering amongst them and she herself looked up to greet whoever it was.
Her mouth dropped as she caught sight of the King himself, Ottar the captain of the Freya Familia walk in with his fists clenched and arms swinging. His entire frame radiated intimidation and power as his eyes locked on to her and made his way over to her.
She shook a little, as it was not often he came here. Most of his days were spent either by Lady Freya's side or in the dungeon, while the other members of his executive team would exchange the spoils. Rarely did he ever come to the guild. And seeing as he was approaching her specifically, she assumed it could only be about one thing.
"Are you the one who put forward the request notice to join our Familia?" he asked quietly, his face stony as was normal for him.
"Y-yes I did."
"Where is he?"
"He's currently in the dungeon sir."
"Alone? Without a blessing?" Ottar narrowed his eyes.
"W-Well yes. I did warn him about the dangers of the dungeon. Last I heard of him, he was with some members of the Loki Familia executives. But still, he has been gone a long time."
Ottar straightened and made to turn. She assumed it was to leave but he instead faced one of the seating boxes.
"I'll wait for him here then."
"Huh?" Misha blinked.
"I said I will wait for him until he comes back. Lady Freya wishes to see him as soon as possible."
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We are getting to the spicy but of the story soon. Promise!
This story is currently five chapters ahead on my p@treon:
P@treon/ Vulkizaro_Zoromi
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