Chương 48: 48. A "Gentle" Spar
_Godrick _
Knocking the halberd away with his short sword, Archer jumped away and got into another fighting stance, ready to jump into action.
The Juggernaut looked at him, wondering if he truly wanted to fight, before Archer suddenly disappeared from his position before striking from Godrick's back.
The Knight leaned forward to dodge the slash, feeling the short swords whistle by his head. Godrick let his halberd slide through his hand as he retaliated, grabbing it by the butt with his right hand as he turned to his right, and swung. The extended reach of the weapon allowed the Knight to catch Archer with the tip, as he had retreated the moment his attack failed.
Blocking with both short swords, Archer was knocked back before flipping in the air and landing on the wall. Using all his strength he leapt forward, destroying the portion of the wall to propel himself forward.
Godrick took a step forward, and swung his halberd in an uppercut to meet Archer. Their weapons clashed together, sparks igniting as Archer was thrown high into the sky.
Flipping in the air, Archer's bow appeared in his hand, while a strange arrow appeared in the other.
"I Am the Bone of My Sword" He said, drawing his arrow back before letting it go.
It blitzed towards the Knight, faster than any arrow should be able to go. Godrick only had a moment to react, bringing his halberd down on the arrow mid flight before it could pierce his armor.
A massive explosion enveloped the Juggernaut, destroying most of the temple around him, and melting the stone beneath his feet.
Archer landed on the other side of the courtyard, only to see the Knight walk from the flames calmly. He swore silently to himself as he summoned his short swords once more.
Godrick stoof in the flames, letting them lick at his armor before he shattered the ground beneath him as he ran forward, heaving his halberd up and over his shoulder to come crashing down on Archer, who sidestepped the blow.
He then lunged at Godrick's neck, his short swords scoring long lines across the Juggernauts armor as the Knight brought his shoulder and cheek together, closing the vulnerable area of his neck.
Releasing his halberd, Godrick lunged to his right, placing his right hand on the ground while twisting his body to bring himself into a sort of one handed stand.
With his feet in the air, he used his momentum of the sudden handstand to swing his right leg, viciously kicking Archer out of the air, and sending him into the ground.
Now back on his feet while still twisting, Godrick caught the handle of his halberd with his right hand and pulled it from the ground before bringing it back down where Archer had landed.
The ground exploded as the weapon met it, causing Archer to be thrown into the stone wall behind him.
He rebounded from the wall, only for Godrick's left fist to bury itself in his stomach, forcing blood to leak from his mouth.
Taking a step back from the servant, Godrick let Archer fall to his knees before he suddenly disappeared via Command Spell.
Steam shot from the hole of the Juggernaut's helmet, denoting the satisfaction he gained from the fight.
He wouldn't have killed the Archer, as he still heeded Alaya's words and hoped he could pose some sort of usefulness in the future. Though what that usefulness entailed, the Juggernaut had no idea.
Returning to the entrance of the temple, Godrick found Assassin waiting for him, sword unsheathed.
"In all my years," The servant said, "I've never fought someone like you. What kind of a man lets himself get injured just so he can gain the upper hand?" He asked.
Walking away from the exit, he sheathed his sword and bowed deeply.
"It was an eye opening experience to fight you. I will reflect on our battle, and learn for when we meet in the future." He said, standing from his bow.
Godrick walked from the temple, after nodding at Assassin, acknowledging him as a superb warrior.
Jogging down the path, Godrick eventually came upon Artoria, who was helping an injured Shirou back to his home.
Deciding to help them along, Godrick stood as protection on the way back, though they didn't really need it as no one attacked them.
Finally arriving back at his estate, Artoria tended to Shirou's wounds while scolding him all the while for not being more careful. Planning on not letting this happen again, she told him of her plans to stay by his side indefinitely for the moment being, which he protested against.
She just rolled her eyes, and left the subject for another time.
"Changing the subject," She said, now speaking to both of them. "I would like to begin teaching you how to use the sword. I think it will be beneficial for you to learn if you are thick headed enough to run head first into battle." She said, directing the last part to her son, who had the decency to look away.
"That would be great!" Shirou said, perking up. "When can we start?" He asked enthusiastically.
"In the morning before you go to school." She responded before getting up and going to her room. She stopped as she reached the door and turned around again.
"Both of you." She said, looking at Godrick.
"No way." Godrick signed to her. "There is no way. I don't want to have my ass handed to me. There is no way in hell I'll be doing that." He signed, looking away from his mother.
_The next morning_
Godrick stood in the "dojo" as Shirou called it, holding a wooden sword in his right hand, a scowl on his face.
"Wipe that scowl off your face, or I'll do it for you." Artoria said sternly, watching the two as they stood opposite of each other.
Godrick couldn't help but roll his eyes as his mother watched. She just sighed, telling them to begin.
Holding the sword lazily, Godrick walked forward, slapping Shirou's clumsy and feeble strike away from himself before cracking his "blade" against the side of the boy's face, making him stumble.
"Damn that hurt." Shirou said, steadying himself.
"Again." Artorias voice rang through the dojo.
Shirou took the initiative this time, sprinting forward and swinging at Godrick's left leg. The Juggernaut simply took a step back, before stepping back into range and raising his knee to meet Shirou's chest as his momentum carried him forward.
The air was knocked from Shirous lungs, and he fell backwards to the floor hard. He lay there for a second before suddenly taking a deep breath and holding his chest.
"Godrick." Artoria said sternly, telling of her displeasure.
Godrick held his arms out as if to ask what he had done wrong, his own displeasure written on his face.
"Shirou, give me the sword." Artoria said, standing up.
The boy got to his feet, still holding his chest and held his sword out to Artoria.
"How many of these do you have?" She asked as she passed him.
"I don't know, maybe five or six." He said with a slight wheeze before adding, "Why?"
"Oh, no reason." She said, suddenly lunging at her son.
Godrick reacted, trying to block her underhand strike before it suddenly disappeared.
A loud 'CRACK' was heard, as Godrick felt a faint sting on the back of his right hand. As he looked down he could see the skin had a faint red tint to it.
He looked back to his mother, who dropped the handle of the sword that had just burst due to the Mana she had infused it with.
"Shirou, bring me another one." She said, never taking her eyes from her sons.
"You know I never let Mordred bully you when you practiced the sword when you couldn't keep up with her. And even when we found you a weapon that fit you, the same was still true when you would win. Why do you think it's OK to do that now? Is it because you have better things to do?" She asked in a dangerous voice.
He pursed his lips slightly, avoiding her gaze. Shirou returned with the sword, which Artoria took and got back in her stance.
"What else do you have to do then help your dear mother?" She asked, a lovely smile forming on her lips. Godrick knew the smile was fake and prepared… To have his ass handed to him.
Stepping forward, he brought the sword down on her, but she fainted meeting the blow with one of her own. Suddenly the sword was before his face, and another 'CRACK' rang through the dojo, followed closely by "Another" from Artoria.
Godrick held his red cheek, rubbing his jaw slightly with his blackened left hand.
"Come." His mother commanded, to which he obliged.
Moving forward more cautiously, Godrick stabbed out with the sword, and finally, the two blades met.
'CRACK' 'CRACK' 'CRACK'
The sounds of their blades meeting rang through the dojo, as the two servants fought for supremacy against one another.
Godrick swung from his right at Artoria's left leg, but it was stopped dead by her blade. Another quick strike knocked his sword back before she suddenly lunged.
Godrick deflected the blade with his left hand, narrowly causing it to miss his stomach. He whipped out with his sword, but Artoria was too close for him to swing it effectively.
Catching his swing with her own, Artoria redirected his swing to his left, her right, giving her the perfect opening to smash her sword against his face. The blade shattered against his nose, causing him to bring a hand up and rub it gently while Artoria called for another blade to be brought to her.
"Hey, we don't have many mo-" "Another blade!" Artoria interrupted Shirou, as he cautioned her against continuing.
Throwing his blade at his mother, Godrick gestured to come at him while he was unarmed.
She caught the blade by the handle, and looked at her son quizzically. He raised his right hand and motioned her forward with his fingers, causing a grin to come to his face.
Unarmed combat was his domain, and he would repay his mother for breaking so many swords on his skin.
"How about you two take this outside? I don't want to have my dojo ruined!" Shirou shouted before the duo started.
Artoria looked at the Juggernaut for confirmation, and when he nodded, she turned around only to have the back of her head slapped by one of his meaty hands. The blow wasn't hard at all, but it did mess her hair up, which made her look at him with a glare.
Godrick just smiled as he walked past her out into the courtyard, uncaring of what she would do.
Standing apart from each other now, the two were frozen in place before Artoria took the initiative, lunging towards Godrick who backstepped the sword swipe.
Lunging back at his mother after the sword passed him by, Godrick swiped out with his right hand, which she ducked.
Swinging at his right leg as she lunged past him once more, Godrick threw his right leg out, letting the blade go under him, jumping backwards with his still grounded left leg.
He again caught himself with his right hand as he did a makeshift backflip, twisting his body around so that he could sweep Artoria's legs with his own.
To his surprise, it actually worked, as Artoria crashed to the ground, her left shoulder hitting the rocks hard.
Looking up, she saw Godrick's fist descending right towards her face. A quick roll to her right saved her from the blow that shattered the rock where she had just been.
The roll brought her back to her knees, which she used to lunge at the Juggernaut, bringing her blade back up to his face.
Godrick saw the blade coming at him, and lunged as well, opening his mouth wide to bite down on the blade, shattering it as he grabbed his mother in a bear hug before standing to his full height.
Artoria struggled in his arms, trying her best to break free, but could do nothing as Godrick tightened his grip on her.
Turning his head, he spat out the piece of the blade he still had in his mouth before looking at his mother.
"I yield-" She said, short of breath.
Godrick looked at her confused before bringing his ear closer to her, feigning as if he hadn't heard her the first time.
"I YIELD!" She shouted into his ear, making him recoil from the sudden noise. Releasing her, she dropped to her feet and began to rub her left shoulder.
"That wasn't fair." She said almost pouting. Godrick just rolled his eyes before reaching out and flicking her on the forehead.
She looked back up at him, and before he knew it, Excalibur was in her hands, deathly close to his neck. He held his hands up in surrender, which made her lower it and walk away.
"We should spar more often." She said as she walked back into the dojo to continue teaching Shirou.
(A/N: Hello everyone! This might be the last chapter for this week. I don't know if any of you have noticed, but I've been trying to keep to a schedule of posting every Sunday and Wednesday/Thursday.
Unfortunately my wife is having a major surgery this week, and will be in the hospital for the next couple days to maybe weeks depending on how it goes. During this time, I don't know if I'll be able to post any chapters as I'll be taking care of her full time.
I apologize for any inconvenience, and appreciate your understanding during this time!
I've been think alot about the story, and I would like to know what all of you think about how it's going so far? A couple of you have left reviews when we were still in the beginning stages of it, and I would like to know how you feel the story has turned out! For those of you who have been long term readers, have you felt like the story is progressing well?
Please tell me your thoughts! I appreciate each and every one of you!!!)
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