Combat against Elcrid wasn’t on my bingo list. He started by closing the distance and thrusting with the wooden sword.
("He’s fast!") [Solace]
My body reacted quickly, evading the strike like I had expected it.
"Very good." [Elcrid]
He continued the chain, forcing to step back and narrowly evade a sequence of strikes.
"You’re doing very well. Let’s increase the difficulty." [Elcrid]
I could feel him speed up. It beca harder to dodge, causing to deflect strikes with my spear or fully attempt to block it.
"Good reactions. How about this?" [Elcrid]
Elcrid began to speed up strikes at random tis, creating unpredictable monts. However, I was sohow able to fend it off.
("This is... intent?") [Solace]
I could feel where and when Elcrid was going to strike. It was like I was reading all the signals given off his body. Muscle contractions, positioning, angles, breathing, eye contact, everything that revealed what he was going to do next. It ca to all so clearly.
"You can see it now, can’t you?" [Elcrid]
He suddenly paused his attacks.
"Your turn." [Elcrid]
He motioned at smugly.
"You asked for it." [Solace]
I leaned in to release a full on assault. Slashes and stabs were aid at vital points. I swung high, allowing to sense he would block. Thus, adjusted the trajectory downward.
"Oh?" [Elcrid]
Stepping back, he evaded it by re centiters. I pushed onward into several thrusts, slowly carving out a path to a guaranteed opening.
"Well, aren’t you improving rapidly?" [Elcrid]
I aid at spots that caused Elcrid to dodge by leaning. It was then that I repeated the move, leading to him leaning further and further back. Eventually, he was off balance.
("Now!") [Solace]
Mid-thrust, I slamd my hand into the spear shaft to redirect the force to Elcrid. Within that instant, Elcrid moved in a way I couldn’t predict. With a loud snap, he caught my spear whilst nearly folded backwards.
"That’s... not right." [Solace]
Pulling himself back up, Elcrid’s spine snapped back into place.
"Movents like that are pretty convenient when you’re immortal." [Elcrid]
I didn’t even attempt to hide my disappointnt.
"If you’re so immortal, couldn’t you let hit you for that one?" [Solace]
Elcrid shook his head.
"I must admit, I’m quite the sore loser. So, no." [Elcrid]
Before we moved on to the next stage, Elcrid paused as if he sensed sothing.
"What’s wrong?" [Solace]
"We have... a visitor." [Elcrid]
With a clap, soone materialized in place.
"Hm?" [???]
My eyes t with them, allowing to fully recognize who it was.
"Nakros?" [Solace]
"Junior?" [Nakros]
"Ah, you’ve t?" [Elcrid]
"He’s the one who sent here." [Solace]
Nakros gave Elcrid a strange look.
"Who the hell are you?" [Nakros]
"Elcrid, the ancient. You are?" [Elcrid]
"Nakros, the azure dragon." [Nakros]
"You an... the last azure dragon?" [Elcrid]
Nakros’ expression stiffened.
"You really know how to touch a guy’s reverse scale." [Nakros]
"Nevermind that, what business do you have here?" [Elcrid]
Nakros shifted his gaze to .
"You found a thod?" [Solace]
"I was going to say maybe, but it looks like you’ve found one on your own. I can sense that you have a new mana core... sohow." [Nakros]
I aid a thumb at Elcrid.
"He helped out." [Solace]
"In that case..." [Nakros]
Nakros turned to Elcrid and lowered his head.
"Thank you for looking after my junior." [Nakros]
"No, no. The pleasure is all mine." [Elcrid]
Elcrid tried to lift Nakros’ head out of embarrassnt or respect.
"You’re an ancient, correct?" [Nakros]
"I am." [Elcrid]
"Then here’s a gift." [Nakros]
Reaching into his personal |Item Box|, Nakros pulled out a small porcelain vase.
"This is...?" [Elcrid]
"It’s an uncovered Potalarian era antique in a way. I found it a while back." [Nakros]
"How did you get this? Rather, how did you identify it?" [Elcrid]
"I tend to collect things. I have so long lived friends that like these sorts of things." [Nakros]
Elcrid stared at the vase with interest before taking it.
"This brings back so many mories. I’m grateful." [Elcrid]
After their little interaction, Nakros turned to .
"So, what do you want to do now? Do you want to go back to tus?" [Nakros]
I paused.
"I... never really thought of that." [Solace]
"It’s not much of an option considering that it’s mostly populated by humans. ...Assuming they all hate you regarding your... curse." [Elcrid]
"How about going to et your other seniors. I’ve told you before, our third disciple is a lord. Who would dare touch you there?" [Solace]
Elcrid stepped in.
"Wait a mont. We’re getting a bit too ahead of ourselves. Alt’s mana core has just barely settled, and he needs to adjust to his new skill. We should think about it AFTER he gets used to it." [Elcrid]
Nakros raised a brow.
"New skill?" [Nakros]
"Ah... I kind of... well, inherited the First Hero’s passive skill." [Solace]
"That’s... interesting." [Nakros]
He then reached into his |Item Box| again before handing a white stone.
"Oh is this the thing where I throw it on the ground and it summons you?" [Solace]
Nakros gave a blank look.
"Please don’t do that. This is a communication stone. Put so mana into it and speak if you want to send a ssage. Also, it’s kind of expensive." [Nakros]
"Oh. It’s kind of like a cell phone." [Solace]
"A what now?" [Nakros]
"It’s a different kind of communication device run by the power of lightning rather than mana." [Elcrid]
Nakros looked confused.
"That... sounds inconvenient." [Nakros]
"At least it’s not a rock." [Solace]
"How dare you disrespect the rock. Do you not want it?" [Nakros]
I pulled back as Nakros reached out for it.
"No, no! It’s good! I like the rock!" [Solace]
Nakros aid a finger at .
"You better. Now, I’ve gotta go send Master a ssage. Let know when you’ve decided your next move." [Nakros]
"Will do." [Solace]
Then we stood there in awkward silence.
"So uh... Which one of you is gonna..." [Nakros]
"Ah, right." [Elcrid]
With a clap, Nakros was gone.
Reviews
All reviews (0)