Waking up, a familiar scent blessed my nose, feeling the softness under my head, I faced my head up and saw Laura smiling at me with a small blush on her cheeks.
"Sleep well?". She asked with her voice barely a whisper.
Sitting up with a wry smile on my face, I answered,"Y–yeah, hope I didn't make you uncomfortable or anything".
A small chuckle escaped from her lips,"No, you didn't, it was a ticklish experience fufufu".
I stood up from the log of wood we were sitting on with my face red from embarrassment and ran to the stream like my life depended on it, "I'm going to have a bath". I said loudly as I removed my dark shirt and trousers.
"Want me to join you~". I heard Laura's flirtatious voice from afar as I was bathing and I responded almost immediately,"No!"
'She's being awfully flirtatious today, could it be what happened yesterday had an effect on her?'. Thinking to myself, I dried my body, wore a fresh pair of clothes and made my way back to the tree house.
A pleasant scent assaulted my nostrils as I got closer to the tree house, "I made breakfast, I'm sure mortals get hungry, no?". Laura's cheerful voice resounded as she saw me coming back, "This smells delicious". I said as I sat down on the log and looked at the wooden table filled with different delicacies of this world.
"Of course it does, I'm amazing after all". She answered, placing her hands on her lithe waist with a proud look on her face.
Rolling my eyes at her cute antics, I grabbed a piece of wyvern meat and took a bite,"Mmm, it's delicious alright". Taking another bite, I asked,"I didn't know you were such a good cook".
"Yeah, I learnt how to cook when I.....".
Her words trailed off as her cheerful countenance faltered a little before she shook her head to get rid of the bad memories.
With a sigh, I tapped the space next to me and signalled her to sit.
"Here, have a bite". I held a piece of meat and pointed it in the direction of her mouth, "I'm not hungry, you have a duel with that guy so you need your stremmfffff".
Ignoring her excuse, I shoved the meat in her mouth gently and drank some water, "And I need you to be happy to be able to win". I answered with a calm expression as I dropped the cup.
"Th–thanks". She muttered under her breath as a blush appeared on her face.
'It would seem I've got that unintentional rizz, huh'. I thought as I glanced at her from the corner of my eye and took more of her blush.
Standing up, I went into my tree house and brought out my scythe, walking towards Laura, I asked,"Can you spar with me?".
Laura cocked her head to the side as she placed she placed a finger on her cheek, "What's in it for me?". She asked as a teasing smile appeared on her face.
'There's the Laura I know'. Looking at her teasing smile that gave you the urge to tear her lips apart, I asked with a sigh,"What do you want?".
"You'll do anything I ask, no questions asked". She answered almost immediately
".....As far as it's not too crazy, then fine". I accepted her proposal after a moment of deliberation.
It's not like I had a choice in the first place,if I wanted to beat Greg– who had alot of experience in battles I'd imagine, little bombs wouldn't cut it, sure it would give me the advantage I needed but being able to capitalize on it requires experience, experience I didn't have at the moment, so Laura was my best bet at this point.
With a chuckle, Laura and I went to a wide area deep inside the forest, "Alright then, let's see what I have to work with, take your best shot." Laura said with a small smile on her face as we got to our destination.
Clearing my head of unnecessary thoughts, I activated [Masseuse] and took the fighting stance I learnt from the manual, infused mana into my feet to propel myself towards Laura just at the right distance and slashed down with my scythe.
"You've got the basics down, you just need to learn how to apply them efficiently". Laura said as she dodged my attack with ease.
Gaining my balance as I landed on the ground, I infused a bit of mana into my scythe and the runes glowed with a blue hue.
A look of surprise flashed across Laura's face as she said, "You already know how to control mana?".
Ignoring her question, I ran forward and slashed horizontally as a heavy gust of wind blew past Laura, causing her hair to flutter in the wind, using this chance, I closed the distance just enough to use the [Crescent slash] skill I learnt yesterday.
"You're full of surprises, this should be fun~" dodging my attack once more, Laura jumped on the blade of my scythe and did a back flip.
"I need to learn how to fight and control mana, not compliments". I said as I activated my skill [Calculative] and almost immediately, my eyesight was heightened by a noticeable degree, the various vantage points I could use were as clear as day, and my heart was eerily calm.
'Run towards that tree, use your scythe and hook that branch, swing upwards, use mana to propel yourself downwards to the location Laura is, and use [Crescent slash]'. Using the tactical approach formed in my mind, I executed the movements to the latter and just as I expected, Laura didn't move from her position.
'I only have one chance'. Thinking thus far, I used my last bit of mana to propel myself to the backside of Laura and used [Crescent slash] to win.
Or at least that was what was supposed to happen.
But before I could even reach her, she had set up a very light mana shield around herself – light enough for me to break with ease but it would affect my momentum if I did.
'After my battle with Greg, I need to learn mana control first'. Making a mental note to myself, I aborted my attack and stabbed my scythe on the ground next to Laura who hadn't moved from her position since we started.
"Your planning was flawless but you lack the strength to react to variables and execute your plans". Sitting down on the floor, Laura analysed with a calm look on her face.
I sat Infront of her like a good student and noted the major issue I had – Lack of strength.
Now, any main character would probably say something along the lines of, 'I'll train till I bleed so I can defeat you' right?, but I'm not some brain dead masochist who would try defeating someone who's existence I couldn't begin to fathom at my current level.
With a shrug I responded, "I'm not strong enough yet, I'll cheat and beat Greg just as I planned".
Laura answered with a smile, "Such a low-life, what about chilvary you mortals talk so much about?".
"I ain't no knight". I answered nonchalantly to which Laura chuckled to.
Standing up, we walked to the location for our duel and we met Greg standing with a metal ball in his hand.
"Fuck, I'm dead". I said with a straight face as I looked at the ball in his hand.
Greg, noticing my presence had a scowl on his face as he said with a loud voice,"You cheater!".
With a shrug, I brought out my scythe and asked Laura to regenerate the little mana I had, which she did gladly. "We never agreed not to engage in underhanded methods now did we?". I answered nonchalantly.
I noticed that the two old men who acted as his bodyguards had a hidden approval in their expressions.
"You!, I'll beat you to a pulp!". Greg shouted with veins on his forehead and rushed towards me like an angry bull with a sword engraved with strange patterns that glowed with an orange hue.
Taking my stance and activating [Masseuse] and [Calculative] at the same time, I took a deep breath and held my scythe in a sideways position to block his attack.
*Clank* *Clank*
My hands quivered at the amount of force I had to tank from Greg and my legs were shaking like crazy.
'Although he suppressed his rank, he still has more experience than you do'. Laura said with an interested voice as she watched our battle in my head.
'Any pointers?'. I asked hurriedly as I dodged the series of attacks that could give me grave injuries if I wasn't careful.
'Aim for the left side of his body, his movements are a bit awkward there.' Surprisingly, Laura was helpful and gave me some assistance.
Dodging his continuous barrage of attacks, I took advantage of a small opening on his left shoulder that I would have been oblivious to if not for my [Masseuse] and [Calculative] skills being in use.
Crouching downwards a little, I surrounded my feet with mana and kicked upwards at his shoulder.
Luckily, it connected and he lost his momentum, stumbling backwards a bit, but I knew it was only the beginning as the surrounding mana reacted violently and surrounded him.
'Are you sure this guy is at F rank right now?'. I asked with a wry smile as I looked at the threatening figure of Greg who looked like he had finally taken me seriously.
I wouldn't mind if he looked down on me just this once though.
"You managed to land a hit, that will not happen again". With a menacing voice, his speed soared as he appeared Infront of me, my skills enabled me to see his movements, but my body couldn't react in time as his fists connected squarely with my face.
*Crack* *Khwaaakk*
Flying backwards like a broken kite, my back crashed against a tree and my bleeding face contorted in pain.
Walking calmly towards me, Greg picked me up by my collar with a condescending smile on his face, "Admit your defeat, weakling". He said as he threw a punch to my gut, causing me cough a mouthful of blood which splattered on his face.
'Urgh, this hurts so bad'. I thought inwardly as I looked at Greg's face covered in my blood which only served to widen the already twisted smile on his face.
'I hope the tournament won't have as much freaks as this guy'. With a dry chuckle, I opened my half lidded eyes widely and asked, "Do you know the song, till I collapse?".
"What are you–!?"
Swinging my head forward, I headbutted Greg and escaped from his hands which were holding his head with an annoyed expression.
With a banging headache, I thought, 'I'm going to need a nap after this...'.
Picking up my scythe once more, I infused all the mana I had into it and used [Crescent slash] once more on Greg.
"Zangetu, goooo!!!". With a loud shout, I struck the slightly disoriented Greg at his side which gave him a large gash as blood spilled out.
'He's not used to this rank, it looks it's his first time suppressing his rank'. Laura said in my head as I continuously attacked Greg with all my might.
'Well, that's good, a little plot armor would never hurt anyone'. I responded internally with a smirk on my face, which Greg mistook for me mocking him.
"YOU WEAKLING!!". He shouted angrily as he swung his sword, ignoring my incoming attack on his shoulder which gave him another large cut.
"YOU'RE THE WEAKLING!!!". I shouted with the same energy as I jumped back to defend against his attack.
Rushing forward, he dug his foot into the ground and prepared to launch himself at me with all the force he could muster.
Unknowingly, he steeped on one of the bombs I had planted and it exploded at close range.
*Boom* *Boom*
The explosion caused Greg to be thrown back and he was forced to use his mana to defend himself.
"You planted more than one?, You lowlife!". He shouted as the smoke dispersed.
'Tsk, no injuries'. I clicked my tongue as I examined the incoming Greg.
'Other than a smoky face, he's completely fine'. I thought, as I tried to parry his attacks but failed, causing me to have a few cuts on my shoulders and legs.
'Shit, I'm at my limit, I have to finish this now'. Clenching my teeth, I dropped the scythe – causing me additional deep injuries on my body from Greg's sword, and infused whatever mana I had left into my fist and punched his face.
*Khwaaakk*
Stumbling back, blood flowed from his nose and lip as his body crouched a little due to the exhaustion that was creeping in alongside his heavy breathing.
I, on the other hand, had it much tougher–coughing out blood once more, I had a pale expression and I felt like I would lose consciousness if I wasn't careful.
"Haaa...haaaa...haaaa.....you....haaa.....are a stubborn.....one". Greg said as he tried to catch his breath and walked towards me slowly.
I clenched my teeth and stood up with my wobbly feet as I tried walking towards him, only to be stopped by a worried voice in my head, 'It's okay, you can stop now, I don't care if you win or lose, he's clearly stronger than you'.
I smiled as blood ran down my mouth and responded, 'He's bleeding too'.
'He's in a much better condition than you!'. Laura said loudly as she noticed that I wasn't planning on stopping.
'Just think of how much aura I could get if I beat this guy'. I responded seriously with my scythe supporting me with every step.
'What are you talking about!,just tell him you give up!, you've done your best!'. She answered frantically.
"You have an undaunting will, I respect that, but you should know I have won". Greg–having regained his composure, said with undisguised respect in his voice.
"Yeah, whatever, I'm not done yet". I rolled my eyes....at least I think I did, I was too tired and disoriented to even register my actions, I had no mana left, my skills were working but my body couldn't react to the different movements I could use to change the situation, It wouldn't be far fetched to say I was a dead man walking.
"Very well". With a nod, Greg charged towards me and punched my stomach, causing me to lose my breath for a moment.
I fell on my knees and tried to catch my breath, standing up with my shoulders slouched, I looked at Greg who had a neutral expression but I could see the respect he had in his eyes.
'Clark....that's enough'. Laura said in a solemn voice, 'Please', she added.
Looking at Greg with my half lidded eyes for a while, I had a weak smile on my face as I lifted one of my arms in the air with great difficulty and said, "Alright I lo–"
"I concede this match".
I was interrupted by Greg who conceded the match before I could and I frowned in confusion.
I wanted to ask why he did it, he was clearly winning, but as if he knew what I was thinking, he answered, "The moment I fought with you with E rank – although involuntarily, I had lost". He said calmly
'I was fighting against an E rank?'. I wanted to say something, but my eyes had forcefully closed and my body gave out, but before I could land on the floor, a muscular hand held my body, "He would make a good addition to the army, don't you think so Winston?".
"Yes, young master". Winston responded politely.
I could hear the conversation but I couldn't respond as my consciousness slipped, but before I left to dream land, a soft but strict voice resounded in my head, 'This is the last time you will ever try something like this'.
I finally lost consciousness and fell asleep for a long while.