— I've only used the ability a few times in training. Plus, the sun is out, so it'll definitely be weaker. How can I go about this?
"Rethinking your choice of fighting me so quickly, lizard?" The white-haired boy, named Rei, flapped his wings, clearing the distance between them.
Clash!
With Bastle's skilled swordsmanship, and enhanced physical state through applications of mana, he managed to follow along with Rei's movements and block his strike.
"Hm."
Using the flat side of his sword, Rei smacked the side Of Bastle's helmet, sending him to the side.
Bastle's feet slid against the fury ground, stopping him from moving any further. The strike dazed him.
[Cast: Moon Sword Art: Waxing Fang]
Bastle soared into the air, holding his sword out.
A yellow, purple, and white energy radiated from his sword, with particles resembling white crescents shooting out.
Slsh!
Crashing down, he swiped at Rei.
[Cast: Harden]
Rei shielded his body with his white wings, the wings turning grey and hardening into a steel like texture.
Clang!
A shallow cut.
The wings returned back to normal.
[Cast: Feather Release]
The wings flapped like arms extending out. As they flapped out, hundreds of feathers shot out.
The feathers dug into Bastle's skin.
"Fuck!"
With Rei's enhanced state, there was no way he was winning this battle.
Rei slashed.
A shallow, diagonal cut that went from his right shoulder to his left hip. The cut opened up his iron chest plate and the white shirt underneath it, painting that white shirt in fresh blood.
Using his wings to enhance his speed, he jumped at Bastle, digging his metal-plated knee into his face.
The strike rushed blood up to his face, so as he fell to the ground, blood shot out his mouth, and leaked out of his nose.
The blood splattered against the inside of his metal helmet, dripping onto his face.
"Haa… if all my opponents are gonna be this easy to beat, we'll have this island and the entire kingdom of Anore taken in no more than 5 months!" he laughed, twisting and stomping his foot into Bastle's currently shattered chest plate.
After a few stomps, he figured it was done, and flew off to fight in different areas of the battlefield.
— I didn't even last… an hour. I'm still weak.
He barely managed to take off his stuffy helmet, taking a deep breath of air. From the looks of his injuries, he wasn't going to die. Just have to be taken care of for a while. Rei had spared him. Out of arrogance.
— I have to get stronger… I have to understand what Feyrith was showing me!
Laying down, he watched and listened to the ongoing battle that occurred, not being able to move.
All he could feel was the aching pain pulsating throughout his body, and the tickling green grass against his face.
The sun was starting to rise even higher up, and Bastle began to feel the sun's warmth comforting his skin.
— I'll get so strong… I'll be the strongest. Then… I'll kill that white-haired bird freak.
Those were not the thoughts of a 14-year-old.
. . .
The battle ended the next day. A loss on the Anore side. Luckily, there were a lot more injured than causalities.
The remaining forces had to push back, closer and closer to the eastern shore.
The ship blockade over the southern coast was easily destroyed and handled by the two generals Lunan de Mumixir and Merlyn Detsk. So the kingdom was able to call for allies to help them, but nobody was willing to help, due to how revered the kingdom of Sar was, despite its size. Rightfully so, of course.
Those two generals had arrived on the eastern shore, along with the battalion that they controlled.
"What's the scenario looking like?" Lunan stepped down the wooden stairs of the boat that extended out of the boat. He rested the bottom of his palm on the hilt of his sword.
Unlike everyone else in the area, he wore no armor, not even the ceremonial dress uniform of the Anore army. Instead, he just wore simple green robes.
On the other hand, Merlyn Detsk was clad in heavy, iron armor, dark grey in color. It was the type of armor that made one appear bigger than they actually were.
She rested the wooden staff part of her axe on her shoulder. A large sharp-tipped axe to match her bulky armor.
"Our enemies, where are they?!" she yelled out, or spoke loudly, as yelling wasn't her actual intention. Maybe she was just excited.
Oscar ran everything down to the two generals.
Lunan listened intently, asking questions about the army they fought, what type of people were in the army, the terrain, things of such nature.
"Hm. We aren't losing this war because they're stronger than us, even though they are to an extent. To think they managed to wake up one of the strongest spirit contractors in the world. I can't wait to see him in battle…."
"…"
"Right. But it's not their strength overwhelming. Well, it is. But it's also because we have no strategy. We're just … rushing into things with no sense of direction."
(Author's Note)
Hello everyone!
It's me.
I was supposed to be going to outing with some of my friends, but I couldn't be taken. So I decided to write this chapter.
While thinking about that, it's made me realized that I've really been slacking with releasing chapters.
And for that, I would like to apologize!
But you also have to cut me some slack.
My finals have arrived, and I have to really start studying, since my parents have been harassing me about my grades that aren't even bad.
So, I have a reason to be posting slowly. But, I'll try to post chapters quicker and quicker.
I want to thank everyone who has read to this point despite my incompetent writing skills, and I hope that you continue to read for the foreseeable future!
From, the author.