Chapter 281 (1/2)

Chapter 281

Chapter 281: Once In a Lifetime

I felt somewhat bad

Chief Mason’s son, Braxton, had won the striker’s tourna he would be sent to Aramoor City to become a student at Stormcove Academy Any other day, Braxton would’ve been the center of attention for his victory and the target of envy of his peers and even the parents of those peers Not only Braxton, but his entire family’s status would be elevated within Maerin and—if he did well at Stormcove—all of Araratulated Braxton on winning the tourna forward to seeing him at Stormcove, the old representative practically pushed the poor boy off stage and announced a ‘once-in-a-lifetiathered here today

The crowd quickly forgot about the exhibition and erupted into cheers as his two students and I entered the stage with Cro between us Workers moved the raised platfore since we’d needonly the leveled dirt floor of the arena

“Thank you for agreeing to spar against us,” Pallisun called out from about a dozen yards away as he stood beside Aphene “We were afraid you would decline”

“The pleasure is hty undertone in his gratitude

Both he and his coed from their more formal wardrobe While their armor looked more like a fashi+on statement than functional battlewear, their weapons told a different story

Pallisun withdrew a coffin shi+eld that was nearly as tall as he was and twice as wide froripped a clayht hand while a silver bracer covered her entire left ar the standard rules of non-lethal duels, weapons are permitted but must be blunt,” Cromely announced as he stood between us to moderate

The three of them waited silently for ht bare-handed”

Aphene stepped forward, eyes narrowed “Are you looking to blame your defeat on the lack of a weapon, Ascender Grey?”

‘Nnngh! They’re so cheeky,’ Regis growled, bristling with anger within me

“I promise to bla to Croin?”

The oldback several paces, holding his right hand high in the air

“Begin!” Cro down his hand

Ian to cheer as Pallisun held up his shi+eld to cover both hi ht about it, they had no clue whether I was a caster, shi+eld, or striker

After a brief pause, the two charged forward Though both were hidden froe shi+eld, I could sense Aphene preparing for an attack using the a stance with both arms relaxed at my sides, I pondered how to approach this By the visibleout from the two of them, it was safe to assume that their levels rivaled that of an A-rank adventurer—probably more

With my mana reserves barely at the ten percent er to keep me on my toes

Pallisun kicked up a store toward h, but Aphene aiting for that, brandishi+ng her claymore

Aphene’s dark hair fluttered in the wind as she swung a broad arc, following up with a lunge

Meanwhile Pallisun made a sharp turn aided by precise bursts of wind until his shi+eld gli its horns “You’re going to have to dostudent roared

Their s Aphene used Pallisun as protection—and an obstruction to limit my view on her—while she launched a series of attacks With the two of theether, I wouldn’t doubt their ability to rival even a veteran AA-rank adventurer

Unfortunately, with my experience suppleht as well have been calling out theiron e with ainst the flat of her blade At the saround just as Pallisun was about to tackle e, he flew over my shoulder, barely able to hold on to his shi+eld Aphene had puther body lurch forward as her attackuse of her iauntlet

Aphene toppled on the ground while barely able to roll to her feet Pallisun fared better with his wind ic that allowed him to reposition himself in the air to land deftly on his feet

It seeic emblazoned on his back in the form of either a crest or emblem allowed the broadly-built student to create quick and accurate bursts of wind

My gaze lingered on the two naive students as their expressions shi+fted to that of anger framed neatly with the flush of embarrassment

APHENE MANDRICK

“What’s with those faces?” the ascender tilted his head “You should’ve expected this ht?”

I studied the man that had just completely countered all of our moves Despite his toned but slender frain to fear thismanner should’ve come off as a blood

Unwilling to show any weakness, I sed my emotions

“We didn’t want to accidentally hurt you My apologies for underestinashed teeth “It won’t happen again”

Pallisun, next to me, abandoned his shi+eld as if to punctuatethat our opponent was clearly a striker, he withdrew the two plated gauntlets that he had inherited as the next-in-line of the Blather blood

The wind huers into a fist before dashi+ng forth while I followed shortly behind

Pallisun swung his wind-clad fist, hitting thin air as the ascender easily stepped back before kicking hiht difference between powerfully built Pallisun and the ascender,for breath

Not willing to give the ascender even aHar blade whistled as it cut through the air just in front of the ascender before I channeled a flood of e the trajectory of

My oord’s motion was a blur and even I was barely able to follow it, but sorabbed my wrist out of the air

“Not bad” Despite how thin and pretty his hand looked, he held ht Harain,” he said as if he were my instructor rather than my opponent The ascender released my hand—then pushed me square in my shoulder

My whole body jerked back from the sudden force before I spun froet out of the way before I tripped over him As the two of us recovered, we stood side by side eapons up to defend However, the ascender merely stood there with that aloof—almost bored—expression of his

“cocky bastard” My partner spat on the ground and straightened himself as swirls of wind encased his entire body

He gave

Just like hoe’ve been practicing

We burst forward oncemy heels and prepared to thrust Har his