Chapter 336 Protection (1/2)

Chapter 336: Protection

Hollow footsteps echoed against the fortified walls as Darrin led Alaric and round

What greeted us at the end of the short journey was a thick rune-inscribed door that opened onto a large training area My gaze swept the wide roorounds, where I had trained with Hester, Buhnd, Ca a Lance, resurfaced

With the nightmare about Tess and Cecelia still fresh incloser to the surface than usual

That seeh, stopping at the door

'That begs a good question: exactly how is asked, his diseenuine curiosity 'Nine, like a cat, or are youforever?'

A river nix?

'It's this little tube-shaped mana beast that lives in the rocks under water It sheds its crystalline exoskeleton every ain, and if you cut it one by two, both halves regenerate '

As I entered the training room, I considered what it would be like to have a clone of is cursed in hastly '

Like the door, the runes were inscribed on the floor, along the walls, and on the ceiling I followed a line of runes, trying to determine what they were for

"Protective runes," Darrin confirmed “To keep the house upstairs safe ItSorrel fro roo castle

"So, after going up against the high judges and a name blood forthe unadorned roo session?"

Alaric touched his ear lazily "He's that weird"

"Actually? I think it's norhter to alant to prove hiround

"Excuse me, Mr Darrin!" Sorrel intervened fro anxiously toward the training roo they could come see?

Darrin looked atmy combat prowess to more Alacrians, these were just kids "I do not ht as he gestured for thereat experience for theed you for this," Alaric complained

"The amount of alcohol you already inhaled froh to even call us for this favor," Darrin said with a wink

When the children settled into the far corner of the rooh the door With a towel draped over her shoulders and sweat glistening on her face, she sat doith the rest of our audience

While Ade forward to the show, Briar looked at es in the Great Hall

"Do you need so up

I shook my head and tossed the outer robe Sorrel had provided round

"A couple of rules then," he continued, stretching an ar, obviously" Darrin followed this state "Since we don't have shi+elds—"

"I can create a barrier aroundI was about to find out anyway

Most of the Alacrians he had fought in the war had been unable to protect theroups, specifically the es known as shi+elds, to protect theested that not all Alacrian es were so strictly limited, but I didn't want my ability to stand out too ht it eird, he didn't reveal it "The specialty has become popular since siether, but I fir"

"Stop preaching," Alaric booed "None of these brats want your outdated opinions"

"You probably experienced it yourself, Grey," Darrin continued, ignoring the old drunk's cohter "Relictombs require flexibility and creativity if you want to survive"

I just nodded when Regis's voice sounded in my head

'Yes, it shows a littlethings, 'princess Didn't you used to be a block elerow an arhtly

… Touch'

"Any other rules before we start?" I asked

"Normally I wouldn'tattacks directed at children," Darrin added with a wry sainst those mercenaries, I don't have that h "I will keep it in mind

From beyond the barrier, a chorus of shouts of support sounded frooodbye before slipping back into a fighting stance, fists raised like a boxer

No shouts of support frois,Arthur,' he replied wryly

Oh thank you

Darrin nodded, indicating that he was ready, and I returned the gesture

Instantly, Darrin's for towardthe attackor openinganother jab, feinting, and throwing a hook tohim back a couple of steps

The children's cheers fell silent as Darrin rubbed the spot where he had hit him "That was… quick," he said appreciatively

"You can Uncle Darrin!" Pen screahting stance before launching a flurry of punches and kicks He struck with brutal efficiency,practice The athletic ex-ascend would have easily out, even without his ic

But most of the people had not been trained by an asura

I avoidedfor a handful of exchanges, letting hi floor as he tried to pin ainst the wall, then, when he was fully in his rhyth to each punch with one ofand flailing to defend hier and faster than his When he extended his back leg too far for balance, I swept his front leg, sending hiround

Moans and cries of disbelief came from our little audience Ketil was on her feet, her face practically pressed against the inside of the aze was nowhere to be seen

Darrin's experience as an ascendant flashed as he immediately rolled back onto his shoulder to stand up in one ain, waiting for me to do the same

This time when he jabbed his fist fell very close to e in air pressure pro hard and heavy brushed pastoffto my skin absorbed the attack, but I was sure that the bloould have knocked out an unshi+elded opponent if it had fallen squarely

"You even uard "That is a bit disheartening"

"You caughthis eyes intently for his next move

"Maybe, but it seeed toa few steps back, puttingwhat he was up to, I ran towards hie of attacks from all different directions The direction of the attacks didn't seem to correlate with his physicalhis intentions by concentrating on anywhere except where the bloould coh he couldn't sense the wind attribute ust of air before each attack I ducked andmy enhanced senses to track each blow extended with that subtle woosh , but the bo close to Darrin to counterattack

'Can't you just… I don't know, charge head-on?' Regis asked, bored 'Or are you showing off your graceful dance e of my lips I can, but what's fun about that?