Chapter 245 - Paths of the Monks

"Paul Black Dragon Slayer, could I interest you in a friendly bout?" Themaer smiled at Paul as we finished the first part of our morning training and walked into the ring.

"OH? I don't mean to be disrespectful but I may have a bit of an overwhelming edge over you," Paul tried to refuse his offer politely trying not to offend him.

"I was thinking just using weaponry, I would love to land a hit on the Black Dragon Slayer and brush us on my swordsmanship." Themaer smiled.

"You know that does sound a little fun." Paul smiled and accepted opening a red portal he pulled out a sword and tossed it to Themaer. "I believe your weapon of choice is a longsword." Paul smiled walking into the ring standing in position tossing him a medium length thin blade with a slight curve with the handle curving in the opposite direction and surprisingly no wrist guard.

"An excellent elven blade, mithril I believe and this handle enchanted Oak." Themaer smiled drawing it out of its scabbard inspecting it giving it a few swings and spinning it around with both hands and one hand.

"If you don't mind I'll be using a spear," Paul smiled pulling out a very basic metal spear.

"That's an odd weapon for a warrior to be using," Themaer replied assuming a very elegant looking pose readying himself.

"I must apologise in advance, a fighter of your fame and stature I won't be holding back." Paul apologised with a smile readying himself.

"I would accept nothing less." Themaer smiled looking extremely excited,

"Then we start," Paul warned him but without a second Paul closed the distance between them thrusting the spear at Themaer with insane speed and agility without holding back. They were so unbelievably fast I couldn't even fathom how Themaer could even block and dodge every strike.

"Your speed and strength are phenomenal your fame doesn't do you justice." Themaer carried on blocking and dodging but slowly getting pushed back to the edge of the arena.

"Paul's really not going easy on him, Uncle has no chance to close the distance and strike back." Grace looked extremely concerned.

"A man truly worthy of his title, any normal swordsman would've been hit many times under this pressure." Paul complimented him with a smile.

"Be careful Dragon Slayer, I'm gonna attack now!" Themaer warned him and with a swift misdirection with his sword pushing it aside, Themaer went on the offensive making an opening for him self closing the distance on Paul before he could even react.

"What!" Paul reacted in utter shock and without warning dropped his spear, and began to move his body with surprising agility and mystery dodging a flurry of swings aimed at him.

"Dropping your spear, bold move but now you're defenceless." Themaer smiled relaxing his stance like he's already won.

"I'm sorry to have deceived you up until now, it is very rare for me to use these, only the most exception fighters require me to use my monk paths," Paul said with a smile.

"Ohhh this is gonna be good!" Scarlet whispered literally bursting with anticipation.

Paul took a deep breath closing his eyes and began to focus, slowly a spectral light green mask began to manifest itself over his head, looked oddly human-like with a bald head and a spectral green blindfold over its eye holes. Two extremely large muscular arms similarly manifested beside him like he somehow magically grew two extra arms.

"What the heck is that?!!" I asked in shock.

"That is The Path of the Astral Soul, that is the physical manifestation of his soul, a small warning Themear they can both protect and attack for him," Daisy warned him.

"Astral Soul, how is Master Anh Miao doing? she can't be less the two hundred at least," Themear questioned.

"Oh, you know Master Anh? at last check, she was doing well." Paul smiled as Paul began to assume a martial arts style of stance.

"Sadly we haven't met but I know of her story, the armless monk through mediation she developed a method to use her soul and willpower to create weapons and armour for herself. she must be nearing a hundred and fifty by now." He explained.

"Yes, all the Great Monk masters are still alive and doing well, I will warn you though I am also a master in The Path of Elements, The Path of Shadows and The Path of Open Palm," Paul warned him.

A bead of sweat and nervousness washed over Themear like a tidal wave of disbelief, "How have you mastered so many techniques?" He questioned in absolute utter shock.

"That is true, for most it takes a lifetime to master even one path, but lucky for me I'm a quick study. Ready yourself I'm coming at you with two of my monk paths." Paul warned and began attacking the air with two fists and a leg swing throwing out two firebolts and an arc of flame.

Effortlessly dodging Pauls fire attacks Themear backed up to the edge of the ring, "I guess I'll have to equal the playing field," Themear grinned pulling out some scrolls tossing making them somehow catching alight, as they all burned to ash landing on the ground two black panthers and two black ravens appeared like magic. Without warning the Ravens flew down diving towards Paul's mask and the panthers lunged to attack him.

"Interesting choice," Paul grinned looking at the creatures he just summoned, the ravens bouncing off his mask with no effect, not even a flinch and the panthers were swatted away with his two large astral soul arms.

Moving in a flash Themaer appeared in front of Paul with both hands thrusting his sword towards Paul's c.h.e.s.t stopping himself just before piercing him, "Sadly I know when I've been outmatched so I only needed them to buy me a split second opening," Themear grinned.

"Very impressive move, great use of an illusion and distraction." Paul smiled making his Astral visage and arms disappear.

"I never imagined you'd be so strong." Themear smiled sheathing his sword and held out his hand. "If you were able to use magic at the same time, there would be no chance of me winning." He complimented Paul.

"No no, your swordsmanship, prowess and intellect in combat are truly formidable your king must feel very secure to have you in charge of his guard. Your movements are almost silent, almost unreadable I'd hate to be an enemy in your sights and being a teacher of Grace your archery skill must be second to none." Paul smiled shaking his hand.

"Your sword," Themear replied holding it out to Paul to return to him.

"Please take this sword as a gift, a token of our friendship, it's been enchanted to be as light as a feather and extremely sharp," Paul smiled with one hand gently pushing it back to him.

"I can't possibly take such an expensive magical weapon." Themear politely rejected his offer.

"Please it's nothing, from one adventurer to another let's not pretend that it's not dangerous out there regardless of how strong we might be. Please take it, it will at least ease my mind a little knowing this small token might help you in your travels and hopefully keep you safer." Paul smiled.

"Well, then please accept my gift." Thermear accepted taking off a small badge from a pocket and handed it to Paul, "It's not much, but it's my sigil, anyone who recognises it will be a friend of mine and as a result a friend of yours." He smiled at Paul.

"Then please take my sigil," Paul said taking out a small triangular black scale.

"By the God's I can not let myself accept something that valuable," He uttered in disbelief.

"Nonsense you were generous enough to give me your friends and connections, it is only appropriate that I give you mine." Paul smiled tossing it to Themear.

Themear inspected the scale intently examining it like it was some sort of rare artifact, "I might be mistaken but does this scale shift colour ever so slightly at different angles?" He questioned curiously.

"Yes, that is how everyone can distinguish my sigil from a fake, only true owners of my sigil know the colour shifts ever so slightly at different angles." Paul smiled.

"Is this a Dragon scale from the Dragon you defeated?" He questioned curiously.

"That is, so it is very valuable and rare almost impossible to imitate." Paul nodded.

"Thank you, Paul the Black Dragon Slayer." He bowed his head in respect.

"The p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e was all mine." Paul smiled bowing his head similarity in respect.