Chapter 314: Advantages

To top it all, Erarke's attack wasn't amplified with his Terra magic or any magic of some sort.

Ned's senses tingled the moment he felt the rush of excitement coursing through his veins.

It was blood. Nonetheless, Erarke's attack has just started. He gave Ned no time to breathe as he quickly maneuvered his footing and spun, although his position was already awkward to start, and thrust the spear once more right after he pulled.

"I never saw Erarke this delighted."

Ned was so focused he caught Loti and Bud's conversation even though it was just a glimpse. Jerra stood with her arms resting over her waist while her foot was relentlessly tapping the ground.

Ned hissed as he felt his muscles tingled. It wasn't a day yet after he left the Plain, his mana dwindling at half already and his energy was nearly half of his bar. Ned disregarded his status and with a thought, everything in his view was turned off. He wanted to feel the weight, the struggle, the fight with nothing but only himself.

[What are you doing, Ned?]

Nothing, Ned thought that he almost spell it out. He then jumped after a consecutive thrust from Erarke in a difficult position. But the whistling air says otherwise. The thrust was forceful, Ned felt the air around him was orchestrating with the tip of his spear.

I'm gauging my strength without any help, Ned answered with a thought. You can take over when I'm in grave danger.

[As you wish.]

ICE's voice was in unison with the tip of Erarke's spear passing through Ned's attacking range. But it was fast enough that Ned was a second delay countering the attack.

"Shit!" Ned scowled from his own dullness. Ned's body has yet to fully recover from the event inside the Plain. He was doing his best to evade the latter's attacks.

And here I thought, I could spar with Jerra, worse Twali. Whereas this kid is more than enough for me to handle.

Ned's thinking was interrupted from Erarke's spinning kick followed by an elbow that was rooted deep in his chest.

Ned staggered backward from the elbow.

"I thought that we are oh so weak when you defeated Jerra, even though you are just a kid and not even a Hunter."

Erarke gracefully brandished his spear as he stopped attacking and stood before Ned.

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this," Erarke said, "I really thought we lost because you are such an unusual enemy. But the truth, our loss was our fault. Pride got me good. Kid, just surrender and do not drag Jerra into this." Erarke's eyes swept at Jerra over the side where the rest of the group stood with a blank face.

"No," Ned replied after taking a long and deep breath. "It is I that must say sorry. For a moment, it seemed that I mocked you. Forgive me and let's continue."

Back in the Plain, Ned couldn't produce both of his swords. So, now, he challenges himself to fight Erarke without using them. Instead, although stiffness was bombarding his muscles, Ned conjured Fireball.

Erarke wiped the sweat under his chin. Following the wind fluttering his dark and brownish hair was his dash. The same as before, Erarke bent and thrust his sword to the same point where he put a wound on Ned's cheeks, uncaring if Ned released his Fireball or not. He's got speed.

Or that's what he thought, Ned flipped backward as soon as the spear entered his range. Just like the Vanishing Stance, Ned learned how to counter Erarke's attack the second time.

It's just speed and control. Erarke thrust his spear so fast and precise that the tip went blurring as though the attack was only once. But as soon as the target flinched or evades, Erarke would precisely control his next attack to the point that it would land at the same spot. Giving an illusion on a one-time attack only.

But Ned got it the first time. The gap between his attacks was too minuscule that if it would be anyone, they wouldn't figure it out immediately.

Without using his advantage through the items in his ring, and his system, Ned's senses were heightened to the peak.

But Erarke was as focus as Ned. Although Ned saw a quick jerk of his shoulder, Erarke immediately composed himself.

As soon as Ned saw how composed his opponent was, he didn't take a break to ease himself and Erarke. Instead, upon landing, Ned dashed to the calm Erarke and summersault the moment he was a meter away from him. Kicking the spear by the handle.

Surprised, Erarke yelp while the spear slip off his grips.

The iron-tipped spear swirled midair while Ned forced Erarke to fight hand-to-hand.

Ned landed a punch along with the spear planted on the ground near the three onlookers.

It was nature-quiet under the bridge. The lullaby of wind swooshing, and river flowing was enough for anyone to let themselves be carried on sleeping. But not the two. Not Erarke's solid eyes, and Ned's burning excitement.

Now we're even, Ned thought raising his hand to ready for his next attack.

Slowly, Ned raised his hands and wave them as though a soft river flowing. He planted his right foot behind, while he extended his left foot forward. All these with his weight balanced on his waist.

Loti's eyes bulged. The Stance Ned was using was the Water Moon Stance, not of the highest level, but not the lowest either. He already saw how Ned managed to execute the Water Moon Stance, but he never saw Ned this focused.

Ned was simply copying Cas'a: the pirate girl from the Time to Loot crew.

With this stance, Ned was about to finish the fight in one flowing and swift attack.

The strongest opponent Ned encountered so far were beings filled with raw strength, or an opponent calm enough even if facing a greater threat. A calm opponent could find different ways to defeat a much stronger opponent. And Erarke shows this calmness. He was completely different from the one he fought months ago.

Erarke lunged at Ned. Their distances were enough that whoever the fastest would have a higher chance to land a hit.

Erarke jumped. He was a Hunter of Wood rank, his raw strength was far greater than Hollows, and any normal human beings. This proves as his jump alone was enough to toss him meters away from the ground.

Along with the sun breaking from Erarke's figure was a light swirling around his forearms to the tip of his fingers.

From above, Erarke conjured a spear made of iron. The conjuration was beautifully created with elegance as the white light slowly turning to a two and a half meter spear.

Ned swirled his hands and conjured Windball to block the attack.

Windball essences scattered from above as the magic created spear met the magic created orb and cracked.

But since the spear was magically created, all it take was mana to fix the cracked parts. Erarke proceeds to slam the spear over Ned.

Too late to conjure a spell to block the attack, Ned crossed his forearms and used them to block the attack. Ned knelt from the force Erarke was putting onto him.

Ned scowled as he bent while looking at Erarke gritting his teeth.

[Ned.]

ICE's voice echoed, reassuring Ned that he wasn't in the Plain anymore.

Still...

"I must... not..." Ned gritted his teeth.

"Must not what?" Erarke answered Ned although he wasn't talking to him.

Ned disregard Erarke. In his mind, he was true to himself. No matter what, he must not use any advantages he has. Then, magic and stances were all he got.

With the strength coming from the core of his body. Ned's eye glared with a blaze at Erarke. Forgetting for a moment the pain running his muscles, with a flick of his wrist, Ned deflected the spear. In that quick movement, Ned followed the deflection with another flick of his wrist and conjured Windlance.

Erarke swirled the magic-created spear, blocking the Windlance.

This gave Ned the time to duck and swept Erarke's feet, gaining a glare from the latter, but was too late to evade nor counter Ned's attack.

Losing his footing, Erarke fell on his side. Losing the grip of the spear, Erarke lost control of his spear. The spear evaporated into tiny particles.

While Ned stood with another Windlance in the ready.

"I won." Ned raised an eyebrow looking down at Erarke beneath his feet. "Give it up."

One thing was even worse about calm enemies. They go enraged when they knew they were losing. All the calmness and softness, were nothing if they can't beat their enemies. Then, they would resort to one thing. Pure chaos, just enrages, they want nothing but to win, and if calmness can't bring it. Going all out then.

Under his militaristic bluish uniform were the scars shining in white. Were they really scars?

But as the scars kept on glowing in white, Erarke's uniform burnt from the bright light alone.

But under Ned's eyes, the scars were looking familiar. Ned thought that he have seen the scar before.

Or was it a scar? The bright light runs through Erarke's scar like an overflowing river.

As the light traces Erarke's scars, Ned remembered something as it was now visible. The scars weren't scary at all. It was a tattoo. And this tattoo was looking the same as the one Rig had under the ragged cloth wrapped around his forearm.