Chapter 24: Chapter 24
I woke up finding myself inside some sort of cave. “You guys okay?” I asked, but when I looked around, I found myself alone. “Well, this is worrying”, I said to myself, dusting my clothes off and checking my equipment. Fortunately, I still have my weapon with me. The jet-black sword I got from completing the first test in the Hall of Trials buzzed when I showed concerned for it. “You understand me?” I talked to the sword. If it was what I thought it was, it would be awesome, but I would look like an idiot if it not.
It vibrated happily as if it understands my thoughts. “So, what’s your name?” The sword buzzed as if it shook its head. “You don’t? Hmmm,” I think hard while leaning at a nearby stone. “I couldn’t think of a name right now” I held the black sword up high, “Well, let’s get out of this place first” I stood up, dusting my pants, “Now, where are we?” I looked at my surroundings. A dimly lit cave with a tint of blue, huh? Something out of an RPG. I walk through the only path I can see and found myself inside of a large dome.
“I don’t like the look of this,” I said to myself. I readied my sword and heighten my senses. Usually, this kind of place waits a boss. I slowly walked towards the centre of the room and hear a rumble above my head. But, the thing I awaited didn’t come. Instead, a sword popped up below me, which I barely avoided, and a young man, similar to me, with black hair and black eyes appeared.
“Another lamb waiting to be slaughtered,” he sneered. His cocky expressions made me wants to punch him, but the way he presents himself was without an opening. I held my sword firm as I approached him carefully. “What’s wrong? You scared?” he kept taunting me, which irritated me a little bit but the teaching from my father kept me calm. “If you’re not coming, then I will”, he charged at me with his saw-like sword. ‘Fast’, I thought while moving my sword to parry his.
“Not bad for a 1st Grade Aura Master”, he smirked, “But, can you handle this?” the young man leapt backwards as his sword glows purple. He slashed, forming a purple crescent moon that strikes me from afar. “I can do that too,” I shouted before swinging my sword, countering the cocky young man swing. The young man eyed widen in surprise, but soon enough, he sneered again, “Haha, not bad. How about this then!?” the purple aura surrounded him, and he split himself into 2. I, too, was surprised, as he and I seemed to have the same abilities. I use my raven-coloured aura to split myself into 2 as well to match the cocky young man.
The young man frowned; after exchanging a few blows with me, he withdrew his clone, jumping backwards just out of the range of my sword. He put his sword beside his waist, aura surging from within him. I immediately understood what he wanted to do as I took the same pose. Our eyes glitter as we slashed our sword at the same time. Blinding fast light could be seen around us. Raven and purple lights kept interchanging with each other with each slash of our sword.
Eventually, both of us withdrew at the same time, looking at each other in shock. “Why do you have the same technique as me?” we both said at the same time. “Tch”, the young man scoffed. “No, although it looks similar, our technique is not the same,” he said to himself. “Tell me, kid, who did you learn your swordplay?”
“None of your business”, I charge ahead, brandishing my sword at his head. Caught off guard, the young man barely evades my strike. “Open Spell: Explosion” I spent the remaining of my NR to cast my spell. “Sonova…” the young man cursed, seeing my grin. The spell activates, engulfing both of us inside the explosion.
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“Cough, cough, cough” I lay on the ground motionless, with scars burning on the left side of my body. The sword in my hand buzzed as if worried for my safety. I chuckled, “I’m fine, don’t worry” I comforted the worried sword. It buzzed again, asking me if I had to go that far. “I do. That guy was strong. Although our technique was similar, he had more reserved aura than me. I had to make it short”, I explained to the sword. I held the sword up with my right hand as my left hand was numb from the burn, “You’re quite the worrywart, aren’t you? Why don’t I call you Worrywart?” I grin at the sword. The sword buzzed around, protesting at me. “Yeah, yeah, don’t worry, I won’t call you that” I took a deep sigh, “For now, let’s rest.”
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Inside the castle, a black silhouette sat on the ominous looking throne. The silhouette was the one Eru, and the party met earlier was now sitting on a throne with a crown on his head. It rubbed its chin while smiling wide, revealing his white teeth. “How interesting. An Aura Master casting a spell. I haven’t met one yet except for the $3@0( &02#” it said, amused. “And that swordplay. It’s similar to mine years ago. Could it be my descendant? Or maybe, the descendant of my subordinate? How interesting. Let me enjoy how much amusement you can give me, o’ Trial Takers.”
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