Sulphur & Lightning Chapter 19: 018 - Pursuing Strength

Read chapter 19 of Sulphur & Lightning by anaugustauthor on NovelPedia.

Like all large households, this Dari manor had expansive arena platforms for entertainment. Whether it was entertaining the Elven drummers or Goblin wrestlers or the unique snake dance of the Vampires and Lycans, these platforms would find some use throughout the year and express the deep culture and aesthetics of this martial realm. As a martial realm, though, there was one primary use for these platforms – battle. Not just the sparring that the two servants were about to initiate, but grand tournaments and competitions (a highly favoured way for the aristocracy to recruit external experts or for independent warriors to seek sponsors). Naturally, nothing could compare to these as a form of entertainment in this land. No longer showing the same cavalier attitude, the young Witch took a position quite distant from his opponent and waved to show that he was ready. Receiving confirmation on the opposite end, he spread out his hands and began a chant. Suddenly, a smoke-like substance began to rise from his pores and engulf his figure. Well, to call it smoke-like wasn’t the most accurate. For one, it was a light shade of blue and had a unique liquid viscosity. A similar phenomenon was observed in Yachit, though hers was star-spangled and crimson red like a fire in a diamond mine. Aura. It wasn’t just a flashy manifestation of power, but the next level in a person’s growth on the path of life energy mastery. A warrior’s aura, especially when released tangibly like this, was evidence of their power and energy reserves. To be able to make ones life energy visible was no small feat. Before the word go, the younger fighter bolted at her opponent with feverish intensity, covering the distance between them in just two strides and a half. Despite this bullet-like charge, her attack was blocked by an immaterial shield. Her intention to drive through the resistance was delayed by a sudden explosion that sent her flying backwards. Bastard, she said internally with a scowl. One of the many benefits of Aura was actually instantiated in that short exchange. In a fight like the one between Chaina and Elijah, his superior senses allowed him a level of precognition of her attacks as he could see what spell she was casting by paying attention to her lips. One’s Aura served as a cloak and could go even further in deceiving an enemy in the crucial moment. The very next moment, she dodged to the side, avoiding a dangerous swipe of a blade right behind her. The face of the attacker was that of her sparring partner, but the illusory nature of his body made it clear that he was just a hastily made copy for the sake of that rapid attack. She stretched out her hand and crushed the copy’s throat with a quick flex of her fingers. What resulted was a spontaneous gale that the Troll managed to evade despite the spell using the clone as a marker for the attack. The result was the same with the next two or three traps he set for her. She weaved through the blades of wind like a skilled dancer, timing their exact release and evading them with just enough, never overcommitting to any move so that she was able to dodge accurately. At the end, only a few out of the dozens of distinct strikes aimed at her managed to graze her. This was another use of one’s Aura – it expanded the range of their senses and movements and actions that could deceive sight and sensation would not be able to deceive their life energy. To say that her dodges were perfect would be an exaggeration, though. She had timed every dodge perfectly, yes, but the pernicious nature of the Witch’s innate element of wind was precisely showcased then, since it could extend the range of attacks slightly and reduce the efficacy of even her exceptional instincts. Still, considering the mastery of his attacks and the expenditure of mana involved, he could scarcely be congratulated on, nor could he feel satisfied with just that level of damage. Tsk. I didn’t expect her to dodge that quickly. He was frustrated t