Chapter 219 Chapter 48.3 - Unmovable Mountain
219 Chapter 48.3 - Unmovable Mountain
As the flames subsided and a brief acknowledgment passed between us, it became evident that the time for measured exchanges had come to an end. Carl's imposing figure, clad in the shimmering aura, betrayed a newfound intensity.
The disciplined soldier within him discarded restraint as he took an aggressive stance, abandoning the purely defensive posture he had maintained.
"Should we start for real this time?" Carl's question echoed the unspoken agreement to elevate the intensity of our sparring session.
'He is coming.'
From the small but not small muscle movements on his body, I could foresee that he was going to attack.
CRACK!
A low, ominous crack reverberated through the training ground as Carl made his move. The ground beneath him seemed to shudder as if protesting the force about to be unleashed.
SWOOSH!
In a surprising display of speed, especially for someone with a tank-like build, Carl charged toward me with a speed that defied his apparent role.
'So, he's not just a simple tank,' I thought, thinking about his stats. Carl was a tanker in the game for the party, but he wasn't a playable character. Thus, his details were not as clear as the players'.
The route he chose could also be changed, and it seemed right now the one before me was a bruiser/tank type.
Carl's charge was more akin to a powerful offensive maneuver, but I was already ready.
Even if my attacks didn't have the power to penetrate his defense, at the very least, I was faster than him.
SWOOSH!
With a swift, well-timed movement, I evaded Carl's charging attack. His momentum carried him forward, leaving an opening that I seized upon.
THUD!
As he passed by, I planted my foot on his open shoulder, using it as a springboard to propel myself backward with graceful agility.
The distance between us increased, giving me a brief respite to reassess the situation. Exploiting an opponent's momentary vulnerability is always a crucial strategy, and I intended to employ the same principle here.
Drawing my bow, I focused on the strings of mana that connected me to the arrows.
Each arrow is an extension of my intent, awaiting release. Carl, having halted his charge, readied himself for the next phase of our clash.
-THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!
Rapidly firing arrows, I sought to maintain a safe distance while testing Carl's defensive capabilities.
The idea here wasn't to beat him but to improve. Even though my attacks weren't going to penetrate him, even the motion of attacking while maintaining my distance itself was training.
Also, I knew that my arrows might not breach his defenses entirely, but I wanted to observe how he adapted to the evolving dynamics of our confrontation.
The interplay of attack and defense unfolded as Carl, true to his disciplined nature, adjusted his stance, deflecting the arrows with the aura-clad shield.
CRACK!
The rhythmic sound of arrows impacting Carl's shield echoed through the training ground.
"You are definitely good."
The disciplined tank, however, didn't merely stay on the defensive.
With each step, he closed the distance, chasing after me while skillfully fending off the projectiles.
SWOOSH!
He swung his hammer from a distance, and a wave of an attack followed.
'A sound wave.'
It was one of the unique skills of the Braveheart family, where they would use sound attacks to attack. That was also what he used to disturb the energy of my blue arrow at the start.
'Vibrations to counter match the energy wave.'
I evaded the attack at one last moment with a burst of speed to the side.
RING!
But the balance disturbance was still there.
"You are open!"
And he didn't miss that momentary opening.
CRASH!
Swinging his hammer down, he hit the ground. He knew the distance was far away, and his attack wouldn't reach me.
SWOOSH!
The rock particles hurtled through the air, a chaotic barrage aimed at exploiting the temporary imbalance caused by Carl's skill.
'Focus.'
Despite the unexpected turn of events, I remained composed, relying on my agility to navigate the incoming storm.
With a series of swift movements, I brandished my daggers, each stroke cutting through the oncoming projectiles.
TAK! TAK!
The metallic clang of blades meeting rock resonated in the training ground as I parried and deflected the rocky onslaught. The precise choreography of the blade against stone showcased the fluidity and precision of my movements.
Even in the face of a surprise attack, the training and combat instincts honed through countless encounters allowed me to maintain control. Also, I was very precise with my daggers.
As the last remnants of the rock projectiles were dispersed, Carl seized the opportunity to close the distance.
With a determined expression, he unleashed his skill, [Charge of Bull], embodying the unstoppable force of a charging bull.
RUMBLE!
The ground beneath him trembled as he propelled himself forward with astonishing speed. The charge was characterized by its sheer power, a direct and forceful approach that aimed to overpower opponents in its path.
'He is using his skill.'
However, I had no intention of engaging in a direct confrontation with such a formidable offensive.
Dash.
I also didn't stay idle and activated my skills.
Eyes of Hourglass.
Both his movements were slowed, and I felt an increase in my speed.
SWOOSH!
In a flash, I moved with accelerated speed, gracefully evading the path of Carl's charging assault. The precision of my movements allowed me to sidestep the charging force, leaving Carl to surge past me, the momentum of his charge unchecked.
"Crumbling Mountains."
As Carl continued his charge with unwavering determination, he seamlessly transitioned into another skill.
'What?'
The ground beneath him trembled, and with calculated precision, he disturbed the earth, creating small mines. It was a skill that I had no knowledge of, and Carl possessed it.
The mines scattered across the training ground, strategically placed to anticipate my movements.
'He predicted it?'
It was a testament to Carl's ability to predict and counteract his opponent's actions. The mines, designed to restrict movement, created a challenging obstacle for me to navigate.
'It is too late.'
In the midst of my evasive maneuvers, I found myself inadvertently caught in the explosive range of one of the mines.
THUD!
The detonation disrupted my movement, causing a brief pause and inflicting some minor injuries. The surprise at Carl's ability to predict my trajectory left me momentarily off-guard.
"Grrr…."
My ankles were hurting, and I felt my movements restrained.
"You did well."
Carl also stopped his charge and was about to attack me. Even his charge was a bluff, now that I rethought about that. Countless different things passed through my head at that second.
'He is really good.'
It wasn't just about overwhelming strength but also combat talent. He possessed good judgment and made a clear plan.
'It was my mistake.'
After all these fights with monsters, it was the first time I had been trapped like this.
"You got me."
I answered his words as I saw him slowly approaching me.
'Though, that doesn't mean I am going to give up.'
I thought as I slowly activated the grey tendrils that I had put around Carl's body. It was a new idea that I had developed.
The ethereal threads extended and coiled around him, forming a connection bridge between us for me to use.
SWOOSH!
Using them as a grappling device, I pulled myself towards Carl, a swift and calculated movement that took advantage of the unexpected twist in our spar.
Simultaneously, I harnessed wind psions beneath me, allowing me to elevate slightly from the ground.
The combination of the tendrils and the controlled levitation helped me maneuver deftly, avoiding the remaining mines that might have hindered my progress.
"?"
I could see Carl's surprised face at my idea of approaching him rather than escaping, and he was caught off guard.
Eyes of Hourglass.
Noticing that he wouldn't be able to use his shield while I was approaching him rapidly, he activated his aura in an instant, covering his body.
SWOOSH!
In this unexpected aerial dance, I closed the distance between Carl and me with my daggers imbued in the same grey tendrils. The way to control such a movement was incredibly hard, and even with the time slowed in my eyes, I still wasn't able to control it perfectly.
SLASH!
Even then, I managed to slash Carl's body using the momentum I had gained with flight. With a spin movement, I aimed right through his shoulder.
The daggers, guided by the grey tendrils, cut through the air with precision. The blades passed through Carl's aura, which shimmered like a protective barrier around him.
"Hmm?"
I could feel the resistance against the incorporeal shield, but my attack managed to breach through, making contact with Carl's sturdy skin.
SLASH!
The sensation of the blades slicing through the air and grazing his shoulder was palpable, a testament to the success of my calculated maneuver.
Despite the resistance of his defensive aura, the attack left a mark on Carl, a visible testament to the effectiveness of the unexpected tactic.
THUD!
Then, I landed on the ground after my movement was finished. I was also surprised by the attack that had landed on his shoulder, as I didn't think I had the necessary strength.
"You. Why did you lower the strength of your aura?"
I met his gaze, realizing that he had intentionally adjusted the level of the spar. The surprise in my successful attack was partly due to Carl intentionally lowering his aura's strength, allowing me to land a blow.
"To adjust the level of the spar," Carl said, his tone firm. "The purpose of sparring is not to flaunt one's strength but to improve ourselves. We learn more in a real fight than in a one-
sided display of power."
I couldn't help but respect the attitude he showed. After all, he was not afraid of the pain but instead tried to get used to it.
'So the reason why he didn't move at the start was to adjust the power of his aura, huh? What a weirdo.'
It seemed we had another training maniac here.
'Good.'
"Don't hold back and come at me." He said, grabbing his hammer once again. "Show me what you got."
His words ignited my competitive spirit as I grabbed my daggers.
"Okay."
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