"Are you really sure about it?" Levi asked, unable to look me directly in the eyes. "I mean, I can't guarantee I will be able to hold back properly!" he said in a pleading voice.
"We are cultivators," I said, looking at Levi with a calm expression on my own face. "We are supposed to go against the will of the heavens and yet you cover away from a friendly spar?" I baited my former master a little.
"You little..." Levi's face tensed up. "It's you who I'm worried about!"
"Why claim I'm stronger than you, then?" I said with a grin, putting Levi's own words against him. "But to be honest, this duel has a lot more meaning to me than just a friendly spar," I added.
Levi looked deeply into my eyes. He turned silent for a second, wasting several breaths while gazing into my soul like some sort of a lover.
"Fine," he then said, turning around and taking several steps to the back. "Is there any need for me to know the meaning of your words?" he then asked as he turned around to face me again.
"Yeah," I said and followed with a nod of my head. "While fighting, make sure to be ready to start fighting for real at any time," I advised. "I hope our clash will draw out the nearby monsters, making them approach us," I explained the idea.
Back in the borderlands, the monsters could sense the fluctuations of one's spiritual energy because that area was filled with anti-mana to the brim. In this place, out in the open of completely nowhere, we had to create some powerful shockwaves to achieve a similar effect.
"Monsters?" Levi asked, raising one of his eyebrows while reaching to his side and pulling out a small, crystal tube.
He then jerked his hand... Which was nothing but a dramatic act.
Two springs of mana surged out of the holes within the crystal, forming the handle and the blade of the spear respectively.
'He could've saved that dramatic act for when it matters,' I thought with a tiny bit of scorn.
I could understand Levi's innate desire to be dramatic. Yet, for one's actions to properly appear cool, they had to be used in fitting scenarios.
No one would be impressed by a hero's landing if it was performed to jump from the road's curb. And the same could be said about Levi shaking his hand to activate his weapon... for nothing more but a friendly spar.
"Why do you want to bait monsters here?" Levi then asked. The pause that he took before formulating his question came likely from his own attempt to figure out the answer on his own.
In other words, he only asked because he failed to see through my plan in the first place.
"You want to get stronger, don't you?" I asked with a smile, undoing to pouches by my belt and gently pushing them out into the air.
The stones contained inside instantly rushed to their predesignated position, allowing me to raise my complete Mage's Tower in less than just three seconds.
In a real fight, I would have to buy those three seconds with my other abilities as no enemy would be dumb enough to give me that time for free.
But this wasn't a fight. This, right now, was a duel with the aim of letting me understand Levi's ability while showcasing to him just how much I grew since we parted ways.
"Do you want to turn me into a royal?" Levi asked, raising his left eyebrow. He then stood in position before nodding his head to indicate he was ready to begin.
"Heavens' forbid!" I called out in an exasperated voice. "Didn't you hear me speak my mind about this royal rank or whatnot?"
"What do you want monsters here for, then?" Levi rolled his eyes while lowering his center of mass.
'So he is going with a lunge,' I thought, ensuring that all my formations were working properly.
In theory, I could raise all my wardens right away as well. Yet, I didn't want to turn myself into a bully. And I wouldn't be able to learn anything about Levi's techniques if I ended up moping the ground with him right from the get-go.
"To turn you into a beginner cultivator," I replied with a small smile.
"Are you... for real?" Levi's eyes widened a little bit. "Wasn't this supposed to be just a friendly spar?"
"Oh, it is," I replied with a smile. "I will turn you into a beginner cultivator. And someone who's stronger than those royals you dislike so much," I revealed.
"You are not making any sense," Levi protested.
"For now," I agreed with my opponent. "But when the time comes for you to understand..." I hesitated for a moment.
'Should I tell him?' A single question appeared in my mind.
It wasn't that I desired to withhold the information about certain detail from my benefactor. I just didn't want to accidentally deprive him of the same experience I went through.
After all, there was a difference between hearing advice to reinforce the space with one's each move and receiving a series of black lightings to one's back!
'Well, it's better not to risk it,' I finally decided.
"Once you understand the meaning of what I said, make sure to add some energy to every move of yours, energy aimed at reinforcing the space through which your technique will travel," I gave out the advice.
'If I can save him the trauma of going through those lighting strikes, then I see no reason not to,' I thought.
"I hope I will understand in time," Levi muttered. "Ready?"
"I'm ready," I said, nodding my head. Yet, rather than rushing forth or raising my wardens, I turned my eyes to Mia who stood by the side. "Can you give us a signal to start?" I requested.
"Sure thing." Mia smiled. "Yet, as curious as I am to see you two fight..." she hesitated for a short moment. "Make sure not to go too far," she added.
I turned my head back. I then closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
"Begin!"
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m