162 [Bonus chapter] Lydia Vs Arad
Nina called Aella and Mira to the counter. "You can start at the quest." The girls approached the table.
Mira pulled a large map of the forest where she suspect the tree to grow. "We are looking for a large tree with a vein-riddled trunk that smells like lemon. Legends say its scent is like a reverse catnip to monsters. It makes them aggressive and agitated." Mira looked at Arad, "This works only on non-intelligent monsters. But words say it makes elves a bit more aggressive. So keep that in mind."
"Arad! We're here." Lydia called, waving her hand as Jack leaned on her, "Don't forget me. I will be fine in a day or two."
Arad looked at them, scratching his head. "So, only me and Lydia can fight, right?"
Everyone looked at each other. Jack is out for two days, and Aella for about a day as well to get over her soreness. Mira can't fight so that only leave Arad and Lydia.
Arad can't go all out because of Mira so there is no point in refusing Lydia coming to help Jack. Even though the safest bet would be him using his draconic presence to scare the monsters away. That isn't an option.
"Lydia, how good can you fight?" Arad asked.
Lydia stared at Arad, "I usually go solo as I can both fight with weapons. Heal, and deal magic damage with smites. I can also cure poisons and toxins."
"Only you and I can fight on the first day. I want to know what could you do, and what can't. Should we head to the training ground?" Arad approached her.
"Of course. You can't leave your back to someone you never fought with." Lydia said, scratching her head, "Especially after last night's embarrassing performance."
Last night, the incubus charmed Lydia and had her stall Abel for a while. Which wasn't exactly helpful. Albeit, she had a disadvantage as a woman.
The adventurers in the back started whispering. Are those two about to fight? Lydia the golden paladin against the monster Arad, who will win?
Arad looked at his waist, "Nina, do you have a spare sword?"
"ARAD! CATCH!" One of the adventurers grabbed his sword and threw it. Arad turned and caught it. "A sword?"
"It's my spare blade, feel free to have it." The adventurer smiled, playing his card early and making everyone else feel jealous.
"Thanks. I hope it holds." Arad looked at the sword. It looked like any other long sword without any engraving.
[All the legendary blades looked stale. Their creator didn't have the luxury of thinking to decorate them. A simple sword is a good indicator of a well-made blade.]
Arad and Lydia walked toward the training ground with everyone behind them, watching.
The two faced each other. Lydia held her sword with both hands and took a deep breath. "You better take a stance or pull your staff. The sword is your secondary weapon, isn't it?"
Arad stood tall, holding the long sword in his right hand. "You think so? What matter is how can you fight, come at me."
CLING! Lydia shifted her stance from a middle guard to a back left. A golden mist embraced her sword like dust dancing in the sun's rays.
BAM! Lydia rushed, pointing her sword forward in an inside right stance. She went for a low thigh stab. But at the last moment. She shifted into a low strike, aiming at Arad's calves.
Arad stood without a move, his training with Gerald coming back. He saw Lydia's feint and was about to do what Gerald did.
CRACK! Arad lifted his leg in an instant and stomped Lydia's blade, pinning it to the ground.
It happened in the blink of an eye, no one was able to see. Lydia almost missed it and the only one who saw it was Nina. "Such a monstrous move." She smiled. Stepping on their opponent's blade. That was something barbarians did often and to her, it was appealing.
Arad didn't waste his chance and swung his sword down at Lydia's shoulder with one hand.
Cling! Lydia twisted her blade and pulled it out. She swung with a short guard to deflect Arad's strike and connected that to a back edge swing at Arad's neck.
KA-DON! Flames burst from Arad's legs, forcing Lydia to leap back before her blade could reach him. She glared at him with the edge of her sword bright red.
"Those flames are dangerous." Lydia smiled.
"That sword as well," Arad said as the flames around him faded.
"Heh," Lydia giggled, touching the ground with her blade. CLAP! With a thunderous boom, the ground cracked. [Thundering smite] "You noticed it?"
Arad glared at Lydia, his eyes flashing purple. "Of course, it's obvious." He could see magic, and she didn't know of that. The spell was invisible, but he could see it like a haze around the blade.
[Divine Smite] BOOM! Lydia's blade ignited into a golden flame as she took a wrath stance. "How about we go all out? There are enough healers around here."
"You only say that because you wear heavy armor." Arad smiled, "But fine, come at me with all you got." Arad opened his arms, walking forward.
BAM! Lydia lunged forward. KA-DON! Arad engulfed his fist with flames which grew to consume the blade, he swings down with a smile.
CLACK! BAM! The swords clashed, sending a shockwave across the training ground. CLACK! BAM! CLACK! BAM! CLACK! BAM!
The attacks didn't stop as the two clashed. "How is a sorcerer going head-on with a paladin?" One of the adventurers gasped.
"No," A fighter gasped. "Arad isn't skilled with the sword. He swings it a stick, he had no formal training."
Another fighter walked forward, "But he isn't falling to any of Lydia's feint. His speed and strength are inhuman, and without speaking of those reaction times." The fighter clenched his teeth. "How do you get such power and institution without proper training?"
Nina looked back, "You lots are slow, aren't you?"
"What?" A wizard gasped, "What are you talking about?"
Thud! Alcott who was in the back walked forward, "Arad's movements. That strange aggression against feints. Doesn't it reminds you of someone?"
One of the old fighters, someone who has been adventuring for ten years gasped, "Gerlad! I saw those moves in the tournament when I was a kid!"
All the fighters glared at Arad. They remembered the best-selling fighting manual in the whole kingdom. "Steel for humans!"
"Everyone one of you read that book, or at least trained with one as it's the simplest way to learn the basics of swordplay." Alcott smiled.
"But Arad doesn't know anything about a sword fight."
"Those moves are natural. I heard Gerald himself is in the city," Alcott smiled. "Arad could have found him and learned directly. spared even."
All the fights stared at each other, mumbling how a living legend could be under their noses. That famous general is here.
"The reason you aren't getting stronger is that you're focused on adventuring. You aren't looking around for opportunities." Alcott glared at them.
"Look at Arad," Nina smiled, "He's winning."
BAM! They saw Arad's sword shatter from his poor form, yet he kept swinging the severed blade. Engulfed in flames.
"He isn't locked in the class idea. He's willing to learn from anything is what you're saying." Amber approached. "He's a sorcerer, why care about sword skills? That's what most people think, but Arad will learn anything you give to him."
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