Azure glanced back at Golden Fang, whom she was about to fight. She had not improved as much as she wished; thus, her confidence in victory was slim. However, she had no way out of the spar.
The only solace was that she wouldn't be killed; however, even that was paled by the fact that Aqua would see her losing once again. I want her to see me win sometimes.
She inhaled sharply. Ever since she met Aqua, she had been on a losing streak and thus had to be saved or helped by the heroine. Azure wanted and wished to prove that she was worthy.
It did not take them long to get into a sandy arena that was usually used for training purposes. She stopped near the entrance as Golden Rose made their way toward the other end.
"I must at least give Aqua a good show…" She gritted her teeth as she stepped into the arena.
Sheira and Aqua took a seat on the rafters, while the remaining Golden Rose members and Laura sat at the opposite side. She couldn't help but glance at her friend and Aqua as she prepared to fight.
"Why are you so nervous, girl?" Golden Fang glared at her. "Are you not the champion of your people? Act like one!"
He shook his head as he made some distance away from Azure.
The man was right; she was not worthy of her title, she was not even worthy of being a normal soldier. She let her friend get kidnapped, she lost every recent battle, and in the end, even she was kidnapped.
What right did she have to call herself any sort of a hero? She was not Aqua, she was not the Queen that navigated complex networks; she was just a soldier who was slightly better than average, nowhere near what she had once thought herself as.
Seeing that man makes me feel so small. She reached toward [Mortal's Hope] on her back. She was instructed to use everything she could to win, as insisted by the Golden Fang.
"He is so sure of himself."
An image of her being killed by Golden Fang resurfaced, and with a shake of the head, she dismissed the image and withdrew the sword.
The way he looked at her was so patronizing that she wanted to puke. He had killed her once and now stared at her as if she were a child swinging a kitchen knife.
Snap out of it! She screamed in her mind, if she were to have a single chance to even attack back, she needed to have a clear mind.
"On my mark!" Sheira's voice rang through the arena.
She got into a position and put her sword forward.
"In 3!"
Her breath slowed.
"2!"
Her grip tightened around the hilt; she needed to become the warrior she had thought herself of in the past.
"1!"
While before it was a mere lie made out of ignorance, now it was a goal that she needed to achieve.
"Fight!" With the final countdown finished, Sheira sat down next to Aqua and went silent.
Before she could even blink, dark mists coalesced around her.
She swung her blade, and a wave of crimson smoke rushed forward and dispersed the mists, yet it was far too late. Fang materialized right behind her.
Crunch
"Gah!" She felt her armor cracking and his fist burying itself into her back.
She tumbled some distance before stopping at the rafter boundary.
Crash
Before she could even gather her wits, Fang appeared behind her, and her world spun as she flew into the air.
Her fingers still held tight as she was sent hurdling toward the ground by a slam in her stomach.
"Come on, girl. I know you are better than this."
A trail of blood escaped her mouth as she pushed herself up. Golden Fang was right; this was not her. She was stronger than before; she should at least be able to block a human. He was not Aqua; he was not invincible.
The blade was not the only thing she had access to anymore. No, it was far from it; she was able to use magic, too.
With a speed that nobody but Aqua could follow, she attempted to get behind Fang.
She breathed slowly as Fang kept his distance. Despite his overwhelming strength, he was not naive enough not to respect his opponent.
Especially as when that opponent conjured 8 earthen spikes above her head, which then swiftly launched together toward Fang. However, instead of dodging, his body dispersed, and the magic passed through him.
"Those spikes might be powerful, but they are slow. You need more practice." As the final word left his lips, the [Crescent Moon Barrage] spell was cast, and countless streaks of silver rushed toward her.
She raised her sword above her head, and as if guided, the silvery missiles struck the Mortal Hope. However, it was something that Fang was banking on as he appeared right in front of her.
"Do not fall for feints." An open palm strike to her chest sent her reeling back and gasping for air.
I can't read or hit him… Azure spat some blood as she gripped her blade. She was not good with magic, as to land a single hit, so she had to rely on the experience she had up until now.
"My experience is not doing much…"
"Distracted again!" She felt shadows rush past her and a kick connect to her neck. Her fists forced open as she was forcefully separated from her prized blade.
Her vision became blurry as her mouth filled with blood and sand.
"You…" She frowned as she turned her back and launched a punch into the swirling shadows that resembled the silhouette of the Golden Fang.
However, instead of connecting to the man's face, it hit nothing, and then she felt herself get pulled up and then launched back.
"You let your anger guide you. I know it is difficult, but you must remain calm when in a fight."
He was right, she knew it well, yet she refused to listen to her own lessons. How was she supposed to face someone like him with a clear head?
"Snap out of your delusions, girl!" The mists disappeared, and she felt Fang above her. He grabbed her hair and lifted her in front of him. "I thought you had potential, and yet here you are wallowing in dirt. Is this all that Elven Champion can offer?"
"N…No!" She grit her teeth; she had to prove that her people could stand against anyone who threatened them.
Fang smiled before throwing her toward her sword. "Good! Pick up your blade and defend yourself. That sword is powerful, but it's worth nothing if you can't or are too afraid to use it."
Her fists dug into the ground around the hilt and grabbed the blade. She conjured an earthen spike and launched it toward the now-exposed Golden Fang.
He dispersed for a moment, which made it miss; It flared in the cursed flame of [Godslayer Blade], enveloping its edge with its unholy power.
Fang's eyes widened as he prepared the mists.
She swung it, and the devourer's flame rushed toward him. However, despite dispersing the flame did not miss; instead, the shadows began to burn.
The Mana that created them was consumed, and the spell failed, leaving Fang vulnerable. She charged forward and swung her blade in an overhead arc.
Fang, despite his shock that a spell was dispelled so easily, leaned back, displaying acrobatic skill unbecoming of his age, and with a chop, Azure was disarmed again.
"Now that's what I am talking about!" His hand wrapped around her throat and slammed her into the ground.
Still not enough. She had been given a sword made by Aqua; it was so powerful that it could kill anyone, yet now it was useless against Fang.
"I believe we can stop here. I was right that you have potential." He stretched his hand toward Azure, who collapsed onto the sandy arena.
Unlike last time, the gaze that fell upon her was not patronizing, nor was it pity. It was that of someone who gave respect to a warrior despite a difference in power.
Azure huffed. Even now, she could only show Aqua her loser side; it was embarrassing, alas, it was something she needed to work on.
How many times will I have to lose… She grumbled as she accepted Fang's help to stand up. Her body swayed as her vision blurred.
"You did well, managing to dispel my mist is something nobody was able to do before, be proud of that." He grinned, "I will train you. Perhaps you can become my inheritor."
It was not even my power. She let out a painful chuckle as she shook his hand.
"Go rest now, Champion." Fang let go of her hand and quickly waved her off before walking away.
She turned the palm toward herself, despite her blessed power; Fang was far too skillful for her. It seems my home really is an ant among giants.
The world spun around her, and she collapsed onto the ground.
Yet she had not hit the sandy arena; instead, she fell onto something soft. She reached back and touched the soft clothing and skin of the person who caught her.
Her hands slid down and felt soft pillows that she had lain on. As she realised what she had touched, she quickly withdrew her hand. "Sorry!"
However, as she tilted her head up and looked into Aqua's concerned gaze, she could not see any anger about her inappropriate touch.
"Azure, did he go overboard?"
She chuckled. She wanted to say yes; however, the man truly taught her where she stood in the world.
She felt her body slowly repair itself and her energy return. Thanks, Aqua… She relaxed as Aqua's magic repaired her.
"I will test him myself now. Please go join Sheira on the rafters." She slowly helped Azure up.
"Sure…" Her lips formed a wry smile.
"Fang! Return, we will spar now." Aqua shouted as she walked toward the distant form of Fang, who quickly turned to her and approached.
"Sure, but no killing." Unlike with Azure, his gaze was wary. Unlike Azure, he could sense that Aqua was a lot more terrifying as an opponent. Yet he needed to keep his cool.