Chapter 196: Rank Up Test (4) (1/2)

In the face of the man's accusations and taunts, Cole gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. But, even though he felt indignant and wanted nothing more than to refute his words, Cole knew that the man was right.

Even though his words were harsh, what he said was the complete and absolute truth. What he did was a very naive and pathetic attempt at an attack that showed no skills whatsoever. He was just like a child flailing his hands in desperation, only to be pushed aside. If this would be the extent of his skills, it would be more than justified to fail him and kick him out of the test, there would be no point in continuing this farce any further.

So, at most he could just accept the taunting words and grit his teeth, as he slowly relaxed his tense shoulders and gripped the hilt of his weapon even tighter. His eyes raged with a burning fiery passion, he scanned his opponent who stood still just a dozen steps away from him in the same casual, leisure, seemingly nonchalant manner as before. He held his weapon in his right hand, as it hung upside down at his side, not bothering to put up any meaningful stance.

It was a humiliating sight for Cole as it was clear what or actually how little the opponent thought of him. The worst thing was it wasn't even just blind arrogance from the opponent's part, it was an obvious examination from his first attack and how he wielded the sword. It shows nervousness, uncertainty, and most important of all, inexperience.

Wiping his bloodied lips with his weapon holding arm, Cole slowly walked a few steps forward, closing the gap just a tiny bit, as he responded to the accusations. His voice carried a mocking tone as he spoke amidst spitting a few bloody balls of saliva.

”Yes, you are right…” He answered, as his facial expressions slowly began to twist into a cruel grin, sizing up his opponent once more. ”...I am shaming everything I want to stand for if I continue to act in that manner…”

The cruel grin and calculating, cold look in Cole's eyes surprised not just his opponent, but Aiden as well who kept his eyes close on his friend from the start. His earlier nervousness, and bubbling, emerging reassurance, and determination, that felt weak and frail at the start, seemed to finally settle inside him, changing his demeanor completely. Whilst this did not give him any sort of magical increase in how skillfully he wielded the blade, nor did it give him any supernatural might, it did change his mindset, by abolishing the doubt from his mind.

Clenching his sword-wielding hand, Cole raised his weapon diagonally in front of his chest once more, as he slowly strolled forward, closing the distance between him and his opponent with each step. His eyes were focused on the man, ready to react to even the tiniest movements instantly.

Seeing the change in the boy, the examiner had a small smug smile stretching his scruffy, unkempt face. He slightly raised his mace lifting it only that it was no longer upside down but going parallel with the ground, perpendicular to his body. The spiky metal ball head of the weapon stretching out as if a guard dog were ready to pounce at his prey upon the first command of his master.

With each step, Cole got closer and closer, slowly closing in, getting increasingly closer to the critical distance, the melee range. As he closed on, Cole slowly began to cock his weapon-holding hand slightly backward, giving off the motion of a similar swipe that he attempted just as before.

Seeing the frown being revealed on his opponent at the sight of his action, caused Cole to grin inwardly, as his bait seemed to work perfectly. Keeping the same expression, careful not to reveal any of his plans on the surface, he stepped forward, entering melee range and putting an end to the tense, tight silence that engulfed the duelists for the last several seconds.

As soon as he made that last step and entered into his attacking range, the silence and standstill exploded, as the black leather armor-wearing warrior immediately thrust his spiked ball-headed mace forward, aiming at Cole's abdomen. Even though the thrust looked casual, Aiden noticed it carried a tremendous force, and if it would hit it would cause severe blunt-force trauma to the much weaker, and mostly defenseless youth.

Even then, he did not even flinch and continued to watch his friend with great interest, keen to inspect how he would react to such an obvious attack.