197 She Is That Persons Descendant?! (1/2)

Regardless of the angle or location, Robin could read his attacks as clear as day. When they had fought for around 5 minutes, finally a somewhat more serious light glinted in his eyes.

Seeing this, Robin realized he was going to start attacking in earnest.

'Skye!' She warned through their link. Skye jumped up onto Chelsea's shoulder, which was their pre-arranged sign that the Trader would start his assault.

Keith was busy recording everything on his magic eye. A historic moment such as this: it would be a sacrilege not to record. Of course, he had gotten permission from Robin beforehand. He had learned his lesson, after all.

Initially, nothing seemed to be happening. But then Oracle's power surged off to the side. An invisible force smashed itself against the shield that Chelsea had raised. The force of the confrontation blew dust up in the air, as it was unable to breach Oracle's protection.

For a moment, the shield became visible, looking like a water bubble as it rippled from the attack. Oracle had blocked the first strike, as Chelsea was distracted.

Robin's pupils shrank to pinholes as her expression became stern. He really had attacked her friends. Instead of aiming his attacks at her, he was attacking her friends in an attempt to distract her.

”So...this really isn't a spar, after all?” She said resentfully, as if she only just noticed.

”I never agreed that it was.” He replied. ”But it seemed that you really had a lot of time to prepare in advance. Even this wasn't enough to shake you.”

”Luck favors the prepared, after all.” Robin replied evenly. ”I wouldn't have prepared against it if you were deserving of honorable combat.”

He laughed. ”Let's see how long this shield of yours can hold. I refuse to believe there's a shield in existence that can block me for long.”

”We shall see.” Robin replied. His attacks began to speed up in tempo, and she began speeding up as well to match.

The attacks upon the shield barrier began in earnest as well. But, because each attack was telegraphed by the swirling dust, Chelsea and Oracle were able to hold it back.

Liam, Keith, and Quinn could only watch on as the barrier was pummeled all around, as the force attempted to gain entrance.

Christian had his eyes trained on the battlefield, despite the flying dust that occasionally blocked his vision. He watched Robin fight head to head against the Trader, easily matching his tempo as they grew faster. He realized that Robin was more skilled than he had thought.

Every time that Robin had pulled out her sword, the fight had been far too short for him to truly ascertain Robin's skill level. But now, he could see clearly that her level was above even his own swordmaster teacher.

It rendered him spellbound with its beauty.

At this point, the Trader's eyes shifted from Robin towards her comrades. And he lost concentration enough for Robin to cut through his sword, and his mask split into two pieces. But before she could continue, something seemed to warn her.

She acted immediately with her fully speed, and it was as if she had teleported. She arrived just in time to block the blow intended for Christian, with her sword.

Her sword, gleamed with a brilliance that did not lose to that of a star. It fully blocked the force that was aiming for the side of Christian's head. But, the force of the blow knocked her back.

The flat of her blade knocked into her mask, sending it flying in one direction, while she was blown in another direction. Her feet and sword carved out three deep ruts in the ground as she attempted to stabilize her stance.

Keith dragged Christian back from the edge, by the back of his shirt, in case another shot was aimed at him.

A silence fell as the two unmasked figures took their first good look at each other. The Trader was, as previously assumed, a handsome young man.

Jasmine gasped. ”Bastian Lave!? Son of Lave Mercantiles!? It's you!?”

But he didn't answer her. He was staring dumbfounded in honest shock at Robin. Everyone assumed he was surprised that Robin had blocked his blow....until he closed his open mouth, swallowed, then exclaimed.

”Somehow I seem to know your face....” He said, utterly baffled.

”....It's you!?How did you come here?”

”It's me? I arrived like all the heroes do, though, right?” Robin tilted her head confused. They had obviously never met before. Could he have confused her with someone else?