Chapter 141 (2/2)

The man’s eyes narrowed. “If you do not willingly sink your Tassle-”

“-Then you will do what?” Divvit opened his eyes and smiled.

****

Randidly’s chest heaved.  Mrs. Hamilton’s exercises had been designed to allow Randidly to slowly push his body to limits, forcing his will to rise to the level that he could fully utilize his physical capabilities.

Shal, it seemed, thought this was a weak and inefficient method.

“True, your stats… are higher than your level should possess.” Shal said, standing over Randidly’s bruised and battered body. “But it has made you bold and shallow. You have many flashy moves, yes. You have a Runic Rarity skillset, yes. But you do not have the weight of training behind your strikes. They are light.

“This is what you must learn. How to face foes who possess that strength. Rise, and receive my spear.”

Randidly, his arms almost buckling, raised himself up. He could feel that frosted fire in his chest, pulsing slowly. If nothing else, Second Wind, Struggle, and Bacterial Regeneration were being well worked, even if he barely had enough time to use any active skills against Shal’s assault. Because when the attacks came, they were too much for Randidly to receive.

But he still tried, his body slowly regenerating, his stance settling down to its normal steadiness. Then Shal smiled, and disappeared.

This was truly the difference in levels. His Spear Phantom’s Footwork was at a level where Randidly’s eyes couldn’t keep up. By the time he could see where Shal had gone, Shal had already attacked. This was not a way that Randidly could survive.

So instead, as soon as Shal disappeared, Randidly stepped too, heading for the spot Shal had left. But immediately the hairs on the back of his neck stood straight up, and Randidly threw himself to the side, stepping with the skill as fast as he could manage it.

It was not fast enough, and Randidly felt his ribs crack as what could only be a spear, but felt like a freight train, smashed into his side. As he was sent tumbling, Randidly couldn’t help think back to his experience all those months ago, right at the very beginning, knocked so casually aside.

But although he wasn’t yet the one knocking another casually aside, he was still very different than his previous self.

Randidly pirouetted on his toes, spinning around to regard his attacker. Shal was already raising his spear again, unrelenting, but not before Randidly lashed out, using Ghastly Slash, which with the bonus of Haste, Empower, and Mana Strengthening, managed to arrive before Shal’s attack.

But Shal’s spear seemed to slither upwards, knocking Randidly’s attack off to the side, and then instantly lashing out towards Randidly’s stomach.

Using Phantom Half Step 3 times in a row, Randidly managed to open enough space for the attack to miss, but as his eyes tried to find Shal’s figure, he realized that he had once more disappeared.

Trusting an instinct, Randidly lashed out behind him, using Sweep to smash backwards. Shal stepped around the attack like he was strolling through a park, and struck Randidly sharply in the shoulder, breaking the bone. His follow up attack was even more vicious, ripping a large gash, but Randidly gritted his teeth and stepped into it, throwing a desperate punch.

Shal seemed to be annoyed by this, and his spear ripped upward, cutting off half of Randidly’s hand. But although it was painful, Randidly wasn’t stopping now, not with the fire burning in his gut.

Settling into those strange stances taught to him by the old turtle, Randidly settled his weight, took a deep breath, and threw a punch with all of his strength behind it. The butt of Shal’s spear whipped out, cracking the bones of Randidly’s hand, but it still had enough force to continue onward and hit Shal in the side.

Within a split second, another blow descended, knocking Randidly to the floor.

Shal shook his head sorrowfully. “You do not know the value of a spear, so you easily toss it aside. A mistake. Without it, you are but desperate-”

The ship rumbled, a strange wave of power spreading out from above. It was enough that Randidly tensed, and sat up, even though his ribs protested painfully.

“What…. was that…?” Randidly asked.

Shal chuckled. “It is what happens when fools do not know their own strength. Ignore it, and stand. Receive my spear, disciple.”