Chapter 788 (2/2)

But at that moment, as the tip of Skarch’s spear flashed forward toward her chest, Helen wondered how Randidly lived like this. Every fight, gambling his life on the edge of his spear. If he failed, he would die. He needed to win, so he did. It was an exhausting life.

Yet, why am I smiling?

“Simple Thrust.”

Helen could barely block. And this time, it wasn’t just a few meters that she was thrown backward. Such was the force of Skarch’s attack that she was blown out of the arena. Into an area that was completely cleared of her Domain. But Helen’s smile stayed plastered to her face. As she was twisting, she forced the Domain back together with a rumble.

And when the Domain arrived, the currents did too.

With the currents help, she was able to slow herself to the point where she could land on the ground. There were no rules in the tournament about being knocked off the arena, but many conceded the minute they were forced off the large dueling platform. It was a great dishonor to be so inferior that you couldn’t control your body.

When she stood up without an injury, the audiences laughs and boos smashed into her back like a landslide. They expected her to concede. They thought the match over.

Helen calmly walked back to the arena and hopped up. Skarch waited for her with a scowl hung on her face. It was beneath her to strike at one who had been so obviously bested.

“You won’t concede?” A frosty Skarch asked when Helen regained the stage.

“Seriously? Fuck you.” Helen countered with all the wit she could muster. The currents in the air around her twisted and strengthened themselves. They folded back and wove together in a larger system of currents. In those desperate moments, her Skills stretched themselves and became more capable. Grinning wildly, Helen’s eyes grew red as she looked at Skarch’s expression.

She liked and respected Skarch the woman. She was generous and honest.

But Skarch the opponent? Pride dominated her every inch. She was a being created based on the premise that the spear was a dominant force in the world. Randidly fought to win because losing meant death. Skarch represented the people that considered dishonor worse than death. Her family name was worth more than her life.

As if to give example to Helen’s thoughts, Skarch opened her mouth and said. “Have you no pride in your spear? You are a member of the greatest warrior race in existence, and yet you don’t have the self-respect to know when you are bested. Do not bring shame to those brave spear-users of Tellus. Either act like a champion or get out of the way for those who truly deserve that honor.”

“Seriously, fuck you,” Helen spat. But even through the haze of rage, she felt something strange. Her currents… Skarch was doing nothing to part the Domain at the moment, and it felt like Helen could… use her currents to siphon off Skarch’s energy. Her Domain growled hungrily. Was there a portion of her Skill that she missed that allowed her currents to sap another’s strength?

That wouldn’t be a surprise. She was a predator. It made a certain amount of sense that she could grow stronger on her victims.

And yet…

The black flames of rage were on the same page as Helen. Fuck that.

Does this make me like her…? Helen wondered as she refused to take some of Skarch’s power. More willing to lose than to give up my pride?

But that didn’t seem true. To have principles wasn’t just the purview of beings motivated by pride.

“I don’t need to be you to beat you,” Helen said. And then she launched herself forward. If Skarch wanted to continue to monologue, fine. But for Helen, it was time to fight.

And in fact, Skarch blinked in surprise. “Do you not-”

But then the sound of their spears clashing buried the rest of her words. Skarch growled something else and waved her spear. The Tides of Blood Domain parted, but only partially. And within a second it was back up.

“Feeding Frenzy, Decimate,” Helen’s speed jumped up. Her eyes were fixed on the blood dripping from Skarch’s wrist. “Instincts of the Predator.”

“Simple Block, Simple Counter,” Skarch said through gritted teeth. But every time she tried to strike back, Helen flitted sideways and attacked at an unexpected angle. Skarch brought her spear down and Helen spun to the side and thrust at Skarch’s thigh. Skarch brought her spear up to knock away the thrust and followed up with a thrust of her own. But Helen leaped up over the blow and aimed a kick at Skarch’s head.

Skarch’s strike parted the Tides of Blood Domain, but Helen leaped up to a portion still dominated by blood. Furious, Skarch brought her thrust up into a cut toward Helen’s midsection. Helen grinned and spun midair when she brought a current across her body. Borrowing momentum like this was child’s play. With the extra boost, her thrust blurred outward.

Skarch’s head jerked to the side, but Helen scored a long cut above Skarch’s eye.

“Fine. Let’s make this messy,” Skarch said. Their eyes met even around the shaft of Helen’s spear. “Overdrive.”

Once more, light began to gather around Skarch’s spear. Helen rode a current to land some distance away and warily watched the transformation that was occurring. Strange energy began to emerge from the large runic sigil right below the blade of Skarch’s spear. Of all of the runes that crossed it, that one was the largest. And now it thrummed with power.

Skarch stepped and Helen’s eyes widened as she moved with such speed that she tore a large gash in the Tides of Blood Domain. The force of her passage overwhelmed Helen’s Domain.

“Yield,” Skarch rumbled even as her spear slid toward Helen’s torso.