Chapter 16: Try this
Tim stretched and smiled. "Jael? I will remember it if only you make an impression on me." To him, Jael looked like any other Iron rank, those who are not 'strong'; he lacked the sense of danger powerful Awakeners who have fought continuously with monsters usually have.
Jael was feeling excited, the same one he got when he was in that dungeon back on Earth. A slow thumping in his blood made him smile. "I think I will leave an unforgettable impression."
Tim snicker.
Meanwhile, Temur nodded and whispered to Litha. "It is good this way. I plan to train him in the zone starting tomorrow, so I'll get his measure right now."
Litha frowned. "I hope you know what you are doing. He has no training and that boy is strong enough to catch the eyes of Thayer Argent."
"And now, so does Jael."
Jael stepped forward and Tim also joined him, keeping a bit of distance between them. When he saw Temur coming forward as well he waved him away. "Don't worry. The fight will be over before you can act like any referee."
Temur raised his brows, 'why is he so arrogant?'
They know soon enough.
Tim brought out five small black stones, the size of a fist out of his spatial ring. They levitate floating gently around him with his power. "This is a dungeon rock from five floors above us. I paid a lot to get them but they are useful. Stronger than steel, they can pierce the body of Iron rank with just enough force behind it.
"My power is telekinesis. Ability to move things around with my mind. It's common, but one thing that sets me apart is that I can put instant, powerful force behind an object. An instant spontaneous push." Tim smiled; he could push so fast no ordinary Awakened Iron eyes could see it.
Jael looked at him, puzzlement on his face. "Why are you telling me your abilities?" Isn't that just stupidly giving away your advantage?
Tim shrugged. "Sooner or later, all our abilities will be known. What will determine victory is how you counter against techniques and abilities. But don't worry yourself, you won't be able to avoid this."
Jael couldn't argue against that, but he'd keep his close as much as he could. He couldn't use his [Dance of the bones] spell, but he had Hermit, and he is Iron. "You know what Tim. Every time you open your mouth, you're just begging to be beat up."
Tim didn't like that; he shut his mouth, and his eyes hardened. "Let's see who will beat who up." One of his five stones spun at the tip of his point right finger. "Bang." He said and the stone fired with a shockwave.
It covered the distance between them so fast that Jael didn't see it, but Hermit did. he slapped it out of the air with his right hand, but the force behind it sent him back. He looked at his hand, his eyes widening.
Hermit had manifested; his right hand was bigger, the skin the color of red-black, spikes like crocodile's tail jutted from the back of his hand to his shoulder, where it ended in a single white fang that pointed out. The tip of his fingers also ended in razor-sharp claws.
Temur let out a whistle, and Litha narrowed her eyes, but a small smile played at her lips. Mopi gasped; this was the first time he would be seeing Hermit.
"So you can turn your hand to monster's own, big deal. This is why Thayer is interested in you? I'm disappointed." Tim said. But he hid his confusion well. Jael shouldn't be able to catch that stone fired with such force and speed.
"Try this!" He put two stones in front of him and fired them in different directions, targeting his head and his right knee.
The thing about Hermit is that it can move throughout Jael's body. All parts of his body. It also enhances and strengthens the said body.
Jael drew on his connection with Hermit, he lurched forward; he rolled, dodging and covered the distance toward Tim in a blink. He brought his clawed hand down with an upward swipe.
Tim jumped back and fired another two stones in quick succession with a resounding boom. One caught Jael in the right shoulder and tore a big chunk out but the other missed. He moved gracefully between Jael's wide blows, the force from which stirred his hair. 'I don't want that to hit me' Tim thought.
Jael knew he was faster and stronger than Tim but he couldn't seem to get hold of the boy. It's like an eel, slippery between the hands.
He used his hand like a bat, swinging forward, but Tim danced back and punched the air, sending a telekinesis punch to his stomach. "Huuh!" He grunted as he was driven back, his eyes drew back in frustration.
Tim laughed, too loudly. The truth is, Jael is fighting like a novice, but his punch and wicked claws are no joke. "Are you sure you are Iron? Even bronze fight better then you."
"That's true," Temur murmured; it was now evident that Jael lacked any fighting skills but his firepower. He smiled. "Jael! Why are you driving back? Put force behind your legs when you go for the punching and clawing. Don't hold back!"
Jael didn't look back but he heard Temur. Everyone who was close by would hear the guy shouting. "I can't disappoint my teacher now can I!"
He reached inside himself, he touched the unholy energy inside himself and then he focused on Hermit. Maybe he had been pushing the monster back a bit because everything that happened seemed unbelievable and so fast.
Or maybe he just hadn't accepted that he was now what he dreamed he wanted to be.
He straightened and breathedd out, in, out, and in. He touched on his connection with the Hermit. He promised it food, and then, finally, he could feel the monster mixing with him.
Tim saw the change in him, the slight edge of danger that gleamed off him. "Are you finally serious?"
"Yes. Time to beat the shit out of you disturbing our food time."