NOVEL NEXT Chapter 368: Duel
The excitement of the day was certainly the duel between a strange half-elf giantess and the alleged 'Titan'. Though a dungeon town saw daily excitement, this one stood out more than most. This was evidenced by the fact that the entire Adventurer's Guild had cleared out and what seemed like most of the town's population all crowded around a large testing field.
As far as arena's went, it was certainly not the most elegant of places that Lucius had fought, but elegance was not what mattered. Function over form, as it were. Standing opposite of him was his challenger, Mar'Eeyen. She stood around 6'5" muscled arms nearly as thick as Lucius's legs. The tattoos he saw earlier seemed to stretch into her neck and chest as well.
Normally crowds would cheer and bet on a winner of a fight like this, but for the most part, they stood silent. Only the occasional chirping of pigeons and common songbirds filled the air as the two opponents matched eyes.
A guild representative stepped to the center stage. "As per the arrangement agreed upon by the fighters, the first to set up a killing blow or knock the other opponent to the ground wins. Drawing of blood is allowed. The use of Arts, Magic, and Marks are permitted, per contender requests. No death blows or else the survivor will be taken in on charges of murder. Fighters, please introduce yourselves."
Lucius nodded his head to the woman, indicating she should start as the challenger. She stepped forward and turned to face the audience. "I am Mar'Eeyen of the Far Shores. I am of the Advance Rank and my exploits are recorded for all to see by my people's Storytellers. If you wish to know of my victories, look no further than the proof painted on my skin."
A thunderous applause erupted around them. Based on their reactions, most of the townsfolk and adventurers knew his opponent well. Once the voices began to quiet, Lucius stepped forward. "I am Lucius Kane. Raised in Pelith. I am known as Titan of Eroa. I am an Intermediate Ranker."
"Ha! A weakling such as you dare to proclaim the title of 'Titan'. If rumors are true, 'Titan' is the son of Kalivas Kane, famous King Ranker of Eroa. I will expose your lies here, as I sense none of that warrior's strength in you."
"My father's strength is his own." Lucius growled, lowering his stance like a beast ready to pounce. "I will show you mine." He released his control over the Mana around him, allowing his power to flood the air. Lightning crackled over his legs and arms. Red sparks struck the dirt as his teeth and claws grew sharper and harder.
His opponent's eyes widened with shock for a moment before her expression shifted to one of crazed excitement. The guild representative retreated to the sidelines. Once they stepped over the bounds of the arena, Mar'Eeyen lunged at him. "[Berserker Arts: Rage]!" The woman's muscles bulged against her skin, increasing her already massive size by several inches in every direction.
Lucius matched her strike with one of his own. Plumes of dust scattered to the wind at the moment both fighters left their starting positions. Outside of a few high-ranked observers, the audience could scarcely see either fighter. Lucius felt the woman's strength behind each blow increase with time. A trick to the Berserker Arts. The longer she fought in an excited state, the stronger she would get. However, the greater the backlash would be when she released the ability.
For now, neither one drew their weapons. Their punches and kicks met each other in perfect sync, scattering waves of both mana and dirt. Lucius felt the ground beneath him crack with each blow he blocked.
"Intermediate? You lie! [Berserker Arts: Giant's Blessing]!" Mana filled the woman's body again, her height grew by three feet, her arms and hands growing to match. Lucius blocked a downward slam with crossed arms. His feet sank several inches into the stone. "Stop holding back Titan!"
"So, you admit I am who I say?"
"Yes! Now fight! Fight with everything!" Mar'Eeyens voice roared with anger. Each word dripped with power. In a single, deft move, she drew the massive battle-axe strapped to her back. "[Axe Arts: Sever]!" The edge of the massive blade burned with a bright, golden light.
"Fine." Lucius said. "[Celestia's Grace: Heavenly Sword], [Abyss Break: Abyss Armor]"
Mar'Eeyen shielded her eyes from a bright flash of light-blue light. Lucius drew his weapon from it's sheathe. Where the blade would normally be that of a machete, it now resembled that of a traditional sword. A foreign energy hummed along the edges of the blade. At the same time, the shadows cast by the light of the weapon morphed around his feet, wrapping around his legs and body. Six tendrils made from darkness splayed out from behind his back like wings. Two of them held the half-elf's glowing axe head mere inches from his face.
Sweat poured down his brow. This was the first time he had used his Mark's abilities since talking with the entities within. He could feel the power coursing through him felt different. Before it felt as though he was a conduit for something else. Power racing into his core from a place other than his own soul, but now… now was different. This was his power; no one else's.
"Fall." The word escaped him like a whisper, yet every person around him heard it as clearly as a shout. With a swipe of his blade, Mar'Eeyen was thrown back. "Do not compare me to my father. My power is my own. Do you see it, woman? Do you see my strength? Fear it?"
"Talk is cheap! Figh…" Her words were sealed by her own lips. Lucius leapt forward, the butt of his sword slamming into the woman's chin. Her feet left the ground momentarily before she landed and stumbled backward.
Not one to leave an opening unexploited, he pressed the attack. Four of the shadowy tendrils wrapped around his opponent's legs. Lucius's left hand crackled with red lightning. He reached past the woman's head, grasping her hair in an iron-tight grip. The glowing blade in his hand pressed against her neck.
Unable to maintain her balance, Mar'Eeyen fell onto her back, her size instantly reverting back to normal with the cancelation of her Arts. Her eyes locked onto Lucius's own.
"I yield." Her voice quivered with excitement. Laughter erupted from her lips despite the dangerously close distance her neck kept with sharpened steel. The guild representative rushed over calling the match in Lucius's favor.
"I have a lot to learn it seems, Titan." Mar'Eeyen admitted with uproarious laughter. "You are everything the stories say. Gods I wish to bring you to a Storyteller. What tapestries would paint your skin by the time of your death? I shudder with the thought."
"You knew?"
"From the beginning. I wanted to see your rage—your true power—but it seems I was not enough to bring it out." Mar'Eeyen laughed once more. "If I knew you had no other women, I'd ask to be yours. But, well, those stories are shared too. I have no interest in a taken man. You have my respect as a warrior, Titan."