4 Chapter four.

Mirefield, Night of the expedition.

"This kid's a fucking monster" Hana curses under her breath, who collapsed five minutes before Ruak did. It hasn't been six minutes and it's as if he didn't even break a sweat! I watch in envy as he walks unhurriedly towards Captain Alanus, jealously, envy and hatred at someone who damaged their egos, or that assuming Ruak is going to choose the best seat out of the carriages. To Hana and everyone else's surprise, he murmurs something to Alnaus, who bursts out laughing and points to his second in command, a woman who simultaneously arouses and frightens the guys and some girls present. Ruak looks at the women, seemingly appraising her before nodding in acceptance. Alnaus walks to the rest of us, who is still recovering from his bloodlust, and clears his throat.

"Looks like the gods are favoring you tonight, my dirty pigs and piglets. Ruak challenged me to a duel for a job as guarding our cargo of a noble, including a cut of the pay. He is no match for me so I decided for him to fight my second in command, Adira. If he lasts five minutes against her, he'll officially become a temporary bodyguard for the remainder of our expedition to Ancesea, meaning you'll have to treat him as such, no matter the fact he from the slums, and you disgraces get to watch and squirm in the dirt. The seating regiment will be after the duel, understood you lot of pigs and piglets?" Murmurs automatically break out.

"Five minutes? The fool of a slumie won't last 30 seconds haha"

"He probably got lucky with the pressure, of course only a slumie would be this over their head."

"No wonder his parents left him, he's ratshit crazy! I'm going to savor watching his ass tore a new one"

The taunts and murmurs continued for a few minutes as an "arena" was set up for the upcoming fight. A small circle, roughly 10 meters in diameter was itched into the soil, with Ruak and Adira facing each other on opposite sides. Alanus walks into the middle and announces the rules of the duel.

"1. If Ruak admits defeat, is pushed out of the circle, or falls unconscious within five minutes, he loses and must walk behind us the whole expedition. 2. If somehow Adira admits defeat, knocked unconscious, or pushed out of the circle within five minutes, Ruak automatically wins. 3. Ruak wins by default if he is conscious and still standing in the circle by the five-minute mark." Alanus looks at Ruak and Adira, "Any questions?" Both parties shake their head. "Then BEGIN!" shouts Alanus as he seemingly disappears out of thin air and appears outside the circle, an amused expression on his mouth. "How interesting" He muses.

'The kid has balls I'll certainly give him that' thinks Adira as she unsheathes her longsword, waiting for Ruak to strike. Ruak nods as if saying "If you're giving me the invitation" And sprints towards me, flinging three knives at me while putting his hand on his dagger. I block the knives with ease and lazily bring my sword in a downward swipe. Ruak brings his dagger to block, and... Catches it? "A sword breaker!" I curse in surprise as a grin grows along Ruak's lips. "Please Adi, at least give me the courtesy of not holding back will ya?" He smirks as he bends my sword at a 180-degree angle with a simple flick of the wrist. The sudden anger at being toyed at dissipates as fast as it came as confusion replaces it. 'Where's his follow up?' My question is answered as his sword breaker unlatches from my broken sword and throws a handful of throwing knives point blank, the knives thrown in such a way that even if I dodge most of them, at least one will hit me. 'Kid knows his shit' I internally curse, dodging left and missing the worst of it, leaving the brief exchange with a dagger lodged in thigh, hindering my movement.

The spectators of the fight are astonished. Not only did that brief exchange last a mere second, but the godly Adira is also injured!

I toss the broken longsword aside and nod towards one of the guards, who after disappearing momentarily comes back with a formidable double-sided battle-ax, who struggles the few steps to give it to me, which I pick up with ease. "Alright Ruak, you officially have my undecided attention, let's see if you'll last" I taunt as lay my ax on my shoulder.

"Still according to plan" I murmur, sheathing Slum's Vengeance and taking out my smaller tomahawk. I grab a smoke bomb from my pouch and hold it in my free hand. With a breath, I overclock my stamina, giving me three minutes of at least double my original speed. I exhale, any thoughts, worries, or distractions leave with the carbon dioxide as I dash towards her.

'Propulsion? How did this slumie learn intermediate air magic?' My panic doesn't last a second as the deep calm of battle settles in my mind, as I tense my muscles and get ready to adjust to the sudden speed. Suddenly I see an object in Ruak's free hand, 'An explosive? Some type of rune? A decoy?' Countless possibilities flash through my mind as Ruak throws it at me.

BOOM

"Fuck it was a smoke!" I exclaim as I see movement coming to my left. 'Gotcha' I think as I bring my battle-ax in a two-handed grip towards what I presume to be him, but!

PING

My ax meets a handful of throwing knives, effortlessly cutting through them like butter. 'It wasn't him! Then it has to be right!' I exclaim in my head, years of training, and battle experience making me able to move backward and swing my ax to the right."Not bad kid, but checkmate" I exclaim loudly, thinking the duel is mine.

"Oh really?" I reply as I appear through the smoke. To the spectators, I might look cocky and badass as hell, but in reality, I'm nervous as shit. It was a massive gamble with the smoke grenade and throwing knives, but lady luck shined on me once more as I overlock my stamina even more to four times my normal speed. With my speed four and a half times faster, The small distance we culminated was eaten in seconds. The shock on her face is priceless as I use the hilt of her battle-ax as a stepping stool, the added propulsion, and my speed driving myself into her chest, knocking her to the ground and disarming her. I waste no time putting my tomahawk to her naked throat. "Checkmate." I growl, struggling with the caged beast inside begging me to save us the trouble and end her right there and now.

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

The sudden silence of the duel is broken by the sound of clapping. Adira and I both turn to the source, seeing Alanus clapping his hands and walking towards us. "Truly fascinating, you are a coyote among pigs! Beating my second in command with two minutes to spare. What magic did you use? Air of course right?"

Time to rock his world, he better keep his part of the bargain.

"I'm a Defect."