Chapter 188 - To Give It My All.

(Eira's POV)

Commentator: Grey Hoffmann and Eira Hoffmann----- this match is the reminder of how strong this generation's royal blood is!!!

Commentator: In front of the insane strength of Eira Hoffmann, I thought no one would be able to stand a chance, but he is standing and fighting on the toe to toe against her!!

That's right. All this time I trained to get stronger, stronger than the previous version of me. I trained for him ----- I trained for you, Grey. 

As I kicked him on the abdomen, he was knocked away. Taking advantage of this, I tried to close the distance, but before I could take any step closer to him, I was forced to block an incoming polearm.

I was easily able to block off the attack, but it gave him enough time to stand back on his feet.

I swung my greatsword, and he clashed my greatsword with his icicle greatsword. The force at which each of us swung our sword, created a shock that destroyed the ground we were standing on.

I thought I was the strongest among my peers, but yet you stand here and clash your blade with me ---- Grey. You ---- I was meant to be strongest and yet you are capable of standing toe to toe against me.

I circulated my mana through my seal marking. Mana gathered in my greatsword before I swung it towards Grey. 

He jumped from the ground to avoid the first layer of frost that will block his movement. 

I mixed this attack with my normal attack, there should be no way he should be able to track what I am doing. 

He landed back on the pile of ice that was created due to my seal marking. I looked above at his eyes-------- it was beautiful.

So that is why ----- the owl marking ---- he has an owl marking, maybe his owl marking is of strong grade because he is capable of detecting attacks that are directed with the help of seal marking.

I was supposed to protect people like you, but the strength you command is enough for protecting yourself.

"I am sorry Eira"

He said this was one of the times when he looked serious. 

"Sorry for?" I asked as I swung my greatsword. 

This time I didn't use any of the mana or seal marking, it was just my sword intent. The ice that was formed due to my attack scattered away in an instant.

Intent ---- he was able to detect my sword intent because he leaped even further in the air to avoid my attack. 

How many battles have you fought to fight this fluidly? how many battles have you been in to detect intent? you are fighting with me like it's nothing new? how much stronger enemy have you battled against? 

In mid-air, he readied his greatsword. As he was landing towards me, he lifted his greatsword above his head to prepare for a vertical slash.

But before he could even land on the ground, I thrusted my sword with only intent. He was in a vulnerable position ------ a direct hit.

In mid-air, he has knocked away. At tremendous speed, he crashed on the ground. He crashed on a huge rock before rolling on the ground twice or thrice. 

Following up the attack, I dashed before jumping at the place where he had crashed into. I landed between the cloud of dust, but ---- he wasn't ----- he wasn't there --

I quickly turned around, it was a reflex reaction. I did it without even thinking about it, but it was too late. 

He was already behind------- his fist connected to my face. The strength ---- so he was holding back at the beginning of the fight.

I wiped the blood from my nose, as did he --- he wiped the blood from his face. 

"Do you hate me Eira?"

"Hate you? no, I don't" 

He walked towards me and so did i. 

"Do you hate me for what I did?"

"For what you did? no, I don't" I walked a step closer as I continued "I can't hate you. There must be a reason that you were away for so long. I am not reasonable enough to not listen to what you have to say."

He chuckled as he said "Oh my, so mature! I might fall in love!"

"Grey, why are you taking this fight so seriously? When we were little, you would prefer giving up or finding an easy way out of a battle instead of actually giving it your all. Did you change during this time?"

He summoned a snake polearm as he walked closer to me, "That part of me didn't change yet, I still prefer to not give my all in a fight. Since I don't find it necessary to go all out when I can end it easily. But before I left ---- I promised to myself that I will fight seriously when I am fighting with you."

He pointed his polearm towards me as he said "But ------ when are you going to force me to go all out?" 

There was a smirk on his face, the wound on his face healed up. 

I couldn't help but chuckle, "It's not like you have forced me to go all out."

From dead to alive, from weak to strong------- but he was never dead and he was never weak. He never had a reason to fight in beginning, but now he does. You are alive, standing in front of me and maybe you are the answer for all my confusion. 

As you are standing in front of me ----- alive, I will fight you ------i will fight you by leaving all my regrets and confusion behind.

I gripped my greatsword tighter as I took my aggressive stance. By taking a deep breath I looked at Grey with a sharp look.

Grey Hoffmann ------ I, Eira Hoffmann will give it my all ------ it's time ----- it's time that I use my second seal marking to fight against you ----- The seal marking of force....