Chapter 101: Duel II

'Hmm… Who is this spectator?'

Reiji noticed an armed woman hiding on top of a nearby tree as she watched Stella and Frank's battle…

He can only barely sense her presence and if not for the noises she made, he would've probably missed her completely… 

'I should probably get that detection skill…' Reiji mused as he understood that relying on his innate senses wouldn't be good especially if his opponent has an Arcane Magic that allows them to hide their presence.

At the very least, the woman doesn't seem to be planning to participate in the battle… for now.

'Stella, if you haven't finished him off and your Energy drops in half, take me and I'll finish it for you…'

'I will! Thank you, master!'

Reiji didn't tell her about the woman who was watching them so she won't get distracted. 

Also, the reason he offered help once she reached half of her Energy was to ensure that she'll have enough Spiritual Energy in case that woman decided to suddenly attack… After all, she no longer has any Aura Domination or the potion that she used before to further awaken her Spiritual Energy… 

"Umph!"

Stella made a mistake in her movement as instead of Frank sweeping his spear, he decided to suddenly kick her in the stomach! However, she didn't lose her composure as she similarly saw an opportunity!

It was his mistake for not fully using his advantage in reach and tried to surprise her by attacking with his body…

"Haa!"

Stella managed to hit the man on his right shoulder before he could make a follow-up after kicking her.

"Aaaargh! What's wrong with your strength!" Frank backed away even though he also landed a perfect hit… It felt like he was fighting those berserk cultists!

During their subjugation mission in the mountains before, he only managed to survive due to their large numbers, and support from the Arcane Magic cast by the Arcanists… Aside from that, the leaders of that cult were also being handled by the powerful retired Knights.

"Haa… Haa... Haa…"

Stella endured the pain from the kick as she stared at the hateful man. 

'I'll ask Master Reiji to beat you so badly later…' Stella thought as she felt that her energy was rapidly decreasing. 

She even mused that if at least three of her strikes landed on Frank's body instead of his spear, she would've easily killed this guy… However, during the whole fight, she just parried most of the time or her strike would only hit the air…

'Hmph! Just do your kick once more and I'll finish you off--- Eh?'

Stella thought but she suddenly saw him hesitating in his actions. 

'Oh? Did you just realized my amazing skills… Hehe… Did you think that you can easily kill me?! Hmph! If Master Reiji took my body, you wouldn't last for even a minute…'

Then as she slowly approaches him using the basic footwork called okuri-ashi, Frank decided to run towards the shinai instead of her!

It no longer matters to him whether the sword still has a wielder and be unable to use any of the sword's ability… He'll just plan to kill this girl later!

Frank's calculation about Stella's energy was extremely wrong. He thought that with his age and large stature, he would have a larger energy reserve, or even if not, he thought that he can still endure this girl's sword strikes…

However, her first clean hit with his body almost made him drop his spear…

If not for the spear he inherited from the retired Knight, his other weapons would probably be cut in half with her sheer strength… 

Unfortunately, he didn't know that she consumed an Aura Domination potion before and that it further increased her capacity in using Spiritual Energy.

As he was about to grab the shinai, he suddenly felt Stella's presence behind him. He can't get hit by another one of her full force attacks or he would suffer injuries and he might have trouble getting away from here.

He quickly swept his spear behind him as he focused on getting the shinai…

"I won't let you!" Stella yelled which successfully draw Frank's attention. 

She then stepped on a protruding rock and leaped forward to attack the man… It happened too fast so Frank can only raise his spear to defend. 

Baam! 

Frank successfully defended but her attack was not over yet… Stella used the other sword in her hand to do a vertical slash…

Frank tried to focus his Spiritual Energy on his body to cushion the strike but it was too late…

It was a perfect hit on his ribs as he backed away in pain… 

'Kuuh…'

Frank spit some blood after getting hit… 

Due to his shoulder pain, he already suffered on Stella's first sword strike and barely defended with his spear… Then, after he received the full brunt of the sword slash on his ribs, he can only kneel in pain as he tried to control the rampaging Energy in his body… 

He was struggling to control his Spiritual Energy as he was swiftly interrupted while he was about to form an energy shell to protect his body… 

'Urgh… So painful… Tsk.' Frank struggled to stand up as he thought of something… 

"Alright… Alright… I'll leave now… I won't bother you anymore…"

Frank said as he calmed his voice. He also needed to get treated now or he might suffer serious injury. 

Stella only smirked at the man. She doesn't have plans on letting this man go… She could sense that even though he was in pain, he still has these murderous eyes on him. He must be planning something and she can't just stop here.

She didn't bother answering the man, as she raised one of her swords to attack…

Whoossshh!

Frank threw something in her direction… It was sand!

It seems that he grabbed some of them while he was kneeling a while ago… This surprised Stella a bit as she closed her eyes in reflex… She then quickly jumps away to get out of the spear's range…

As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw that Frank was already lying on the ground, unconscious…

"What happened?" Stella asked in confusion. 

"Well, you lost... He could've killed you after you closed your eyes at that moment…"

'Eh?'

It wasn't her master's voice… 

She glanced where the voice was coming from and noticed that it was from a tree a few meters away from her. 

The woman then jumped down from the tree and approached her.

Soon, she saw a black-haired woman that was probably in her twenties based on her height and youthful skin. 

She's wearing leather armor designed for a woman and it accentuates her curved body perfectly. She's also playing with a stone in her hand…

Stella then used Enkyoku no Kamae since the opponent's weapon was most likely a projectile like that stone in her hands.

"Oh… I'm sorry if I surprised you… I don't really have plans on meddling in your duel. I don't even know who's right or wrong, but I noticed that the man was really intending to kill you and I don't think it a good idea… If you guys are from the same village, you have to let father--- I mean, the village chief know your grievances…"

The woman said explaining her stand.

Stella couldn't properly recognize her since half of her face was covered with a black cloth… At the very least, her gentle blue eyes were telling her that the woman doesn't have plans on killing her.

"Did you do that to him?" Stella asked although she already had an idea.

"Yes… He's still alive…"

The woman answered as she suddenly dropped the stone she's holding and looked at the shinai leaning on a tree… She then nodded her head and glanced at Stella.

"Anyway, if both of you are from this village, I plan to bring you in front of the chief." 

Sigh~

Stella heard her as she sighed after understanding the situation.

'Since she doesn't know who's right or wrong, she approached me to ensure that I won't kill that man, huh…'

Stella then paused for a moment to converse with her master. 

"Alright, that's fine by me…" She finally said to the woman after her master had given his advice.

The nameless woman then nodded after hearing her as she looked towards the gate. It seems that the guards have already returned. 

"Haaa~ That was too dangerous…"

Stella sprawled on the ground after realizing that the scary battle was now over…

She can finally relax!

'Sigh~ I'm only planning to do some sword practice and perhaps visit the chief to ask for help--- Ah, wait! Isn't this better?!'

Stella suddenly realized that her chance of receiving help or being rewarded has increased! 

Even though the village still has problems with finances, getting rights on those Arcana left by the cultists shouldn't be a problem now…

Although some were still believing that she only fought exhausted cult leaders during that time and credited it to the sacrifice of the five Arcanists left in the village, that shouldn't stop her from getting those Arcana this time…

Especially now that she showed her strength by fighting the strongest guard of the village!