Chapter 54: Duel On The Dunes

Chapter 54: Duel On The Dunes

If you want me at my best, we need to fight outside, Vir said, staring down Riyan in the training dome.

The moment of their duel had finally arrived, and Vir fought to keep the jitters under control. He flicked a glance at Maiya, who nodded supportingly. Neel and Tanya stood beside her. He had a lot riding on this one.

Why? his instructor asked.

I have my reasons. Id like to request you to fight me somewhere open. You pick the site.

He hoped that in doing so, Riyan wouldnt suspect him of foul play.

The big man stroked his beard, eyeing Vir up and down. Very well, he said at last. We ride for the oasis. Is this acceptable?

Very, Vir replied, breathing a little easier.

Vir and Maiya mounted up on Bumpy, while Riyan and Tanya each rode their own Ashvas. Neel nuzzled up against Vir before he left, as if wishing him good luck.

Do you really think youll pass his test? Maiya asked as they rode through the sand dunes. The morning sun was still low in the sky, leaving the temperature warm, but not yet oppressive.

I have to.

The upcoming duel was going to be a headache for Vir. He still couldnt use Dance of the Shadow Demon. Neither Riyan nor Tanya had said a peep about it, which could only mean one thingTanya hadnt seen him use that ability in the Godshollow. If she had, shed have blabbed to Riyan, and hed have jumped off the ceiling with joy. It wasn't like he possessed that ability yet.

He hadnt even told Maiya about it, though for different reasons. He didnt even know if he could use the ability again. Bragging about a new ability would just kill the wind in her sails. Shed only just made a breakthrough in her mejai training. He didnt want to sour her joy for an ability he hadnt yet learned.

Which meant that he really only had one secret weapon. To this day, Riyan still didnt know about his explosive stamina growth. Vir had taken every precaution to hide that from the man. Hed have to capitalize on that deception if he was going to win this.

But why did you want to fight out in the desert? Its only gonna get hotter, yeah? Whats wrong with the dome? Maiya asked.

I told you my Talents use prana, right? But Ash affinity is incredibly rare. All the Ash pranas almost depleted around Riyans place. Whatevers left, Im trying to keep for emergencies.

Hed taken a gamble by letting Riyan pick the location. Luckily, the oasis was as good as any. He had scouted several locations to determine how many Talents he could use before the Ash prana in that area dried up, and the average was about a dozen combined Leaps and High Jumps.

You dont have to do this for me, Vir. You dont have to win against him if it means messing up our chances for later. Im not that selfish, Maiya added.

No, he wont accept it unless I go all out. I fully intend to pass.

Of course, it was easier said than done.

Riyan finally stopped at the bottom of a saddle between several sand dunes. Vir couldnt even see the oasis from here, but he knew they must have been close.

Will this do? His instructor asked as Vir pulled up alongside.

Itll do just fine, Vir said, hopping off. But theres one condition Id like to request.

Riyan looked amused. He gestured with his chin for Vir to proceed.

If I pass your test, Id like you to grant us permission to visit Brij. In disguise, of course.

Acceptable, Riyan said without hesitation. The reply came so quickly that Vir felt the man had already decided and was just waiting for Vir to ask.

The duel was now official. All of Virs worries about hiding his abilities melted away. He knew what he had to do. He just had to execute on it now.

Because failing meant Maiya would cry and that simply was just not acceptable.

The two faced off in the valley of dunes, forty paces apart. Too far apart for a conventional duel but warranted for a duel among Talent wielders.

I suppose it is time I took this seriously, then.

Vir didnt like the sound of that. Nor the evil glint in the mans eyes.

His intuition was correct. Riyan blurred out of existence and popped up behind Vir, grabbing him by his collar and throwing him into the sand. Riyan hurled his sword at Vir, right at his chest.

Too late to dodge, Vir launched a chakri at the incoming blade. The two weapons clanged in midair, causing Riyans blade to veer off course, sinking into the sand just a hands span away from Virs head.

He had no time to relax. Just as Vir had found his feet again, Riyan had delivered a devastating punch to his abdomen.

Except this was no mere punch. Riyans fist glowed with Earth affinity prana, and his blow came at several times the speed of what any mortal should be capable of.

The next thing Vir knew, hed expelled the contents of his stomach and was sailing through the air. He hadnt even felt the impact, and strangely, neither did his body hurt.

Whats going on? Where am I? he thought in a daze.

He crashed into the sand, coming to a stop in a heap.

Oh I mustve blacked out? Thats happening a lot these days

To his horror, Riyan stood above him the moment hed come to a rest. Then he went flying again. Vir hadnt even seen the attack coming.

What he did hear was a sickening crack from his chest.

This time, he felt the pain. Hed never experienced such agony in his entire life. Worse he could no longer breathe. Vir asphyxiated as he soared through the air, landing in a tangled mess.

He had no thoughts now. No plan, no tactics. His mind was consumed with forcing air into his lungs, which had seemingly ceased functioning. No matter how much he gagged, no air came in.

In an addled act of desperation, Vir seized the prana in his body and willed it to work. A foolish decision that only made the pain worse.

But it did allow him to breathe again. He sucked in a mouthful of breath, thankful for the hot, dry air.

In the distance, he heard desperate shouting. It felt so far away, though. He paid it no mind. He was probably hallucinating it, anyway. Thinking was hard for Vir right now.

A great shadow loomed over him. Looking up, he found a predator. His instructor, gloating over him.

No not gloating. Daring. Riyans expression seemed to say Well? Is that it?

Vir spit out a wad of blood.

Was that it?

No Badrakking way.

Vir glared up at the massive man who towered over him. He shakily found his feet and rose to his full height, standing tall, in defiance of his mangled chest and broken ribs.

He glared as he threw a weak punch at the mans chest.

And he glared right until his eyes rolled up into their sockets.

Though Vir fell unconscious, his body remained standing, his fist pressed against Riyans chest. Like a statue that refused to yield, no matter the odds.

The last thing he heard was Riyans deafening laughter.

Next time: 55 - Shifting Winds