Chapter 374 A test of ability

Chapter 374 A test of ability

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/BOOOOOOOOM!/

Metal clashed, reverberating through the desert dunes.

Destruction spread as sand was kicked up high, traveling far into the distance, forcing Tina and the others around to step back or be buried in the flying dunes.

After being here, they realized this wasn't exactly he best place for them to fight... But then again, where else?

/CLANG!/

Amidst the sandstorm, another clash ensued, dispersing all of the dust around them as the impact cracked the stone beneath their feet.

Once dispersed, they could now see what was going on, a draw between the two.Updated from n0velb(i)n.c(o)/m

Dale held his training sword forward, clashing it against Sarferato's cleaver.

Both weapons shone with light, one purple, the other red.

Dale's Aura was akin to the chaotic waves of the ocean, always revolving, splashing around the place, while Sarferato's Aura was violent, explosive, and dense... But contained.

Many years of mastery allowed him to tame even the fiercest of powers.

Like a pressurized bottle, it was always ready to explode, brimming with latent power.

"I'm impressed, I didn't expect you to last this long." Sarferato said to Dale as he pushed his cleaver down, causing Dale's feet to dig onto the earth

The soft sand around them had already been cast away, revealing a layer of condensed dirt and sand, the result of the rainy seasons.

Yet here, even with the compact ground, it could not resist the weight of the cleaver, being akin to soft clay under its might.

"..."

'It's heavy... At this rate will be buried alive.'

'He doesn't even look like he's putting a lot of effort into this... Sigh.'

'I know I'm physically stronger than most of them, but the difference in experience is far too wide.'

With an intent gaze, Sarferato looked down at Dale as he pressed him down, saying:

"Hum... I would've stopped here, but I got a bit curious, you wouldn't mind if I had some fun as well would you?"

"Huff... Just don't go too hard, I have things to do after this."

"Heh, don't you worry about it, I'll take it easy... !"

As he said that, Dale took his chance to strike, performing one of the many techniques he learned during his training.

He gathered his aura at the edge of his blade, exploding it, successfully pushing Sarferato's cleaver back by a little.

In that little moment of freedom, he changed his stance and struck forward towards his chest!

"ARG!"

However, instead of remaining still, Sarferato smiled for a single moment before he closed his lips and tensed his body, pushing his cleaver down with such speed it turned into a blur to Dale.

"Sh..."

/BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!/

The cleaver instantly fell onto Dale's shoulder!

But with that strike, wouldn't he have been cut into two?

"Tsk, old fart! I swear that if he's not in one piece after this I'll take one of yours and offer it as tribute for him!" Tina exclaimed out loud from afar as she looked at Sarferato

"Hm? Haha..."

He chuckled awkwardly as he looked down at the hole he dug, saying:

"You hear her? Get out of there before she cuts one of my arms off."

"Be it now or before, Witches have such foul personalities... Though I can't say mine's gentle either, hoho!"

"... Arg... It hurts..." Dale replied from inside the hole

"Come on kid, show me a bit more."

"HUPP!"

Dale didn't stop, dashing forward as he began to remember his days training with his reflection.

He tried to bring forth its techniques and abilities, the way it fought and positioned itself in the battlefield.

It was nothing short of imitation, but wouldn't the imitation of a God be a Demi-God still?

/SLASH!!/

"!!"

Dale's Aura quickly changed, taking the shape of a purple curtain behind his sword's path, drawing an Arc whenever it moved.

As he swung it forward, sparks of light ignited within the violet sheet, like stars in the night sky.

The sight of this caused Sarferato to smile widely as he prompted his own Aura forward, something he hadn't done in decades... No, he did it once, when he received the earrings from Dale not that long ago.

/SLAM!/

Red thunderbolts gathered around his cleaver. They crashed against the sand, melting it into glass as the cleaver swung against Dale's sword.

/CLANG!/

The two weapons collided in the air, a similar scene to how this fight began, only now that the attacker defended and the defender attacked.

The only issue that hadn't changed was that either now or before, the one with a smile hadn't changed...

/BOOOOOOOM!!/

Their clash created a small mushroom cloud in the desert, prompting the onlookers to close their eyes as a wave of sand blasted their faces.

But thanks to Tina, they weren't buried in the sand.

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In the epicenter of their clash, a crater remained, reaching so far down the buried trees began to reveal themselves, husks of a once glorious forest.

Deeper down, there was a hole, inside it, buried in the sand was a man...

/PULL!/

With one pull, Sarferato pulled him out, letting him collapse onto the ground...

"Huff..."

At the center of the crater, Dale remained still with his eyes closed, too tired to move or protest.

Albeit, even now, his stamina was quickly recovering, in no time at all he would be ready to duke it all out again...

"Heh... I'll still make a soldier out of you boy." Sarferato said with a smile as he stepped next to Dale

"Huff... Are you sure you won't make a cripple out of me?"

"Ha! If you can joke then you're fine! Come, let's get out of this desert, I already have enough sand in my boots."

"Huff... Just... Give me a few seconds to catch my breath..."

"No can do!" He said as he crouched down, pulling Dale to his shoulders like a sack of potatoes

"I'm sure they're all very curious, let's give them a heads up."

"..."

'Sigh...'

Tired and full of sand everywhere, Dale let himself be dragged around like a child.

This much embarrassment was nothing compared to losing his loved ones.

The first of a series of steps into changing the future, the first day of many ahead of Resko's uprise.

But first... He needed a shower.

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Notes