Chapter 151: Yanael The Hunter

Yanael was fully aware that it was a spar and nothing more, so she hadn't gone all out with her initial attack on Rabst. And she had no intentions of going all out. There was no need. This spar was for Zach's sake.But that didn't mean she couldn't push Rabst and make him reveal more of his strength. It would do Zach good to see and feel how strong other people could be.

Zach knew a lot of powerful people. Everyone in his family. The knights and servants of his family. The principal. Kami. Jarron.

And now Rabst. He had an idea of what some of his siblings could do, but it was a vague idea and that was it.

Yanael had felt Zach's desire to grow stronger. It wasn't just that he wanted to level up and acquire more authority to satisfy his curiosity. He wholeheartedly enjoyed the process of growing stronger. He imagined himself being stronger and sought out methods to reach and become that version of himself.

He didn't forget who he was or lose his personality in a mad pursuit of strength. He complained during training. He didn't prioritize efficiency over everything else. He moved at his own pace, but his gaze forward never wavered.

However, the path Zach was looking at was still veiled in darkness. He didn't know where to tread or what to aim for.

Yanael had a feeling that Zach actually enjoyed that part more than he wanted to admit to himself. And she wasn't going to take it away. After all, the path he needed to walk was his and his alone.

But she could shed some light on his surroundings to help him find the next steps on that path of his. Yanael could help Zach find inspiration and enlightenment by showing him what other versions of strength looked like.

Right now, she could show Zach why and how Rabst was strong.

By how quickly he reacted to her ambush, Yanael could tell that he had good reactions. But he also had good situational awareness. He hadn't forgotten about her presence or participation in the spar even once. Her ambush was doomed to fail from the start since he was already waiting for it.

The proof of that was how he instantly stepped to the side and tried to launch a counter by hiding behind Yanael's shield.

Rabst was good at concealing his presence, and it was like he disappeared from the room when the shield obstructed her view of him. It was good enough to fool even Yanael's senses.

But then, she felt a prick on her side. She didn't move her shield or sword to defend against the incoming attack. She didn't move her weapons with that sole intention, at least.

Yanael took a diagonally forward.

Instead of defending against the dagger aiming for her side, she intercepted the dagger in Rabst's other hand with the tip of her sword like an expert fencer. She pushed it aside and back, controlling Rabst long enough to slam her shield against his other dagger.

She was about to take another step forward and press her advantage when she reconsidered and instead held her sword vertically in front of her with the tip pointing at the ground and the flat of the blade facing her.

She just barely caught the dagger she had intercepted and flicked away a moment ago by adjusting her grip on the sword and spinning it in her palm. Rabst's soft and flexible wrists, combined with his quick hands turned his arm into a snake as he aimed for the opening she would have revealed if she took that step.

Yanel stopped for a moment to look at Rabst's cold eyes. Without a doubt.

The eyes of a hunter.

Funnily enough, Rabst was seeing the same in her eyes, and it wasn't his reflection he was seeing.

It was only natural. Both of them enjoyed it–they enjoyed the thrill of a hunt–the thrill of a fierce battle.

Rabst's Dire Hawk and Dire Spider were A-rank familiars. Between the two, the Spider was scarier and generally more powerful, even when taking the Hawk's flight into account. Seven out of ten fights, the Spider won. There was a difference, but it wasn't that big.

That was why Rabst hadn't thought too highly of an S-rank familiar. Besides, it was a humanoid. It was apparently an angel, but it looked similar to a human. As such, its attributes wouldn't lean heavily into strength and combat ability.

It was more likely skewed toward intelligence and versatility. It would execute intricate orders well, and, considering it was an S-rank, it could possibly even think and reason as well as any summoner.

In contrast, Yanael's direct combat ability would naturally not live up to the legendary reputation of S-ranks.

Rabst was happy to have his preconceived notions knocked out of orbit. He was happy he decided to spar with Zach.

The short exchange he had so far with Yanael made it more than worth it. S-ranks were on a different level.

And if they worked anything like familiars of every other rank, she would only continue growing. Rabst was both excited and wary. S~eaʀᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

He could feel the intelligence behind Yanael's eyes. Through that intelligence, he could feel what she thought of him.

Aside from the respect she held toward a fellow warrior who fought with their life on the line but with the expectation that they would win, she didn't not think of him highly. And Rabst had a feeling it was because he had played into Zach's hand. He hadn't done anything bad, per se, but he had tricked Zach a little by pretending to be weaker than he was.

It was something Zach needed to learn. But it seemed Yanael didn't think highly of anyone who attacked her Master.

It was the same for Rabst's familiars, so he fully understood.

The difference was that while his familiars could sometimes hold a grudge, they wouldn't start plotting murder against everybody who targeted their Master, especially not in friendly spars.

But Rabst didn't regret it.