Chapter 112: A Sparring Match

"Are you sure you don't want to wear any armor?" Ty asked, his stance defensive as he held the Kama blade in each skeletal hand, the chain dangling ominously in front of his chest. "I would prefer not to accidentally hurt you. Plus, my abilities can be quite messy, and there's a chance I might break stuff."

General Mattison waved off Ty's concern with a casual air. "Don't worry about me. I've seen enough of your fighting to know you can handle your strength. And this dojo," he gestured around the spacious training area, "is built to endure far more than a little roughhousing."

Ty shifted slightly, the bones of his fingers making a faint clicking sound as he adjusted his grip on the blades.

The subtle sound was a stark reminder of his unique skeletal form, a contrast to the usual muscle and flesh of a warrior, yet he exuded a certain readiness, an anticipation for the duel that was about to commence.

"Okay then," Ty replied, accepting Mattison's reassurance. "Let's start." Despite the absence of flesh and muscle, his stance and tone conveyed a readiness

Mattison confidently undid the bandages around his arm, revealing a well-defined physique marked with marbled abs.

Despite a few remaining bandages wrapped around his body, his athletic form was evident.

He slipped off his shoes, mentioning, "I perform better with less weight. If I end up beating you into dust repeatedly, I'll just shove you in a box or something, and we'll call it my win."

His words carried a tone of light-heartedness mixed with the seriousness of a seasoned fighter. "Lady Nanako mentioned you have quite an impressive regeneration ability," he added, a hint of challenge in his voice.

Ty stood still, his skeletal form creating a stark contrast to Mattison's muscular build. The general's casual mention of Ty's regeneration ability hung in the air between them, a recognition of Ty's unique nature in this duel. The bones of Ty's fingers lightly clattered as he shifted his stance, the Kama blades glinting slightly under the dojo's.

Mattison's words carried a sense of determination and preparedness.

"If you mortally wound me, medical staff with healing magic are on standby nearby," he assured Ty. His tone was serious, yet there was an undercurrent of excitement about the duel. "Don't hold back, and neither will I," he added, his eyes fixed on Ty.

As Mattison spoke, a fascinating transformation occurred. Dark black crows began to form around his muscular, bare arm. A thin layer of black energy swirled around him, gradually taking shape into a gleaming red blade. The blade, approximately 30 inches long, typical for a combat sword, had a hilt adorned with a crow crest and a red glow illuminating its end.

The fabric that materialized along with the blade wrapped around his forearms, seamlessly blending into his skin tone as it spiraled upwards. In a swift motion, Mattison lunged towards Ty. The air around them seemed to warp, causing Ty's vision to distort momentarily.

However, Ty miscalculated his speed, not slowing down in time and instead zooming past Mattison, crashing squarely into a wall.

As Ty collided with the wall, the sound of the impact echoed through the dojo. The clones of the man Mattison had summoned for the test, still standing at attention, showed signs of fatigue. Sweat dripped from their brows, and some bore injuries from earlier when they had served as test dummies.

Without hesitating, Ty acted on instinct, ripping off his own arm in a swift motion. He was determined to turn the tables in this duel.

Channeling all his energy into his feet, he enhanced his speed with his fire and barrier abilities.

This time, his movements through the dojo were sharper and more controlled.

He skillfully evaded Mattison's blade, which unleashed three crows in a swift attack.

One of the crows managed to slice through Ty's skeletal leg, but Ty quickly countered, smacking Mattison on the head with his detached bone hand.

For a fleeting moment, everything around Mattison seemed to slow down, the effects of Ty's barrier and flame abilities momentarily subsiding.

Seizing the opportunity, Ty placed his black bony hand firmly on Mattison's chest and uttered a single word with intense focus, "Gravity." In his mind's eye, he visualized reversing the gravitational pull, imagining Mattison being lifted off the ground.

To Ty's amazement, his strategy worked flawlessly. Mattison, caught off guard by the sudden reversal of gravity, was propelled upwards, crashing into the ceiling.

The sudden change in gravitational forces left him struggling, his usual speed and agility significantly hampered.

As Mattison tried to orient himself in this unexpected predicament, Ty's blade, acting with a mind of its own, swiftly flew towards him.

The blade came to a halt just inches from Mattison's neck, hovering threateningly.

The tension in the room was heavy as Mattison LT witnessed this dramatic turn of events.

Realizing his disadvantaged position and the imminent threat posed by the blade, Mattison conceded defeat. With a begrudging sigh, he tapped his shoulder lightly, a universally understood gesture of surrender. The duel, intense and unpredictable from the start, had come to an abrupt end.