Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Matt removed his shirt as well. The man had a point. It would be humiliating to be beaten while naked. But he forgot that the inverse was equally true. Being beaten by a naked man was arguably even more humiliating.

Left with just his tight-fitting boxers, Matt stretched. If this was a show, hed play his part. The crowd around the arena found his display amusing enough that he heard some whoops and cheers. He was even sure he heard a catcall or two.

Matt just smiled and waved. The guilder, tired of waiting, charged. Matt just waited, acting cool and nonchalant.

When the man swung, Matt slipped the attack, weaving between each of the heavy blows.

What, cant you hit a flitting fairy?

The man growled, You cant dodge forever. When I hit you, Ill break you, and wipe that arrogance off your face.

That was exactly what Matt was waiting for, the perfect opportunity. Then Ill stand still. He did just that, and waited for another wide swinging blow to approach his left side.

He activated [Cracked Phantom Armor], and stepped into the blow. Surprisingly, the attack had enough force that Matt felt the blow under [Cracked Phantom Armor] s protection.

It was only a mild force that got through, a heavy punch at best. Matt could take a punch.

This time, Matt didnt follow up with a witty comment or snarky remark. Now was the time for violence.

His punch landed on the mans armored face, and rocked his head back. The guilder was frozen in disbelief. Not only was his attack ineffective, but the little fairy had the means to actually fight back without a weapon. Matt took advantage of his opponents hesitation, and grabbed the hammers head, while chopping down at the hand holding it.

It was enough to disarm the guilder, and Matt threw his hammer out of the arena. If his opponent tried to retrieve it, Matt would have a clear violation of dueling rules.

Breaking a weapon wasnt technically against the rules, but it certainly wasnt condoned. It set a bad precedent. A precedent Matt was going to enforce in front of everyone here.

Matt had proved he could take the mans best attacks, and now he would outlast him. It didnt matter how strong or defensively capable the man was. He'd simply keep punching until the guilder ran out of mana.

Matt was an endless spring, whose reserves would not falter.

He felt the world sharpen slightly, as he focused all of his attention on the adversary in front of him. Matt turned on his AI, and sent every drop of mana [Cracked Phantom Armor] wasnt using through the construct. The guilder wanted a real fight, and Matt was determined to make sure that he wasnt going to like what he asked for.

Matts fists rained down blow after blow. His skill protected him from the usual problems of fighting with ones fists. That allowed him to keep up his relentless assault without any fear of pain or recoil. While his barrage of blows was not dealing visible damage, they were clearly disorientating.

The armored man eventually had the wherewithal to start blocking. Without his hammers strength multiplier, his attacks no longer had enough power to get through a fully powered [Cracked Phantom Armor] s defenses.The fight turned into two armored men trying to bash each other into unconsciousness.

Matt suspected that the other man was counting on his physical armor to last longer than Matts mana. The guilder was tanking hits he easily could have blocked, deflected, or dodged, as if he was trying to burn through Matts mana reserves.

It was a good tactic against defensive types who relied solely on a skill for armor. It was a vain hope against Matt, however, as his Talent made his mana endless.

It made him endless.

The world went blurry for a moment, but when everything came back, Matt wasnt disorientated or waiting for his opponent to strike. He was moving on autopilot, slamming ghostly gauntlets on the mans helmet over and over again. Each blow was smooth, with clean contact that rocked the guilder. The man was now simply defending, just trying to stop the rain of fists landing on his head.

The guilder used an ability that enveloped him in a barrier of light. Two heavy blows from Matt's anger fueled fists shattered the barrier, and sent the guilder stumbling. Before Matt could take advantage, the guilder charged forward and tackled him, deciding to take the fight to the ground. There at least, his armor would give him a weight advantage, if nothing else.

As soon as they hit the ground, Matt started using the advantage in maneuverability that his ghostly armor gave him. The best armors allowed for near perfect movement, but they were still bulky. While his opponent had more mass to throw around in a ground fight, Matts quickness allowed him to counter any technique the guilder threw at him. As they battled for dominance, he latched onto the mans arm, and quickly transitioned into an armbar.

Matt had his opponents hand near his face, and both legs wrapped around the mans chest. He had to remind himself of the grappling teachers words of wisdom from his orphanage days. Dont cross your feet. Theyll break your ankle given the chance.

There was no hesitation. Hesitation meant the guilder could wiggle out of the hold. So, he leaned back, and extended with every muscle in his body, while the man tried to resist with just his bicep.

The struggle ended quickly.

The snapping sound from the mans elbow was louder than Matt expected, and he felt the shattering bone and tearing tendons reverberate in his groin.

The guilder let out a piercing scream. Usually, Matt wouldnt have pressed the advantage, and would have instead given the man a chance to surrender. But his earlier actions of scrapping Matts sword had eliminated what civility Matt had left in him. The only thing he could find in himself for the guilder was contempt.

Actions had consequences, and Matt was happy to deliver them.

He rolled up off his back, and started kneeing the mans armored head. The coupling that kept the helmet mobile but sturdy broke on the second blow. The third blow snapped the guilders neck.

Matt stood up and looked around the arena. The referee had wide eyes, and the healer was already on the field, rushing to the still mans aid.

Seeing the fight was truly over, Matt deactivated [Cracked Phantom Armor], and gave a smile and wave to the crowd. Still only dressed in his form-fitting undergarments.

The other members of Dual Stars were all glaring at him, but the rest of the crowd, including the Republicans, were all cheering with thunderous applause.

As he was walking to retrieve his pants, Matt was interrupted by a man in Dual Stars colors. He was stronger than what Matts ability could accurately judge, but he felt weaker than Simeon, Tier 9 or 10.

You didnt have to be so cruel in breaking his neck. Hell be out of commission for weeks.

Matt opened his mouth to protest, but was cut off with the man focusing his spirit sense on him. Matts spirit and cores slowed down. They were being suppressed, like he was covered in a thick wet blanket.

Matt pushed. He shoved with everything he had. He forced his cores to circulate as they usually did, along with his mana making its usual loops through his body. For a moment, the world brightened, and the mans suppression was thrown off.

The world was clear, but Matts last thoughts were hazy and indistinct. The mans next words brought him back to the moment.

Children dont need to speak in front of their betters. Take it as the mercy of the strong that I dont break your neck here and now.

Matt could feel his hackles rise. He had done nothing wrong. The idiot he had beaten would be fine with the healer already working on him.

His blood heated up. This wasnt fair.

He stopped himself. The man had been right about one thing. He was too weak.

Matt just scoffed and walked away. The man was trying to save face for his guild when they had been in the wrong. Nothing Matt could say would change the mans opinion.

It was only empty bluster. If a Tier 10 got revenge for a non-fatal duel No, for a non-fatal duel with an Ascender, let alone an Ascender who was the challenged, The Empire would come down on the Dual Stars like the fist of an angry god.

Slipping on his pants, he saw Liz with her head cocked at the man, who was busy observing the healer. The look on her face said she wanted to press the issue, so Matt grabbed her sleeve and said, Dont bother. Hes trying to save face.

Hes doing it in the dumbest way possible. Hes just shaming them more. I can...

Matt wanted this to end here, so he interrupted her.

Lets not bother with him. I need a new sword, and Im not going to get robbed.

But if we press we...

Boots on, Matt stood and just started walking. They couldnt do anything to a Tier 25 guild alone. Elizabeths parents could probably put pressure on the guild, but they were planets away, and not stranded on a planet with the Dual Stars as the strongest power.

That didnt mean Matt was going to forget this incident. He internalized it. One day hed find that man and challenge him to a duel.

Still, there was no point in focusing on revenge fantasies when he couldnt back it up. As he was now, they were truly just fantasies. If he wanted to slap the guild back for their blatant rule-bending, he needed to be strong enough to enforce his will upon them.This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.

He went around to all the stalls that had longswords, and couldnt find what he wanted. All the swords were either the wrong size, had enchantments he didnt want, or were absurdly overpriced.

Liz finally broke him out of his single minded pursual.

Hey. I wanted to say that was a good fight.

Matt breathed out slowly, Yeah it was pretty fun, honestly. I wasnt even that mad about the sword after breaking the idiots neck. He broke my weapon, and I broke him. Then that Tier I didnt get a good feel for him. 9 maybe 10?

I think he was peak Tier 9, that or hes a really weak Tier 10.

Then he swung his dick around. That pissed me off. He must know Im a part of The Path of Ascension, and he cant touch me. But because hes a little stronger, and has a Tier 25 guild behind him, he can say whatever he wants. Its fucking infuriating

Matt forced himself to calm down and finished, Its a reminder that the only reason people arent literal slaves to the higher Tiers is that the strongest people want social mobility.

Liz just patted his shoulder and said, Remember this feeling.

He looked at her in confusion. Why remember feeling weak? Then he understood, and the question answered itself.

If the people who become strong dont enforce the rules, the people who become strong after them will just make it worse.

She looked at him and wiggled her hand.

Not quite where I was going, but sure. Its not wrong. But I was going to say, when you're a Tier 45 and have the power to enforce your will on others, remember this feeling of being powerless. And chose to be better.

That wasnt what he expected to hear from the woman who slit someones throat yesterday for disrespecting her.

That was a problem for future Liz.

It didnt help at all that her parents would absolutely love Matt.

She already knew what they would say. Oh theyre just like us when we were young. Then they would stare into each others eyes, and one of them would drag the other into their bedroom.

Liz knew it wasnt fair to criticize them for being in love, but they still acted like newlyweds. It was so embarrassing.

Her mother had also broken every record of high Tiered births, it was unheard of to have seven children at her Tier. It had led to rumors. She had only been called a broodmare once. Her father had ripped the woman in half in front of the entire court. His being fined for the cost of the womens recovery bills had not stopped his point from getting across.

None of that changed the fact they were still overly romantic about companion pairs. Each and every one was a reflection of them as a young man and a flame sparrow, struggling on The Path.

Liz vowed to keep Matt and Aster away from them. At least until Tier 10. That was the deal, shed have her privacy until then. She had tried for Tier 15, but her parents had flatly refused to go without seeing their daughter that long.

Their love was like a heavy blanket. After a bump in the dark, it was the greatest comfort, but it was hot and smothering the rest of the time.

Liz absently ran her brush through Asters tail. Aster was a problem. The dragons blood she absorbed was a great help for her future, but if the little fox wanted to use the bloodline, it would burn itself out. The bloodline not being a natural part of her makeup made it a consumable resource instead of a permanent part of her.

The bloodline was still amazing. Liz still felt somewhat guilty about eating it. Logically, she knew that it was going to start fading, and eventually become useless. It was still a kingly gift that she struggled to accept. Her mother would love to get her grubby talons onto a source of that dragons blood essence.

Liz made a note on her AI to have Matt send a report of the rift to her mother, to be passed on to Mara, so he could get credit for the find. She knew as soon as her mother saw the video and ran the numbers, shed be on the planet in minutes.

Liz looked around. It was pointless. Either of her parents could be inches away, and shed only know if they allowed it.

It was a perfect plan to distract her parents for a year or two, as they tried to restabilize the rift. Matt had said the rift had been dissipated, but a Tier 4s spiritual senses and a Tier 48s were two completely different things.

Freedom. Blessed freedom.

She might even be able to get favors from her siblings for distracting the pair.

Liz thought over the high Tiered Phoenixes she knew. Who would be willing to give up some essence to the little fox on her lap?

Aunt Helen is probably the easiest. She even has a restaurant on Bladefall, so it could be an accident if we run into her.

Liz liked the plan. It shouldnt be too suspicious to Matt. It would allow Aster to bind the phoenix bloodline power of rebirth to the dragons massive power, creating a strong, regenerating source of power.

She had already shown Aster how to spread the bloodline out so it would nourish and empower her. At this Tier, Aster couldnt use even a fraction of a percent of the power of the bloodline, but binding the phoenix bloodline earlier was always better.

It would also help the fox advance her own bloodline. Phoenix bloodlines and essence were highly sought after, because they made the best support bloodlines. Rebirth was an absurd ability, and while binding a small portion of the power did not let others cheat death, it did let bloodlines regenerate what was otherwise permanently gone.

Liz turned her attention to the Dual Stars dueling arenas. She was not happy with them. The Tier 25 should have intervened when the weak idiot of a Tier 10 stepped in.

People in power thinking they could do anything was how the tragedy of etTithil happened. It had only happened two years ago, and already, people were throwing their weight around. Did someone need to burn a city of millions down again for the lesson to sink in?

Liz had seen the look in Matts eyes as he left the area. They were dead and resigned. Empty.

They looked far too similar to Lizar, the young man who had felt the only way to get revenge was to kill the entire city.

The worst part was, it was true. As a Tier 7, it was his only way to strike out at those who had raped and tortured his little sister.

Liz remembered his eyes. They still haunted her.

His story was one of tragedy. He was a gifted blacksmith who had won a city wide competition. What should have been a day of celebration turned dark, when the mayors son took an interest in his younger sister.

The sister declined the sons advances, and was kidnapped and raped as a result. Lizar tried to get justice for her, and was shot down at every turn.

With his sisters mutilated corpse dumped on his doorstep, Lizar did what only those with nothing left could do. He doomed everyone.

He waited until the shields were raised because a rift spawned near the city. With the shield raised, he broke the Tier 20 family heirloom. It was a forge with a massive fire core inside. Normally the resulting explosion would have done little more than kill him and a city block. Most of the energy would be vented up.

The shield that was supposed to protect the city had in fact, doomed it. It had registered the fire inside as an attack, and strengthened the defenses, trapping the raging inferno until it burnt itself out.

In a twist of irony, Lizar survived. His Talent was a massive resistance to fire, and he had lived long enough to tell his story, and verify that his sisters killer had perished. After that, he cracked his own core. Death followed quickly.

Uncle Manny had quickly issued justice to those who had caused the tragedy. Lizar had tried to get the crime punished, and while he didnt have the power to force change, the Emperor made sure heads rolled.

The Baron on the world and the Viscount he reported to were executed. They had both seen the report of a rape and murder, and had completely ignored it. They felt one Tier 2 girl was worth far less than a mayors son.

The whole debacle was preventable. Lizar had only wanted justice, and when he was denied that right, he took matters into his own hands. Rape and murder were illegal from Tier 50 to Tier 1. If anyone had done their job properly, 32,756,621 people would still be alive.

Liz wouldnt let Matt follow down that path. What had brought on Matts frustration had been much less severe, but his eyes had been the same.

She wouldnt let a small issue get escalated. She already had messages for her parents and uncle Manny, with the recording of the entire incident, waiting to be sent.

It was overkill for such an incident to make it to royalty, but she still remembered Lizars words, Why did no one help?

Liz had pushed Matt to see his reaction, but she wasnt sure if his resigned words were because of his current weakness, or because he wouldnt go overboard.

She made another note to get him into a therapist when they left this dust ball. He had waved off the question of why he hadnt seen one, saying that there were others who needed the time slots more. It was infuriating.

He still needed to process the death of his parents. As far as she could tell, he just shoved it down, and focused on the present. It seemed like he had been doing that since the rift break.

The fact that the planet he had grown up on had more than ten rift breaks was completely unacceptable.

Uncle Manny had apparently already dealt with it, but she still had written a strongly worded message, ready to send when the information portal opened. Shed make sure more got done for the planet. A decree and the help Matt had detailed just wasnt enough.

If the powerful didnt set an example, who would act kindly? Who would ever refrain from abusing their power?

Liz was determined to make sure Matt got the help he needed.

What else were friends for?

A small part of her whispered that she was only doing this because he had potential. She squashed that voice. She would help any friend she could. The fact that he could keep up with her was the reason she had formed a party with him. Not the reason they were friends.

In the maze fight, she had gotten the smallest whiff of a concept from Matt. It would be difficult to tease it out, but Liz was sure she could do it. That whiff had only been confirmed in the duel with the guilder. He had touched upon it, but getting him to actualize it would be the hard part. Concepts had the habit of disrupting memories involving them, until the individual could fully realize them.

That advantage would ensure that he could keep up with her when she used her own concept of blood to form the core of her Tier 5 advancement.

Concepts at Tier 5 would become a larger advantage as they advanced, like a stone rolled down a mountain. The earlier it was started, the more momentum it could gather.

Matt was impressive, even by her standards. He used a crippled Talent to advance, and when that handicap turned into a boon, he didnt get arrogant, and he kept his head down. That didnt even account for his synergy with his skill or talent with a blade. [Phantom Armor] was a good, life saving skill on its own. [Cracked Phantom Armor] synergized with him well, and was used to amazing effect.

Skills that could offer that much protection with almost complete coverage were rare. Liz made another note on her AI to teach him some tips and tricks to direct the growth of his skills.

Matt was as determined to advance on his own as she was. Together, they might just do it.

She still intended to shove him into a box and market him as an unlimited mana source. The look on his face had simply been far too amusing.

Her smile was back.

Liz reaffirmed her reason for joining Matt and Aster. They were strong, and she wouldnt have to leave them behind as she advanced. They were friends. That and the rings.

The rings.

Another thing her parents were going to gush about. They had tried to give her a growth item, but she had refused. She joined The Path to stop that. She wanted to escape their influence, and now she had a good growth item anyway.

It wasnt perfect, but it could take advantage of Matt's mana regeneration, so it was better than nothing. At least they wouldnt have to swap it out for a better fitting one.

If she had asked any of her aunts or uncles, she never would have heard the end of it from her parents. Better to use a somewhat useful item than listen to her parents gloating.

If the world truly was on her side, they would have gotten the rings her brother and his husband had. It allowed them to share mana with no compatibility issues. That would be perfect to have with Matt's Talent, but this was still good.

Liz shook herself free. This was a happy moment.

As Liz looked down at [Create Water] she felt pride. She had earned this.

She felt a smile on her face that matched Matts.

With Aster in her lap, and Matt next to her...

She was happy.