Chapter 157 - 157. Slow Starter

"I showed up to train here when the sun rose, but other campers were a bit late. Don't worry, I have already procured the necessary ten wins in a row to face you." Neil was very astute making Asher wonder if he planned out every aspect of his life.

"Well, I can't say I am not surprised. I didn't think anyone would have ten wins just yet." Asher laughed a little while looking around for anyone else who might be close. However, it appeared that there was no one at all ready.

"You two are about to spar right? Wait for Art to finish up over there and then we can all watch." Jane and Laura had paired up again. Louis was nowhere to be found but if Sammy and he were off sparring it would make sense.

"No need to wait, hey there Neil. How's the power control going?" Art walked up and fist bumped Neil.

"Wait, you already met?"

"Yeah, I tried to meet everyone. On the first day Neil was packed up and ready to head home exactly at the time the bell rang so I introduced myself. He's a nice dude, just don't mess up his schedule." Neil nodded along with Art. It was clear the schedule was the most important thing to him.

"Speaking of schedule, I would like to get our match on the way if you are ready? I plan to try the hike to the cliff after this. I set aside four hours and nothing more." Neil had a watch he checked constantly. It looked like it had been fitted with rubber so he could wear it while sparring.

"I think you will want to take some more time for the hike. Those trailers are a little confusing unless you are good at tracking." Asher gave him the heads up but it resulted in Neil becoming more confused than enlightened.

"I would listen to him. Jane and I haven't gone that way since we met up with Asher, but he had been here for a few days and tried it out." Art backed Asher up, he was always trying to be the best friend he could.

"Then I will add an extra hour, and I will carry my scheduled dinner with me." Neil pressed a few buttons on his watch and adjusted his schedule. "Unfortunately, you will be my last sparring match then. Let's find an open space."

"Sure thing. Hey Garnet, I have a challenger!" Asher spotted Garnet from across the field and gave a shout. She turned her head immediately and headed over to them.

"I knew you two would fight soon. Neil, remember that you have been limited before and are not now. If you feel you are putting too much power in to something just drop out and try again. Asher, he is allowed to use his super power against you because your style should counter it well. I also have a feeling your super power won't let you take a real hit from him."

The two became much more serious listening to Garbet and stepped a few feet back from each other. Garnet pushed Art and Jane out of the way while Laura had already moved back and sat down to watch the show. She had yet again managed to pull carrot sticks out of nowhere.

Neil had fallen in to a solid stance with no appearance of being able to be pushed one way or the other. On the contrary, Asher's stance was much more free. He was even swaying a little on his feet as he tensed and relaxed his muscles. This was a habit he hadn't even realized he had, but it matched the rag doll style perfectly.

"Fight!" Garnet gave the shout as soon as the two were in their stances and ready.

Neil took slow and steady steps forward while not losing his stance at all. He was extremely vigilant of how Asher might react, however, he had already begun to think that Asher would not be able to hit hard. The soft and wobbly looking stance made Asher look more vulnerable than a normal fighter would be with a steady tough stance. This was the misconception Garnet had hoped would surface in Asgher's style.

Asher took the same steps forward but lowered his level and whipped his arm up in a swift jab. The sudden move put Neil on edge but was not enough to phase him. He easily blocked the hit and stayed steady in his stance. Asher swore he saw a ripple in Neil's skin as he made contact but felt it was a trick of the eye.

Neil retreated slightly and raised a leg to feign a kick. This made Asger focus on a kick as well and mirrored Neil. However, Asher roasted and looked to be falling back baiting Neil in. It made Neil gain a step forward and when Asher looked to be falling there was a sudden change.

The wheel kick came down in a vicious snap ad Asher used the momentum of the slow fall to twist and attack. Yet Neil still held strong and changed to a block. This time Asher made a careful note of the strange ripple Neil's skin made as his kick landed.

"That's not all!" Asher saw that Neil fully intended to block more so he rained down more hits. The jabs and kicks came together in a combination. Asher had started to flow with sharp falling turns leading to heavier hits. His style had started to show some of its true colors.

Neil was smiling with harsh breathing when he dodged backward after the last hit Asher got him with. The rippling had continued on Neils skin and Asher knew that it was the result of his super power. The only good part was that Neil was definitely feeling the stress of the attack Asher used and that it was slowing his opponent down.

"I think it's time for me to start fighting back. I am sorry I took so long to get going. I am a slow starter." Neils placed his front foot down on the ground and a slight ripple caused the air to snap around him. A small ring of dust kicked up around him.