Gilligan and Orchid stood in the middle of one of the many training fields while the others sat back on the sidelines.
"I still can't believe she didn't take the offer." Seravis sighed while kicking the dust on the ground.
"It's like they said: She's fight on her own for her entire life. I wouldn't doubt that she has a hard time trusting anyone. It probably doesn't help that you're also a Dark." Carder said, adding a hint of mockery at the end.
"Listen, Dragon Breath, I only wanted to know what things were still like back there. Not that I ever want to go back." Seravis snapped.
"Will you two behave yourselves already?" Orobus stepped between the two. "If you're gonna fight again, do it on one of the other fields."
"I'm simply curious as to what they're going to do." Keinath spoke up as he kept a close watch on Gilligan and Orchid talking to each other in the distance.
"Probably just boring stuff. He had done the same with me once. Remember?" Seravis guessed.
"I do, and I believe it was about your behavior, again." Carder snickered. Seravis looked to him with a challenge in his eye.
"Quiet! They're coming over." Keinath spoke up as Gilligan and Orchid made their way back to the group.
"Alright men, listen up. From this day forward, Orchid with be my apprentice as a Grand-Knight-in-training. Be sure to show her the respect she deserves." Gilligan proclaimed. All the others raised their heads and shouted in unison. "Understood, Gilligan sir!"
"Excellent. Now that we have that out of the way, Orchid, how about we do a test of your abilities?" Gilligan turned and asked. Orchid simply nodded her head. "Good. Then we will split up into two teams. Orobus. Seravis. You two will be with me. The rest of you are with Orchid." He decided and they all took their spots without any argument.
"Alright, does everyone know what Skill their going to use?" Keinath asked the group.
"All set." Carder nodded.
"Yep. All good here." Travis gave a strong flap of his wings, lifting himself off the ground for a moment.
"Excellent. Orchid, do you need time to prep your Skill?" Keinath turned to ask her.
"I don't need you guys getting in my way. I can do this on my own." Orchid boasted.
"This is not a fight for your life. It is a simple spar, and the purpose of this practice is to test your abilities, which you can only acquire by having others on your team." Young chimed in.
"Was I talking to you? No. So shut it." Orchid argued back. She looked to Keinath who gave her a concerned look. She sighed. "Just don't get in my way." She said in a half-kind manner.
"Alright then. Let's do this." The elf boy said and the group readied themselves to fight against Gilligan and his team.
"Since there are only three of us, I suggest we get the first move. Are there any objections?" Gilligan spoke up. No one protested against him. "Alright then. Let's begin. Skill: 'Forefront'!" He chanted and his body briefly emanated with a golden aura. "Now I equip the 'Legendary Sword'." He added and a very fine sword materialized in his hand.
"I'll pass for my turn." Seravis said as he glared at Orchid.
"Then I will take my turn now." Orobus cracked his knuckles together. "Skill: 'Boiling Rage'!" Orobus' body suddenly erupted with a fiery energy and when it calmed, an aura of fire emanated from him and his eyes glowed white-hot.
"It's our move now!" Keinath declared and looked to his team. He noticed that Orchid was only focusing on the other team. Suddenly, she charged Seravis without warning. "Orchid wait!" Keinath shouted, but it was too late. As Orchid was about to land a punch on Seravis, Gilligan quickly intervened and countered her attack, knocking her back with a powerful force.
"Ha! You idiot." Seravis mocked. "I can't believe you fell for that. Did you seriously forget about Gilligan's Skill: 'Forefront'?" The boy laughed.
Orchid reluctantly returned to her original stance. The others couldn't help but cover their smirks, except for Keinath. "Orchid." He started. "Gilligan's Skill: 'Forefront' forces all of his opponents to only be able to attack him. It's pointless otherwise." He explained.
"I didn't ask for your advice, so back off." Orchid snapped. The elf boy stepped back a bit in fear.
"Ahem. I will start things off. Skill: 'Magic Removal'! After I pay 500 of my life force, I will destroy your 'Legendary Sword', Gilligan!" Keinath proclaimed as he aimed his staff for the warrior's weapon. A beam of magic shot out from the head of the elf's staff and shattered Gilligan's sword.
"As expected, Keinath." Gilligan smiled.
"I am sure you were aware of my plan from the start." Keinath scoffed.
"Now it's my move." Carder stepped forward, then charged Gilligan with his double-blade spear. Gilligan countered with his normal sword and cut Carder in the back. "Skill: 'Vengeance'!" Carder shouted and quickly recovered, cutting Gilligan with his second blade on his spear.
"Excellent work." Gilligan applauded. Carder simply returned to his starting position with haste.
"Now it's my move." Travis said as he flew up into the sky. "Skill: 'Gale Force Strike'!" Travis dove from his aerial advantage right for Gilligan. He was too fast for the warrior to counter as he slashed at Gilligan with his talons before retreating to his original stance.
"Well played." Gilligan clapped. "Now it's our move again. Keinath, it's time I pay you back for my weapon." He declared, then charged the elf boy with impressive speed. Keinath braced himself for the attack as he knew that because he wasn't defending, the others would take advantage of his lower ATK.
Gilligan jumped into the air and came down on Keinath with all his might. The impact forced a lot of the dust in the field to fly everywhere. Travis and Carder tried to look through the haze to see their comrade, but to their surprise, as the dust cleared they saw Orchid standing before Keinath. She had stopped Gilligan's blade with her arms. Small trails of blood ran down from where the blade cut into them.
"I'm the one you want, so don't even bother with them." Orchid grunted with a battle-hungry tone. With a strong push, Orchid then shoved Gilligan off of her, forcing him to retreat to his start.
Keinath stared on, star-struck. "Th-Thank you." He breathed.
"I didn't do it for you." Orchid answered quickly as she walked back to her position, but Keinath couldn't help but smile a little.
"I'll go now." Orobus said and his fiery aura intensified. He then charged Travis, who, thanks to his own Skill, was currently the weakest of the group now. He took his flaming hammer and swung for the harpie, but Orchid intervened again, stopping his attack from hitting Travis. The elf was moved by the impact, but she held her ground nonetheless.
"Impressive, but can you handle another one?" Orobus questioned as he quickly swung around and came for Travis again.
"You're fighting me and me alone!" Orchid shouted and blocked the attack again, sliding to a stop as she took the full swing of his hammer.
"You're rather resilient for your size, huh?" The large man chuckled, then turned back to his starting position.
"Orchid, are you alright?" Travis asked worried.
"I'm fine." She answered firmly as she stretched her arms out.
"Well, I guess I'll go now. I owe you from last time." Seravis smirked. "Skill: 'Ultimate Blood Rage'!" He shouted and a dark aura quickly enveloped him.
"Seravis, wait!" Gilligan shouted.
"Orchid, brace yourself!" Carder shouted. "That Skill of his will allow him to destroy anyone he battles!" He exclaimed. Orchid simply stood ready.
"Take this, elf!" Seravis shouted in rage as he charged Orchid with his now blackened blade.
Orchid stood her ground until the very end, then she reared back and punched Seravis with all her might as he also cut into her with his blade. The impact was immense as dirt and debris flew everywhere. Everyone quickly covered their faces to protect against the oncoming shockwave.
When the smoke cleared, Orchid was the only one left standing while Seravis was found back with his team, laying flat on the ground with a large dent in his armor.
"Seravis! Are you alright?" Gilligan knelt over the boy and raised him up in a sitting position. Seravis let out a series of coughs, letting Gilligan know he was alright. Everyone else could only stare at Orchid, unaware of what actually happened.
Once Seravis found his breath again, he glared at the elf. "What did you do?!" He shouted.
"I punched you." Orchid answered bluntly.
"That's not what I meant! How is it you didn't lose any of your life force from my attack?"
"I guess I can't be harmed by any effect that would destroy me." Orchid assumed as she looked at the spot where the blade should have cut into her. There was no mark. Seravis gritted his teeth.
"Incredible. So it's true that you gain more power the more teammates you have." Keinath said with a sense of awe. "And that was with four of us. Now I'm curious. What would happen if we had five." He pondered.
"We'll have to save that for another day. For now we will call this match off and recover." Gilligan ordered. "Orchid. I must say I am impressed with your abilities. I do hope we can work together more in the future." He said with a smile. Orchid looked away.