Chapter 23: The First Duel- Duel of the Swords

Dave and Rose walked into the electronics shop to talk to the others about what was going to happen. Dave laid down on the couch while Rose went to the roof to see if Jake and Laoshi were there. She found them training and they walked out. Jake noticed her and unfortunately, she was in her Huntsgirl uniform. Jake shot fire her way and she jumped out of the way and pulled off her mask saying, "Relax! It's me!"

"Rose!" Jake said and transformed to his human form and ran to her. They hugged each other for a few moments before Rose said, "I need to talk to you two." They walked downstairs to where Dave was sleeping. "Let him rest. He has to fight tonight," she told them. "What?" Laoshi asked. "He stopped the Huntsmaster from killing me. Now, they have a duel to the death tonight," Rose explained to them.

Laoshi looked at the sleeping Dave. "Poor boy, he doesn't deserve this trouble after as much as he's been through," he said. "I know. He's fought so many enemies and survived to now. He can't die just yet," Jake said. "We have to help him." "No!" Rose said. "We can't let him have a chance to kill any dragons. He has a new Huntsgirl," Rose continued. "Who?" Jake asked. "Karalyn," Rose told him. "We were right!" Jake said. "Yes, unfortunately we were," Rose said. "Who is this Karalyn?" Laoshi asked. "Our limo driver from yesterday. She seemed a bit suspicious," Rose said. Jake and Rose went into detail about Karalyn and what happened the other day. "So, this is what happened? This isn't good young ones," Laoshi said.

Dave stirred a bit then woke up. "What's going on?" he asked tiredly. "Nothing. Just telling about what happened," Rose told him. Dave sat up and stared at the ground. "I'm scared about tonight," he said. He then closed his eyes. "Am I so weak to admit I am scared?" he asked, mostly to himself. "No, young one. You are far from weak," Laoshi told him. "But I am a dragon! I protect others! I shouldn't show my emotions!" After this outburst Jake went to Dave. "It doesn't matter that you are a dragon. You should show your emotions," Jake told him.

"I...I'm sorry. I don't mean to break down," Dave said. "It is fine. We understand the pressure being put on you," Rose told him. "Can you help me prepare for the duel?" Dave asked them. "We shall young dragon. Come with me," Laoshi said and the four of them went to the roof to train.

(Later that night...)

"What did you do to convince them to stay behind?" Dave asked Rose as they were heading for the park. "I just told them that having dragons appear would be suspicious," Rose told him. They continued to walk until they found the moonlit field. Dave saw the Huntsmaster waiting for him. "Ready boy?" Huntsman asked. "You bet I am!" Dave said. "Good," the Huntsmaster said and threw him a HuntsStaff transformed into a weird sword of greenish energy for a blade. "You see, I got you the broken one!" the Huntsmaster yelled and shot green fireballs from his own sword. Dave avoided the attack and ran in to get a hit only to have the Huntsmaster move swiftly away from him. 'He is moving faster than I have ever seen him move before. My sword is also no mach for his,' Dave thought to himself.

Dave then avoided three crescent moon shaped green energy things. He ran in again and this time their swords clashed, but not for long as the Huntsmaster knocked Dave away. He then did a move so swift that Dave only just avoided it. The Huntsmaster brought his sword into the air, then green energy surrounded the already green blade. Then he brought the tip of it to the ground, sending out green energy shockwaves. This was done so fast that Dave just barely saw it and avoided it.

Dave then clashed his blade against the Huntsmaster's again. They struggled and then Dave broke it off and slashed the Huntsmaster. "That is the end of the first round," the Huntsmaster said as Dave tossed his sword back to the Huntsmaster.