Chapter. 11

Vincent stood on the training mat as his next opponent stepped up. He held up his sword, standing ready and waiting.

The gym doors opened and Rebecca entered. Vincent noticed her approach and was struke in the head by his opponent's sword. Everyone held their breath to see what would happen.

Vincent took off his helmet and rubbed his head as he walked towards Rebecca. "Hey Rebecca."

"Hello Vincent. I, I thought about it and I'd like to be apart of the fencing team."

"That's cool, but... school clubs don't recruit during the summer. You'll have to wait till school starts up again."

"Oh." Rebecca hung her head.

"But that doesn't mean you can't stick around to watch and learn. Come on." Vincent led her to the benches to watch the rest of practice.

Everyone in the gym took glances at Rebecca which mat her feel unwelcome. Rebecca would turn to Vincent who glared at anyone looking their way.

Two people stood on the mat to fight. The fight one made a jab to cause the other to step back.

"That's a Feint. A false attack to provoke a reaction from the opponent."

"What kind of a reaction?"

"Mostly to see what they'll do. Are they scared easily or more daring?"

"Oh." Rebecca nods and keeps watching.

As fight progressed one of the jabbed their sword and the other swung their blade to knock the weapon away and follow with a lunge, hitting them in the chest.

Vincent pointed to the connecting hit. "That's a Parry. A basic defense technique, block the opponent's weapon then deflect the blade away from the fencer's valid area, usually the chest. Done the right way. You get a return attack called a Riposte."

"What's he doing?"

"A specific position where the arm is straight and the pointing at the opponent's target area. It's called a Point-in-line."

"But isn't that telling your opponent what you'll attack?"

"True, but it can be a faint to make them think that's what you're going for. Raise your guard in one place with weaken the guard in others."

"Okay."

Practice went on as the other members fought and Vincent explained each of the movements to Rebecca. When practice was over everyone headed to the locker room to change.

Vincent stood up and dust off his suit. "So what do you think?"

"I liked it. Thank you for showing me."

"You want to try it out? Once the others are gone we can get you a suit and go a few rounds."

"I don't want to be a bother."

"I wouldn't offer if it was." Vincent lead Rebecca to the locker room. On the back wall several suits hung, ready for use. "Pick one that fits. I'll wait outside when you're done."

A few minutes later Rebecca came out wearing a fencing suit with a sword in one hand and a face guard in the other. "How do I look?"

Vincent nods with a grin. "Suits you well. Ready?" The two walked to the mat. "Okay hold your sword up like this. Try to mirror me."

Rebecca mimicked Vincent. "Like this."

"Good. Now let's do some lunges, or stabs if you want to call it that."

...

After an hour of practice the two exited the school and walked to the parking lot, Vincent sat on his bike and took out two helmets, holding one out to Rebecca. "Ready to go?"

"Yes." Rebecca put on the helmet and she climbed onto the bike. "Do you need directions?"

"I got it." Vincent pulled up his GPS and checked the history. "Let's go! Hold on!" Vincent revved his engine and took off into the street. Knowing the way Vincent drove faster then before. Along the way Rebecca held on to him tighter then before.

Vincent arrived at Rebecca's house then stopped in front of it. Vincent turned off his bike then removed his helmet. He turned back to find Rebecca still holding tightly to him. "You okay?" Rebecca nods. "We're here."

Rebecca slowly let go and climbed off the bike. "You okay? Was I going too fast?" Rebecca takes off her helmet and hands it to Vincent. "You know if something is bothering you, you can tell me."

"I, I know. Thank you Vincent."

"So was I going to fast?"

"I'm... Just not used to ride a motorcycle."

"Ah." Vincent took the helmet. "I'll stop if it's to much-"

"No!" Rebecca looked up to Vincent who was taken back by the sudden outburst. "I'm sorry." Rebecca spun round and ran into her house.

Vincent put away the spare helmet and drove off. Still thinking about what just happened.

Driving down a few blocks Vincent stopped at a red light and a message appeared. Vincent took a long breath and opened it.

You'll be getting a challenge. Accept it. Cathy ;(

An invite to a challenge in brain burst appeared. Vincent rolled his eyes and pulled over the the sidewalk then accepted the battle.

The world changed into an ice field in the dead of night. Vincent drew his sword as he scanned the area then checked the name of his enemy. "Ocean Duelist." The arrow pointed to a wall of ice.

The ice shattered and shard of the block flew everywhere, Vincent held up his arms against the winds.

"You have a helmet so why cover you're face?" Where the ice was stood a blue avatar armed with a black long sword. "Hello Tyrant. So you're the one Teal picked?" Vincent stepped back then held up is his blaster.

"Sonic boom." Ocean Duelist dashed to Vincent at blinding speed and slashed him across the chest. Vincent staggered back as two thirds of health dropped. Ocean Duelist held out his sword to examine the blade. "Odd. I even held back but that would normally one shot a purple."

Vincent gritted his teeth and fired at Ocean who deflected each laser that would've connected. "You're aim needs a lot of work."

Vincent rushed towards Ocean and swung his sword to decapitate him. Ocean side stepped the blade and kick Vincent in the back as he ran past him. "Poor sword work." Vincent crashed into the ice, he pushed himself up turned to Ocean with his blaster out then Ocean sliced off Vincent's arm.

Vincent fell back on the ice, Ocean stomped on Vincent's chest and lunged his blade sword in The downed avatar's other arm. "Ready to listen now?" Vincent glared up at Ocean. "Good then. I'd like to say good work on ripping apart amber legion. You got sapphire next but you'll need a bit more power." Ocean Duelist pulled his sword out and stepped back.

"A lot of faith is being put on you new kid. Do good out there." Ocean duelist took his sword and plunged the sword into his skull. Vincent pushed himself up as Ocean Duelist fell backwards.

The victory screen appear to announce that his point count went up by fifty. "Fifty points?!" Another screen appeared to announce his level had gone up to two. "What's this?" The screen scrolled down to reveal more.

Blaster fire mode: beam.

The world returned to normal. Vincent held his arm as it throbbed with pain. He opened his brain burst menu to see his level was now two then checked his attack to see the new beam option. "Who was that? Why would anyone give up fifty points on a whim?"

Vincent opened his history and found the name. Vincent pressed the name to see more information. The first thing he saw was Ocean Duelist's legion. "Amethyst? He said Teal. Catherine." Vincent revved his engine then stopped as pain shot up his arm again. "Fine. I'll sit here for a bit."

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