It amazes me how easy it is to get used to something quickly. In my old life the only obvious example I had was switching from console gaming to PC gaming but here it's not only more obvious but also much more extreme.
Take what's happening now for instance, before I came to this world I never held a sword wooden or otherwise outside of one or two play fights. Now here I am in a battle royal type exhibition match against eight other men, there should have been nine others but as soon as I walked into the arena the last one fled.
"Destruction Field!" I scream as I hop in the air and twist my entire body in the air to slam the flat of my blade onto my opponent the energy of my arte giving me enough strength and momentum to force him to the ground the excess energy dispersing into the surroundings
With him stunned I turned and with my free hand strike out three time in quick succession to the one who had tried to sneak up on me and had gotten too close to dodge. Energy filling my fist as I scream out another attack "Cerberus strike!"
The first strike hit his upper chest followed by one to the stomach then finally a strike to the chin all within a second not a single strike losing any power so it was no surprise that he didn't get back up just barely being able to crawl to a spectating guard who was quick to bring him to nearby infirmary.
Honestly I'm glad I could use one of the most badass protagonists as my combat inspiration. Yuri Lowell will forever be a favorite of mine, willing to do anything to follow his own code, a real dark knight. It's a shame they didn't make a game following the defeat of the adaphagos but what can you do.
When I first woke up on this island I put on the first set of armor I could see and grabbed the only weapon in the room that wasn't owned by one of the main characters which had happened to be a sword.
Turns out that the armor I'm wearing is used to signify a praetor candidate that's why all of the guards and captains have been extremely respectful of me.
It's also why I'm participating in this match, turns out that they have this little exhibition once a month to improve skill and comradery my amnesia being the only reason I wasn't invited before.
They had explained that they didn't want me to just trust my instincts and muscle memory and accidentally kill an orderly, but since I have regained some of my memories I could now participate and show what heights they should be aiming for.
As soon as the orderly is out of harms way the one I had knocked down sprang up and with his spear used an arte with more skill than I expected "crescent strike!" The first part of this move is a curving strike upward that I blocked but the second immediately afterwards wasn't, using the momentum of his spear glancing off my sword he continues to the side and darts forward sweeping his spear in the opposite direction this time and landing a blow to my hip before continuing by using his spear as a pole vault to ascend above me only for his energy to drag him downward at a fast pace coating his foot in dense energy while declaring "Luna Fang!"
Thinking quickly knowing that if I don't act now I will be getting more than a boot to the face. I know that artes are developed in battle so it was no surprise that with my short experience with Destruction Field and the desire to protect myself this arte forced itself out.
With a firm image in mind I quickly stab my blade into the ground forcing my energy through the sword and into the ground around me a circle forms and with my declaration of "Guardian Field" my energy snaps into a dome shielding me from the aerial attack while also numbing the slight sting I got from his earlier attack.
As the spearman hits my barrier his attack is dispersed and energy invades his body forcing his muscles to lock, every time he tries to move he is shocked even trying to breath will have this happen.
The paralysis effect should wear off about two seconds after the arte ends, I honestly didn't think it would be so brutal.
If this was an actual fight and not a spar I would have stabbed him through the chest or slashed his throat. Instead this is where the fight for him has ended. As the spearman is dragged off I hear a clapping sound emerging from the sidelines.
The six other exorcists circling around quickly returned to the sidelines and stood at attention. Wanting to know why they would abandon the spar I look in the direction of the clapping.
It's the captain the look on his face is a mix of disappointment and appreciation. Wondering on why that is, his next words make it clear.
" I had assumed that since most of your memories were still gone that this would be a good way to help you regain any combat prowess you might have lost I was also expecting my men to swarm in mass instead of only a few at a time."
He shakes his head in disappointment.
" More drills and practice are what's needed here I can see, but that's not why I stopped this match. You certainly are quick to shake the rust off but my men aren't skilled enough to face you yet so I have a proposal."
He now stands ten feet from me and gets into a fighting stance almost like a boxer and says. " Fight me, I should be nowhere near your level but I might be able to help you regain some skill faster than that sorry lot. What do you say?"
With a grin matching his I agree all the exorcists looking in anticipation and respect as the captain lashes out with a strike along the ground that changes to a burst of energy that I mimic with an upwards strike the cries of "Azure Edge!" and "Demon Fist!' ring out as the energy colide and disperse.
Although it was just energy it's momentum caused it to pick up surrounding dust that also dispersed into the surroundings.
While not enough to obscure Captain I wouldn't be able to see his feet, a thought that was discarded a moment later as I saw him smash his fist into the ground.
I felt his energy sink into the ground and with a rumble and shout of"Tectonic Punch!" I knew what his aim was. Even with that small forewarning I was barely able to step backwards before the ground seemed to split from the punch and the energy superheat the loose rocks and dirt underneath creating makeshift lava.
While I was foolishly admiring the arte the captain wasted no time in rushing to my side forcing me to lose ground and footing from my desperate dodges.
I knew that if I kept retreating I would lose and decided to try one more arte it's a gamble but if it works then I might be able to pull a win.
I firm my stance and while filling my hands and sword with energy strike downwards, the captain had been chasing me so was not able to stop and avoid this in time, it cut through a small portion of his armor but that's not all.
"Shining Fang!" I let my sword fall to the ground energy still bottled inside and stretch out my other hand also filled with my energy the sword immediately bounces off the ground and my energy snaps it into my hand keeping the momentum of the small throw.
Energy the only thing keeping the hilt in my hand I let it spin five times before I finally grabbed my sword and shoulder checked the captain.
Shining Fang had already done a number on his armor, the slashes backed by momentum and my energy weakened it enough that when I checked him it broke into segments that fell down with a clang. The captain didn't give up though with almost no armor to slow him down I didn't catch his high kick fast enough and it stunned me.
He quickly followed by a punch to the chest and a roundhouse before ending it with a hammer fist or at least I thought so while I lay on the ground stunned by the quick and powerful blows the captain jumped in the air and with his feet pointed towards me his energy drove him downward at such a significant pace that the air caught fire feet first with both aimed at my chest his cry was heard by all.
"Prometheus' fall!" The impact was devastating a crater enveloped the entire room and exorcists were scrambling to regain their footing, an unlucky few had to be rescued from rubble luckily there were no deaths. Meanwhile I was just thankful that the energy of this world did more than power artes.
It makes sense doesn't it? In a video game hp increases by leveling up and you level increases by experience. Question is how could a person go from almost dying to a Cerberus Strike to being able to survive a Savage Wolf Fury? From what I understand it's a subconscious use of energy right under the skin reinforcing it and healing you.
It's also why I believe Velvet is damaged the longer you use her therion claw, all of her energy is used in shaping her claw and boosting its damage, her anger and need for vengeance plus the despair she hid from even herself would not let her protect herself instead of killing the enemies in front of her.
What this means for me though is that since I knew about this energy I could force the energy I used for attacks to instead be used as an additional barrier so while the attack I just suffered was immensely strong I still had enough energy for a single azure edge if I sacrifice defence like Velvet.
After regaining feeling in my legs I was Finally able to stand up although I still didn't have feelings in my arms which I hid as best as I could.
The exorcists were surprised to see me get up so quickly and the captain whom stood less than five feet away looked like he was ten seconds from falling over stared at me in resignation.
"I knew I had no chance but to only destroy your armor is heartbreaking, all that effort and the only thing I have to show for it is a repair bill." Bitter is the only way to describe his laughter.
What are you talking about if that had happened to me just a week ago I would have died the only reason I survived was all of mymeditation and efforts to control my energy.
I of course didn't say this, not only would it crush him from seeing someone improve so rapidly but also to improve my reputation. When I leave with Velvet every person here will be out to kill for my deception, so I need a legend to strike fear in them a keep away sign basically.
Me being untouched after an attack like that might bring unwanted attention for now but if I can manage it right then it will only benefit me in the long run.
So I laugh and say to the captain " you did help me though. Shining Fang feels like it has much potential to it so I can only thank you, if you hadn't pushed me then I might not have thought of it for a few more years."
"A few more years hah. How is a monster like this not more well known?" The captain shakes his head before looking at the surrounding men and giving orders.
" You know the drill use your artes and clean this place up. I'm going to rest up so don't bother me unless it's an emergency, and tomorrow we are getting up at the crack of dawn this match has shown me we have been lax in our training, no more! I'll have everyone of you at a decent level by this time next year!" He sure is enthusiastic I guess
"I'm going to go back to my post this spar has tired me more than I expected, where can I get a new set of armor?" I directed that question to the vice captain a woman of few words, I suppose the captain speaks enough for both of them.
"We will have your armor next to the calamities cell this time tomorrow please be careful until then." She gave off the vibe of a secretary although not as formal.
"Thanks I'll be going then." With a nod I start making my way back to Velvet's cell. Magilou refused to label it her cell since 'no lady as sophisticated and noble as I would ever claim this hole in the ground as theirs' or so she said.
Velvet obviously didn't care she has been focused on getting stronger and more skilled since she knows there is a possibility of seres busting her.
As I get back to the cell the orderly who was guarding in my place gave a salute and left without questioning why I didn't have any armor.
Not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing oh well this was a fun little outing, got to feel my adrenaline pumping and see how much I had improved since I got here overall I'm happy, I only have two more weeks until it's Velvet's birthday and I'm officially married.
The rings had arrived yesterday and that's when I was invited out to the exhibition. I told him I would think about it and that night both Velvet and Magilou encouraged my joining as a way to compare myself to regular exorcists.
I still have two hours before it's safe for me to go visit the girls so I guess it's time for more meditation. Honestly that last hit was brutal I wouldn't be surprised if it was a mystic arte with how much damage it did.
If I had to guess I would say it's slightly stronger than rangetsu's form zero but weaker than Laphicet's binding order it's just a guess though since I haven't fought them.
Still only having enough energy to use an azure edge huh just a little more and I might have died, or been significantly injured. This was my loss, I have to step up my training.