Chapter 9: The Story of Two Adventurers - Part Two.
The village of Saikono lay cloaked in the chill of night, the air crisp and heavy with silence. Though dozens of villagers had gathered to witness the duel, not a single voice broke the stillness. The only sound was the mournful howl of the wind as it wove through the crowd, tugging at the hair of Fulan and the blond swordsman who sat side by side on the long wooden bench. They waited, their eyes fixed on the path leading into the village, where the bearded adventurer would soon appear.
Minutes passed in tense silence before the sound of footsteps finally echoed through the night. All eyes turned to see the bearded man approaching, his figure silhouetted against the faint glow of the village lights. His aura radiated anger, a stark contrast to Fayrouz, who walked calmly beside him, her expression unreadable.
When Fulan and the blond swordsman saw them, the swordsman inhaled sharply and placed a hand on his knee, ready to rise. But before he could stand, Fulan extended his arm, blocking him without a word. His focus remained entirely on the approaching figure of the bearded man, his dark eyes steady and unyielding.
The villagers began to murmur among themselves, their whispers growing louder as they watched Fulan rise instead of the swordsman.
"What''s this?" one villager muttered.
"Isn''t that the young man who stopped the fight earlier?"
"What does he think he''s doing now?"
"He''s still young. He probably doesn''t understand what a duel between warriors means."
"If he doesn''t, he''ll die here."
"Should someone tell him?"
"Impossible. I''m just a simple merchant with no talent or strength. We''ll leave it to fate."
The whispers swirled like an irritating hum, a cacophony of doubt and curiosity. But Fulan paid them no mind. His steps were deliberate as he approached the bearded man, his expression calm but resolute.
The bearded man''s eyes narrowed as he watched Fulan draw near. He placed his hand on the hilt of his axe, still embedded in the ground, and spoke in a low, steady voice. "Are you telling me you''re going to hide behind this boy now?"
The temperature of the axe began to rise, its silver surface glowing orange as the man lifted it high above his head. "What a disgrace!" he roared.
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*Crash!!!*
With a thunderous strike, the bearded man brought the axe down, sending a vertical wave of scorching orange energy hurtling toward Fulan. The attack was precise, the wave narrowly missing Fulan but carving a blackened scar into the ground as it passed. The force of the blast whipped Fulan''s hair and clothes, but his expression remained calm, almost contemplative.
*''His attack didn''t hit me. Did he miss?''*
The white aura around Fulan''s body flared as he turned his head slightly, his thoughts racing. *''No... It''s impossible for a seasoned adventurer to miss a stationary target. He wasn''t aiming for me from the start!''*
Fulan''s realization came just as the blond swordsman began to draw his massive blade, preparing to intercept the energy wave. But Fulan was faster.
*Whoosh!*
In a burst of speed, Fulan darted in front of the swordsman, positioning himself as a shield. The villagers gasped as Fulan began to punch the incoming wave of energy with blinding speed, his fists moving like a blur.
[25 Sonic Punches!]
The relentless barrage of strikes weakened the energy wave, shattering it into tiny, glowing orange fragments that scattered like stars. The entire spectacle lasted only three seconds, but it left the crowd in stunned silence.
The bearded man lowered his axe, resting it on his shoulder as he regarded Fulan with a mix of irritation and grudging respect. "That''s a reckless way to stop an attack like that," he said, his voice calm but edged with tension. "Are you so eager to interfere that you''d risk losing your hands?"
The villagers turned their attention to Fulan''s hands, which were now red and blistered, the skin raw and burned. Despite the pain, Fulan managed a faint smile as the white aura around his body intensified. "You''ve been the obstacle all along," he said, his voice steady.
Before anyone could react, Fulan surged forward, his speed carrying him to the bearded man in an instant.
*Whoosh!*
Fulan''s foot connected with the man''s stomach, the force of the kick sending him staggering back. "She loved him, and he loved her," Fulan said, his voice rising. "But he kept his distance because he knew his best friend loved her too. Even I could see that. How could you not understand it after nine years?!"
The bearded man gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on his axe as he swung it down like a hammer. But Fulan dodged effortlessly, retreating to stand beside the blond swordsman. He turned to the swordsman, his tone serious. "It''s your fault too. It''s good to consider your friend''s feelings, but you shouldn''t have let her chase after you all those years. You can''t please everyone."
Fulan braced himself for another attack, but when he looked back at the bearded man, he was surprised to see him kneeling on the ground, his head bowed as he whispered words too faint for anyone to hear.
The fight—or rather, the brief but intense confrontation—was over. Fulan exhaled deeply, the pain in his hands now overwhelming. He could no longer muster a smile.
At that moment, glowing blue bandages began to wrap around Fulan''s hands and fingers. He looked up to see Fayrouz approaching, her expression calm but her eyes sharp. "So you''re foolish enough to injure yourself like this before the entrance exam," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "Use these bandages for now. While we were coming here, the bearded man helped me find a merchant heading to the Kingdom of Saita tonight. We can get you some medicine when we arrive..."
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