Bang!*
Two spears clashed against one another, sparks flying through the air as a white and blue figure slashed at one another. Both of them were gritting their teeth with white gritting in frustration and blue gritting out of excitement.
[You are getting better at this, Lone!]
Z said as they both broke off the clash and backed away. Z twirled his spear until it hung underneath his elbow, his stance changing to a relaxed pose. Lone held his spear in both hands as he took labored breaths.
He gripped the spear tight in his hands as he glared at Z. Who, in response, just smiled as he slammed the pommel of his spear on the wooden ground.
[Though, just because you are getting better doesn't mean that you are winning. How many times is this? Our fifth fight? Boy, you just can't beat me and all this for what? A second skill-]
Before Z could finish, Lone dashed at Z and slashed his spear through Z's throat. But Z just brought his spear up and parried the slash, before spinning and slamming the pommel into Lone's gut.
[Nice shot, but don't be clouded by anger, and if you are going to be clouded. Then at least hold the power to allow yourself to be clouded]
Z then jabbed his spear five times against Lone's body. Bloody holes appeared on Lone's body as red liquid spurted out. Lone's eyes widened in pain, pain that he felt even though he was in VR. Lone fell onto one knee, using the spear to hold himself up, as he clutched one of the wounds on his chest.
[Still not used to it? Still not used to the pain, even though in our last bout, I stabbed my spear into your heart? Well, I guess any sane person would not get used to the pain of flesh being torn by metal. Or are you trying to understand why you can feel pain-]
Once again, Lone interrupted Z as he threw his spear at him. Z grabbed the spear with his free hand as he spun around and tossed it back at Lone. The spear slamming against Lone's head, matter splashing onto the wooden floor.
[Lost again, alright, I hope this will be our last bout]
Z then snapped his finger as Lone's body glitched for a bit before appearing perfect once again. The spear that was lodged in his skull now lay beside him. Lone lay there for a couple of seconds before gripping the spear once again and standing back up.
[Are we done? I don't think gaining a second Active skill is worth this much]
Z said, leaning against his spear and bending it a bit.
"... again" was all that Lone said as he rushed at Z. Lone used Z's move as he jabbed five times at Z's chest. Z grabbed his spear and spun it before him, each of Lone's jabs struck the base of his wooden handle. Z then quickly flicked the spear and made the pommel slam against Lone's chin before flipping it and stabbing at Lone's heart.
[I believe this is our sixth fight. Listen, Lone, I understand my offer is tempting. I mean, who wouldn't want an Active skill that allows you debuff enemies. But I don't think it's worth this much pain and mental stress]
Z then pulled the spear out of Lone's heart, but before it could fully pull out, a hand gripped it and held it tight. Shock filled Z's eyes as he saw, in the corner of his eyes, a spear lunging at his head.
Z quickly tilted his head away, watching the spear fly past him. Fly past him.
[!!!]
Z quickly looked back at Lone and saw three things. The first was a fist flying to his face. The second was the body of Lone moving toward him. The third and final was the look in Lone's gaze. If put into words, one would say it was filled with determination and joy.
[Joy?]
Was all that Z thought as his face was punched, his body reeling back as he fell flat onto his back. Before he could even process anything, Lone quickly got on Z's stomach and threw another punch. Then another. Then another.
Lone threw punch after punch, his white hands turning red with blood. He kept punching and punching, his eyes focused on the blue figure below him. Only stopping once a screen appeared before him.
[Congratulations on beating Z! As per the agreement, you shall receive a second active skill! Please check your window]
Lone opened his window.
_______________
Name: [Lone]
Age: [?]
Gender: [Male]
Mark: [Knight]
Active Skills: [Man of Arms], [Warring Howl]
Passive Skills: [Spearhead]
Items: [?]
Background: [?]
[Warring Howl]- A skill that allows the user to release a wide range debuff to all who hear it. Their speed and power will decrease; the strength and duration of this debuff depend on how loud and soul-quaking the shout is.
"You fought me and whipped me till I bled. Now you tremble before you creation!"
_______________
"Worth it," Lone said as he collapsed to the ground.
Six battles against Z, and it was only on his sixth that he finally won. At first, the battle was somewhat even, with Lone clumsily striking and Z parrying it. Z would allow him to learn from his mistake and even offer pointers, from how to hold the spear to how much force to use.
It was only when he asked Z to pick up the pace that things changed. In the next second Z appeared before Lone and stabbed his spear into his heart. Marking the first death and the first time he felt pain.
Z allowed him to calm down before telling him to pick up his spear and to begin again. Their second battle ended in just a couple of seconds, with Z slashing his spear and severing him in two.
In their third battle, Lone asked him to just focus on teaching him the basics again. Z agreed and began to teach him the basics. This time, Lone focused on every tip and trick that Z spoke. Slowly but surely, he managed to understand not only how to wield the spear but also how his Passive skill, [Spearhead], worked.
During their training, his Passive Skill had been active since the first clash, and over time, each strike carried ever more force behind each swing and jab. But he did not allow that to cloud his judgment.
His two deaths and the pain he felt kept his mind on track. Until he could handle the spear, he would not even think about fighting against Z just yet.
How long have the two been practicing the basics for? Only about twenty minutes. Yet those twenty minutes felt like an eternity for Lone as he gripped his spear and his teeth. Each blow he took, he remembered, and each sweep he launched, he predicted.
When Z said that he was good enough to head to the main game, he did not agree. Instead, he asked Z to teach him more advanced moves. Z hesitated, but agreed. So the two clashed again, but with more intensity and more ferocity than before.
It wasn't until Z told him that he was getting tired and that if he beat him in a fight, he would receive a second Active skill that Lone finally stopped. The two clashed, and Lone died again and again.
The third time ended with his body being severed at the waist. The fourth time ended with him losing all his limbs from a fast strike. The fifth, as known, ended with holes being poked into his body. And their sixth fight ended in his victory.
Z's body glitched before he appeared standing, the blood and wound gone as if it was never there.
[Wow, that was gruesome! You sure you don't want to talk about it? I mean, having such-]
"Send me to the game," Lone interrupted Z, who held the spear tight in his hand, his wounds all but gone as well. Z frowned a bit, but smiled as he snapped his finger. A black screen with white words appeared.
[Would you like to enter the game?]
[Yes] [No]
Lone hovered above the [Yes] button as he looked up and asked, "Did you let me win?"
Z smiled at him before snapping his finger. Lone's finger touched the [Yes] button.
[Enjoy the game. Player 2]