Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey
Chapter 179: Spar [3]

"But charging in blindly against me was a bad decision. I expected better from you," he remarked, his tone laced with a touch of taunting.

Lucas, now disarmed, gritted his teeth. He knew that he had let his impatience get the better of him. Yato's critique stung, a reminder that there was still much to learn.

Yato took a step back, his katana still in hand, and observed Lucas with a measured gaze. Despite the disappointment in his words, there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Who said this is the end?"

Shing—!!

In that fleeting moment, Lucas flicked his left wrist twice, and a hidden blade sprung forth from a concealed compartment under his sleeve.

Lucas wasted no time and swiftly swung his bladed hand directly towards Yato's face.

Caught off guard, Yato's eyes widened in astonishment and realisation.

"...A hidden blade?!" Yato exclaimed, his surprise evident.

At that moment, the puzzle pieces fell into place. Lucas didn't charge blindly. No, he had a plan in motion.

Lucas had intentionally baited Yato into blocking or parrying his attack, leaving himself intentionally vulnerable.

It was a calculated manoeuvre designed to make Yato drop his guard and close the distance, trapping him in a false sense of security.

Lucas had one final blow in mind, waiting for the opportune moment to unleash the hidden blade concealed within his sleeve.

Swish—!!

Unfortunately for Lucas, he was up against the one known as the God of Calamity. Yato never dropped his guard. He was ready.

Clang—!!

With astonishing speed, Yato reacted, using the flat side of his katana to block Lucas's hidden blade. The clash of metal echoed in the training ground as their weapons met.

"You're more resourceful than I thought," Yato remarked, his tone shifting from surprise to acknowledgement.

Lucas, though thwarted in his attempt, didn't let the disappointment show. His mind raced, calculating the next move. The spar had taken an unexpected turn, and now he had to adapt once again.

Yato, with a subtle grin, disarmed Lucas's hidden blade with a swift and precise move. The concealed weapon retracted back into its compartment.

"Nice try," Yato said, his expression holding a mixture of amusement and approval.

Lucas, now standing without any weapon, acknowledged the setback with a nod. "I had to try something unexpected."

"Indeed, creativity has its merits," Yato agreed, sheathing his katana. "You've proven that you're not bound by convention."

"Sir, do you think you can dodge this?" Lucas said as he summoned Nightshdaow's bow.

Mana spilt out from the tip of his finger and materialized into an azure arrow on the stretched bowstring.

"Oh? So you are using Artefact but you know even that can do anything against and you also have not unlocked the full power of Your bow." Yato said as he gazed at Lucas, his blue eyes met Lucas'sdeep-forestt green eyes.

"We will see that at the end of this spar." Saying that Lucas lost the string of his bow.

In the next moment, Lucas loosened his grip on the bowstring and the mana arrow he had conjured shot forward, hurtling toward Yato at breakneck speed.

The power of the mana arrow is ten times stronger than the normal one because of the Nightshadow bow.

The current power of the Mana arrow is [C] ranked at its best.

The mana arrow could kill anyone in its path but sadly Yato is not just anyone.

Yato was considered strongest for a reason, after all, he had seen and fought many strong enemies in his life and he had killed them all.

So stopping C crank mana arrow is child's play for Yato.

Swish—

In a swift motion, Yato drew his katana once again, the blade gleaming as he prepared to meet the oncoming mana arrow.

The arrow, fueled by the enhanced power of Nightshadow's bow, streaked through the air with deadly intent. Yet, as it approached Yato, a calm determination replaced the surprise in his eyes.

Clang—!

Yato, with incredible precision, intercepted the mana arrow mid-flight. The clash between the arrow and the katana produced a burst of energy, sending ripples through the air.

Despite the enhanced power, the mana arrow disintegrated upon contact with Yato's blade. His mastery over combat and mana manipulation was on full display.

Lucas watched in awe as Yato effortlessly neutralized the potentially lethal attack. It was a stark reminder of the vast gap in their abilities.

Interesting choice," Yato commented, lowering his katana. "But you have a long way to go before unlocking the full potential of Nightshadow's bow."

Lucas, undeterred, nodded. "I'm aware of that.

"Is that so? Anyway, Now it's my time to attack, Prepare yourself, Lucas." Saying that Yato vanished from Lucas's sight.

'What the fuck?' Let's curse mentally, Yato just vanished in the air without leaving any dropped-off mana in the air.

"Mana Eyes" Lucas muttered under his breath and activated mana eyes. Lucas's green eyes turned into golden eyes.

Lucas tried to search Yato's mana but he couldn't replace one even with mana eye.

'He is a monster.' Lucas thought as his back was drenched in a cold sweat.

No matter what Lucas couldn't search Yato's mana.

"Searching for me?"

At that very moment, a whisper brushed against Lucas's ear, sending a shiver down his spine. Before he could fully react, he felt someone coming behind him.

By the time he turned, Lucas saw a fist speeding toward his face at breakneck speed.

Resigning, he dropped his shoulders in the face of inevitable defeat, "Fuck me."

Thwack—!!

***

Lucas slowly regained consciousness, his vision blurry as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. The last thing he remembered was Yato's fist hurtling towards him.

As his senses gradually sharpened, Lucas found himself in a different setting. He was no longer on the training ground but in a small, dimly lit room. The air was heavy with the scent of herbs, indicating a medicinal atmosphere.

Groaning, Lucas attempted to sit up, only to be met with a dull ache all over his body. The spar with Yato had taken a toll on him, and the aftermath seemed to linger.

"Easy there," a calm voice interrupted his thoughts. Lucas turned to see Yato sitting in a corner of the room, a steaming cup in hand.