Chapter 81: Mock Battle;Ayan vs Arin

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Mock Battle;Ayan vs Arin

Arin had watched the elves from the edge of the village as they worked. He had barely slept at all, and even now as his eyes slowly closed, the image of Caelan appeared in his mind. The way he stood on the far edge of the battlefield as if he weren’t even there. The way the strange energy at the battlefield was drawn to him. And the way he simply said, ’Keep growing Arin Rahman.’ Arin clenched his fist.

"You’re thinking too much again." Arene’s voice echoed inside his head, causing Arin to sigh.

"I don’t think enough," Arin muttered.

"You spent most of your night last night thinking about Caelan."

"Exactly."

"And?"

"And I still don’t understand what he wants."

Arene fell silent for a moment before replying, "You don’t know everything regarding him. That’s probably a good thing."

Arin looked up at the sky. "That is a terrible attempt at assuring me."

"I wasn’t trying to assure you,"

"You’re getting pretty good at annoying me,"

"Thank you."

Arin shook his head before a familiar voice called out, "Arin." He turned to see Ayan walking towards him. The dragon looked much better compared to the previous day, despite the fact that Ayan’s mana was still recovering from the intense battle it had been in just a day ago. The way Ayan looked at Arin was also far too calm for his liking. His eyes narrowed dangerously, "What?"

Ayan halted in front of him, "Fight me."

Arin blinked, "What?"

"A mock battle."

Arin stared, Ayan just stood there, waiting for his answer. After a long moment, Arin replied, "You heard me."

Arin looked around, "Right now?"

"Yes."

"We were attacked yesterday."

"I am aware."

"There are people trying to rebuild the village."

"I am aware of that as well."

Arin crossed his arms, "Then why the sudden request?"

Ayan’s calm expression did not change, "Because yesterday I saw something."

Arin grew more serious, "What?"

"You have changed," Ayan stated.

Arin did not reply, his eyes narrowing as Ayan continued, "Your movements are not the same. Your awareness is sharper. You fought against Chimeras that should’ve wiped out an average adventurer and you dueled a monster with your Dungeon Sense in the middle of that fight without having to rely purely on your system."

Arin frowned, "That doesn’t mean I can beat you."

Ayan’s words were smooth, "I didn’t say you could."

Arin’s eyebrow twitched, "You’re really good at encouraging people."I am being honest."You’re unbelievable polite when insulting me," Ayan almost smiled, "Then accept my mock battle."

Arin looked towards the field outside the village. Ayan’s mana was still recovering, and so was his own after the Chimera battle. They were both at a disadvantage. A fair enough fight atleast, Arin exhaled, "Fine,"

"Good," Ayan nodded, "But no killing,"

"I wasn’t planning to,"

"And no destroying the village,"

"I would prefer not to,"

"And no turning into your full body,"

Ayan paused, then nodded, "Agreed,"

Arin gave him a suspicious look, "Why the hesitation?"

"I was calculating the chances of you surviving it,"

"That doesn’t make me feel any better,"

The both of them walked away from the village. Saira watched them from a distance as she paused in her task of carrying a pile of materials. Adnan followed her line of sight, "Are they going to fight?"

"Probably," Mira added, "Should we stop them?"

"No," Saira shook her head, "I want to see this." Eldran happened to hear her. The Elf Chief looked towards the distant clearing. "Then we should probably move everyone else away from the area," Saira nodded, "That sounds good."

The two warriors arrived at the clearing. Trees surrounded most of the space but the ground was fairly flat. Ayan stood at one end while Arin took the other. They stood in silence for long moment before Ayan raised his hand. "I’ll set the rules," Arin nodded. "No lethal attacks. No attacking the head or heart. First man down loses." "Understood," Ayan added, "Use the techniques you know."

Arin smiled, "Gladly."

Ayan’s mana rose as the air around them shifted. Arin immediately felt the pressure and had to steady himself. Ayan was already faster than before, "This is going to hurt," Arene chuckled inside his head.

"I think so," Arin replied just as Ayan vanished right in front of him. He barely managed to activate his Dungeon Sense before the dragon reappeared behind him. A punch came flying towards his face but Arin ducked, the fist narrowly missing him before it slammed into the earth. BOOM! The impact created a crater at the ground, Arin immediately backed away, "You’re not holding back!"

"You told me to use my abilities,"

"I meant your’s!"

Arin grinned despite the tense situation, Ayan rushed forward again and this time, Arin was ready. He let his Dungeon Sense spread throughout the field, the trees, the earth, the very air around him became data to him. Ayan attacked from the left but Arin’s body moved before his mind even processed it. He ducked underneath the attack, Ayan’s elbow nearly sweeping his head clean off. Arin stepped forward and punched Ayan’s side, THUD! Ayan stumbled back half a step, Arin’s eyes narrowing, "That didn’t work,"

"Your physical strength still needs improvement," Ayan simply said before swinging again. Arin barely blocked the attack, the force of it sending him flying backwards several meters. His knees nearly buckled before he planted his boots on the soil, "What the hell?!" Ayan grinned, Arin was already panting. The Dragon was only using his humanoid form, and even then he wasn’t at full power. But the sheer force behind the attacks was enough to feel like fighting a monster.

Arin steadied himself, "Fine,"

His Dungeon Master Authority was triggered, a pressure rising in the area. Ayan’s expression changed as the magic around him began to calm down, "Better."

"Good," Arin replied before moving. This time he felt lighter, faster. His Dungeon Sense guided his body while the Dungeon Authorities of Reinforcement and Movement increased his power and speed. He attacked from all sides, forcing Ayan to block and dodge rather than overpower him. Left, Right, Low, High. Arin’s movements were unpredictable, but Ayan was still able to keep up. However, something was happening. Ayan was already retreating, Arin pressed on, his fist colliding with Ayan’s side. THUD! Ayan stumbled back a few steps, Arin following up with another punch. BOOM! Ayan nearly flew backwards but he planted his feet and steadied himself. The two combatants locked eyes for a moment before Arin suddenly realized something. He was using his abilities in a way he had never done before. Not as separate attacks, not as individual techniques. They flowed together as if he was one with them.

Ayan’s eyes darkened, "Now try and stop me,"

Arin’s smile faded as Ayan’s mana rose, "You’re not holding back are you,"

"Not at all," Ayan said before rushing forward. Arin barely moved in time as Ayan came right at him. The moment Ayan’s fist came into contact with his chest, Arin’s weapon flew out of his hand. Ayan followed up by grabbing Arin’s collar, throwing him backwards. Arin twisted his body in midair, narrowly avoiding the dragon’s grasp as he landed on the ground a few meters away. His body ached, Arin’s eyes widening as Ayan came for him again, "Get serious!" Arin roared as he activated the Dungeon Barrier Formation, a shield of mana appearing in front of him. Ayan’s fist came crashing down but the moment it hit the barrier, CRACK! It exploded on impact, sending Arin rolling backwards. "Seriously?!" He muttered before tumbling beneath Ayan’s next attack. His hand brushed against the ground as he activated the Dungeon Manipulation. The earth rose to meet Ayan’s foot and sent the dragon flying. Another wave of earth came up, Ayan nearly leaping out the way but Arin sent out another pulse. The ground shook and Ayan barely dodged again, "You can’t beat me,"

"Maybe not," Arin replied before something inside him clicked. His Dungeon Sense told him where Ayan was, but it didn’t reach out to him. It told him about the battlefield, the earth, his surroundings. It told him everything except his opponent. Arin wasn’t thinking of Ayan, he was thinking of the environment. And in that moment he realized what he had to do, Understanding. He could read the battlefield as if it were a book, and Ayan’s movements were no different from the words on that page. Arin inhaled before exhaling, "I see,"

Ayan’s fist came for him again but Arin was ready, he grabbed Ayan’s arm as he moved past him. Ayan was already throwing another punch but Arin stepped back behind him and raised his knee. Ayan’s eyes widened as Arin’s fist came flying towards him. BOOM! He barely had enough time to roll away before he felt the ground beneath him shift. Arin had created a small trench with the Dungeon Manipulation, sending him stumbling away. Ayan’s body shuddered as he looked at the area around him, "You win that round,"

Arin lowered his hand, "I do?"

"Yes,"

"Didn’t expect that,"

"Neither did I,

but I’m glad you adapted,"

Arin smiled, "Adapt or die, right?"

Aya nodded, "Your greatest improvement isn’t your strength," Arin’s eyes narrowed, "Then what is it?"

"You’re understanding your authority."

Arin looked down at his hand, he had indeed been using the abilities perfectly. Dungeon Sense didn’t just tell him where Ayan was, it allowed him to understand the battlefield. The Dungeon Manipulation wasn’t used to attack, it was used to create openings. They weren’t combining, but rather working together, "He’s right," Arene added, "You’re actually using them well,"

"Could’ve fooled me," he muttered before Ayan raised his hand again, "One more?"

"We just had one,"

"I want to see something," Ayan replied, "Your Dungeon Sovereign."

Arin’s eyes widened, he didn’t have time to react before the clearing grew impossibly quiet. That power was still incomplete, and Arin had barely used it since the battle with Zerf. Ayan was looking straight into his eyes, "You can’t understand it by running away from it,"

Arin clenched his fist, Arene’s voice turning serious, "He’s right about that,"

Arin inhaled sharply, "Fine,"

Ayan nodded, "Good,"

Arin activated the Dungeon Sovereign, nothing spectacular happened. The air around him didn’t explode or become impossibly tight, but rather everything was sharpened. He could see Ayan’s mana, his power. He could analyze it, but it wasn’t enough. It was all coming together in a way that was incomprehensible, like puzzle pieces refusing to connect. Arin took a step forward and suddenly Ayan was right there, "I see it," he said before raising his hand. Ayan’s fist came for him but Arin’s mind predicted it, he raised his own hand in a counter but it wasn’t enough. The attack still slammed into him, sending him flying. Ayan paused for a moment before he appeared above him, "Arin!" Ayan caught him before he hit the ground as the power within him faded, "Enough,"

Arin closed his eyes as Arene spoke up, "You went too far,"

"I know," Arin replied before opening his eyes, "That ability is dangerous,"

"I know,"

"You should not force yourself to understand everything all at once,"

Arin looked up at Ayan, "Coming from the dragon who almost broke my ribs during a mock battle?"

Ayan blinked, "I was holding back,"

Arin stared at him, "You know what? Forget I asked," Ayan smiled, the both of them falling silent for a few moments before Arin looked towards the trees. "I need to get stronger," Ayan followed his gaze, "Yes,"

"Because next time Caelan shows up, I don’t want to stand there and wonder what he can do."

Ayan’s expression became unreadable, "Then continue to train,"

Arin nodded, Arene adding in, "And maybe don’t get yourself killed,"

Arin smiled, "No promises,"