Ashborn Primordial

Chapter 54: Duel On The Dunes

If you want me at my best, we need to fight outside, Vir said, staring down Riyan in the training dome.

The moment of their duel had finally arrived, and Vir fought to keep the jitters under control. He flicked a glance at Maiya, who nodded supportingly. Neel and Tanya stood beside her. He had a lot riding on this one.

Why? his instructor asked.

I have my reasons. Id like to request you to fight me somewhere open. You pick the site.

He hoped that in doing so, Riyan wouldnt suspect him of foul play.

The big man stroked his beard, eyeing Vir up and down. Very well, he said at last. We ride for the oasis. Is this acceptable?

Very, Vir replied, breathing a little easier.

Vir and Maiya mounted up on Bumpy, while Riyan and Tanya each rode their own Ashvas. Neel nuzzled up against Vir before he left, as if wishing him good luck.

Do you really think youll pass his test? Maiya asked as they rode through the sand dunes. The morning sun was still low in the sky, leaving the temperature warm, but not yet oppressive.

I have to.

The upcoming duel was going to be a headache for Vir. He still couldnt use Dance of the Shadow Demon. Neither Riyan nor Tanya had said a peep about it, which could only mean one thingTanya hadnt seen him use that ability in the Godshollow. If she had, shed have blabbed to Riyan, and hed have jumped off the ceiling with joy. It wasn't like he possessed that ability yet.

He hadnt even told Maiya about it, though for different reasons. He didnt even know if he could use the ability again. Bragging about a new ability would just kill the wind in her sails. Shed only just made a breakthrough in her mejai training. He didnt want to sour her joy for an ability he hadnt yet learned.

Which meant that he really only had one secret weapon. To this day, Riyan still didnt know about his explosive stamina growth. Vir had taken every precaution to hide that from the man. Hed have to capitalize on that deception if he was going to win this.

But why did you want to fight out in the desert? Its only gonna get hotter, yeah? Whats wrong with the dome? Maiya asked.

I told you my Talents use prana, right? But Ash affinity is incredibly rare. All the Ash pranas almost depleted around Riyans place. Whatevers left, Im trying to keep for emergencies.

Hed taken a gamble by letting Riyan pick the location. Luckily, the oasis was as good as any. He had scouted several locations to determine how many Talents he could use before the Ash prana in that area dried up, and the average was about a dozen combined Leaps and High Jumps.

You dont have to do this for me, Vir. You dont have to win against him if it means messing up our chances for later. Im not that selfish, Maiya added.

No, he wont accept it unless I go all out. I fully intend to pass.

Of course, it was easier said than done.

Riyan finally stopped at the bottom of a saddle between several sand dunes. Vir couldnt even see the oasis from here, but he knew they must have been close.

Will this do? His instructor asked as Vir pulled up alongside.

Itll do just fine, Vir said, hopping off. But theres one condition Id like to request.

Riyan looked amused. He gestured with his chin for Vir to proceed.

If I pass your test, Id like you to grant us permission to visit Brij. In disguise, of course.

Acceptable, Riyan said without hesitation. The reply came so quickly that Vir felt the man had already decided and was just waiting for Vir to ask.

The duel was now official. All of Virs worries about hiding his abilities melted away. He knew what he had to do. He just had to execute on it now.

Because failing meant Maiya would cry and that simply was just not acceptable.

The two faced off in the valley of dunes, forty paces apart. Too far apart for a conventional duel but warranted for a duel among Talent wielders.

For this fight, he had his usual katar, three chakrams looped around his neck, and a dozen smaller chakris worn as braceletssix on each arm. Riyan wielded only his talwar, as usual. His steel talwar. Both of them had equipped actual weapons this time around.

Tanya stood in the middle. She looked at Riyan, who nodded. Then she turned to Vir, who nodded back.

The mejai walked several dozen paces off to the side to where Maiya stood and held up an orb, activating the spell within, causing an Icicle to shoot into the sky. The match was on.

Riyan was upon Vir in an instant, swinging with his talwar. Vir had to Leap away to avoid the blow, but the man pursued. He Leaped forward, closing the distance and striking again.

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From the outset, Vir was forced onto the defensive, Leaping away when he could, dodging when he couldnt, and desperately deflecting the ones he was unable to dodge. High Jump was nearly identical to Leap, but that it sent him high up in the air. He didnt dare use that Talenthis experience in the forest had shown him just how dangerous jumping into the air in the middle of a battle could be.

Again and again, Riyan forced him to Leap to safety, slowly depleting his most precious resourceground Ash affinity prana.

Vir focused on fending off Riyans strikes, but he knew hed lose at this rate, and soon. With nine Talent activations already wasted, he had two, possibly three usages left before the well ran dry.

This was the exact scenario hed been hoping to avoid, and Riyan had pushed him here within moments.

Then an idea struck him. Maybe maybe this is okay?

Vir fought desperately, just barely defending each attack. Every time his katar clanged against Riyans blade, he slowed slightly, his breaths growing heavy.

Riyan finally let up, and Vir fell to his knees in exhaustion.

You have grown, but not nearly enough! Is this truly all the strength you can muster, boy? Show me your resolve! Come at me! Riyan roared.

Vir struggled to his feet, took a deep breath, and went on the offensive. His attacks carried no energy, and soon, Riyan stopped moving altogether, lazily deflecting his attacks with a single hand. Disappointment oozed off of the man like a dark cloud.

I see, Riyan said, continuing to take Virs attacks, lecturing him in the middle of combat. I see now that I have been too lenient with you. With Talents, I had thought you would become a force to be reckoned with. Im afraid I was wrong, boy. You fail!?

Vir had waited patiently for this moment. For the moment when Riyans guard fell, convinced that Vir had expended himself. He now had something no amount of coin in this world could buythe element of surprise.

He channeled prana into his legs and quadrupled his speed. Every trace of his prior fatigue was gone.

Vir didnt need Leap. He didnt even need half of it. He consumed only a quarter of the prana needed for the full Talentjust enough to accelerate his body with supernatural speed, augmenting each strike. A micro Leap. And because it consumed only a fourth of the prana, it took a fourth as long to charge, ready in less than a second.

Vir became a whirlwind of slashes and thrusts. For the first time in his life, he inflicted damage upon the Ghost of Godshollow.

Countless cuts opened up on the shocked mans arms and legs. Riyan hesitated for a moment, trying to comprehend what had just happened. But only for a moment. Then he burst into uproarious laughter, meeting Virs next blow with his talwar, stopping it cold.

Well played, Vir! Well played!

Vir didnt bother wrestling with the man in strengththat was a losing battle if hed ever seen one.

He broke off his attack and jumped away, throwing both chakrams and chakris from midair. The smaller chakris didn't have the range of their larger brethren, but at this distance, both were effective.

Riyan defended against the deadly disks, but the man only had a single weapon. He couldnt possibly defend against them all.

A chakri bit into his bicep, forcing him to Leap away.

Having expected that, Vir followed suit. Now he was the one pressing Riyan. Virs accelerated footwork continued, rendering him all but impervious to the bigger mans attacks.

Ghost of Godshollow though he may be, he couldnt match Virs movements as he ducked, bobbed, and weaved around the bigger man like water, ripping his robe and drawing blood with each attack.

Well well, now this is a surprise, Riyan said calmly. Far more calm than someone with his injuries ought to be. While none of Virs attacks had caused any mortal wounds, the man bled from a dozen cuts. Surely he should have felt something?

I suppose it is time I took this seriously, then.

Vir didnt like the sound of that. Nor the evil glint in the mans eyes.

His intuition was correct. Riyan blurred out of existence and popped up behind Vir, grabbing him by his collar and throwing him into the sand. Riyan hurled his sword at Vir, right at his chest.

Too late to dodge, Vir launched a chakri at the incoming blade. The two weapons clanged in midair, causing Riyans blade to veer off course, sinking into the sand just a hands span away from Virs head.

He had no time to relax. Just as Vir had found his feet again, Riyan had delivered a devastating punch to his abdomen.

Except this was no mere punch. Riyans fist glowed with Earth affinity prana, and his blow came at several times the speed of what any mortal should be capable of.

The next thing Vir knew, hed expelled the contents of his stomach and was sailing through the air. He hadnt even felt the impact, and strangely, neither did his body hurt.

Whats going on? Where am I? he thought in a daze.

He crashed into the sand, coming to a stop in a heap.

Oh I mustve blacked out? Thats happening a lot these days

To his horror, Riyan stood above him the moment hed come to a rest. Then he went flying again. Vir hadnt even seen the attack coming.

What he did hear was a sickening crack from his chest.

This time, he felt the pain. Hed never experienced such agony in his entire life. Worse he could no longer breathe. Vir asphyxiated as he soared through the air, landing in a tangled mess.

He had no thoughts now. No plan, no tactics. His mind was consumed with forcing air into his lungs, which had seemingly ceased functioning. No matter how much he gagged, no air came in.

In an addled act of desperation, Vir seized the prana in his body and willed it to work. A foolish decision that only made the pain worse.

But it did allow him to breathe again. He sucked in a mouthful of breath, thankful for the hot, dry air.

In the distance, he heard desperate shouting. It felt so far away, though. He paid it no mind. He was probably hallucinating it, anyway. Thinking was hard for Vir right now.

A great shadow loomed over him. Looking up, he found a predator. His instructor, gloating over him.

No not gloating. Daring. Riyans expression seemed to say Well? Is that it?

Vir spit out a wad of blood.

Was that it?

No Badrakking way.

Vir glared up at the massive man who towered over him. He shakily found his feet and rose to his full height, standing tall, in defiance of his mangled chest and broken ribs.

He glared as he threw a weak punch at the mans chest.

And he glared right until his eyes rolled up into their sockets.

Though Vir fell unconscious, his body remained standing, his fist pressed against Riyans chest. Like a statue that refused to yield, no matter the odds.

The last thing he heard was Riyans deafening laughter.

Next time: 55 - Shifting Winds

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