Chapter 43: Battle of Hardheaded
[Iron Fist] *BAAM*
The collision of old dwarf's hammer and Angus fist make both of them thrown a few meters back. Angus realizes that his knuckle is broken and his internal injury has worsened from the previous clash.
Meanwhile the old dwarf himself is still fine without any kind of injury. Looking at this, Angus knows that his chance to defeat this old dwarf is almost none.
'Damn it, why do I always have trouble with unreasonable old men? First father, now this old dwarf.' Curse Angus inwardly.
During this time, the old dwarf was still in shock because he didn't expect Angus to have such a kind of strength. Moreover, he knows that Angus is still a child without forming his own mana core.
As for himself, although he has already old and retired from the battle for a long time. But, he is still a full fledged high grade battle dwarf. This kind of revelation is quite a shock to him.
'T-this strength... Imposible!!' Thought the old dwarf
Using this moment, Angus managed to grab a spear nearby before readying himself. His lazy attitude changes immediately and becomes an embodiment of a predator that looks at his prey.
Although Angus didn't want to reveal his true strength, he was also not a person that could be bullied without any fight. Especially if the other person is quite crazy like the old dwarf in front of him.
Moreover, just from his counter attack before, Angus already shows his capabilities. It will hardly conceal his true strength anymore in front of this old dwarf. So, he feels to drop his act and begin to fight seriously.
Noticing Angus's change, the old dwarf wakes up from his stupor and also becomes serious. From his experience, he feels like in front of dangerous monsters waiting for any carelessness in their prey.
After a few moments of silence and staring at each other, Bail comes out from the inside and looks at the tense situation between his boss and the human child.
"What the…." before Bail finished his sentence.
Both of them move at the same time, Angus charging forward while creating dozens of illusionary spears around him [Spear Art - Thousand Needle].
The old dwarf raises his sledgehammer above his head and brings down with enormous might on it [Hammer Art - Hammerfall].
*Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Crack* *BOOM* All the spears's attack clashed and met with the mighty hammer. They create a shockwave towards the surrounding. However, the spear quality is inferior to the sledgehammer and finally cracked into pieces.
Angus also notices this and uses strange footwork similar to beast to evade the incoming sledgehammer [Beast Walk]. Then he took out an axe from nearby and counter attacked the old dwarf [Axe Art - Mountain Cleaver].
Still the old dwarf managed to react quickly and break the axe using his hammer easily. Then, Angus took another weapon and launched another attack towards the old dwarf using various skills according to the weapon he wielded.
As Angus keeps changing his weapon to fends off the old dwarf, "Brat, stop taking the weapon and break it!!" said the old dwarf that already broke many of Angus's weapons. *Clang*
"Then, stop chasing me like a mad man, crazy old dwarf!!" replied Angus while he kept clashing with the old dwarf. *Clang*
"If you forget about your stupid dream and pursue the title of weapon master seriously, I will stop beating you. Just look at how many weapons you easily wield, It's a gift! A rare talent!!" Said the old dwarf. *Clang*
"No way! My dream is to have a peaceful life!!" shout Angus while attacking the old dwarf *Clang*
"Then, I will beat you until you forget those stupid dream!!" As the old dwarf flares up his own mana more.
Using faster speed and stronger attack, the old dwarf begins to seriously attack at Angus's body without care of the surrounding [Hammer Art - Stone Breaker]. *BOOM*
Angus got thrown away from the serious attack of the old dwarf. But, at the last moment he managed to mitigate some of the damage from his body [Yin-Yang Balancing].
Still the attack is far more he could handle and shock all his internal organs. He feels like being hit by a truck at fast speed or something worse.
*Cough* *Cough* "Crazy old man, *Cough* did you really want to kill me?! *Cough*" as Angus keep coughing more blood.
"Forget about your stupid dream!!" said the old dwarf.
"No!!" Shout Angus.
"Then, DIE!!" As the furious old dwarf raises his hammer.
Fortunately, at this time Bail managed to hold the old man. "Wait a minute, boss!!"
"Get away from me, Bail!!" as he tried to shake Bail around.
"Please, consider this. If you kill the kid, it will put us into a bad situation." As Bail tries to reason with the old dwarf.
"I don't care. I rather kill this imbecile brat now rather than let his talent rotting away." Replied the old dwarf
"H-How about this? this kid is still young, you could slowly shape and let him grow under your tutelage into a great weapon master?" Said Bail quickly.
Hearing this, the old dwarf thinks for a moment while Bail is nervous as he knows his boss is quite stubborn to handle.
'Please, I hope you consider this.' Thought Bail hopefully.
"Fine. Brat, I will give you a chance. From now on you will be my student, Balrug Goldstein. Now, tend your wound and tomorrow morning you will come over here to receive your training." As Balrug stares at Angus before walking away.
He feels if he looks or hears his new student comment at this moment, he will truly kill him without any hesitation. At first Angus wanted to say no, but Bail already shut off his mouth to not anger his old boss.
"Just shut up, brat. This is for your own good." Whispering Bail slowly towards Angus.
"Bail, take care of this mess. I will rest inside first. Beating the brat really makes me work this old bone." As Balrug walks towards the inside.
Looking at his boss finally entering inside, "Haaa… Kid, I don't know whether to call you lucky or not to become a student of the old boss." said Bail while he release the Angus's mouth
"*Cough* *Cough* Lucky my ass!! Who wants to be a student of that crazy old man." Replied Angus.
Hearing this Bail could only sigh inwardly, "Alright-Alright, if you want to live, you better comply with the boss for a while. Did you need some help to go towards the infirmary?" Asked Bail worriedly.
Bail knows that the last attack of Balrug is a powerful attack that could smash any grade one monster into pulp. So, he worried about Angus's condition, who is still not forming his own core.
Even though Bail is known that the kid in front of him is an anomaly, he is still worried. If something happens to the child himself, his future will also be doom.
"Don't worry it's just a small internal injury. I could still walk myself." Replied Angus in an assured tone before walking towards Henry.
Arriving at Henry's location, Angus stares at Henry silently before saying, "How much did you see?"
Hearing no answer, "I know you are already awake. So, stop pretending to sleep. Unless you want to sleep forever here." As Angus releases a little bit of chilling aura towards Henry.
"Hi-Hiiii… S-Sorry, young master. I am already awake now." Said Henry as soon as he felt the deadly chilling aura.
"Forget about it. So, How much did you see?" asked Angus once again.
"Err.. From the moment you clash with that old dwarf using various kinds of weapons nearby." Answered Henry.
Hearing this Angus immediately curse, "Tch… Damn it!!"
Before staring deadly at Henry, "I don't want any kind of soul to know about this incident. Even if my own father asked about it. Did you understand?! Otherwise, death is the only way you could think of." Said Angus while keeping releasing a dreadful chiling towards Henry.
"Y-Yes, Young master. Nobody knows about this matter." replied Henry rapidly.
"Good, now let's go back. How is your injury?" asked Angus while he is back to his lazy expression.
"Ahh.. Nothing major, young master. A good night rest is all I need to be back in full health." said Henry truthfully.
"Really?? Then, good. Go back to your own dorm to rest for now." Command Angus.
"Eh.. But, how about... your... injury?" while saying the latter sentence Henry feels another chill from Angus.
"Go back to your own dorm." said Angus expressionlessly.
"Y-Yes, young master." As Henry immediately departs from his spot to run away.
Looking at Henry's silhouette running towards his dorm. Angus finally feels to take a deep breath to calm his emotion.
Ever since Angus came into this world, he rarely shows his emotion, especially the rage emotion like now. All of this because Angus is master at controlling his own emotions.
However, like any other mortal being, Angus himself has his own reverse scale. His reverse scale is the hate of losing battle.
Although it is only a moment of battle and there is a big disparity in his strength with Balrug, this is also the first time Angus truly uses all his capability in fight.
Yet he was still overpowered easily by the old dwarf and even got mercy from him. This is a truly huge blow towards his pride as an expert martial artist.
Unlike the fight with his father, the fight he just had is more direct and relies on the skill and body strength. Because of this Angus now is between excitement and grief for losing against the old dwarf.
He is excited to have another battle with the old dwarf. But, he also hates himself for not being stronger than the old dwarf. This kind of chaotic emotion makes him become more moody than his calm self.
'Haa… Let's calm down for now and tend this wound first.' Thought Angus as he feels the stinging pain all over his body.
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