“Don’t disappoint me, Cain!” shouted Rugo. He dashed straight towards Cain.

“I’ll try not to!” Cain grinned. He threw the axe into the air and casted triple-layered waves of raging water at Rugo with his left hand.

Rugo ran faster and just rammed his body towards the waves, then he spun when he was inside the water. The water splashed all over the ground. No damage was done to Rugo’s body. After he spun, Rugo leaped towards Cain with his claws, ready to rip the human in front of him apart.

Cain reacted with an upward slash, but Rugo was fast, he deflected the sword to the side and headbutted Cain on the forehead.

“Guh!!” Cain gritted his teeth, then he retaliated with landing a somersault kick to Rugo’s jaw.

“Grh!” Rugo did not expect that.

Cain landed then dashed towards Rugo with a fist charged on his waist. Rugo was ready to counter that punch, but suddenly Cain jumped along with pebbles and rocks from the ground. His left hand reached the air and caught the axe he threw earlier. As he caught the axe, the pebbles and rocks that jumped along with him started gathering on the steel of the axe, forming a great axe of stone. Cain swung the axe down

Rugo grinned, he destroyed the great axe by swinging his forearm at it. Then he kicked Cain with high back kick. Vulnerable in the air, Cain had no choice but to defend by crossing his arms. He was thrown by the kick but he landed safely on the ground.

Now he had a good distance, with a swift swing Cain unleashed Wind Guillotine. He also rapid-fired lightning bolts and earth stakes.

Rugo countered with his claws, a swing from his sharp claws stopped the invisible wave, then with ease, he deflected the lightning bolts and the earth stakes with the back of his hands. The ground around him exploded and stabbed by Cain’s magic he deflected.

Cain wanted to unleash another barrage of attacks, but the sword he held broke apart into pieces. With a sigh, he just dropped the sword hilt to the ground.

“You’re proficient in combat and magic, huh? But you’re not taking this fight seriously, you are holding back,” said Rugo.

“You think so?” Cain replied, “(water, earth and lightning magic aren't effective against him, and fire should gives no effect too if I think about yesterday,)” thought Cain.

“I am a seasoned warrior, that invisible slash was totally a lot weaker compared to what I saw when we were fighting the beast horde,” said Rugo.

“True… I was thinking from the moment we started fighting, you are clearly immune to magic,” said Cain.

“You thought right,” Rugo laughed, “let me give you a clue then, I’m not really immune, but magic gives little effect on me, especially elemental magic,” said Rugo.

“What!? That’s cheating! Wait, shouldn't you keep it to yourself!?” responded Cain.

“Well, I already know your secret about skill-using consequences to the weapons you wield. It’ll be fair to share mine too,” said Rugo.

“Not really a secret but... fair enough.”

“Come, show me what you have on your sleeves! The clock is ticking!” said Rugo.

“(What should I hit him with? There are various types of techniques from Gomara, but I simply can't try them one by one with this limited time! And that claws! If I try to fight him with just martial arts technique and close quarter combat, I’m sure it’s gonna be messy!)” thought he.

Cain glanced at the sword he stabbed on the ground. “(Ugh… that won't do!)”

“Oh well, Don’t really have time to test things out, huh?” Cain took off his coat and his left glove, he threw them far.

Blue flame was blazing on the Bracelet of Azure Mysticbone. Cain’s expression showed pain. The flame spread up to his forearm.

“Hm? Blue flame?” Rugo watched the flame on Cain’s hand.

Suddenly, the flame rose up to Cain’s shoulder. Raging on his left arm, the flame burned his left sleeve, but he still felt no heat from the flame.

“Whoa, whoa! What!?” Cain panicked, his entire left arm was enveloped by azure flame.

The flame slowly diminished as the pain went away, revealing the Azure Bone Gauntlet. It covered Cain’s entire left arm now, not just his forearm. It had a bit different form from when the last time Cain used it, it looked more dynamic and had more layered bones that tightly locked onto Cain’s arm.

“It’s different…” said Cain as he looked at the Gauntlet. “It evolved?”

“Is that your trump card?” asked Rugo.

“I’m not sure…” mumbled Cain, then he felt a vibration from his waist bag where he put the Book of Gomara. “(Yeah, it evolved… does that mean I’m getting stronger? The book says its power grows depending on its user after all?)”

“Well then, let me taste what you have!” exclaimed Rugo.

“Alright! You asked for it!” shouted Cain. “(Let’s see if this azure flame can do something about his magic resistance!)” thought he.

Cain casted a fiery blue firebolt that blazingly went straight towards Rugo. The firebolt was as big as Cain’s head.

“Magic?” Rugo took a step forward and put his right palm towards the firebolt. “It’s futil-!”

Rugo wanted to stop the firebolt with his hand, but as soon as the firebolt came close to his hand just about twice his arm’s reach, Rugo instinctively retracted his hand and dodged to the side, the firebolt grazed his hand a bit.

“(What is this!? This feeling… I haven't felt something like this since my last spar with Elder Bilvrast!)” thought Rugo, he looked at his hand, the area where it got grazed was burned.

Then, a massive explosion flashed behind him.

With a thunderous sound, the firebolt blew the ground far behind Rugo. The sound was three times louder than Rugo’s technique he used to alert the guards at Ulstena.

That was actually not just an ordinary firebolt that could be casted by anyone who practiced basic fire elemental magic. But it was a condensed wind sphere that was enveloped by a raging fire, Gomara named it Vlama’s Spit.

Vlama was the name of a Grand Dragon who had a powerful fire breath, so powerful that even her spit could melt a reinforced iron.

Cain himself was aghast because the damage should not be that powerful. He realized Vlama’s Spit became stronger because azure flame empowered it just like when he used Scorching Lightning Canines back in Krevias.

“This is surprising!” exclaimed Rugo, “Your blue flame bypassed my magic resistance!” he looked very excited.

“I’m surprised too!” Cain laughed.

“This is great! Let’s get serious, then!” said Rugo.

He raised his right hand to the air, a red light flashed from his right palm, he grabbed the light and pulled it down fast. Then, a shockwave blasted around him.

The wind quickly swept the dust away, revealing the ground around Rugo was cracked. Rugo just stood there. The brown cloth on Rugo’s waist and his whiskers were fluttering wildly, as if there was a vortex of wind around him.

“!!!” Cain suddenly took a stance.

“Hoo? You can feel it?” said Rugo. “Your sense is stronger than I thought.”

“With that kind of intimidating aura that leaking around you? Of course!” responded Cain.

Rugo chuckled. “You have that yourself! That ominous and intimidating aura around that bone arm!”

“It’s called Azure Bone Gauntlet,” said Cain.

“Azure?... I think I’ve heard that before… ah nevermind that now,” said Rugo. “Well, because you told me that, then I’ll tell you what I have released, it’s Reaver magic.”

“Reaver Magic!? That double-edged magic!? Why are you using that magic!? Isn't that shortening your lifespan!?”

“True, but do you think it’s a good time to chat?” said Rugo as he jumped high to the air, then he kicked the air as if there were a foothold, he dashed downwards while spinning.

Cain took a defensive stance. When they clashed, between Rugo’s claws and Cain’s Gauntlet, the ground around them shook so hard. Cain’s feet were half buried because Rugo’s power, the ground around him also web-cracked.

“(What is this strength!? And this speed!? His power has increased at least five times!)” thought Cain, he gritted his teeth.

Azure Bone Gauntlet’s ability repelled Rugo’s claws after he pushed Cain.

“(Hrrh!? He repelled my attack this easy!?)” thought Rugo, he jumped back.

“You’re strong!” Cain grinned.

“So are you! I only use Reaver magic when I spar with Elder Bilvrast, even my brother won’t fight me if I use this magic,” responded Rugo.

“Is this your first fight against a human?” Cain dashed towards Rugo.

“Of course not!” Rugo also dashed towards Cain. “There were plenty of morons tried to hunt down Hoarts! They weren’t even worthy for my claws!”

They traded blows, Cain landed a kick on Rugo’s chest, Rugo countered with a punch to Cain’s face.

Cain clenched his fist, he unleashed Shattering Fist with the Gauntlet. Rugo managed to defend against it but he was pushed back.

“(What a punch!)” thought Rugo. He swung down both his hands, sending eight red waves from his claws towards Cain.

Cain stepped hard on the ground with his left foot. A large and thick stone wall emerged from the ground. Even though the stone wall looked solid, it was nothing when the waves cut through it, Cain jumped to avoid them.

But Rugo was also in the air, in front of Cain to be precise. He spun with incredible speed, a red streak sparked around his right foot. Cain put his guard up with the flame-wrapped Azure Bone Gauntlet.

Rugo’s right foot clashed with the Gauntlet, the ground behind Cain trembled and cracked because of the wave of Rugo’s kick.

Rugo kicked the Gauntlet with a force that threw Cain, but Cain managed to regain his balance before he crashed on the ground.

Rugo also landed, he looked at his right foot that was burned by the flame. “(That azure flame is painful! My foot is burning hot! and that Gauntlet… I feel like I just hit layers of hardened steel!)”

Cain looked at his Gauntlet, the Gauntlet was cracked, not a small crack, but the crack spread around the forearm, even Cain questioned himself why the Gauntlet was still wrapping his forearm, it should have been broke apart.

“(What a strong kick! It bypassed the Gauntlet’s repel ability! Even my forearm is feeling it!)” thought Cain, he could feel his left forearm was throbbing because of the kick. “(So this is the power of Reaver magic? A magic that uses the user’s lifespan to enhance his ability beyond the limit! Ugh, thankfully the Gauntlet absorbed most of the impact, otherwise I can’t imagine what would happen to my forearm bones!)”

Azure flame blazed from the cracks on the Gauntlet. The flame burned the Gauntlet anew.

“That flame… repaired the Gauntlet!?” Rugo was surprised, followed by a laugh, “outside world is really interesting!”

“Indeed! This is thrilling!” Cain also fired up, he took a stance.

“Hold it,” said Rugo, he gazed towards Ulstena then chuckled. “As much as I want to continue, looks like our time is up.”

A cloud of dust was coming towards them, it was moving fast.

“Ah…” Cain also looked at the dust cloud, “too bad.”

“Looks like you enjoyed the fight!” said Rugo.

“I’m always down for a good fight!” responded Cain.

“That’s good to hear!” said Rugo, he closed his eyes, as he exhaled a long breathe, a warm wind breezed around him. His ferocious aura was no longer there.

“Now, it’s time to go!” Cain took his coat and glove. Beil ran towards them.

Rugo took his knives and crossbow.

“You know, if you want to come with me you don't have to see me like I’m your leader or something, Rugo.” said Cain. “You know… ah, how do I say that, like if you watch my back, I watch yours.”

The Gauntlet turned back into a Bracelet.

“...” Rugo looked at Cain. “You mean you don’t want to set up a hierarchy? You want us to be equals?” asked Rugo.

“Hmm… yeah, something like that, you disagree?” said Cain.

Rugo chuckled. “I see, I see,” then he laughed. “I thought I was open minded already! Hahah!”

“Meip?” Beil looked at Cain. Cain just shrugged at Beil.

“Yeah, yeah, that’ll do,” said Rugo, “besides, you have proven your strength.”

“Hmm… so?”

“Alright, Cain, equals!” said Rugo. “I’m no longer in a moasrahn kingdom or territory that highly upholds hierarchy even in a very small circle, I’ll have to be as flexible as I can now.”

Cain nodded in response. “Let’s go,” said he. But before they depart for Ulstena, Cain gave Rugo a small jar of poultice he made from Gomara’s recipe when he was making the Poison Reserver Potion. It helped relieving the inflammation caused by Cain’s azure flame on Rugo’s leg and arm.

“I have my own remedy, but I’ll take it anyway, thanks,” said Rugo while applying the poultice on his leg.

“Sorry about your fur,” said Cain.

“Nah, don’t worry, it’ll grow back in a day,” responded Rugo. “Moasrahn is awesome more than you know,” Rugo smirked.

They left the area, with their speed and skill to cover their tracks, the guards couldn’t find where they went. They only found what the battle did to the meadow, a mess.