I recommend listening to this while reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4DcWYnAZ7M I listened to it all the time i was writing^^

Chapter 27: Overwhelming

Even though Alverin heard the start from the principal he didn't immediately went in for the kill. No he wanted to savor this moment. Completely ridicule that arrogant bastard. Suddenly he had a really good idea. "Oi wind brat. How about a little wager?"

When he said those words his opponent opened one eye. "Suit yourself." What was with that bastard's attitude? "If you loose you will have to leave the academy and never set foot into the capital ever again."

He was quiet sure of himself. His opposite had not even moved into any kind of fighting stance and Alverin could not feel any kind of blood lust from his opponent. He had fought veterans over and over during his training and they all carried a heavy air of fighting spirit around them. So he was very confident about the outcome of this match.

"I mean of course only if you dare." After those words he actually dared to smirk! "Sure but if I win you will from now on be known as trash." Now he did it. He had enraged this great future general even further. He would utterly destroy him! He could be glad if he came out of this alive.

"Agreed." he answered without hesitation. He would soon wipe that smirk of that annoyingly handsome face. A gasp could be heard from the audience but he didn't care. This was his moment to shine. He settled into a fighting stance and the ones who were familiar with sword play were quiet astonished. His stance was nearly flawless not giving any opening to his opponent.

"Here i come!" With those words Alverin kicked off. He launched himself towards his enemy swinging his sword in a perfectly controlled arch. The other side took a step back and narrowly avoided the strike. At least his reflexes are good was what Alverin thought.

But he would not let him get away! With that arch he started a sure kill combination that he had trained over and over with the veteran knights of his father. Every step he took, every swing he made pushed his opponent further into a corner.

At the moment he could still dodge using nimble movements but that was not enough to startle an experienced fighter like himself! Admiring shouts could be heard from the crowd. It was clear that he was very talented when it came to the sword.

Indeed for his age he was quiet advanced. Even the older long serving knights beside his father praised him whenever he trained his swordsmanship in the courtyard of their family home. Let's see how long you remain expressionless when i have you cornered is what he thought.

Slash by slash, step by step he drove that arrogant brat further and further into a corner. He would regret not having drawn his weapon when he had the chance because now he would not give him the time to do it. And finally with a quick stab that forced the white figure to take a step back he had him cornered. The principal had set a small ditch around an area of roughly twenty square meters. Leaving that area meant loosing so there was nowhere to go for this overly confident nuisance!

Sure of his victory Alverin stepped forward for the final slash that would seal his triumph. And then it happened. With a fluid motion that hardly anyone of the spectating people caught let alone Alverin himself he moved past his sword! He could feel two light taps on his neck and forehead. He froze in place. Behind him he could hear that hateful cold voice:

"You just died twice." Impossible. Alverin could not comprehend what just happened. It was a fluke! It could only have been a fluke. Deadly silence engulfed the entire training field. With a shout the young master of the Niederschloß household turned around, draw his short sword that hung on his right side and attacked again.

Faster than before and perfectly coordinating both swords Alverin now used all of his power to go for the kill! He had already lost his reason due to his anger. But Asura as if not concerned by his opponent dodged every strike with a bored expression.

Not a single wasted movement as if dancing, Asura's figure was dazzling. No one watching this duel made a sound. The were all mesmerized by those perfectly accurate movements. As if being here meant going on a stroll for him. Alverin started to breath heavier and heavier but he wouldn't let up!

Asura on the other hand was not even breathing hard and just kept dodging every blow that came in. "IMPOSSIBLE!" With that shout the agitated noble made a desperate strike with both swords but again his opponent shocked everyone present.

With a casual turn and a high kick he trapped the long sword under his left foot while simultaneously catching the short sword between the fingers of his right hand. Another casual turn and Alverin had lost both weapons while Asura now held the the tip of the short sword between his fingers.

The long sword was still trapped under the left foot now lying on the ground. "And you are dead again trash. Glad to give you a lesson." With just those words he threw the short sword towards Alverin's feet, turned around and walked towards the academy.

No sound. Nothing could be heard because no one could quiet take in yet what had happened before their very eyes. Asura without even using a weapon had ridiculed Alverin. Suddenly with a roar: "NO WAY. SPIRIT OF FIRE BECOME MY WEAPON THAT ERADICATES ALL. FIRE BALL."

Theresa was dumbfounded. Never had she imagined that Asura didn't say those words yesterday because he was arrogant. No he said them because he literally meant it. There was no need for anyone to interfere he was clearly superior in any way.

Every attack that this idiot Alverin tried had been casually dodged as if he was just walking through the woods evading low hanging tree branches. It even looked as if he was bored!

And there was the first move. He fluently dodged Alverin's final strike and tapped him twice. And those two taps even though they were light, were lighting fast! "You just died twice."

Theresa thought with this it was over for sure. But obviously there were people alive who did not know the difference between heaven and earth. With a shout that idiot drew his short sword and attacked again. But not even faced Asura continued to move as if having a pleasant stroll.

Theresa was the first princess. Of course she was trained in the way of the sword. Her family made no difference between gender. Only ability counted. And she was by far the most gifted of all the current emperor's children. So obviously she would have been trained in various arts concerning fighting, magic and politics.

So she could tell. What she was witnessing was a master playing with a child. Because that was the only way to describe what Asura did. He played with his opponent. She was sure that he could have ended it any time he wanted but... He just didn't bother.

And again with ingenious movement he now even disarmed his contender! "And you are dead again trash. Glad to give you a lesson." With those words Asura left. But Alverin just didn't know when to stop. As the young genius was leaving suddenly that idiot started to cast magic!

"NO WAY. SPIRIT OF FIRE BECOME MY WEAPON THAT ERADICATES ALL. FIRE BALL." Theresa acted immediately. "Oh holy spirit of light. Protect those dear to me. LIGHT SHIELD." She didn't even think about what she was doing or what incarnation she was using, she just knew: She can't let anything happen to Asura!

The light shield deployed stopped the fireball and that in itself was quiet the feat. Alverin was not weak and if Theresa would have been in a normal state of mind there was no way she could have stopped such a big spell single handedly. In fact even now she would have never been able to stop this alone but no one except maybe for the principal could see or notice the small but incredibly powerful wind barrier that was laid on top of her light barrier.

Having stopped the attack she immediately rushed forward. "STOP THAT YOU FOOL. STOP BRINGING MORE SHAME TO YOUR NAME AND THE NAME OF YOUR FAMILY." she shouted enraged. Alverin jumped around and shouted back: "WHO DARES TO GIVE ME ORD...."

and shut up as soon as he saw her. "Alverin von Niederschloß. Junior Asura is absolutely right. You are trash! And I dare to give you orders. Or did your ego become so inflated that you now dare to talk back to the first princess?"

Before the accused could say anything she continued: "Don't even say a word. To actually break the rules of a sacred duel on top of that on this holy ground that is the academy and even further shaming your father by attacking from behind. You have no honor! Rest assured that I will inform my father his highness of your shameful behavior. NOW BEGONE."

With a shocked expression Alverin tried to leave the field but.... suddenly a bone chilling aura enveloped the two of them. With cold sweat both of them turned towards Asura. But was that really Asura? Gone was the handsome young man. Instead a dark figure enveloped in thick killing intent approached them. Cold sweat ran down their forehead.

"Trash. Let me ask you something. How many have you killed?" Asura leaned down and looked Alverin in the eyes. Theresa next to them could not utter a word. His words were spoken very very silently and Theresa was sure only she and Alverin could hear him.

"I have spent my childhood in Shura fighting for my life every day. I have killed since i could walk and the number of beastkin i have slain are uncountable. So a little word of warning: Don't mess with me. The next time you as much as annoy me, I will come for you. And when I do, I will introduce you to the god of death. Sounds good?"

And with that the oppressive atmosphere vanished as if it was never there in the first place. Again Asura turned around starting to leave. Theresa knew it was now or never. With a fast beating heart that came from the killing intent before, that's at least what she thought at that time, she called after him:

"Junior Asura!" He actually stopped. "Sorry for meddling. But... still... would.... would you... consider tea at some point?" Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Her father always said that. And he actually turned around and looked at her! For the first time he actually looked at her.

"I really like sweets." with that and a chuckle he left the still otherwise silent training ground. Theresa smiled but her face immediately changed when she had a foul smell in her nose. She turned towards Alverin and saw a small pool of water gathering below him.

One of my favorite chapters till now! As mentioned earlier^^ But boy that chapter felt good! Anyway enjoy.