Adam’s head snapped to the girl, who was sobbing into her mother’s chest. “Is she okay?”

Sonarot stared at Adam, her brows furrowed, all the while she gently rubbed the back of her daughter’s head. “Your spell shocked her. She will calm soon.”

The Iyrmen had frozen only for a moment, before someone went to check on Kaygak. They removed her helmet and quickly fed her a healing potion, which sealed some of her wounds, though she awakened to see a familiar face, blurry, full of worry.

Kaygak had shown Adam mercy that day, and yet she had fallen within a single strike.

The Iyrmen, many of whom had only heard of Adam’s abilities, and some of them having seen them first hand, were frozen in shock. Even those closest to Adam had not expected this.

Kaygak, though she was no Master, was still extremely powerful. She would give many Masters trouble with her great natural strength, and her vitality which rivalled even Rage Dancers. The people who could down her in a single blow were not known, beyond perhaps the deadliest of creatures.

Sir Vonda, who hadn’t known Adam for long, had seen him do some incredible things. However, this was something even beyond her imagination.

Jonn looked to Kaygak, who had experienced the same as he, dropping down within a moment against the Half Elf. ‘He’s so much stronger than before.’

Fred’s mouth was agape. He had almost blinked during the clash, and if he had, he would have missed the entire thing.

Even the children were shocked. They knew how powerful an Iyrman was, and Taygak was fairly certain she understood how powerful her mother was, but this was something else.

‘Damn it,’ Laygak thought. ‘Why isn’t he into men? Cousin Jaygak, return quickly and seduce him!’

‘I should try and help soothe Lanarot,’ Naqokan thought.

Faool gave Nirot a look, but her response was negative. ‘So even you did not know his true strength?’

Nirot thought back to their fight, and how easy it was for Adam to beat her. However, he was definitely holding back against her.

‘I thought Iyrmen were scary,’ Brittany thought.

‘Nice,’ Nobby thought.

Strom stared at the Half Elf, who was currently brushing his baby sister’s hair. The older man was going to hand the blade over to the Iyr, but he had lost it to the crazy young man he had only just met.

He smiled. ‘It doesn’t matter. I owed him a reward for a story regardless.’

“Yo,” Adam said, looking to Strom. “Going to pass that sword then?” He held out his hand.

“I wouldn’t have bet it if I wasn’t willing to lose it,” Strom said, handing the blade over.

Adam felt the magic within the blade, the tingling sensation tickling his palm. It was quite a hefty blade, but after a moment, it was much lighter. “What does it do?”

“You will have to find out when you grow with it.”

Adam furrowed his brows. ‘How the hell do you grow with a sword?’

Kaygak exchanged a look with Gorot and Mirot, before bowing her head. “It was a good fight.”

“Yeah,” Adam said, awkwardly.

Victory!

Kaygak

XP Gained: +700XP

XP: 4400 -> 5100

‘That’s a lot of XP.’ Adam’s eyes then went to Gorot. “You know, why don’t we have a spar? I need a little break and I’ll be good to have a friendly spar. It won’t be the real fight, just a spar between you and me.” ‘If I can farm Iyrmen for XP, that would be nice.’

“Okay,” Gorot replied. Regardless of the circumstances of the fight, he was an Iyrman, and he could not refuse such a tempting offer.

Mana: 14 -> 11

Phantom: 0 -> 3

Adam dropped down to rest up, holding Lanarot in his arms. “I’m sorry for scaring you, little baby.” He continued to brush her hair, keeping her head to his chest, quietly soothing her. ‘I really shouldn’t have taken the bet.’

Then he looked at the sword. ‘Should I attune to it? No, no. Just in case it weakens me before the next fight.’ If he managed to defeat Gorot, then he’d have quite a large amount of XP he could spend on something. He could potentially gain another spell, or he could increase the number of spells he’d be able to prepare for the morning.

“I didn’t expect you to be so strong,” Strom said. “Even I would be unable to defeat the young woman in a single blow.”

“Well, not everyone can be as amazing as me, I suppose,” Adam replied, trying to not smirk. “You shouldn’t bet against me.”

“Even with a bet completely in my favour I managed to lose,” Strom said.

“You’re lucky I didn’t ask for a fair bet.”

“Do you not think it was fair?”

“Phantom is worth much more than you think.”

“So is Stormdrake.”

“You won’t tell me what it does?”

“No.”

The others continued to stare at Adam, wondering how to enter the conversation after what they had seen.

“Adam,” Dunes called, approaching the trio. “When did you become so strong?”

“I’ve been that strong since I left the Iyr last time.” Adam shrugged his shoulders.

Dunes blinked, all the while the Iyrmen kept their attention onto Adam. “Really?”

“Yes.”

Dunes fell quiet for a long moment, deep in thought. “Are we friends, Adam?”

“Aren’t we?”

Dunes nodded his head slowly. “Then I shall do my best never to lose your favour.”

Adam laughed. “Sticking with me is a greater fortune.”

“I can’t deny that,” Dunes said. “Though is a friendship which is built on transactions a friendship?”

“All relationship are transactional,” Adam replied. “Sometimes I might give you more, sometimes you give me more, but as long as we do the bare minimum, it should be fine.”

“Do you view everything so bluntly?” Dunes asked.

“Pretty much.”

“What of your sister? Is your relationship with her transactional?”

“Of course it is,” Adam said, kissing her forehead. “She laughs at my jokes so I’ll kill anyone trying to hurt her.”

Dunes smiled.

Vonda frowned.

Mana: 11 -> 14

The meat had just finished cooking as Adam stretched, finishing his rest. He had managed to regain some of his Mana, and since Phantom was fully charged, he felt fairly confident he wouldn’t lose. However, he had no idea how strong Gorot was in comparison to Kaygak.

‘Everyone was so quiet after I beat Kaygak,’ Adam thought. ‘I would have expected the Iyrmen to be so cheerful.’ He looked to the children, who were huddled together with Kaygak, making sure she was okay. ‘Did fighting with them make them distant to me? What’s the point of this fight them?’

Gorot held a shield with one arm, which held the Rot family pattern, the blue circle and diamonds which ran alongside it. However, it was the axe in hand which caused Adam’s eyes to fall against it.

‘Sunder?’ Adam recalled.

It was quite a long axe, slightly unwieldy to hold with one hand, if you weren’t an Iyrman. The handle was made of wood, red, and the blade was near black, with the slightest hint of red.

“Want to bet some more?” Adam asked, looking to Strom.

“I’m not sure I can afford it,” Strom said.

“You’ve lived for over a thousand years and you can’t afford to bet with a baby who is under twenty years old?”

“I can still smell how strong you are.”

Adam winced.

“I didn’t mean it that way,” Strom said, glaring at the boy.

“Fine, fine.”

“Are you ready?” Gorot asked.

“Yeah,” Adam said, Phantom and shield in hand.

Battle Order

D20 + 1 = 16 (15)

Health: 65 -> 36

Adam, who was feeling far more confident after dropping Kaygak in a single round, bolted forward. However, Gorot was not quite so simple, as his entire body turned red, and he swung wildly against Adam, striking against his shield, before managing to force him back.

Their axes clattered together, and Adam felt just how strong the Iyrman was, their clashing blows echoing through the courtyard.

‘Damn, this guy isn’t so bad.’

Mana: 14 -> 13

Spell: Thunderous Smite

Attack

D20 + 8 = 16 (8)

D20 + 8 = 24 (16)

Hit!

Mana: 13 -> 10

Phantom: 3 -> 2

1D6 + 4D6 + 4D6 + 2D6 + 6 = 48 (4)(1, 1, 3, 5)(3, 4, 4, 5)(6, 6)

Damage resisted!

43 damage!

Attack

D20 + 8 = 16 (8)

D20 + 8 = 24 (16)

Hit!

Mana: 10 -> 7

Phantom: 2 -> 1

1D6 + 4D6 + 4D6 + 6 = 41 (5)(1, 2, 4, 5)(2, 4, 6, 6)

Damage resisted!

36 damage!

Adam ducked under a wild swing, and clutched his die tight in hand as the magic flowed through his body. “Call me Storm Lord!” Adam chanted, gripping Phantom tight in hand, before swinging down against the Iyrman.

Gorot caught the blow with his axe, but the thunder rippled through his body, causing him to twitch as he stepped back, before he brought his axe up again to defend against the Half Elf’s assault.

His nose dripped blood. Gorot fell down to a knee, his body going from red to white, as he slumped over, unable to find the strength to stand.

“This is your win, Adam,” Gorot said, having lost within moments. After Kaygak had lost so easily, he had no doubt he’d fall the same.

“This was just a practise round,” Adam said. “Tomorrow we’ll fight for real.”

Victory!

Gorot

XP Gained: +700XP

XP: 5100 -> 5800

‘I wonder what I can get.’