„This guy is actually crazy and thinks it's because of your handsomeness."
„Indeed, I am handsome. You can't blame him for his good thoughts, but.."
Crius eyes expressed an aura of coldness and murder lust, while looking at the maniac.
„..if he dares to attack, then he will greatly suffer."
The man jumped back to keep distance and pulled his short sword out. He held his left hand palm against Crius.
„Firebomb!"
The man shot a fire spell at Crius and before he could have time for a second spell, Crius evaded the attack, by jumping in the sky and fall in his direction. The man held his short sword to defend.
*clang*
The two swords clashed and Crius noticed that his attack was easily defended. Even worse, the man pushed him back and slashed horizontally. Crius agility was high, but it was only enough to barely evade it.
„Whats up with this guys strength? I feel some high aura around him, how can he be stronger than me?"
Crius was very confused by these ability differences, but was delighted and depressed after the System's respond.
„You entered the Spirit Strengthener Stage new. You are still in the unstable phase. Although he is also Spirit Strengthener Stage, he is already in the early Stage. Clearly, your chances are very low to win, but if you use Tiger Fist good enough, then even a bad technique can be used for good."
Crius wanted to try out, if it would be possible, despite the stage difference.
He rushed forward and the man quickly conjured a fire wall. Crius reacted fast, sprinted to the left, before it was completed and jumped at him low enough, to hit him from the underside vertical. This time, he used his sword at the right hand and his left for Tiger Fist.
*clang*
The swords hit again, but Crius used the pressure of his enemy strength, to jump over him and punched with his left Tiger Fist.
*boom*
The man was pushed into to the ground by the fist and the hit body shook the whole ground. He regained his senses after a few seconds and as his instincts kicked in, he speedily slashed with his sword at Crius right shoulder.
*splash*
Blood dripped out of Crius shoulder and it certainly hit, but before he could slice it off, Crius jumped immediately back and the man jumped after him.
*pant* *pant* *pant*
Both sides evaded and attacked each other, causing under the stalemate to constantly fatigue, until the man memorized Crius move pattern and predicted his next move.
„ughhh...!"
*pant* *pant* *pant*
Crius had intense pain everywhere in his body and the fatigue worsened. He heavily panted and his shoulder had massive pain, that cutting his arm off would be better, than feeling the pain.
*thud* *clung* *clung*
The slashes flew upon his enemy and the man simply dodged, as if he was used to it, giving Crius feelings of frustration grow. His attacks may injured the foe, but he looked like he could continue, while Crius fatigued from sprinting before and fighting now. This was supposed to be a break...
„Watch out!"
*splash*
The System warning was a second late and Crius was sliced at his chest. He felt the same pain back then, when he was dying. Crius panicked and instantly thought of using his sword. He stabbed the man also in his chest, but aimed his blade at his heart.
The man was really happy and thought of how he could win Rosy over, after this guy died. His enemy was actually pretty good, considering the stage difference, but instead of respect, feelings of envy swirled inside him. He wanted to have Rosy all for himself and wouldn't let anyone touch her. The moment she came in the village, he had his eyes on her and thought so many times, of how he could win her heart. After experiencing her cold reply and this handsome guy, he wanted to end everything by killing.
„Baka!"
*splash*
Because he thought of Rosy, he noticed Crius blade late and was stabbed at his heart. He instinctively pressed his sword harder in Crius chest, causing him to cry of pain. The man felt his fatigue worsening and his sight blurred. He used his last strength to press the sword harder in Crius chest and fell with his back on the ground, lying now like a dead corpse with the blade in his chest.
„Ughhh..aaahhhh..!"
„Why does this..pant...maniac overdo it!?!"
Crius saw the sword deep in his chest and if he hadn't his life will, he would have fainted. He recovered his sword from the corpse and acted fast.
„System, can you look in the shop, if there is any medicine I can use?"
He knew, he should have medicine ready, before pulling it out, otherwise he would die of blood loss.
„There is Low Spirit Herb Tea. It heals the body and relaxes it, also regenerating blood. It's not that pricy."
„I don't care about the price! I have other issues right now!"
„Yeah, yeah, no need to be aggressive, I was just t-"
„BUY IT ALREADY?!"
System reacted fast and bought it. He pulled it out of his System's storage and drunk it. He waited a few seconds to let the effects kick in and then pulled the sword out.
*splash*
„AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Crius screamed of pain, ignoring his lungs resisting and if there would be anyone in 1 km range, they would have undoubtedly heard him from afar.