Go at him with the intent to kill. He's never told me to do that before.
Did he notice I've been holding back on Isamu? It's a possibility
...
"Interesting. By what judgment are you making such a proposition, father?" I ask.
"No specific reason, I'm just curious, and it HAS been a while since I last sparred with you." he reasons.
"Alright then."
"Also, I'm allowing magic."
"Very well."
I ready myself in my usual stance.
Killing intent, huh? I've never really felt anger, nor have I felt bloodlust in my life so I'm a bit unsure of how to go about showing killing intent...
I'll just use a bit more strength than usual, but I'll avoid going all out.
"Start!" He shouts.
I lunge forward with your average downward thrust of my sword, followed by a nonstop barrage of attacks after.
"You're pretty fast Touma."
"Thanks, I guess."
...
A few minutes pass since we started sparring.
So far, it's just been the same as when we sparred before.
And no matter how fast I move. His eyes are always locked on me.
What does he have planned for asking me to fight with killing intent?
I go for another normal thrust. Except...
What??
His right leg suddenly appeared to the right of me.
My clothes are all dirty now.
I wasn't expecting that. I barely managed to soften the impact from that kick.
I rub my arm that was kicked and ready myself again.
He's been on defense this whole time, and now he decides to attack.
"C'mon Touma. How long are you going to keep me waiting?"
...
"What are you talking about?"
"I know you've been holding back on Isamu, I can see it in the state you guys are in after sparring."
I guess he did find out.
"It wasn't that hard to notice, but I want to see how strong you really are. Because even now, I can tell you're still holding yourself back. You haven't even cast any magic." He points out.
"I suppose, that's a fair assessment. But why the need for killing intent?" I ask, genuinely wondering why he would suggest a thing.
"Because, if I tell you to fight stronger, you'll probably only use just enough strength to pass the bar... But I want to feel like my life is in danger."
Is he some kind of masochist? But alright I grant your wish.
"Very well then father."
"Don't disappoint me."
Alright, why not.
...
I take a deep breath and dash forward.
Faster.
I perform another normal but faster thrust but he still blocks it.
And he wants me to use magic, huh?
Earth, ground cannon
A decent cannonball-sized rock launches toward him
He breaks the rock with his palm like it was a grape hitting his hand.
"Well now, silent casting? You WERE holding back."
"Don't worry father, I won't disappoint you."
I'll also use a bit of my Dark affinity too.
Dark, constrict
His sword is trapped in my dark tendon like magic now
I lunge forward once more expecting to at least get some kind of scrape.
With his sword still trapped, he lifts his free hand.
"Flame thrower."
Shit.
Earth, Rock wall.
Swiftly creating another wall to block the blast, the fire blows past. Although I blocked it, the heat is still pretty intense.
Well, I should've expected that, if magic was allowed he would surely use it himself too.
The first stops and I leap on top of my wall.
"Sword skill, lightning enhancement." He disperses my constrict skill with his lightning.
Now he's using incantations, must be his way of giving himself a handicap...
"Don't stop now, son."
If he's going to use incantations, I can take advantage of that.
Firing a spike made of rock from the ground, he takes to the sky.
"That's not all you got, right?" He says in a cocky voice.
Forming an arrow as dark as night in my left hand I fire it toward him.
He can't dodge this while falling.
"Air enhancement."
He swiftly dodges the arrow without any worry whatsoever.
"Haha looks like you missed!"
Now he's flying. He really knows how to annoy his adversary.
No matter I'll just use this.
Another object begins to form from the darkness in my hand. a Whip that I can maneuver very easily.
I whip it into the air and snatch the leg of the cocky bastard in the sky.
"Get back down here."
I pull with all my strength and swing him to the ground creating a blasting sound.
A small cloud of dust rises from the impact.
Did I get him?
...
"Hoohoo that was interesting."
Guess not.
...
I dash and leap around continuously using the skills in my arsenal.
I send another black arrow barreling toward his chest.
Lightning starts forming in his free hand.
"Lightning Arrow."
An arrow made of lightning and it just bursts through my dark arrow like nothing.
Damn it. I've been using so many skills, but he keeps dodging or nullifying them so easily like he's catching butterflies.
I'm now resting on the other side of a wall I created thinking to myself.
I'm moving even faster now, but he still manages to keep his eyes on me.
"Come on son, I'm starting to have fun!..." He shouts in an insolent manner.
Screw it.
...
I wonder if Touma is almost out of mana by now?
The ground shakes at my feet. Or, I guess not. is it another ground spike? I'll just move back.
C'mon Touma you have to do better than that. Oh, and now Black arrows as well, too easy.
I go to swing my sword at the arrows but the sword won't budge.
What the hell! When did he constrict my sword!?
"Sword skill, Lightning."
Barely breaking free from the constrict and nullifying the continuous black arrows.
I go to move back some more to get distance, but a wall that wasn't there before stopped me in my tracks.
He blocked my escapes and now he's sending barrages of spikes and arrows at me.
He has me focusing harder than in other spar sessions, cutting the arrows with the sword and breaking the spikes with my fist.
How can he do this already??
I knew he was holding back but this is something else he's on a whole other level.
A whispy figure dashes toward me behind the cover of the other spells.
And he's already...Doesn't matter I can still see you, Touma.
"Flame thrower- Gah!"
My flames suddenly shoot off into the air, he redirected my flame with a wall at the last second.
And he's in front of me again! When did he disperse his wall??
His sword is dangerously close to my chest, I can see it now.
His eyes aren't wavering in the slightest he's about to drill this sword into my chest.
Now fearing for my life and in a state of desperation, I rapidly gather my air magic into my chest.
Sending it out of my body with a powerful shockwave.
It's quiet now; the spikes, the wall behind me, and my son that was centimeters away from driving his sword into my chest were now gone.
The dust clears and I see him a few yards away sitting down dusting himself off.
"This kid..."
...
"Yeah, that actually hurt a little."
I was so close, the tip of my sword was at his chest.
So many skills cast simultaneously, I thought I could get him this time, but that shockwave caught me by surprise.
Sitting down in the dirt a few yards from where I was a few seconds ago, trying to catch my breath and dust myself off.
Father walks up to me, not sure what he might do next, I jump up ready to evade another attack.
"Touma, What did you just do?" He says confused.
"Huh?... I don't know, I've just been fighting without holding back as you asked me to." I respond.
Crap, what did I do?
"You cast some of your spells simultaneously."
"Oh... Is it a bad thing?" I asked.
If it's not something kids my age can do, I'm in trouble.
"Not bad at all, but it's not something kids your age can do."
Wow...
"People grow up and some will be able to eventually do that, but even then it requires more focus, but for someone your age, it's unheard of."
He continues "Not just that, you were also really fast, I could barely keep my eyes on you once you started getting serious."
"Oh, thanks."
I wish I knew about the skill casting sooner. What will he do with me now? He might end up sending me off to an academy sooner than usual.
"When did you exceed this much in your magic and agility?"
So much for keeping it hidden.
"A while back maybe."
"I see, well if you've been this strong why have you been hiding it?"
"...I didn't want to make Isamu feel weak."
"...I see."
"Yeah..."
I didn't want to say it, but that's the best excuse I have.
"I suppose that's a fair decision if I'm being completely honest. Isamu can't hold a candle to you."
That's harsh.
"Anyways, although I was holding back, I'm surprised you managed to corner me like that, kiddo!" he laughs heartily.
"Maybe you'll be able to go off to the academy that Akio went to, sooner rather than later."
Shit, I really don't want to go to an academy. At least not yet... Maybe if I...
I get up and begin to walk toward him.
"Yeah, maybe. Although, I wasn't easy-"
I suddenly became overcome with dizziness and lean on my sword for support.
Within a millisecond he's next to me holding me up.
So fast, he really was holding back... How much though? I wonder.
"I guess you're not used to doing that yet are you?"
"Hehe, no I guess not. After all, it was my first time doing it so seriously."
I forced out a weak chuckle and lied through my teeth.
I could actually do it a few more times, but it's for the best. To at least ease the suspicion for a few more years.
"Haha, Then maybe a few more years and then you'll be ready."
Safe.
"Well then let's get back inside and rest. Your mother is probably almost done cooking dinner."
He holds both of the swords in one hand and proceeds to help me walk to the door.
Just then, Mother suddenly smashes the door open with a scary aura appearing around her.
Wow, she looks mad.
"Oh hi, honey." Father says innocently.
"What makes you think you're going to get dinner!?" He says in a stern voice.
"Huh?" He asks with a puzzled look on his face.
She aggressively points towards the craters and rubble in the yard, the broken fence, and a bush that Father had accidentally set on fire.
"Clean this up or you're not getting dinner!"
"WHAT!?"
Because I looked convincingly tired, mother didn't make me help clean up the mess.
Sorry, Father.