After enduring rigorous training for weeks, two transformative months had already passed, marking profound changes in every aspect.
Deep within the woods, a renewed sense of determination filled the air as they returned to the sparring ground where Mika and Lusina's previous attempts had fallen short. Armed with a fresh strategy meticulously crafted by Mika himself, a newfound confidence coursed through him, believing this time success was within reach. Through tireless effort and dedication, Mika honed his booby traps to near perfection, leaving no room for error.
With patience, Mika observed and analyzed every move made by Sougo, committing them to memory with precision. Sougo's actions proved to be as unpredictable as the wind, a stark contrast to the orderly march of ants whose paths could easily be foreseen. Mika attributed this challenge to his lack of experience in combat against a fellow human, acknowledging the sheer complexity of facing such a formidable enemy.
"The soil is much softer, much like someone had been digging a hole. A bunch of stomped grass and an evident footmark. He is getting good at pretending to be a fool, so I will not fall for it." Sougo promptly analyzed the ground, discovering signs of traps nearby.
'He's been watching over me with binoculars from behind, hiding in the tree and calculating my every move. Not a smart way to hide your detection from me, even a small rustle could alert the deers away.' Sougo's senses were very attentive to his surroundings as he
Every bit of detail was carefully analyzed by Sougo, believing Mika was pursuing a reverse psychology to make Sougo avoid the fool's bait, this made Sougo commended Mika's efforts, "(If an opponent knows you are smart, they would think twice over some silly, obvious traps, either following them or not. To make a trap work, you must fight their psychology. Smart move...)"
Perched stealthily among the treetops, Mika remained motionless, his keen gaze fixed on Sougo below as he observed the unexpected spectacle unfolding before him. "What's he up to, anyway? He's been staring at that flower for two whole minutes," Mika mused silently, his curiosity piqued by Sougo's peculiar behavior.
Unbeknownst to Mika, Sougo had already sensed his presence, laying the groundwork for a cunning maneuver.
Suddenly, without warning, Sougo bolted into action, setting off a chain of events that sent Mika leaping from tree to tree in hot pursuit. Harnessing the power of his lightning magic, Mika surged forward, propelling his entire body with electrifying speed as he closed in on his elusive target. Unwavering in his pursuit, Sougo raced ahead until he encountered a seemingly insignificant stab mark etched into his path.
Without hesitation, Sougo swiftly plunged his weapon into the mark, triggering a concealed trap with lethal precision. The trap, ingeniously constructed with a bamboo stick affixed with a skull-penetrating spike and a hidden pressure plate, sprang into action, poised to ensnare any unsuspecting victim in its deadly embrace.
"Damn it!" Mika's faint mistake made his traps abortive.
As the chase continued through the dense forest, Mika's pursuit of Sougo intensified, prompting a swift change in tactics as he enacted his backup plan. With a deft hand, Mika readied his bow and arrow, aiming to strike his elusive target from mid-air.
"Plan B," Mika muttered under his breath as he took aim and released the arrow without using lightning magic. The projectile flew towards Sougo, almost hitting its mark, only to be deftly blocked by Sougo's blade.
"He is getting better," Sougo remarked, acknowledging Mika's progress with a hint of seriousness in his tone.
"Amaclyious," Sougo incanted the spell, unleashing a cloud of blinding smoke to obscure Mika's vision. Feeling a pang of regret for teaching Sougo so much, Mika prepared to retaliate.
"Fine, if that's the way you wanna play, how about you dodge this!" Mika exclaimed as he aimed his arrow straight up.
Releasing his lightning magic, he shot the arrow high into the sky. The arrow multiplied and split into countless lightning arrows, raining down upon the smoke where Sougo's location remained a mystery.
After the arrows plunged towards Sougo, something unexpected emerged from the dissipating smoke. Mika stayed alert, his gaze fixed on the haze above, where Sougo's katana suddenly appeared, followed by his shirt thrown with a heavy rock from the front.
Forced to retreat, Mika lost his balance on a tree branch, and in a blink of an eye, Sougo was behind him, pointing a small knife at his back. The tension between them escalated, poised on the brink of a dangerous confrontation.
Sougo's knife lightly pressed against Mika's neck, signaling the end of the match. "The game is over, you lost," Sougo declared with a hint of triumph in his voice.
"You created two decoys to distract me, cleverly evading my sight by feinting to the right and circling around to approach me from behind. I must admit, I didn't see that coming. However, your victory is short-lived..." Mika vanished into thin air, revealing that he had deployed a lightning clone as a clever ruse.
"This is the moment I win..." Mika's true form materialized behind Sougo, arrow aimed squarely at his adversary.
"Haha, how's that, Mr. Sougo? Did I impress you enough?" Mika exulted in his apparent victory, eager for validation.
"You are still too green. Look above you," Sougo retorted calmly.
Mika glanced upward, only to be struck by Sougo's thrown katana, the blade's handle connecting with his forehead in a painful impact.
"EOUCH!!!!" Mika's anguished cry echoed through the forest as he crumbled in pain.
"Ahh... Ahh... Ahh... I think my frontal bone just cracked. Tell me, how bad does it look?" Mika groaned, seeking reassurance from Sougo regarding his injury.
"Just a big bump on your forehead," Sougo replied matter-of-factly.
"JUST?" Mika exclaimed incredulously, his pride wounded along with his head as he tuck and roll in pain.
Sougo proceeded to evaluate Mika's performance, offering feedback with a critical eye. "While your strategies and tactics are impressive, a critical oversight led to your downfall. Never underestimate your opponent; even the most cautious adversary can exploit a minor flaw. Your marksmanship is improving, but premature celebration proved to be your undoing."
"In essence, you have redeemed yourself. From 24 to 75 out of 100 is your score. You still have a lot to learn, Mika."
With valuable lessons learned and a newfound respect for his opponent, Mika absorbed Sougo's critique, ready to refine his skills for future encounters.
Mika sighed, "Easy for you to say. You're a war veteran, of course, things would be easier said than done for me."
"Elevate your mind for the possibility, not for the difficulty." Sougo tried to regain Mika's patience.
"Heh, alright. Well, first let's have lunch; I'm starving, and I need a pair of band-aids for the bump, thanks to you." Mika offered to go home with Sougo for some lunch.
Sougo accepted the offer with a nod, and they headed straight back to Mika's home.
As Sougo and Mika remained on high alert inside their abode, a sense of unease lingered in the air, casting a shadow over their home. The unmistakable sound of multiple footsteps approaching their dwelling stirred apprehension within them, despite the supposed solitude of their surroundings.
Though outwardly alone, the cacophony of footsteps hinted at a larger presence outside. Sougo's instincts, honed through countless trials, whispered a warning of five unknown individuals encroaching upon their territory. Mika, having fortified their home with protective magical runes, felt a sense of security even as the tension mounted.
Girding themselves for the inevitable confrontation, Mika and Sougo emerged to face the unwelcome visitors head-on. In a tense standoff, the two parties locked eyes, each assessing the other with a mix of wariness and determination.
"What brings you to our doorstep?" Mika's voice rang out, cutting through the tense silence and demanding an explanation from the uninvited guests.
"We've got company? Dispose of them!" The apparent leader of the bandits commanded, prompting his masked underlings to ready their weapons—a chilling array of crossbows, axes, maces, and spears poised for action.
Unfazed by the show of force, Mika and Sougo moved as one, their movements a seamless dance of skill and coordination. In a swift and decisive flurry of action, the bandits were swiftly subdued, their weapons rendered useless and their bodies bound by Mika's lightning magic, ensuring their incapacitation.
As the tension hung thick in the air, a half-hour crept by in anxious anticipation, the silence broken only by the shallow breaths of the fallen adversaries. Finally, a stir among the bandits signaled the awakening of one of their number.
"Heyya, good morn!" Mika greeted, a smirk playing on his lips. "Care to share your story? Who led you here? Who commanded you? And this insignia... a Raider, are you? I've come across tales of your kind - treasure hunters, thieves, looters, brigands. Yep, your infamous deeds are well known too."
"H-Hold on, buddy," the Raider stammered. "We mean you no harm. We're just after the loot."
"Our boss... he'd have our heads if we came back empty-handed." Fear tinged the Raider's voice.
"Interesting, I couldn't care less though. It's your fault for treading the wrong path. But, in exchange for your freedom..." Mika mused, seizing the opportunity. "Since you're Raiders, any treasure recommendations?"
"Only one," the Raider croaked. "The accursed tomb nearly claimed one of our lives. It was the most terrifying place I've ever been."
"Go on," Sougo encouraged him.
"It's north of here, the tomb of Macratera," the Raider divulged.
"Macratera... the tomb of the skeletons? No wonder you lost a life. I've heard tales of the treasures it hides, but also of the skeleton queen that guards them. Thank you for the tip, though. My granny has been there, and she must've hidden some wonderful treasures." Mika's eyes gleamed at the thought.
The tomb of Macratera had been a frequent topic of his grandmother's stories. She'd always told him that when he was old enough, strong enough, he could visit it. And now, perhaps, the time had come.
In spite of the age constraints, Mika dismissed the cautionary notes. He was fortified for any occurrence. After revealing their whereabouts, he set them free, his warning echoing in their ears: do not dare to return.
"First time for everything, I suppose. Never before have some Raiders dared to invade my home," Mika mused, his voice echoing in the silence.
"This year's... eccentricities... never cease to amaze me," he concluded, a resigned sigh escaping his lips as he closed his eyes, his fingers idly scratching his scalp. The year's unusual happenings had long since stopped surprising him.
Something stirred in the underbrush as they readied themselves to infiltrate Mika's abode.
"Surely, you've learned your lesson. We know you're there," Mika declared, his voice echoing in the silence as he and Sougo swiveled around to face the source of the noise.
Yet, their eyes found no one.
"Strange, I was so sure I heard footsteps," Mika murmured, his brow furrowing in confusion. His senses had deceived him; the intruder was not where he had assumed.
Suddenly, a startled cry split the air. A young girl with bright blue hair tumbled to the ground as Mika and Sougo's blades flashed in the dim light, their sharp edges glinting threateningly at her sudden appearance.
"And who the hell might you be?" Mika questioned, his voice laced with a hint of suspicion.
"I'm Luna," she responded hurriedly, her voice quivering slightly. "I did not mean to startle you. I lost my way, and I saw a group of men running funny. I assumed there must be someone near." Her apology hung in the air, a palpable presence.
"Do not fret. I mean no harm. Can we be friends?" Luna extended her invitation, her voice filled with an earnest hope.