Before Hansel could try and say something to convince the other adventurers that he wasn't a shit-eating freak, Ackster stopped wasting time. He wanted to get rid of all the adventures—if possible—before the dome fell and revealed Karandiel's existence to the world. The fewer witnesses there were, the fewer he would have to silence. He also had the element of surprise on his side if he attacked when Hansel was still flustered.
Unfortunately, Ackster underestimated Hansel a little too much. Although he didn't emit enough pressure with his sheer existence to threaten Ackster, Hansel was still an experienced veteran. And the reputation that alone was enough to sway people to his side, despite his clear untrustworthiness, wasn't for nothing.
Hansel reacted as soon as Ackster took a step forward and lowered his spear, pointing the tip at Ackster and preparing for his charge.
Ackster's pupils narrowed and focused on the spear, its gleaming red diamond-shaped blade reflected in his eyes.
Battlesight didn't activate, but it felt like the world slowed down as he sidestepped Hansel's thrust. Keen Senses and Strong Body's general amplification of his overall physique helped him deal with Hansel's first attack with relative ease. He also caught the sideways sweep out of the corner of his eye before it could reach him, and he ducked below the spear, running with his body parallel to the ground.
He bumped the spear shaft with the butt of his palm, but he wasn't in an optimal position to unleash his full strength. However, it was still enough to get him one more step closer to Hansel.
It was Ackster's first time fighting against other humans armed with weapons. But he knew enough to know that a spear's most obvious disadvantage was when the opponent closed the distance. If he could get inside the spear tip's range, Hansel would have a harder time attacking him.
So, he averted Hansel's vertical strike and attempt to deter him from getting closer with the wrist protection on his gauntlets. His arm trembled under the blow, and if he had taken it head-on instead of deflecting it by angling his forearm, he would have been unable to block it, despite the short acceleration distance Hansel used.
He couldn't confirm if Hansel and the Crimson Edge had earned their reputations. But he could tell that Hansel was stronger than him. And, if the smooth and direct movements of his spear and the way he reacted to Ackster's movements were any indications, Hansel was also more technically skilled than him.
Ackster was managing by using his skills that increased his body's strength, agility, reflexes, and sturdiness to close the distance. But so far, Hansel hadn't really tried to put up much of a defense. He had just waved his pointy stick around to keep Ackster from narrowing the distance while stepping back twice to keep Ackster at bay with the tip of his spear.
However, since he was running forward, as opposed to Hansel, who was stepping back, Ackster moved faster. Since he was running, Sprint increased his speed enough to close the gap between him and Hansel while avoiding the latter's spear.
After Ackster deflected his blow, Hansel swung back with a horizontal strike that would have been quite dangerous if the spear tip had hit Ackster instead of the shaft. Even when the shaft, relatively close to where Hansel was holding onto the spear so there wasn't much leverage behind the strike, hit him, Ackster staggered.
He quickly regained his balance, but only after taking a step to the side to prevent himself from falling over.
Unfortunately, that was all the opening Hansel needed, and he sent Ackster flying back with a kick to his chest.
"Is this all you've got? You're no better than a wild beast."
Hansel scorned Ackster before the latter could even get back on his feet, which he did as soon as he stopped rolling backward. Ackster stood up and dusted off his armor with an unbothered expression.
"I could say the same. I was just testing the waters, but I didn't even get my toe-hair wet."
Hansel didn't answer with words. He lunged forward and thrust his spear toward Ackster's chest. This time it wasn't just the natural shine of the metal that glistened in the light from the late afternoon sun and the golden yellow dome.
'Mana?'
Ackster realized what it was as the mana formed a slightly translucent red layer on the speartip. If it hit, he wouldn't walk away, able to dust off the damage as he had done with the kick. His training equipment most likely wouldn't be able to withstand it, either.
If he just took the spear head-on, he would take a little more damage than preferable. And, considering how willing Ackster was to get hurt in the middle of a fight, that meant a lot.
Yet, Ackster couldn't help the grin twitching into place on his lips.
The spear and the fact that Hansel could use mana were dangerous. No doubt about it, especially since he couldn't, and Hansel was physically superior to him, even if only slightly and mostly in terms of technical skills.
But he could still see the spear's movements. Keen Senses was running on double-time, and the spear was still blurry around the edges. But he could see it.
And if he could see it, he could react to it as long as his body was fast enough to keep up with his eyes. Even if his body couldn't keep up, he could react in advance as long as Battlesight activated.
Battlesigth didn't activate for Hansel's thrust. Fortunately, it seemed like he wasn't going all out with such an extending move since it would leave him open to a counterattack if it failed or someone else interfered.
Ackster had just barely enough time to lean back and let the spear pass over him and then fall down on his back and roll around before pushing himself off the ground to avoid the ensuing downward slash and any other follow-up.
Ackster met Hansel's glare with a provocative grin.