『Bob: Now I understand why he isn't wearing armor… his speed is impressive. 』
『Roy: Don't worry, brother, I'll handle this. 』
Both brothers quickly regrouped, adopting a coordinated combat stance. This time, they advanced together toward Neizan, attacking him in unison. Neizan didn't back down; instead, he responded with impressive speed, facing the onslaught of both brothers with the same ferocity.
The battle grew even more intense. The younger brother, armed with his shield, positioned himself directly in front of Neizan, blocking his view and forcing him to retreat. But at that same moment, the older brother seized the distraction to move to the side, executing a maneuver identical to one Neizan had seen before. In a flash, the younger brother shifted to the left, revealing his brother, who was already poised to strike.
Neizan, sensing the pattern, quickly ducked, dodging an attack that would have been invisible to the audience, but one he managed to anticipate. In that instant, Neizan turned his attention to the younger brother, pressing him with a series of swift movements that managed to destabilize him. In a calculated move, Neizan kicked the shield out of his grasp, and with his sword raised, prepared to deliver a decisive blow.
Just as he was about to strike his opponent, Neizan sensed a presence beside him and instantly changed his stance, positioning himself defensively with his sword. What followed was a flurry of slashes from all directions: sharp blades brushed past his body, tearing through his clothing, his arms and legs, even his hair. With quick reflexes, Neizan blocked the blows as best as he could, protecting his vital points with fast, precise movements.
With no other option, Neizan retreated, putting distance between himself and the brothers to regain his footing. He observed them, noticing the slight smile of triumph on the younger brother's face as he picked up his sword from the ground.
『Roy: Thanks, brother. You saved my neck. 』
The older brother nodded, keeping his calculating gaze fixed on Neizan.
Neizan remained alert at all times to the brothers' actions, studying each movement and anticipating the moments when they shifted from an offensive to a defensive stance. This focus allowed him to identify critical intervals in which one of them was left exposed, vulnerable, without the immediate support of the other. Neizan took full advantage of those moments, swiftly attacking one while the other was still recovering or repositioning.
『Roy: Do you really think you can beat us? We're two against one. 』
Neizan smiled, a defiant expression in his eyes.
『Neizan: Ha, that's fair. 』
The brothers were bewildered by his words.
『Roy: Huh? 』
『Neizan: For you. 』
『Roy: Fuck -u. 』
The fight continued, with Neizan repeating the same strategy: a swift attack, forcing both brothers to retreat or regroup. However, the gladiators soon fell into a pattern; the brothers took turns attacking, and Neizan found himself defending against multiple strikes, facing blows that seemed to cut through the air with incredible speed.
After a few minutes, Neizan began to feel the effects of the battle on his body. He was breathing heavily and spitting blood, his left arm hanging slightly to the side, bleeding, and the hilt of his sword rested only in his right hand, which trembled from the effort. Despite his bravery, his condition was evident before the brothers, who looked at him with triumphant smiles, their bodies unscathed though covered in sweat.
『Roy: Let's kill him! 』
『Bob: Yes, we've got him now. 』
The climax of the battle was near. With a roar of determination, both brothers advanced together, exchanging attacks with fierce synchronization. Neizan, however, kept his mind clear, observing every detail. He noticed how the older brother stepped back a few paces, undoubtedly preparing for a coordinated attack, while the younger brother, shield raised, pressed forward with calculated movements to distract him.
This time, Neizan chose not to anticipate. Instead of dodging or retreating, he waited patiently until the last second, analyzing the pattern and his opponents' positions. Then, as the older brother launched his blow with deadly speed, Neizan slipped into the exact spot where he knew the younger brother would be, surprising them both with an unexpected maneuver.
The surprise on the brothers' faces was unmistakable.
Neizan raised his sword, aiming high, and the younger brother, seeing the movement, lifted his shield to block the blow. But his play ended there, as Neizan, with precision and speed, changed the direction of the attack. He lowered his arms and twisted his waist, bending his knees until he was in a low stance. With a quick, horizontal slash, his sword cut through the air and struck the gladiator's shin.
A scream of pain filled the arena as the younger brother fell to his knees, unable to stand. From his position, the older brother watched his companion collapse to the ground, and Neizan immediately turned to approach him, sword ready and his right arm raised, preparing for the next strike.
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『Neizan: What did you want to talk about? 』
『Meilia: Arthur asked me to explain how magical attacks work. After all, that's why I'm here, right? 』
『Lina: Is there any way to defend against them? 』
『Meilia: Yes, there are several ways. Although, since Neizan doesn't know how to use magic, he can only try to prevent them to defend himself. 』
『Neizan: How can I do that? 』
『Meilia: Before I explain, do you remember what I told you about magic? 』
『Neizan: Yes, I still remember. 』
『Meilia: Good, then I'll start with what I know about wind magic attacks. 』
As Meilia spoke, Neizan recalled past lessons, trying to connect that knowledge to the battle. He knew that in real combat, every second counted, and having even a basic understanding of magical attacks could mean the difference between life and death.
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『Meilia: Wind magic is usually imperceptible to the human eye. It uses the quick displacement of air to form high-speed currents, depending on the user's power. It can push someone back with force or even cut deeply. 』
Neizan approached his opponent, staying alert to every movement while blocking the relentless attacks with precision. The gladiator launched slashes and blows charged with an invisible energy, but Neizan could sense the direction and intensity in the air around him.
『Meilia: When large amounts of spiritual energy are used to cast wind magic, celestial trails of light can appear in the air. 』
Suddenly, Neizan began to notice these trails ethereal lines of light appearing around him, warning him of each new attack approaching. He kept his gaze fixed on his opponent, blocking the blasts with his sword as he advanced little by little, forcing the gladiator to retreat.