Chapter 103 103. Bombardment (2)
Seeing that they were in a stalemate, Lucius suddenly changed his stance, causing his sword to slide across and redirect Louis's own sword, allowing him to slip in past his guard.
But right as he was about to land a direct attack, Louis showed off a set of exquisite footwork, allowing him to deftly retreat a few steps backwards enough to properly block Lucius's attack, leading them to exchange another force sword bout.
"Your skills aren't bad for a first year," commented Louis
"If you were up against a regular Mage like Veronica, you may have won but she doesn't seem to have told you. The Beaumont family is not just mages. Traditionally, they have always been magic swordsmen!"
Lucius didn't care about Louis's words and continued to fight and soon Louis didn't have the time to let off any more quipu remarks as his face soon tuned a little grim as he had to try his best to fight back fiercely!
And as all this was going on, Louis's thoughts were in chaos
'What is this!!! Didn't Xander say he wasn't even a third class fighter yet so why can he still hold his own? Fuck! Even worse, what's up with this swordsmanship? Didn't Xander say that he could suppress him purely in swordsmanship so how does he ducking explain this?'
Louis wanted to curse Xander and his nine generations for providing him with some blatant misinformation. For a second, he even wonders if his true element was him and not Lucius, otherwise how could he do something so damaging?
This was a serious matter, as much as Louis was concerned.
Louis was a magic swordsman. This was good in the sense that he wouldn't be helpless in any situation but the magic swordsman was always a jack of all trades Master of none type of build.
The only ones who could escape that kind of curse were people with golden rank talents that progressed as easily as eating and drinking.
Louis didn't possess a golden rank talent and whilst he did have a very good talent in magic, especially fire magic, it went to the point he could ignore practising magic to just focus instead on swordsmanship.
To avoid a situation where he became a useless fighter tree Louis often split his training 70% magic and 30% swordsmanship.
And this was at the best times, sometimes it was 80 to 20.
As a result of this despite being in the third year his physique was only in the half way to early stages of 2nd class. He also had a green class word talent so he wasn't as helpless as talented people like Xander but even with this, he was still somehow being pushed back by a first year!
Thinking back to how much he talked and looked down on the kid earlier in the duel, Louis already felt his face going red.
No! He couldn't afford to lose to this kid in front of all the years to watch or else his reputation in Sanctuary would be finished
As swords were flying about in a blur,a resolute expression appeared on Louis's face as he quietly murmured a chant that even the nearby Lucius couldn't hear .
But although Lucius couldn't hear the chant he could still see Louis's hands starting to glow in a fired light so he was already prepared when he saw the fireball in Louis's hands flying towards his chest.
'Fire? Two can play at that game!'
As Lucius had this thought his sword began to buzz with a frenzy as mana bubbles before bursting into a crimson swirl of flames.
The fireball flew straight towards Lucius's face but instead of backing off or defending as Louis had expected a crazy look flashed in Lucius eyes as he abandoned all defence to slash down at Louis!
"Boom! Boom!"
Two explosions rang out nearly simultaneously as the arena was covered in giant clouds and smoke.
"Cough! Cough!"
As the smoke cleared up a figure could be seen coughing violently amongst the smoke and unfortunately, it was the figure most people had been expecting.
Louis stood there amongst the clearing smoke with a visible crimson bubble around him.
The magic defence that had obviously protected him from Lucius's attack.
He confidently strode out before the downed Lucius and looked down at him who was once again struggling to his feet.
To be honest, Louis actually had some admiration for Lucius.
Whatever the situation was and the conflict he had with Xander, right now Lucius wasn't fighting so desperately for himself but for his sister. How could he not be impressed?
Although he and Veronica Weren't particularly close, Louis wasn't a psychopath; he still hoped that Veronica could grow up and live a happy life with someone she loved and who would love her back, but unfortunately, the world wasn't some romance novel.
The noble family raised and protected you from birth and prevented you having to live the life of a common peasant so as result, when called upon, you must serve the needs of the noble family without question.
Noble life was that simple
If thats sacrifice was an unwanted marriage, then so be it .
Even he, the oldest son and heir of the Beaumont family doesn't have the right to choose his own fiancé so how could Veronica have such a privilege?
Despite this, seeing a man be repeatedly beaten up badly and still somehow stand to his feet which once again made Louis feel some admiration for him.
Lucius looked at Louis viciously and stood up with much effort.
He had been hit brutally and even with his fire resistance it still had scaled his skin with painful burns that made him feel like his skin was peeling.
It hurt like fucking crazy!
His fire resistance was the only reason that his injuries were even so mild.
By all accounts, he should be crippled or dead!
Lucius didn't know if it was panic or frustration, but Louis really didn't hold back with that last attack and it was an attack at point blank range.