PREVIOUSLY-
"When do we start, Young Master?"
"Once I change clothes."
Freya only shook her head once, before returning to her position.
"Forgive me for the intrusion, Young Master," Lancelot leaned towards Leon, "The other instructors have not greeted you yet because the training is still in motion. This rule was set by His Grace to motivate us to train harder."
Leon turned, heading towards the exit, "That's a good rule. Now," he looked back at Lancelot,
"Where do I get my training clothes?"
---X---
Genius. Humans call other men and women as a genius when the person in question is exceptionally skilled in a particular area.
It is said that geniuses can achieve great results with minimal outputs. But are all geniuses the same?
No.
Some stand at a realm that is far above a normal genius. Prodigies, singularities, they lie several levels above a genius.
Vincent Duskrane was a genius. His calculations, his adaptability, they were overwhelming. But it was not enough. The Duskrane blood flowing in him granted a physique unachievable by most, the Drakengard blood in him granted magical circuits unfathomable by many.
Yet, it wasn't enough. So, what enabled Vincent Duskrane to be the 'Strongest Creation in Existence'? The answer hadn't arrived yet. But the incidents of this day did push him a step towards that answer.
Now, back to geniuses, prodigies and singularities. There is another level that comes once in a millennium.
Paragons. Not just skilled — the ideal or ultimate form of a gifted individual.
And fate decided it was time for the world to see one.
Location - Outskirts of Mosswood, Morlain Barony, Fafnir Empire
"Are you a mage?" Rybak's lips curved into a smile.
Vincent looked around the area, a small clearing in the middle of the forest with a small pond beside.
"Yes," Vincent responded, "By any chance—"
"No," Rybak intervened, raising one hand, "A man fights with fists. I like them better,"
He glanced at Vincent- his face, physique, eyes, a spark of curiosity blazing in his eyes,
"You are younger than me, so I will only be using my right-hand."
Vincent calmly closed his eyes, "And I will be fighting without relying on my sight."
The statement left Rybak stunned, a shiver ran through his body.
"I apologise. As a man, I should fight with my all. It seems I ignored your conviction."
Vincent's mouth parted slightly,
'Huh? I was just joking.'
His torso angled slightly towards his opponent. A small gesture of acknowledgement.
'This guy is interesting.'
A micro-lift of Rybak's chin signalled the start of the duel.
WHAM!
A fist collided with a hardened block of ice.
CRACK!
Shards exploded everywhere as Rybak slid a few steps away, his expression turning more ecstatic.
SWISH!
He lunged at Vincent again, a sharp kick in motion. Vincent's fingers moved in the air gracefully, tracing mysterious patterns as a beam of stone shot towards the opponent.
However, Rybak spun at the last moment, his heel colliding with Vincent's chin.
WHAM!
"Hoh?"
Harkon chuckled as the dust cleared as a shield of ice floated mid-air, stopping Rybak's kick.
But before Rybak could prepare another attack, a sword of compressed air swung horizontally. His neck snapped as the tree behind him got sliced in two.
"Hey! That's too lethal." Rybak cracked his knuckles, "I like it."
He removed his shoes, standing barefoot in front of Vincent.
"Let's resume."
LUNGE!
Vincent's fingers traced the air as another shield appeared, stopping Rybak's knee before a flurry of spears made of concentrated earth shot towards him.
Rybak spun, foot moving in a crescent arc as the spears broke into pieces. Arms wrapped around Vincent's nape as knee stabbed his gut.
A gasp escaped Vincent's parted lips as he headbutted his assailant.
'I am sure of it! The martial art he uses, its similar to Muay Thai!'
Vincent's fingers moved again as a mace flew towards Rybak. The latter slid forward— shin swinging into Vincent's thigh, his elbow kissed Vincent's chin as a twist of hip kicked Vincent a few paces away.
"You are one tough guy!" Rybak laughed as frozen armour wrapped around parts of Vincent's body.
"However," His expression darkened as his brows knit together, "You are not a mage at heart. Tell me,"
Rybak opened his arms, "Do you truly like that kind of style?"
Vincent's eyes widened. Then, his lips curled upwards,
"You are right," Vincent adjusted his gloves, "I will now fight you, like a man."
"AHAHAHAHA!" Rybak broke out in a crackle as Vincent only cringed at the reaction,
'Don't people laugh 'HAHAHA'?'
"Vincent Duskrane," his arms rose in a tight guard as his knees bent slightly, "Let's fight for real."
Vincent's stance was much lower and looser. Shifting weight, ready to exploit openings. A drop of sweat trickled to the ground.
BOOM!
Fists enveloped in crimson aura collided as the nearby area shook at the impact. But, Rybak's fist stretched further, breaking Vincent's momentum.
As Vincent staggered, Rybak closed in, trapping him with an iron clinch. With a guttural shout, Rybak's crimson-wreathed knee rocketed upward, slamming into Vincent's side. The ground trembled again—not from magic, but from the sheer brutality of the blow.
"Huh?" Rybak's pupils dilated as Vincent's hand flashed out, fingers extended and pressed tightly together, lightly pressed against his side, thumb tucked against his palm.
"This is called 'One-Inch-Punch'."
For an instant, both fighters seemed frozen in time.
With a subtle twist of his hips and a snap of his shoulder, Vincent drove his fist forward, the movement so quick and compact it was almost invisible.
The impact landed with a muffled, thunderous crack, sending shockwaves through Rybak's body. The force was astonishing, as if Vincent's power had bypassed distance altogether.
WHAM!
Rybak staggered back, air torn from his lungs, eyes wide in shock.
'How? How can such a small motion cause such a destruction?'
Rybak's elbow swung for Vincent's chin but Vincent's sole reached his nose first, throwing his body like a rag-doll.
SWISH!
Before Rybak could recover, another kick rained from above.
CRACK!
A small crater bloomed where Rybak had been a moment ago.
"Damn!" Rybak panted, "Are you really a mage?"
"Why don't we find out?" Vincent smirked.
The two collided, their bodies a blur as feet collided. Vincent's body turned from the impact, spinning in the direction of Rybak's kick as his other heel connected with the opponent's temple.
Rybak raised his arm at the last moment, his wrist absorbing the impact as even the collision sent tremors in the lake.
'What is this feeling?!'
A tiny tremble cracked across his limbs,
'What is this sudden surge of energy across my limbs?'
Even Vincent's body experience something similar as his pupils expanded sharply. Adrenaline spiked throughout as the thrill of battle took over exhaustion.
Harkon's eyes narrowed,
"Thomas," his lips parted, "You were right."
Words of past echoed inside the man's mind,
"Harkon, I think something huge is coming."
"Haa, and why would you think so?"
"Because with each generation we see more talent and strength."
"You see," Thomas continued, "Normally, when an era peace washes over, generations grow weaker."
His fists tightened, "But, for a few decades, more and more prodigies are appearing. Its as if the world is preparing us for something."
Harkon's gaze snapped back to the present as another memory flashed before his eyes,
"Grandpa! How is this fighting style, I built it myself!?"
"Its… amazing!"
"I have decided to name it as Oktastra!"
At the battle-site. Blood painted the grass red as both Rybak and Vincent exchanged blows. Their regard for defence had extinguished as adrenaline washed on any pain.
WHAM!
Crimson aura, the colour wine enveloped their limbs as blue lightning crackled in their eyes.
"AHAHAHA!"
Rybak's heel moved upward in a clean arc, lifting Vincent above the ground as Vincent's hook caved his chin.
"Vincent Duskrane! I feel them, more forms of Oktastra seep inside as I fight you!"
'Oktastra?' Vincent's elbow rained from above, but Rybak jumped, knee colliding with Vincent's gut as a painful crunch echoed.
"Thunder. I call feel it in my veins." A grunt escaped Rybak's lips.
A fist of electricity as Rybak's arm stretched back, colliding with Vincent's fist as the two struck each other.
CRACKLE- BOOM!
Vincent's glove evaporated into bits as his flesh burned with an intense pain.
SWISH!
Another swung of kick hit Vincent as lightning followed the impact, sending jolts of pain throughout Vincent's body.
'Wow! Now, apart from broken bones, I have to deal with burned skin and lightning strikes?'
"Vincent Duskrane," Rybak took another step as lightning clung to his feet, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
His figure disappeared, appearing in front of Vincent, the punch sending Vincent's skull reeling backwards as the boy's body cratered into the soil, cracks splintering like cobwebs across the earth.
"It was a nice duel," Rybak turned, "I will remember you, Young Count."
"Hey," A voice cut through air. Rybak turned towards Vincent. His slightly arched back, veins threatening to pop appeared on his body, but what drove Rybak's attention was the eyes.
Vincent's sclera had turned black as his pupils, swirling circle split into two teardrop-shaped halves. Both as white as morning snow.
"I am here."
A fist appeared near Rybak's sternum—
WHAM!
The bone cracked as Rybak's body crashed into several trees before he planted his feet at one's trunk, exploding forward with a powerful lunge.
A storm of electricity curled around Rybak's foot as it aimed for Vincent's nape. The latter only waited, until, time slowed. Vincent's hand weaved through the air, the back of his wrist tapping softly against Raybak's shin.
BOOM!
Rybak was airborne again. However, in a fraction of a second, Vincent appeared again, his kick whipping through air as the impact sent a boom throughout the atmosphere.
Rybak's body kissed the pond like a comet from space. Serpents of thunder shot out from the pond as Rybak stretched his palm.
Vincent's hand moved in a simple sweep as the serpents of electricity scattered to the sky. His hair floated slightly as Vincent flew towards Rybak.
A surge of energy flowed from Rybak's heart.
'This duel! It has pushed me through stages I did not dare comprehend.'
Paragons.
Rybak catapulted skyward. His knuckle met Vincent's yet the latter pushed through as Rybak kissed the soil again.
Blood splattered again as both Rybak shin collided with Vincent's forearm. But before Vincent could completely block the attack, he turned, his other foot launched towards Vincent's chin in a tornado of lightning.
Again, Vincent caught his heel, slowly raising his body before slamming it to the ground.
"You lost, Rybak." Vincent's lips pursed into a thin line.
"AHAHAHA!" Once again, a cackle enveloped the area. "Vincent, I can't handle so much power! Sorry in advance!"
BOOM!
The two collided again, lighting met abyss as the blows continued. By now, electricity had formed bluish gauntlets around Rybak's wrists as it curled around his limbs in a slender manner.
WHAM!
Another strike sent both electricity and air currents rumbling through the forest.
"These kids!" Harkon's eyes widened in disbelief, a lump weighed in his throat as veins bulged on his arms.
Both Vincent and Rybak now fought with a single thought— I WANT TO WIN! Speed blurred their attacks as the two moved at sonic speed, causing explosions across the forest.
However, it was evident from the exchange that Vincent could not keep up with Rybak's pace. More specifically, his body could not keep up.
Paragons are people or things regarded as a perfect example of a particular ability.
In a moment, Rybak struck Vincent with four different parts— fists, shins, elbows and knees— before throwing him to the sky. The clouds turned grey as bolts of lightning struck Vincent's body.
CRACKLE-THOOM!
His arm moved towards Vincent once again, lightning forming a lance around it.
WHAM!
Rybak's eyes widened.
"Stop."
A/N-
Due to health and academic reasons, I will be… unfortunately, taking a break of one week before returning with a clear mind and amazing story.
Sorry for the sudden break and thank you for reading the chapter.