Duel before the stove, part 2

Awakening, part 1

Awakening, part 2

Awakening, part 3

Kodai, part 1

Kodai, part 2

Mana guide

Hunt, part 1

Hunt, part 2

Duel before the stove, part 1

&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;I don&#x2019;t know if your goal is to flex your superior strength on a child, test my strength properly, or to get stabbed by said child&#x2026;&#x201D; &#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;but the way he is currently grinning while standing tall tells me that whatever he is going to do (minus the stabbed part) he is going to enjoy it.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I retrieved my knife next to the fire and walked a fair distance from Se&#xE1;n and the camp I had set up.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;You know how to reinforce your weapon right?&#x201D; Se&#xE1;n stood there ready to strike.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;I guess...&#x201D;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E; I hope reading that book helps me through this.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I focused my gaze onto Se&#xE1;n up ahead, ignoring the cheers of Shiva and focusing solely on Se&#xE1;n who was a fair distance away from me.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I gripped my blade and proceeded to try and imbue mana into my legs and weapon like the book had said.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;Before I could attempt to move in this state, Se&#xE1;n disappeared with inhuman speed before a stick appeared directly in front of my stomach&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;H-how could this be a fair fight&#x2026;?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I attempted to block Se&#xE1;n&#x2019;s attack but he was far too quick. He launched me backwards onto the ground before stepping back, getting ready to strike me again.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I felt like the air had left my lungs.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I grabbed my knife before getting back up onto my feet, trying to process what happened within those 5 seconds.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I sprinted toward Se&#xE1;n while he stood there, gripping his staff and watching me carefully. He stood there, observing the situation, before taking a step forward. &#x201C;Head!&#x201D;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;What?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;Se&#xE1;n disappeared before his staff appeared in front of my face this time. Time seemed to slow down, as if I had been in a similar situation before this.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I gripped my blade before raising it to deflect, or at least prevent it, from hitting me as hard as before.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;Although I was quick to block the attack, I was still launched across the room. This time, I managed to roll onto my feet and recover quickly. Se&#xE1;n continued to get closer, striking me at every chance he got.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;Se&#xE1;n thrusted his staff at me one last time, as to finish this duel off within that instance.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;Why? Why can&#x2019;t I atleast throw one punch against you? I cannot go down without doing something!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;Almost instantly, I moved all my weight onto my left leg before turning my entire body to kick his side. While I messed up this kick, Se&#xE1;n fortunately blocked the kick with his staff, causing me to quickly spin in the air.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I quickly shifted my weight into my right kick. His grin disappeared and his eyes widened in shock as he tried to react quickly to what was about to happen.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I felt all my weight go into my right leg before I reinforced my leg with mana at the last second, striking his upper right quadrant.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;What the fuck?!&#x201D;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;The shock on Se&#xE1;n&#x2019;s face said it all. He quickly regained composure. He grabbed the back of my shirt and threw me at a distance to try and gain the advantage once more.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I kicked up a curtain of dust before he rushed towards me, attempting to throw a punch. I moved my body in time to dodge before using the blunt edge of my blade to strike the back of his knee, causing him to lose balance.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;Well&#x2026; not everything is as it seems, and I appear to learn that the hard way.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;Se&#xE1;n sweeped the floor, causing me to jump and avoid his attack. He followed it up with a butterfly kick.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I threw my arms above my head to try and avoid his attack before spotting a flash of wood heading in my direction.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;With no time to make a proper decision, I thrusted the tip of my blade. I timed it just right so it would clash with Se&#xE1;n&#x2019;s staff.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;While I did block the blow successfully, a sudden reaction appeared from our clash. I was launched backwards like a ball that was hit by a bat.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;Thankfully, I managed to reinforce my entire body in time to alleviate some of the pain that soon followed after crashing into the ground a dozen or so times.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I sat back up only to see Shiva stare in shock as he continued to look back and forth, trying to grasp what had just occurred. It took a few moments of his blank expression before he finally shouted from his seat.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Uhhhh&#x2026; are you guys okay? Nothing broken right!?&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Yeah&#x2026; nothing broken.&#x201D; &#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Unable to use mana my ass! Where the hell do you even learn how to fight like that at your age?!&#x201D; Se&#xE1;n cut in. He winced as he continued to rub his side.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;I-I have no clue,&#x201D; I mumbled, as I looked at the knife I wielded.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Sorry for getting a little out of hand over there. I kinda got a little too focused and forgot to hold back against you.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I&#x2019;m taking that as a compliment.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;Seeing Se&#xE1;n apologize made me realize that maybe he wasn&#x2019;t that much of a jerk as I thought he was.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I turned to face Shiva as he continued to nod in and out of sleep. Se&#xE1;n also appeared to notice this as he picked him up and placed him into the tent while covering him in a blanket.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;So, that probably explains a lot about your mana control. By the way, how did you do that move earlier?&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;I tried to explain the move I did in steps. &#x201C;All you really need to do in this sense is put all your weight onto one of your legs before gathering momentum into the other. After this, you focus all your weight and momentum into the leg you are kicking with maximizing your efficiency. When in the air, gather weight into the other leg and use the momentum of your body and fall to maximize the impact of the hit, focusing mana into the kick this time, you strike with a swift and agile kick while also damaging your opponent at the same time.&#x201D;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;Man, I am terrible at explaining this.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;He appeared to get the gist of what I meant to say.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;We started chatting for a while before I ultimately started nodding in and out of consciousness like Shiva had earlier. Se&#xE1;n only chuckled as he proceeded to carry towards the tent like he had done to Shiva earlier.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Hey, I&#x2019;m old enough that I could walk towards the tent myself!&#x201D;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;He placed me near Shiva and covered me with a blanket before wishing me good night. He ran towards the other side of the room to practice the move I told him about.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;color: rgb(32, 33, 36);&#x22;&#x3E;The night passed normally as Se&#xE1;n continued to try and practice his skills while Shiva and I slept comfortably in the tent.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

&#x3C;p&#x3E;Reawakening in an unknown location left only with the knowledge of his name, Lloyd must embark on an adventure to figure out his past and discover the new world. However this is not his only challenge. Underneath the peace and prosperity of this world is an undercurrent threatening to destroy everything in its path. Questioning his role and reason for awakening Lloyd must face this threat while protecting his newfound friends and loved ones.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Author&#x27;s note:&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;School is pain....&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

King of Ancients