The Laughing Swordsman

Chapter 9 - Unimpeded

The middle-aged man turned to the volunteer.

"Alright Allen, please go up."

Allen nodded.

"Yes, Mr. Seth"

Apollo tilted his head and looked at Seth.

"Your name is set?"

Seth's face twitched.

"It's Seth."

Apollo furrowed his brows for a moment.

"Ah, ok! Sean!"

Seth gritted his teeth.

"Allen, beat this fool!"

Allen nodded.

Allen was wearing a thin coat made from fur. His hair was jet-black and his pupils were brown. His hands were clasped behind his back, a display of confidence.

Apollo and Allen were roughly five meters away from each other.

Allen stared at Apollo.

"My talent may be low, but I practice any chance I get. I will not hold back and show you the fruits of my labor."

Apollo giggled.

"Wow, that sounds cool!"

Allen smiled.

"Haha, thanks."

Seth cleared his throat.

"Alright, you will start once my countdown goes to zero."

Seth raised three fingers in the air, then slowly pulled them back one by one.

"Three...Two...One...Go!"

Once Sett's shout rang out, mana began to gather in front of Allen. Apollo was in no rush, simply looking curiously at what Allen was doing.

As for Allen, his eyes were fixated on Apollo, intently waiting for his move.

Apollo rubbed his hand against his chin.

"What are you doing?"

Allen's eyelid twitched.

"Um... I am casting a spell."

Apollo nodded while his eyes closely following the mana gathering in front of Allen.

Seth walked next to Willow and scoffed.

"Apollo isn't even closing the distance. Doesn't he know how much of a disadvantage he will be in from far away?"

Willow shrugged her shoulders.

"Haha, let's just see how it plays out."

Allen finished his spell in the next few seconds. A beam of water shot towards Apollo.

Apollo slowly raised his bokken, intercepting the beam of water just as it reached him.

The beam of water split into two halves after hitting the tip of Apollo's bokken. Other than a few stray drops of water landing on Apollo's shirt, he was unscathed.

Apollo giggled.

"Oh, magic seems so interesting! Let me show you my sword as well!"

Apollo jogged over to Allen.

Multiple beams of water shot out from Allen. While Apollo was simply standing there, Allen had actually almost finished multiple spells. He only let loose once Apollo approached.

Apollo split one beam of water with the tip of his sword. Another beam of water shot towards him while he was still dealing with the first beam of water.

Apollo twisted the sword and blocked the beam of water with the flat side of his bokken.

A third beam of water shot out while Apollo was still blocking.

Apollo hummed.

"So that's how it is."

The third beam of water was about to hit Apollo's face, but his bokken twitched. The red tassel flicked high in the air and the third beam of water was flung to the right like a rope.

Allen's eyes narrowed.

"What?"

If Apollo simply found a way to block the third beam of water, he would simply be upset. However, the beam of water was miraculously flung to the side, like it was trying to avoid Apollo.

It should be known that while the spell Allen was using was not known for its offensive power, it was still a force to be reckoned with. Normally, someone faced with that spell would either have to let the spell hit them or be forced to block for more time than it was worth.

Yet Apollo could treat the water like it was a whip, giving him a third option.

Redirecting the attack altogether.

Apollo was just a few steps away from reaching Allen, but Allen was not afraid. On the contrary, he smirked.

"You should have known Apollo! As a mage with low talent, my main focus was on my development as a constitution mage. Though I can't cast many spells, my progress as a constitution mage allows me to prepare spells in my body and cast them all at once!"

Allen's eyes became bloodshot and four beams of water shot out from him. Each of them shot towards Apollo at different angles, making them tricky to block for the average swordsmen.

Unfortunately, he was not facing an average swordsman.

Apollo laughed.

His hand traced the flat side of his bokken, then it snapped out.

Allen's eyes widened. He was frozen in shock.

The four beams of water parted ways as though Apollo was a king, walking past his subjects.

Apollo reached Allen unimpeded. His bokken flashed, hitting the back of Allen's knee.

Allen fell to one knee. Once he did, Apollo's bokken shot out, hitting Allen's forehead with a tap.

Allen let out a bitter laugh.

He pushed aside the bokken and stumbled up to his feet.

A smile was on his face.

"Well played Apollo. How were you able to divert my water beam spell so easily anyway?"

Apollo giggled and waved his bokken around.

"I swung my sword!"

Allen shook his head, still smiling.

"Nevermind."

Seth raised an eyebrow.

"It appears you have been practicing, even if you don't know anything about magic. My understanding of swordsmanship is shallow, but I can still tell you earnestly practiced."

Seth gave a nod to Apollo.

"Good job."

Apollo scratched the back of his head.

"Haha, it's because my mommy taught me so well!"

Willow was simply staring at Apollo. She didn't even realize that Apollo addressed her incorrectly again. Instead, she was pondering over the principles that Apollo used to divert the water.

Within the group of kids, one of them became interested in Apollo. Before the spar, he couldn't care less, but now he was staring intently at Apollo.

"Hey, mind if you spar with me next?"

Seth chuckled.

"I am curious as to who would win this spar as well. He is Landon, my top student."

Apollo tilted his head.

"Ok, why not?"

Landon walked up to the stone platform and Allen walked off.

Seth turned to Willow.

"Want to make a bet?"

Willow raised an eyebrow.

"Tell me the details."

Seth smirked.

"If my top student wins, you buy him a meal. If Apollo wins I'll buy him a meal."

Willow was reminded of Apollo's empty void of a stomach.

She smiled.

"Sure, just don't be too sad when you lose."

Seth narrowed his eyes.

"We'll see about that."