coobybook Chapter 124: The Sparring Ends
Chapter 124: The Sparring Ends
"Pick up your weapon, this conversation is over."
As Morse uttered those words, he raised the dagger again. Ethan, looking at his face, understood that he was no longer in the mood for further conversation.
Their conversation was enough; Ethan learned a great deal from it, not only gaining a better understanding of Morse but also resolving many of his doubts.
"Come on." It's time to continue our sparring.
"very good."
As soon as he finished speaking, Morse rushed out and quickly closed the distance with Ethan.
Whoosh!
In less than a second, Morse appeared in front of Ethan, his dagger gleaming with gray magic.
“I won’t hold back either.” Seeing this, Ethan decided to take the sparring to another level, activating his magic and covering his spear with it.
He seemed to see a pattern; Ethan could sense the trajectory of the attacks.
'This feeling is amazing.'
His senses guided him to dodge to the right, while the path of the attack had already unconsciously appeared in his mind.
Clang!
Their battle was fierce, sparks flying as their weapons clashed. Ethan's spear proved exceptionally effective in the engagement, and he intended to utilize it to its fullest potential.
From the day he was born into the Hartley family, the spear became a part of his life. He still remembers the first "toy" he received.
That was the spear of the first clan chief, the legendary weapon of the dragon slayer.
From that time on, his life became inextricably linked with the spear. Coupled with the strict teachings of his father and family, his basic skills became nearly perfect.
Hartley's Spear, Special Ability - [Seven-Line Offensive]
This is a family-inherited skill, a spear technique that every member of the Hartley family must practice from the age of five.
This skill allowed them to precisely master seven different dimensions of attack. Even in this era, people always compare spears to swords. In essence, they are different, and the first patriarch of the Hartley family was the first to incorporate this into the foundation.
Rather than using a spear as nimbly as a sword, it's better to maximize the spear's unique characteristics.
'A spear is a one-way weapon.'
The difference between spearmen and swordsmen is that spearmen have a more singular attack direction.
Unable to change attack direction as flexibly as swordsmen, the first clan chief proposed the concept of "seven-line offensive".
He didn't demand that the spearmen become more agile, but rather enhance their attack power in a single direction. The patriarch divided space into seven dimensions, which, in modern terms, would be considered fundamental vectors, but at the time, such a term didn't exist; the patriarch created it himself.
Ethan is the inheritor of this skill.
Clang! Clang!
Now, he's using this skill to deftly deflect Morse's dagger attacks. With each exchange, Ethan can precisely calculate Morse's attack trajectory.
His spear moved with perfect precision, accurately countering Morse's fierce attacks.
With each counterattack, Ethan could keenly sense the flaws in Morse's movements. His intuition told him where the weaknesses would lie, as if he had anticipated every move.
"what!"
Morse's attacks were lightning-fast, but Ethan calmly countered with his "seven-line offensive." In each exchange, Ethan subconsciously analyzed his opponent's movements, searching for openings. This wasn't just analytical; it was more like an instinctive awareness.
'They've arrived.'
At that moment, Ethan's instincts told him that an opportunity to attack had arisen. Morse's right arm had created an opening.
prick!
Without the slightest hesitation, Ethan thrust his spear forward, aiming directly at Morse's arm.
"what!"
Morse winced in pain as the gun tip pierced his arm, blood gushing out instantly.
It's not over yet.
Stab! Stab!
Ethan didn't stop, continuing his attack and seizing Morse's brief moments of vulnerability.
His spear moved swiftly like a shadow, accurately piercing Morse's limbs and torso.
Morse staggered backward, his injured arm causing him intense pain.
"Uh……"
But he did not give up. Instead, he gritted his teeth even more and raised his dagger to meet Ethan's rapid thrusts.
They were locked in a fierce battle, their skills and determination intertwining to create endless sparks.
A fierce light ignited in Ethan's eyes as he stared intently at Morse, a confident smile playing on his lips. "You're strong, Morse, but that's not enough," he said, continuing his attack with astonishing speed.
He knew Morse's potential and understood why he had chosen him as his sparring partner. Now, he longed to witness Morse's true strength firsthand.
"Come on, let me see your true strength!"
"Tsk...bastard." Morse cursed under his breath, but Ethan could clearly sense that Morse's anger was gradually escalating. The other man's attitude had subtly changed.
Clang! Clang!
Spears and daggers clashed repeatedly, Ethan's attacks surging like a relentless tide, pushing Morse to his limits. Their movements were lightning-fast, the sounds of weapons clashing echoing through the air.
'This guy... he doesn't give me any chance at all.'
Morse cursed inwardly. Whenever he tried to retaliate, Ethan seemed to see through his intentions and could easily block his path, preventing him from making any effective counterattack.
'This injury has also affected me.'
Coupled with the effects of his wounds, Morse was forced into a disadvantageous position and was almost powerless to defend himself against Ethan's relentless attacks.
'I can't stand the smile on this guy's face.'
Morse was filled with anger, and he wanted to wipe the smile off Ethan's face. Although he was reluctant to admit it, his pride made it impossible for him to tolerate being looked down upon.
"Come on!" With a roar, Ethan charged at Morse again, a hint of boredom in his voice. Although his conversation with Morse had helped him regain his composure, the fight now seemed utterly unchallenging.
"Let's see if we can block this attack," Ethan said in a low voice, thrusting his spear forward suddenly.
Hartley's Spear - Triple Claw Strike!
Ethan's spear moved with the agility of a snake, thrusting out three times in a single second. The magically imbued spear tip left afterimages in the air, like three venomous snakes simultaneously pouncing on their prey.
'Let me see your true strength. Don't disappoint me.'
Ethan silently chanted in his mind, and his spear struck out like lightning.
prick!
The first strike landed squarely; Morse could neither dodge nor block it.
prick!
The second strike landed squarely on Morse's right shoulder, drawing blood immediately. With each successful attack, Ethan's disappointment grew.
Just as he was preparing to launch his third attack, a strange feeling suddenly welled up inside him. He realized that this attack might not work, but it was too late to stop now.
Just as Ethan launched his third attack, Morse's movements suddenly became unpredictable. His eyes clearly captured every single one of Ethan's actions.
Ethan felt a chill run down his spine, sensing that the situation had changed.
Clang!
At almost perfect timing, Morse successfully parried Ethan's final blow with his dagger. The two weapons collided, and to Ethan's surprise, the spear's trajectory was completely neutralized.
"What?" Ethan was surprised to find that Morse seemed to be able to anticipate his movements and respond with extremely precise counterattacks.
boom!
The spearhead snapped upwards, disrupting Ethan's offensive stance. This was the perfect opportunity to counterattack.
Ethan heard Morse grit his teeth in pain and saw that his arm, which he used to block, had lost its strength.
But Ethan knew that Morse's abilities were not limited to that. He was proficient with all kinds of weapons, whether bows and arrows, daggers, or even his bare hands, he could unleash astonishing power.
Whoosh!
Just when Ethan thought victory was assured, Morse's arm, which should have been powerless, suddenly rose, its palm enveloped in magic, and came straight at Ethan.
Ethan's body reacted instinctively, his left elbow dropping in an attempt to block the blow. However, the expected attack did not materialize, and the sense of danger vanished instantly.
"Ok?"
Ethan let out a sound of doubt; things had turned out completely unexpectedly.
“So that’s how it is.” Morse’s voice rang out coldly. At the same time, Ethan felt a cold touch on his neck. A deadly aura.
"What?" He looked down and saw Morse's dagger pressed firmly against his neck. The arm he thought was powerless was now gripping the dagger steadily, without the slightest tremor.
“I won, Ethan,” Morse said calmly and firmly.
Ethan froze, staring blankly at the dagger, his mind a complete blank.
"How did he do that?" he muttered to himself, the only thing he could say.