The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 60 - Another Sparring Match

Chapter 60: 60 - Another Sparring Match

I lasted longer than usual against Viktor... But I still lost in the end.

"You’re improving fast."

He said as he walked toward me and helped me up, I was lying on the arena floor.

"Yeah, you better get ready... I’ll catch up to you soon."

I replied as I took his hand and stood up.

"Ugh, shit..."

My left ribs hurt, I was hit earlier in my side. Though luckily, nothing seem broken.

Anyway, as I was massaging my side to ease the pain—

"You guys are awesome!"

Damian approached us and exclaimed that.

"Yeah, we know."

I told him as I patted my shirt clean.

"Haha, thanks."

Viktor followed, smiling smugly.

"I want to spar too!"

Then... Damian suddenly said that, looking at us with twinkling eyes.

"...?"

I tilted my head at him, Viktor did the same. We’re looking at him weirdly.

"You want to spar with us?"

I asked. And Damian nodded his head violently, excitement in his eyes.

"As in right now?"

Viktor added. He just nodded again with a wide smile on his face.

"..."

I glanced at Viktor and he glanced back at me. I was frowning and he’s just smiling awkwardly.

’Is this guy an idiot? He literally just saw us fight.’

I thought, pertaining to Damian. I mean, I admit he’s probably stronger than me physically a bit, just looking at his body.

But I have more experience than him, I don’t think we should spar.

’He couldn’t even win against me back when I was a scrawny kid. I know I fought dirty back then, but hey—I still won.’

And don’t even get me started about Viktor. Damian wouldn’t be able to touch him.

"Sure! Why don’t you spar with him? I’m quite tired at the moment, you see."

Just then, without talking things with me—Viktor said that to Damian and pointed at me.

"Huh?"

My eyes widened, but before I could even say anything...

"Do this one for me since you lost the duel, let the kid have a go at it."

Viktor slouched near my ear and whispered that to me.

"Well, then... See you guys in a bit!"

Then he left the two of us.

"Hey, you bastard!"

I shouted at him, but he just waved his hand without even looking at me. He’s annoying sometimes, really.

I turned my attention back to Damian... He was looking at me with expectant eyes. My brows squinted.

But after a while... I just let out a defeated sigh and opened my mouth.

"Fine, but let me rest for a minute. Get ready in the meantime."

"...!"

His eyes widened, and so did his smile.

"Got it!"

Damian replied, then he immediately went to prepare.

*****

After a couple of minutes, I rested well enough and Damian got ready.

I still plan to train a bit soon, so to finish this already—

"Let’s go."

I walked toward the arena back again. Wooden sword in my right hand and a shield on my left.

"Coming!"

Damian followed after me with a smile on his face. He’s wearing leather gloves that cushion his fists, there are stones on its knuckles—then on his forearms... He has vambraces made of leather with wood coverings.

’So he really fights using his fists, huh... I guess he really did know what he was doing when he got gloves as his weapon.’

Anyway, seeing us two walking to the arena—the other fighters in the training ground got curious.

"The kid is fighting again."

"Oh, you’re right... He’s fighting another kid, just bigger than him."

"Wanna watch?"

"Sure do."

They surrounded the arena once more to get a better view, and the guards did the same after getting wind of what’s happening.

’They’re just doing whatever... I guess they’re that bored just standing guard of this place.’

I thought. Then, in the small crowd forming—I saw Viktor just standing at the corner, watching!

’That bastard is just relaxing while leaving this guy to me.’

I grumbled in my head, seeing him looking at me with an apologetic smile. I turned my head away from him and shifted my attention to Damian.

"Are you ready?"

I asked him.

"I am."

He replied, a serious look now on his face.

’So he can make that kind of expression, huh.’

I thought, shrugging.

"Then let’s start."

Then I declared that.

BAM!

Damian immediately kicked off and rushed at me as soon as I said that.

’Oh, he’s fast.’

He was approaching me quickly. And soon, he reached me.

Fwoosh—

A left straight from him came toward my face. I just tilted my head to the left and avoided it easily.

But as if he expected that, Damian followed with a right jab.

"..."

Fwish—

I ducked down a bit and his attack brushed past on top of my head. Then from that position—I countered with an uppercut from my left, the thick edge of my shield would hit Damian’s chin if he couldn’t stop this.

"...!"

I saw his eyes widen as he quickly retrieved his right hand, and after that—

TWHACK!

He blocked my shield with the wooden part of his vambrace.

"Ugh!"

I heard him groan though, and his right hand was sent up in the air.

But to my surprise—

"Haa...!"

He just threw a downward punch as a response.

Fwish—

I full-on sidestepped to the left and avoided it. Then with my sword and right hand behind me—I drew a crescent and slashed vertically down!

"Fuck!"

I heard Damian curse when he saw that, a small smile appeared on my face.

THUK!

He crossed his arms above his head and blocked my sword, he was frowning. And not caring about that—

BAM!

I just sent a side kick straight to his defenseless stomach with a smile.

"GAH!!!"

He was so focused on stopping my sword that he didn’t see that one coming, he took full damage from it. Damian stumbled backwards a few steps, but still—

"...!"

He didn’t fall, he even glared at me with determined eyes.

’Oh, he’s sturdy.’

I thought to myself.

Anyway, I already know roughly how strong Damian is at the moment.

’It’s time to finish this.’

So with that in mind...

FWISH—

I threw my sword out of the arena, then without stopping, I took off my wooden shield and threw it to the side—straight toward Viktor!

"...!"

Thuk!

He was surprised, but he caught it. Viktor looked at me with an annoyed smile.

’My bad.’

I mouthed to him while smiling mischievously.

’That’s for forcing me to fight this guy.’

After that, I brought my attention back to Damian, he was looking at me all surprised and confused.

I just shrugged my shoulders, and after taking a stance—

"Come, I don’t need those against you."

I said that arrogantly.

"..."

Damian’s eyes squinted, an annoyed expression replaced his confusion. He fixed his stance, and while glaring at me—

"YOU’LL REGRET THAT!!!"

BAM!

He propelled himself toward me again, shouting.

’It’s really easy provoking idiots.’

TAP—

Damian was now standing face to face with me for the second time. And without hesitation—

"HAAAAA!!!"

He launched a right hook. I ducked a little and he hit nothing but the air.

"GET HIT!!!"

Fwish— Swish— Whish—!

He unleashed a barrage of punches while shouting.

Whoosh~

But I was just weaving through them all, taking small steps back from time to time while guarding my face. He hadn’t hit me once.

And after a while, in frustration—

"FUCKING HIT...!!!"

SWOOSH—!

He threw a wide right punch!

"Stupid."

Thud!

I blocked with my left forearm, then I swung my arm backwards.

"...!"

I parried his right fist to the side. I could see his face all shocked, realizing what just happened.

And without giving him time to recover—

Bam!

I threw a left jab straight to his nose.

"Gurgh?!"

His face cringed in pain, his eyes closed. Then to finish this all—

TAP!

I planted my right foot forward and twisted my torso to the left. And with my left fist tightly clenched behind me—

"Clench your teeth."

I threw an overhand punch with all my might!

BAM!!!

It made a loud sound as I hit Damian in the right cheek, he turned his head at the last second to lessen the damage. But while my fist was still on his face—

’...!’

I poured all the strength I could muster in my left arm—then I drilled his face straight to the floor!

THUD!!

His back and head were slammed to the ground.

"GAH!!!"

His mouth hung open.

And with that...

"..."

He lost consciousness.

"..."

Silence engulfed the area, and as I stood up straight...

"Rest up."

I said that.

"WHOOAAAA!!!"

"THAT WAS A GOOD FIGHT!!!"

Cheers came from the fighters watching, while the guards were just smiling. I saw Viktor clapping, he already knew this would happen.

I mean, sure—Damian trained for over a month.

’But so did I.’

I trained hard too all this time, I was also sparring with Viktor and all.

’I already won three matches where my life was on the line.’

And I don’t think they will teach the slaves properly, to be honest.

So there was no way Damian would defeat me with his current self.

Though, I’ll admit it—he’s better than I expected.

’It will be useful to have him by my side.’

I thought as I walked away.

I saw Viktor approaching Damian to get him, so I’ll just let him do the rest.