Elemental Cats

Rick's atmosphere had changed the moment he entered the examination room. Although he still had a gentle smile on his face as he walked to the one spot in the room that was clear of damage, that smile didn't seem quite as friendly as it did when Rick greeted Toz. Instead, a great danger seemed to be hiding behind the facade of a gentle old man.

Even if Toz couldn't sense Rick's level of power, he didn't need to, to realize that Rick was strong. A lot stronger than Toz. Probably stronger than the Scorched Earth Rat King had been. Thankfully, Rick wouldn't be going all out to defeat Toz as soon as possible. He would test Toz and make sure he can survive in a fourth level danger zone.

During the short walk to the examination room, they had agreed that the test would be a spar where Toz tries to match Rick's attacks and offensive.

After both had gotten into position and Toz revealed his dark matte grey sword with orange edges, Rick also revealed his weapon.

Although it couldn't be seen since he was wearing a shirt and a vest, a symbol on the right side of his stomach lit up, and a mace's handle appeared in his right hand. Attached to the handle was a chain connecting the handle and the fist-sized spike ball that was the main component of the mace.

Since he was merely simulating the strength of a fourth level beast, it didn't matter if Rick used a mace or not. And since beasts tend to be stronger than humans, it wouldn't be out of the line for Rick to use his mace energy as well.

The mace energy, like mana, could also create phenomena that if made by mana, would be called magic. However, what mace energy and all types of weapon energy can do, isn't similar to ordinary elemental magic. Instead, it focuses more on the weapon and the wielder, or fighter, what people who use different types of energy are called instead of mages.

Low level fighters can use weapon, fist, or any other kind of energy to strengthen themselves, or their weapon to make it sharper and more durable.

Medium level fighters can upgrade their energy to something called Aura, which is more potent than ordinary energy, and in addition to strengthening the weapons and themselves, Aura can also be used to put a protective coat over themselves or their weapon.

That is what Rick did as a transparent light covered his mace as he started walking toward Toz.

Although mana wasn't as effective at strengthening the body when used the same way as weapon energy or aura, it could still be used to boost a mage's physical ability temporarily.

And in response to Rick's advance, Toz filled his legs with mana as he dashed toward Rick, aiming to slash horizontally to the left.

Toz used the sparks that appeared when his sword clashed with the chain of the mace to send a few small fireballs into Rick's face, giving him time to disengage and prevent his sword from being trapped by the chain.

Rick brushed away the fireballs with his left hand and let Toz back away a couple of steps before he lunged at him, swinging his mace backhanded, aiming for Toz's sword that was still within his reach.

Despite Toz's two-handed grip on the sword, after the fierce clash that Rick's strike resulted in, the sword was sent flying to the side of the two combatants. And with Rick's continuous assault as he swung his mace, barely missing Toz, they got further and further away from the sword.

Since it was Toz's first fight at this level, he was a little destabilized when he lost his sword, but the mace aiming to tear him apart wouldn't allow him to be distracted so while he tried to think of a way to fight back, he continued dodging.

The difference in experience became even more evident when Toz still hadn't found a way to get out of the continuous retreat and was even about to get cornered.

Toz was getting so close to the wall that when he dodged one of Rick's swings, the mace hit the wall, leaving a serious dent and a few cracks.

While it showed Toz how terrifying it would be if the swings hit, it also became apparent that Rick was holding back in order to let Toz show what he was capable of. But more than that it also gave Toz a way out of getting cornered. And it wasn't making use of the opening Rick revealed from getting his mace stuck in the wall since it was pulled out and swung with barely any delay.

What had triggered Toz's inspiration was the mark the mace had left on the wall.

That mark wasn't the only unevenness on the walls that were covered in scars and wounds. All things that looked like footholds for an athletic and flexible young man with a lithe physique.

Toz sent a few quickly conjured fireballs at Rick to give him enough breathing room before he turned and started running up the wall. He kept exploding small balls of fire next to him, using the shockwave to keep him on the wall as he ran toward where the sword had ended up.

Rick easily avoided and brushed away the fireballs and was quick to chase after Toz again. Although he was inwardly surprised at Toz's stunt, he didn't let it stall him, but he still only caught up after Toz picked up his sword and was ready to fight back.

During the next wave of attacks that Rick unleashed, Toz fought back more properly instead of barely dodging.

As Rick unleashed a sideways swing, Toz didn't strike back at the head of the mace as it came flying toward him, instead, he used the flat of the blade to intercept the chain and let it glide off the sword, putting Rick off balance as Toz tried to counterattack.