After finishing his shower, Clyde came out of his room, feeling fresh.
"Let's go," Clyde said to Samuel who was waiting for him leaning against the wall outside.
"Where's that sword of yours?" Samuel asked while looking up at Clyde with demanding eyes.
"Inside, of course," said Clyde.
"Is it true that it is your sword from the Selection Stage?" he asked.
Clyde stared at Samuel for a few moments. Thinking whether he should answer with the truth or not.
"Where did you hear about that?" Clyde asked back.
Samuel could see the defensive tone in his voice. So he immediately smiled so that the tension around them would not get higher.
"I only heard rumors. Don't have to answer them if you don't want to," Samuel said. Then he walked first toward the exit.
Clyde still didn't know if he could talk about the Elderglass Sword and how Maethion who was a Senior Council had given it to him.
Everyone here lived knowing the rule that the items they have from the Selection Stage had to be destroyed. If they knew that he had a sword that he got from the Selection Stage, they might just make a mess of it.
Clyde followed Samuel outside. He planned to ask Maethion that later since the secret about the sword was already known by someone other than them. That might turn out to be a bad thing later if it spreads further.
He didn't know where Samuel had heard the 'rumor'. If Samuel could know about it, then maybe other people could too.
"Where were you go to yesterday?" Samuel asked as they walked together towards the portal that would lead them to the plain.
"Some Ruin. We also pick up artifacts like we did before," answered Clyde.
Samuel turned to make sure it was true. However, for the umpteenth time, he couldn't guess what was behind Clyde's flat face.
And Samuel also has no further proof that what Clyde said was a lie. So he didn't ask any further.
'Doesn't matter. Whatever he does won't matter anymore.'
Samuel stared at his spear. The spear he used to use had now been replaced with the spear made by Hammer.
However, that wasn't the source of confidence for Samuel to challenge Clyde this time. But the new power that he got.
Even though he had just gotten this power and Samuel couldn't be sure he was able to use it properly yet, he couldn't wait to see how it would develop against Clyde.
If he was proven to be able to defeat Clyde, then Samuel was sure that his strength would have soared far. So he could more quickly continue his own revenge plan on those Celestials.
'But... what if he turns out to be even stronger than before with his mysterious power?'
Samuel can't help but think about that possibility. After all, he still doesn't know the true nature of Clyde's power.
They arrived at the plain after stepping out from within the portal. Clyde immediately saw two people he had not seen in a long time.
Lahn and Wayne were sparring with swords. The sound of their swords clashing could be heard quite clearly from where the two of them were standing.
"It seems Hammer has made a better sword since you brought him new materials. No more complaints about broken swords," said Samuel.
"That's good. That's how it should be," Clyde replied.
The two of them were still sparring while Clyde and Samuel looked for an empty spot for their own sparring.
"Hey, isn't that Clyde?" Lahn stopped his sword swing as soon as he noticed Clyde's presence.
Wayne automatically stopped too and turned to where Lahn was looking.
"You're right. He's back from the expedition he was on," Wayne said.
Lahn bit his lip. And then, without saying anything to Wayne she sprinted towards Clyde and Samuel.
"H-Hey! Where are you going?" Inevitably, Wayne was chasing her.
Lahn's footsteps got her to Samuel and Clyde's place quicker than she thought.
Clyde and Samuel turned. Clyde immediately realized that he would be in a predicament. He sighed seeing the determined look in the girl's eyes.
"What's wrong, Lahn?" Samuel asked when he saw the look on Lahn's face that looked like he wanted to say something.
"I want to talk to Clyde," Lahn spoke while looking at Clyde.
"We want to do some training," Clyde replied curtly.
"I heard you just came from an expedition, where did you go and who did you bring?" Lahn didn't seem to hear the reply Clyde gave him earlier. She asked with such determination that gave off the impression that she wanted to know the answer right away, and would not move from that spot before getting what she wanted.
Clyde sighed. "It's classified. I get orders directly from a Senior Council."
Lahn's eyes widened at that. "From a Senior Councilor? So you're on par with Samuel?"
Lahn glanced at Samuel. Samuel just showed a small smile as if it wasn't a problem. But his heart said something different. Suddenly his grip on his spear tightened.
Clyde chose not to answer. And turned to Samuel. "Let's begin the training."
"Let me join your training!" Lahn said.
Clyde turned to Samuel. This training is Samuel's training session and he is only invited. So he looked at him to ask his decision.
Samuel shrugged. "I don't think that's a bad idea."
If Samuel agreed, Clyde had no problem with that.
Wayne came a moment later and chose to be a spectator only.
The training session started. Lahn was already the most tired of them as she had been sparring with Wayne for an hour before Clyde and Samuel arrived. Yet she didn't seem to want to back down or say anything about her condition. She's just ready to fight again.
Clyde was of course aware of her condition. So he put in mind to hold his attack.
"Let's start with hand-to-hand combat," Samuel suggested. He stuck his spear into the ground.
Hand-to-hand combat... Clyde felt like he had never done that in his life either before the Selection Stage or after. He had always relied on weapons to fight.
"Alright." Clyde dropped the sword he was carrying on the ground.
Lahn looked hesitant. But in the end, she agreed. She dropped her sword on the ground too.
"How are we going to train? We three just fight each other?" Clyde asked.
"I'll fight you first!" Lahn said quickly.
Clyde frowned at Lahn. Inside his mind, Clyde thought that this short-haired girl was really rude.
He turned to Samuel. "What do you think?"
Samuel snorted with a crooked smile. "Maybe you should fight her first, teach her a lesson and then fight me," said Samuel.
Lahn shot Samuel a sharp glare. He basically said that Clyde would beat her quickly.
"Alright." Clyde nodded. "Let's begin."
Hearing that the two of them underestimated her, the determination in Lahn's eyes grew even greater. She stared at Clyde as if she wanted to kill him now.
"You should have waited your turn," Clyde said, looking at Lahn. "By the way, why are you so eager to fight me?"
"I wonder how the strength of someone who was directly ordered by the Senior Council to carry out an expedition this quickly," Lahn replied as she put on her stance.
Clyde chose not to reply to her words.
Lahn dashed towards Clyde with incredible speed. But it wasn't speed that was a problem for Clyde.
Lahn immediately spun her around to kick Clyde in the head. A distinctive screaming sound came out of Lahn's mouth when she did that kick.
*BAGH!*
Clyde blocked Lahn's kick with one hand. Lahn looked irritated when he saw Clyde block his kick without effort.
When it landed on the ground Lahn wasted no time and lunged straight at Clyde.
Clyde could feel that Lahn was starting to flow Mana through her body to strengthen each of her attacks.
*BAGH!*
*BAGH!*
*BAGH!*
...
Every attack Lahn that Clyde endured felt stronger. While Clyde just kept on parrying without attacking back.
"What the fuck are you doing?! Why! You! didn't strike back?!" Lahn said that in between her punches and kicks.
Clyde just let out a brief thin smile. But even though it was brief, Lahn had realized it and it was enough to make her more enraged.
With gritting teeth, Lahn drained more Mana than before. Which she has been able to control in just a few days.
"HAARRRGHH!!!"
Lahn shouted loudly as she aimed her Mana-coated fist at Clyde.
*BUGH!*
The fist hit Clyde's chest hard. However, Clyde seemed unaffected by the punch. He just stood where he was without moving.
Lahn's eyes widened in realization. 'He's not trying to dodge.'
Lahn looked up and saw Clyde's face. Just as usual, he showed an indifferent expression, unfazed after receiving her fist.
"Now you know," said Clyde. "That's how far our differences go. There, I've already shown you my strength."
Clyde's words left Lahn speechless. She still stared at Clyde for a few moments with a look of shock.
~~~
