Towers of Acalia Boxset Volume 1: Books 1-4 by Atlas Kane

Author:Atlas Kane [Kane, Atlas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mad Hag Books
Published: 2024-12-05T00:00:00+00:00

33

A CULTIVATOR’S HONOR

“Here I come, Rin. Full speed this time. Are you ready?” Siobhan asked, her silver eyes glinting with mischief.

Our breath filled the early morning air with plumes of mist. We’d been at it for an hour, drilling one final time before the duel.

The woman proved to be even more skilled than Astra, and I knew if I won this bout, it would largely be because of her.

Grinning, I shot her a wink. “Ready when you are, Siobhan. Don’t hold back or I’ll clip your wings.”

The snide comment forced a growl from her lips, and she unfurled her wings behind her.

Without pause, Siobhan launched herself in the air, her jump aided by a tremendous flap of her wings.

Since Iskander’s Spiritarm came up and over his shoulder, providing an unusually high angle of attack, she’d made sure to use her wings to emulate.

The woman’s staff lanced down at my chest in a streak of silver.

I caught the blow with my shield and deflected it to the side.

This minimized the staff’s impact and gave me a chance to counter.

I stepped in and jabbed toward her gut with the end of my hammer.

Until now, I’d only used both sides of my hammer, but the quickness of a hasty thrust was valuable even though the blow would be less powerful.

That was assuming I landed the hit.

Siobhan used her wings to assist a side-stepping maneuver.

Switching the way she held her staff, she swung it in great arcs, almost as if it were a great sword.

Her swings were likely quicker than Iskander’s would be, however, so I was forced to retreat several paces.

Her staff clanged loudly against Minh as she struck time and again.

I waited till she had committed to one final two-handed chop, then made my move.

I darted in, taking a glancing blow over my shoulder. The sacrifice was made in order to allow me a chance to get under her guard.

My Chasing Hammer blurred as I threw out a hasty side swing.

The hammer clipped the edge of her greaves, and sparks filled the air.

Siobhan grinned savagely. I knew things were about to get serious now that I’d made contact with her person.

She was that kind of fighter I’d learned.

The avian began a final combination she could perform masterfully. Lunging toward me and to the side, she swung her staff at my head.

I blocked it of course, but knew more was to come.

Shifting her grip, Siobhan rolled into a series of spear thrusts. Each time her staff leapt out, I would deflect or dodge it.

Each time, she side-stepped.

I blocked several, but one made it past my guard, thumping against my breastplate.

The stone wall of the bridge pressed into my lower back.

She’d done it again. The woman was a master of movement, and like so many times before, she had turned me into a corner.

I could dive into a roll to either side, but with Siobhan’s speed, that would mean taking a hard hit on my ribs.

Instead, I stood my ground, thinking to use one of her own tricks against her.

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