Bastard Homunculus: Reborn in the Corpse Pit-Chapter 136: The Elven Nation of Sylph(Part 6)

"Hey, Commander...you look tense. Well, not that that’s anything new," Remarked Aster with a wry smile.

"Hm? Oh, it’s you, Captain Aster...I take it you couldn’t sleep either?" Jules greeted him as she glanced back.

"Not exactly, it’s more than I just am not feeling all that sleepy right now," He replied with a shrug.

A few hours had passed since the banquet, it was currently a few minutes to midnight. After the feast, the group from Persona returned to the guest lodgings to rest up.

Most of them were already asleep, but Jules had been feeling restless and unable to fall asleep, concerned over the sparring matches that Lyra had suggested and the Elders had agreed to.

The duels were to be held in two days time, with the Elves suggesting that tomorrow be used to relax and look around.

"Well, if nothing else, at least we have a timeframe for the Elves’ response now...they did say that they would finalize the alliance after the matches conclude," Sighed Jules, as she took a seat on the grass and stared up at the peaceful night sky, as a pleasant breeze blew across the area, the leaves on the trees surrounding the clearing rustling melodically.

"Are you worried that we won’t put up a good showing? I don’t think we need to be too concerned about that...those of us who’ll be participating are all pretty damn strong, after all," Pointed out Aster as he joined her, taking a seat beside her on the grass.

The Elves had agreed to a total of seven matches between their Warriors and Persona’s Knights. Of the Knights, those participating included Jules, Aster, Raven, Colt, Tilda and the two Vice-Captains, Jacks Aldi and Wein Beryl.

Of the others, Celia decided to opt out since she wasn’t really interested in participating, as had Arren Rowser, for the same reason.

As for Hart Riner, he did want to participate, but since there were only seven spots, he had to compete for the last spot with Tilda and Colt, since the three of them were the lowest-ranked among those who had volunteered to participate, all being First-Class Knights while the others were all ranked at Vice-Captain or above.

They engaged in a three-way game of rock-paper-scissors, and Hart ended up losing, much to his disappointment.

"I feel bad that Hart Riner had to be excluded despite wanting to be involved in the competition...normally, I wouldn’t participate myself unless necessary, that way everyone who wants to participate could. But given the circumstances, I want the strongest among us to participate since this will, in a way, be representative of our nation, so we can’t afford to put on a poor showing," Remarked Jules with a grimace.

"Yeah, you did apologize to him when he lost at rock-paper-scissors...also, maybe you’re taking this too seriously. I mean, this is just supposed to be some friendly duels, right? So, I wouldn’t necessarily call it a competition."

"No, I disagree...I think there’s more to this than meets the eye. The fact that they decided to hold it the day after tomorrow instead of tomorrow, as well as the fact that they said they would finalize the alliance after the fights.

I think they plan to continue observing us tomorrow, to get a clearer idea of whether we’re worth allying with...and the duels on the day after tomorrow, they probably want to see just how strong we are.

Which means, the results of the fuels could affect their decision on whether or not to form the alliance...after all, they might not see the merit in allying with a nation that they perceive to be significantly weaker than they are," Reasoned Jules with a frown.

"I suppose that’s possible...but, in that case, all we need to do is win at least a few of the duels, right? I doubt that’s going to be a problem," Responded Aster with a grin.

"Hm...your confidence is both reassuring and anxiety-inducing at the same time. I really hope this works out," Sighed Jules wearily.

"At the very least, I can’t imagine myself losing when I go all out, the only time I’ve ever struggled in a fight was against the Undead King, and I doubt even the strongest Elven Warriors are anywhere near his level," Pointed out Aster, as he stared at the sky with a smile.

Jules found her gaze drawn to him as the moonlight bathed him, her heart skipping a beat as she felt a hint of attraction...

" He looks so-...w-wait, what am I thinking?!"

"Uh, Commander? You okay?"

"H-Huh? Yes, I’m fine!"

...

...

"Wow, they’ve got quite the crowd in attendance," Remarked Raven, looking around in bemusement.

"Heh, this should be fun...looks like I’ll be fighting the guy who bumped into me, he’s really giving me the stink eye," Spoke up Colt with a look of anticipation and excitement on his face.

Two days had passed, it was early in the afternoon, and the sparring bouts were set to begin in a few minutes.

After deciding on their participants, Lyra had informed the Elders on which of the Knights would be competing, and the Elves had picked their own participants who would be representing them in the competition.

Raven, Aster and Jules would each be going up against a Grand Warrior, while the others would be facing First-Class Warriors.

"Sure you want me to go first? Shouldn’t I fight towards the end, like, a ’save the best for last’ kinda thing?" Inquired Aster wryly, as he began stretching and warming up.

"No, I’d rather we start off strong. So, you had better win," Responded Jules as she met his gaze with a serious look on her face.

"Please, who do you think you’re talking to?" Replied Aster confidently, cracking his neck before he made his way towards the arena that the Elves had set up, his opponent approaching as well.

"If he loses after saying all that, we’ll never let him live it down," Smirked Celia, as she and the others made their way to the sidelines.

"Yeah, well, I just can’t imagine him losing, not with that trump card he’s got up his sleeve. Although, I suppose he could lose if he gets careless and defeated before he has a chance to use it," Mused Jacks thoughtfully.

"That had better not happen...," Muttered Jules with a look of dread on her face, as Aster stepped onto the arena.

A barrier formed around the arena as he and his opponent entered the space, one that would teleport out anyone within it who’s about to sustain fatal damage, in order to ensure that no one would end up dead.

A sizeable audience of Elves were present to watch the matches, including the Elders, some of whom were also participating, Aster’s opponent being one of them.

"I’m looking forward to this...I’m a Captain of the Knight Order of the Kingdom of Persona, Aster Stark. It’s a pleasure," Smiled Aster with a bow of his head, as he and his opponent took their places.

"Likewise. I am of the Council of Elders of Sylph, Wistari. I hope for a good challenge here, so try not to disappoint, Aster Stark," Smirked the Elder with a sly look on her face.

She had long, straight, silky blonde hair that went down to her waist, dark blue eyes, a fair complexion, one of her upper front teeth was slightly chipped, and she was of around average height with an attractive, curvy figure. frёewebnoѵēl.com

She had a pair of curved stone blades in her hands, attached to a wooden handle bounded using vines.

"She’s a Dual Blader too, huh? This should be fun," Mused Aster, cracking his knuckles as he waited for the signal to start the match.

An Elf who was standing just outside of the barrier then raised his hand up, pointing it up towards the sky...

"The battle shall commence in three...two...one!" He exclaimed as he shot a fireball straight up into the air, which erupted several meters above, signaling the start of the fight.

Wistari swiftly shot towards Aster as intense lightning erupted around her and wrapped around her body, coating her in a crackling, electric armor.

A smirk of anticipation spread out across Aster’s lips as she closed in on him and channeled her lightning around her blades, before he swiftly drew out his own pair of blades as she leapt forward and whipped one of her blades towards the left side of his neck.

As the blade

sliced through the air, he swiftly raised his black blade up defensively, blocking Wistari’s swing, before her eyes widened in surprise as Aster’s blade absorbed the lightning wrapped around hers.

She then swiftly sprang back as he slashed at her stomach with his white blade, narrowly missing before she opened her mouth and fired out a rapid lightning bolt at him.

As it shot through the air with a sharp crackle, Aster swung his black blade across, striking the bolt and absorbing it before his gaze darted across as Wistari zipped around, unleashing a barrage of lightning bolts towards him.

Aster quickly raced away, whipping his black blade around to absorb the lightning he couldn’t evade, before swiftly turning his body across as one closed in on him faster than he could block it, narrowly evading it as it zipped past the front of his chest, the sudden motion upsetting his balance slightly.

His eyes then widened slightly as Wistari shot straight towards him and closed in on him in the blink of an eye, driving one of her blades at his chest with a rapid, twisting thrust of her arm, before he could regain his balance.

A sharp clang rang out as he just barely deflected the thrust with his black blade, before rapidly swinging his white blade across at her stomach.

She swiftly leapt back in response, grimacing as the blade cut through the fabric over her stomach and grazed her skin, her brows furrowing slightly as she felt a bit of her stamina getting drained upon contact with the blade.

"Those blades must be Relic Armaments, the black one drains Mana and the white one drains stamina. He’s not quite as fast as I am, but his instincts are sharp and he’s highly skilled with those blades," Surmised Wistari thoughtfully, before calling out to Aster, "I can’t help but notice that you haven’t yet used any Magic. I must say, I’m feeling rather insulted."

"Well, then, I guess you’ll just have to force me to use my Magic, won’t you?" Responded Aster tauntingly.

"Oh? Alright, if you insist...[Grand Lightning Cannon]!" She exclaimed as she raised her arms towards him, the air around her hands crackling violently before a massive, rapid beam of concentrated lightning towards him, the attack too wide and too fast to evade.

An electric glow shone out across the arena as the devastating mass of lightning closed in on Aster, before engulfing him and erupting fiercely, large streaks of lightning bursting out and dancing across the arena violently, painting streaky, charred trails across the surface.

As the lightning petered out, a thick cloud of dust rose up around the point of impact, billowing out as sparks crackled intensely across the air.

Wistari looked around the area outside the barrier, trying to spot Aster, before tensing up as the dust cloud abruptly cleared with a burst of wind, to reveal Aster standing in the same spot with a smirk on his face.

There wasn’t so much as a scratch on him or on the ground around him within a one meter radius, while the area outside of that range had been scorched black.

"Not bad...you made me use my Magic," Remarked Aster with a smug look on his face.

"How interesting...seems I have no choice but to go all out. Let’s see if you can keep up," She smirked with a gleam in her eyes, the lightning around her intensifying sharply...