New Fantasy World: Galeia-Chapter 57

I looked her in the eye. Her good one, at least. She stared back, a carefree smile on her face.

"Natasha Novak." I softly said.

"Yolin Makav." she answered in her soothing voice.

Her tongue was black, much to my surprise.

"So you’re a tank?" I asked in Russian, or Orkish in this world.

Her eye widened and so did her smile.

"You know Orkish? Good!" she nodded. "Your form didn’t say anything about Languages. I guess you haven’t heard enough of them, yet. As you asked, I’m a tank. Cleric base, Monk, Paladin, and Asura. I have various skills to redirect attention and increase durability, knowledge of fighting techniques, and I can inflict enemies with a few effects." her soothing, mature voice did wonderful things to my mind. "How about you?"

"I fight with a spear. Warrior base, Hoplite, Lancer, and Dragoon. I have a few auras and warcries, and skills to fight big monsters. My Lancer class benefits from riding a mount. I have a Ratnak." I answered.

She was staring at my lips as I talked. I glanced at Lapia and Alyssa. They sat back down on the sofa and were looking at me.

I guess they approve of her, since they called me over. I returned my attention to the woman in front of me.

"Let’s fight, then." she gave me a toothy smile. "We can Bond later."

"Why do you want to fight me?" I asked.

I don’t even know if I can fight bare handed. No way I’ll use a weapon. I felt conflicted.

"You’re a warrior." she shrugged. "I’d like to test my strength against a Halve."

Is she a battle maniac? I giggled.

"Sure. I’ll hold back, though. I don’t really know the extent of my strength."

"No problem. Let’s go outside, then." she walked to the door and opened it.

Lapia and Alyssa stood up and walked over to me.

"Did you find an inn?" the Elf asked.

We turned and followed Yolin.

"That’s the first thing you ask?" I chuckled as we left the room. "I did, big bed, comfy place. They serve food at set times, so we don’t have to worry about that."

"Hmm." the Luzo tilted her head. "Sounds expensive."

"I’ll cover that. Don’t worry." I held their hands. Then, I asked in a quiet voice. "What’s the deal with the duel, anyway?"

"Pretty normal, really." the healer answer. "Tanks test the vanguard’s power, that also allows them to show their resilience and skills."

"Sounds a little barbaric, to be honest. Makes sense, though." I nodded.

"It’ll be fine, her level is very high." Lapia squeezed my hand. "Relax, Natasha."

I was staring at the back of the woman leading us. The white markings covered her entire back, a symmetrical pattern that reminded me of Polynesian tattoos.

We crossed the hall and turned to the back of the cathedral. The Oni opened a big door and a spacious yard welcomed us.

What looked like a fighting pit with pressed dirt was surrounded by stone stands. It was around twenty meters wide. It was more like a low-budget coliseum.

"Let me heal your eye." Alyssa walked to her.

"Right! Almost forgot." the tank laughed and removed the eye patch.

A nasty acid burn covered where her eye should be. I grimaced, a queasy feeling going up my spine.

The healer raised a hand and her eyes shone with white light. The scarred tissue fell off and her eye socket emptied. Then, an eye regrew inside, followed by eyelids, eyelashes, and the skin around the organ.

She blinked a few times and nodded, giving Alyssa a big smile. "Thank you very much."

The Luzo giggled. "No problem."

I took a deep breath and looked away. That was disgusting.

Yolin walked to the middle of the pit and turned to me.

"Come!" she took a fighting posture.

Her fists were at eye level, her legs at shoulder width. Knees bent a little and her left foot forward.

Lapia and Alyssa walked over to the stands and sat down.

I sighed and walked into the circle, replacing my clothes for the sport set I wear while exercising, my feet bare as well.

"Any rules?" I asked.

"Monsters and bandits don’t have any. Why should we?" she simply said.

"Alright, then." I raised my hands in front of my face.

I don’t know how to fight barehanded! I’m gonna get my ass kicked...

"Let’s start!" Yolin announced and advanced on me.

A set of four floating arms materialized behind her, her tattoos and eyes glowed bright white. White wrappings covered her hands and feet like a Thai boxer.

What is this bullshit? I screamed in my mind as a white fist flew towards my face. I felt my pulse quicken and everything slowed down. Bless high dexterity!

I ducked and took a step to the side, keeping the Oni in my field of vision.

The other three arms were on their way towards me. Yolin advanced between them, looking me straight in the eye.

She reached me before the arms, raising her right knee and pushing forward with her hips, aiming at my stomach. I dodged, stepping aside. A flying fist grazed my nose as I leaned my head back. I met another fist with my own, the thing burst in a small explosion of light.

I didn’t blink, since the brightness was not enough to blind me. I headbutted another fist, making it burst again. She brought her leg down, sinking a little in the ground, then spun. The same leg going up and around, her heel on its way to my temple.

Holy shit! I ducked again. I felt a soft impact on the back of my head, probably another flying fist.

I closed in on her and almost punched her lower back. I gently pushed her instead.

That destabilized her, but she lowered her leg and jumped forward while turning around.

She had a huge smile on her face. "You’re fast and strong!" I heard her say in slow motion.

But I don’t know what to do! I retorted in my mind.

She rushed me and more arms materialized around her. This time, they formed a circle and flew toward me at an even higher speed.

I raised my arms in front of me, blocking them. The impact was negligible, and they all dissipated in light.

A fist appeared beneath my elbows, going up towards my chin. I leaned back and avoided the uppercut. Her left leg went in for a kick on my leg. I instinctively raised it, receiving the blow with my shin.

Her raised arm came down, supporting her on my shoulder. She closed in, bending her other arm and approaching my face with her free elbow.

I decided to take it and see what would happen. It made contact on my temple and I felt a tickle.

Now is the time where the protagonist awakens her hidden martial arts! Come!

Nothing happened.

I decided to copy her, my knee instantly hitting her stomach. It felt like a wall made of steel. It didn’t hurt, and she didn’t budge either. I didn’t use much force either. Otherwise I would have killed her. I had no doubts about that.

She smiled and punched me in the face while distancing herself. It felt like a playful slap.

Shifting her hips, her right leg went for a high kick. I blocked it with a hand.

Lapia, come pick me up, I’m scared! I whined in my mind.

She advanced and went for another kick, her left leg lashing out.

I took a step forward, placing my right foot behind her supporting ankle, then pushed her with my shoulder. She was heavy. More than anything I had moved before.

She bent backwards and supported her body with her arms, her legs following the inertia. I dodged a foot going for my face. She landed on her feet and righted herself, taking another step towards me.

So pushing works. I smiled. And it doesn’t hurt her.

We circled each other and I dodged more punches, kicks, knee strikes, and elbow blows.

Her right fist went for my face, I moved it aside and pushed her again. She had put her left leg behind her for support, canceling my action. Her arms shot around my neck, and she went for a knee strike on my solar plexus. I tightened my body and prepared for pain.

It felt like a slightly heavy pillow hitting me, however.

So this is five hundred levels of difference. Feels like cheating. I exhaled and relaxed, taking two steps back. It won’t matter how big the difference is if I can’t fight back, though.

We continued sparring for a few minutes, I pushed her whenever the chanced presented itself, but she adapted incredibly fast to my movements. When she realized I was focusing on dodging, she stopped and smiled.

The tank summoned more arms, this time connected to her body. Two above her shoulders, and two on her armpits. Their white color a heavy contrast with her red skin.

A large white mandala floated vertically behind her, a horn of the same material grew from her forehead between her actual horns, her skin darkened, and twenty blue spheres circled around her.

That’s an Asura, alright. I felt a little turd threatening to escape me.

"Wooah!" I heard Lapia to the side.

"Let me buff you too!" Alyssa betrayed me.

Yolin’s body grew brighter, the markings on her body, the extra arms around her, and her eyes changing to a golden color. No halo floated above her head, fortunately.

She brought her real arms together with a clap, the upper pair took the gesture of shoonya mudra, the lower pair had one palm facing up, while the other faced forward with the gyan mudra.

The spheres shot towards her, merging with her body. Three symbols floated above her eyebrows.

I demand a refund! I want those classes! Fuck spears! I grumbled in my mind.

The woman in front of me looked like an accurate Asura. I thought of stopping the fight, but that would prevent me from testing my own body as well.

I clicked my tongue and pushed E’er into Prevention, Monster Hunter, and Dragoon Might while thinking of four hours.

She smirked and rushed me again.

She threw a punch, and I dodged to the left. A white arm hit me square on the chin. The rest hit me in the stomach, both ribs, and chest. It felt like a tap.

I leaned forward and tried to push her.

She dropped her body, dodging my hands. My momentum made me lose balance. The six arms supported her body and she bent her legs up, kicking me in the stomach and lifting me an entire meter above ground.

Alright. I’m scared. I admitted to myself.

I clenched my butt as she followed the kick by grabbing my legs. She spun and I saw the world shift to my left. I punched to the ground, hoping to stop the carousel. My fist lodged into it and she let me go.

Jumping back, I took deep breaths. This woman is serious.

She rushed me again, all six of her arms punching different spots on my body. I raised my arms again, blocking my face. Her fists rained on me. Although the impact was negligible, I was worried of hurting her if I hit back, even if she was a tank.

An idea came to me. I could just punch her extra arms, and block her actual fists.

My fists lashed out, meeting white punch with golden punch. I palmed her real fists, my sped up reflexes fortunately allowed me to achieve it without hurting her.

Every time I blocked her actual arms, the extra ones were already replaced.

"Hahahahahaha!" she laughed like a maniac. "So this is a Halve! Wonderful!"

What do I do?! I was getting worried. My strength, reflexes, and speed increased by the second.

Her eyes were wide open, a smile befitting an Oni on her face. She looked like she was enjoying herself to no end.

I punched fists, they exploded in light. I blocked her real hands, the arms reformed. I didn’t dare blink in case I missed a hand and punched her actual fists.

A smile slowly formed on my face as we traded blows. I was keeping up with six arms. Sometimes she would add a kick to the mix, spicing things up. I would raise a leg and block with my shin.

She changed the order of punches, hitting with three arms at the same time. I dodged and leaned forward, trying to bait her into lowering her body. She didn’t.

She’s 200 years old. Of course she won’t, you pancake! I chastised myself.