Divine Heritage: Only I Can Judge The gods-Chapter 60: Friendly spar

Luke tried what he could but he was just not skilled enough with the staff, Thalia circled around him with ease and slapped him right at the back of his neck.

Whoosh!

All five fingers made contact with his tender skin.

There was a sharp sound just after contact, the sound like breaking glass. Everyone winced, even Thalia felt a little bad for the boy.

"Ouwww!" Luke screamed, dropping the weapon and holding onto his now red neck.

Natasha seemed the most shocked, she adjusted her round glasses as though she was hoping to see better and then screamed at the top of her voice:

"Vice commander please, be gentle!"

"Yeah yeah, I know." She then turned to Luke.

"Tag. I get that you’re a mage but even mages need to be able to hold their own in a fight. I mean look at me... I’m a mage as well!"

He was actually pretty okay for a beginner but these words would motivate him far better.

She tilted her head slightly, just as an arrow brushed past her, nearly bruising her ear.

’That bow...’

Thalia realised then that Emma was at a disadvantage, her Artifact was a longbow, a weapon capable of launching arrows at jaw dropping speeds.

This was merely a toy in her hands, making her attacks inconsequential.

’Next time... I’ll let her use her Artifact.’

Vooom!

Thalia immediately spun around grabbing onto Kiera’s sword.

"Sneak attacks won’t work on me, but nice try."

’Of course she knew, that this was not the real attack...’

Kiera’s eyes widened in surprise just as she was tossed to the side while watching as Thalia delivered a vertical strike backward without having to even look.

Boom!

Wood splinters flew in all directions as their swords connected, Ark had soared through the air to increase the force of his blow and brought it down on a single point.

It was a nice attack, albeit too risky in one on one scenarios.

He smiled nervously.

"You even blocked that..."

Thalia yawned and then smiled sheepishly. Her headache was finally settling, so with each passing moment, her mind became sharper.

"Is that a surprise to you?"

Ark jumped backward, meeting the remaining three front liners.

Elise was rubbing her stomach with an annoyed look on her face.

"Let’s hit her all at once."

Thalia scratched her head.

"Hey, aren’t you already out?"

"You didn’t say tag, so no!"

’Making use of a technicality huh...’

The three remaining fighters all lunged at her from all sides, creating a near inescapable wall of strikes with their blades.

Ark struck with quick heavy blows and his attacks came with devastating force, each one threatening to snap his sword in two, it was a wonder how it still held.

Kiera was darting from place to place like a ghost, her movements just as noiseless as one. Her strikes were delivered with a chilling sense of brutality, her face stoic as she delivered blow after blow.

Emma was accounting for their insufficiencies, although sometimes her arrows missed widely, they were still distracting enough to keep her on her toes.

She jogged backward just to avoid a full thrust from Elise.

The girl fought like a berserker with no care for her own body, she threw herself into dangerous situations not bothering about herself.

This time though, Thalia made her pay for it.

Just as Elise charged with her sword outstretched, Thalia flung her sword forward, the wooden blade slapping against her face and bouncing back into Thalia’s hand.

She grabbed onto the girl’s hand just as she let out a yelp and twisted it, flinging her to the floor.

"Tag. Don’t charge without a plan."

Kiera dropped to the floor, hoping to trip her with a low kick but Thalia jumped just as her leg passed

underneath her.

"Now!" She screamed as she jumped backward.

Ark was already behind Thalia, abandoning his sword for a heavy blow instead.

Boom!

Thalia held his fist in hers, a small smile curling on her face as her feet finally got purchase.

Her fingers were stinging from the force of the blow, and Ark’s hands still pushed against hers with considerable force.

She let go of his fist and moved, her body a blur as she appeared right behind him. Ark was already jumping but he was not fast enough.

Clang!

Kiera closed the space between them, managing to block the attack with a swing of her own.

’These two...’

They worked well with each other.

But she made a mistake. Kiera had rushed, and as a result, she ended up defending in a very awkward position.

Thaila twisted her sword forward, hooking it around Kiera’s and pulling it toward herself. The result was that Kiera stumbled, losing her balance.

"Pay attention to your footing," Thalia said, just as she plunged her elbow into Kiera’s back, sending her to the ground.

"Tag."

"How are things looking?" Emma yelled from her location.

"Not very good. Only both of us are left."

Ark responded, holding his blade as he took cautious steps forward.

Emma unleashed another arrow but by now, Thalia had gotten used to them and easily evaded the strike.

"I hope you guys are taking note of your mistakes?" Thalia asked, staring at those who had been eliminated.

Elise sighed from where she sat next to Natasha, while Kiera’s eyes were glued on the fight.

Luke on the other hand—

’Is he sulking? What a big baby.’

Ark’s eyes moved around her, his mind calculating.

Thalia brought her free hand to her face.

"Hey, don’t look at me like that, you’re going to make my heart race."

There was a disapproving grunt from Natasha making her laugh heartily just as Ark sprinted forward.

He was in front of her within seconds, his sword coming down at her shoulder.

Thalia easily stepped his attack, her body moving to the side just as the blow cut through the air.

Ark swerved immediately, twisting his body to lash out with an unexpected chilling speed.

Thump!

The two blades collided creating a low but sharp sound, Ark then unleashed a flurry of blows that Thalia easily dodged and then he threw a feint.

"You have no technique whatsoever, but you’re not bad. With a little training..."

She easily stepped between his wall of attacks and kicked his knee before distancing herself from him once more.

"Come on, you can do better than that."

Thalia was eager to find out more about him, but that would have to wait until they spared with their curses.

Only then would she be able to properly observe him.

Ark once again rushed at her, using the moment just as an arrow streaked forward to mask his attack.

Thalia bounced the arrow away with her sword while watching his approach. She saw the feint but was confused as to the very purpose of it, why did he launch a feint when he was going for another simple attack?

Ark lifted his sword high up, pushing his muscles as he delivered a high vertical slash.

Boom!

A shocked expression flashed through Thalia’s face as both swords exploded from the impact.

A rush of wind spread through the area as countless splinters tore out of the swords, one of them brushing against Thalia’s face.

’This kid!’

She disappeared a second later, grabbing onto his shoulder and spinning him around just before delivering a massive kick to his gut.

He took a step back but was still standing, just then, Thalia moved to the side, grabbing an arrow out of thin air and delivering a high kick to Ark to finally take him down.

"Tag."

Now without any defenders, Emma was easy picking.

She put up a good fight, but with a bow as her only weapon up close the fight ended rather quickly.

Thalia wiped sweat off her forehead, staring at the newbies.

"You guys did well."

They were all staring at her as well, although their gazes were filled with more shock than admiration.

That was when—

Drip Drip

A scarlet liquid slowly slid down her cheek and fell down her face.

’Did someone manage to hit me?’

Her mind went over to the fight, replaying everything in her head.

’Oh...’

A faint smile appeared on her face as she turned to face one of the newbies.

"Congratulations Ark, I have to say, I’m very impressed! You can come by my..."

She could already hear Natasha’s scream before she completed her sentence.