Aevintyr Elds

A trail of blood went down Bete's nose. 

It was a kick that he didn't really expect… in addition to that, his stats are now reduced to level 1…

He was angry… angry not at the person in front of him, but angry at himself… However, he was also annoyed by the person in front of him.

He wanted to destroy the person in front of him… so he grabbed the collar on his neck… however, before he completely broke it.. He heard Loki.

"Really? Bete?"

Bete turned around and looked at Loki who was looking at him seriously.

"You really want to break the collar? For what? Just because you let your guard down? What happened to your honor… to the werewolves honor?"

Bete gritted his teeth and looked back at Bjorn, who was also looking at him. 

After a while of just staring at one another, Bjorn started the conversation.

"I know you are underprepared and it does not feel right with me to win like this. You know… we can just fight again, however this time… Let's raise the stakes this time…"

Loki stood up and jumped towards the middle of the two.

"Alright! Alright! We have a new fight this morning!! A rematch between these two!"

She then looked at the two.

"Since there will be an increase in stakes, tell me… what are you guys willing to give up for?"

Loki looked at Bjorn.

"I would give up my would-be life in Orario. I will return to my village and live there for the rest of my life."

Loki nodded towards Bjorn. She then looked towards Bete.

"I… would give you a grimoire."

"What!"

Loki herself was surprised. The other people inside the dining hall were also surprised. 

The value of a grimoire is something great… Though it is an RNG machine, since you do not know what magic you would be receiving. It may be bad, or good, depending on your personality, 

What sort of magic the user develops is unrelated to magic affinity or magic stat. The magic obtained from a grimoire is determined by the same factors as the rest: the user's beliefs, desires, personality, and fighting style.

The value of such items is definitely high...… It averages around a hundred million valis each…

Going back, since the terms of the fight had been decided. Loki returned to her seat. 

The executives of the familia themselves are rather… excited. Knowing that the newbie that Loki invited is quite skillful, they knew that the incoming fight would be a great watch. 

Bete adopted a boxing stance, with his left hand in front and his right hand near his chest. His hands were loose and were at a distance away from his body.

Bjorn, on the other hand, also adopted a similar boxing position, however, his left fist is pressed near his left cheek, just below his left eye. His right fist is pressed towards his right cheek, and is placed beside his lips.

Both of them eyed each other while walking sideways. The both of them are continually bobbing their heads up and down, side to side, as means for feints. 

This continued on for a time while continually reading one another, whilst the other bobbed their head to the right, the other would bob their head to the right as well. 

If the other one attempted to jab, the other one would attempt to rush and deliver a game winning hook.

Although it seems boring, this sequence of reading the other person's movement is entertaining for the people of the Twilight Manor.

Normally, they would watch fights where they would just attack and attack, this time, the fighters are using their wits.

They were also thinking that Bete is fighting Bjorn seriously… You see, Bete is someone categorized as a person who just attacks...… It is a rare sight for Bete to use his brain in fights like this.

The feints continued on for a few more minutes before Bjorn decided to show a weak spot.

Bete knew that this was an intentional weak spot, but he decided to bite it. 

Bjorn 'messed up' his footwork, exposing his left towards Bete. 

Bete rushed this and intended to deliver a straight punch towards Bjorn's face…. However, he was stopped by Bjorn.

Bjorn pressed down Bete's right knee using his left foot, while leaning backward. He then intended to deliver a straight jab towards Bete's chin but… Bete spun and delivered a hook kick towards Bjorn's right temple.

Bjorn dodged it by ducking down and moving backward.

Seizing the opportunity, Bete delivered a rapid straight punch towards Bjorn's face, whilst he was still moving backward…. 

This was deemed to be undodgeable by the people of the Twilight Manor, and thought that they would now have a winner but… 

Bjorn held the hilt of his sword and nearly dodged the punch. He weaved to his right, with his head near the floor. He rose again, and went backwards, his stance awkward, whilst still holding the hilt of his sword.

Bete delivered another kick, this time a flying kick, towards Bjorn, but Bjorn sidestepped it again. Bete landed on the floor and delivered a strong back kick towards Bjorn, but he rolled away, nearly evading the kick again.

Bjorn then attempted to deliver a kick whilst Bete was facing the other way… however, Bete turned around and grabbed Bjorn's feet.

"Hahaha Got ya! You slimy bastard!"

Bete attempted to send a straight hook towards Bjorn's chin but… Bjorn grabbed the hilt of his sword again and jumped. He then spun around sideways, dodging the hook, and delivered a roundhouse kick towards Bete's head, whilst still in the air.

Bete released Bjorn's foot and blocked the incoming kick with his two arms.

The kick sent Bete a bit backward, due to the sheer strength of the kick.

The two of them then returned to their initial stances. They then sized each other up, feint, and attacked again.

Seeing the fierce fight between the two fighters, the crowd was in an uproar. They cheered due to the intense fight, which was a rare sight. You see, not all non-Falna users can push Bete to do his best, albeit with his reduced stats.

Meanwhile, amidst the cheers of their surroundings, Loki, Finn, Riveria, and Gareth are conversing.

Loki, while still watching the fight, talked to the familia's executives.

"You saw that too, right?"

Finn adopted a thoughtful look and answered Loki.

"Yes, Loki-sama. He's grabbing his sword to dodge while he is at a disadvantage."

Riveria showed a scholarly look, and then she added.

"Hmm… it might have been something to do with a skill…"

Gareth showed surprise at Riveria's statement.

"Skill? Really? He does not even have a falna yet."

Loki, however, sided with Riveria's explanation.

"Haha, let me spell it out for ya! The Falna? It doesn't give power. Even those fancy stats, it is just a reflection of what's already inside you all. The Falna's job? Unlocking hidden potential, like a key to a treasure chest! Everything my kids, you kids, gain is yours, unique and one-of-a-kind, just waiting to be realized. In Bjorn's case, it might have woken up a bit earlier than expected even without Falna… This just shows his potential is definitely higher than others."

Loki then gave his executives a big smile.

"Looks like I caught a rather big fish…. No, not a fish… but a fucking Leviathan. Hehehe."

Going back to the fight, Bjorn and Bete had just exchanged a number of kicks and punches. These kicks and punches were either blocked or evaded.

They currently distanced themselves from one another. They are looking at each other, attempting to decipher what the other part intends to do.

Amidst the cheers, both of them took this fight seriously, not just because there might be heavy consequences upon losing… but it is also for their own honor.

Bete, himself, has a serious look on his face. Attempting to read whatever the other party intends to do. He also had noticed earlier that Bjorn always clutches his sword during times.

You see, the Loki famila's executives conjecture was right. Whenever Bjorn holds his sword, time seems to slow down for him. Whenever he holds his sword, his intuition becomes much better. His thinking became much better. He can also rapidly calculate when to dodge, where to dodge, how to attack, and when and where to attack. 

However, it is not infallible. There were also times where he evaded an attack due to sheer luck. 

Also, this 'skill' of Bjorn continues to bring a heavy burden to his head. Currently, his head seems like it was hit by a slipper by his mom, but… he still continues to hold on. He does not show it, lest Bete could jump on it.

Currently, Bjorn is grabbing his sword hilt. He cannot put any more burden on his brain, so he calculated one last time. 

He then threw his sword and sheath somewhere, whilst adopting a new stance.

The stance he is doing had something more of a Wing Chun feel to it. His left hand facing to the right, whilst his right arm is across his chest. He then put the fingers of his right hand, atop the open elbow of his left arm.

Bete noticed all of this and remarked.

"You're going serious now?"

"Yes. I suggest you do so too."

Bete gave a small but confident smile, and cracked his knuckles.

"Alright."

After this, Bjorn rushed towards Bete.

Bjorn swatted Bete's right hand, using his left hand. He then delivered a chop, aiming for Bete's neck, which was blocked by Bete.

Bjorn then tried to deliver another blow using his left hand, but it was deflected by Bete. Bete then sent a chop towards Bjorn's nose, which connected, leaving Bjorn to be slightly pushed away. 

To counter this, Bjorn attempted to use the momentum to deliver a double ear-clap towards Bete, but it was blocked.

Aiming to take an advantage, Bete went closer and tried to send a left hook, but it was blocked by Bjorn's elbow. 

Bete also tried to send another punch using his right hand, but it was grabbed by Bjorn, whilst he was weaving away from the punch. Bjorn then sent a straight punch towards Bete's torso, but Bete managed to evade it slightly, hitting him near his armpit, slightly breaking one of Bete's ribs.

Before Bete could make any additional moves, Bjorn moved forward and crashed his shoulder onto Bete, sending him away. 

Bjorn followed it up with a sidewards chop towards Bete's neck, but it was dodged, giving Bete an opportunity to send a sidekick towards Bjorn's stomach, which connected and pushed Bjorn away.

The two of them eyed each other before rushing again.

Bjorn delivered a double punch, which Bete attempted to block… In the middle, however, Bjorn grabbed Bete's hands and pushed it down. 

Bjorn then sent a kick using his right foot, towards Bete's right foot. Seeing this, Bete also sent a kick, to counter the incoming kick. 

With the same foot, Bjorn delivered a kick towards Bete's armpit, the spot where his ribs were broken earlier. This resulted in Bete reeling in pain.

Bjorn leaned towards his left to deliver a devastating hook towards Bete's chin but… Bete saw this. 

Bete knew that he had no time to defend so… he also delivered a hook towards Bjorn's chin….

Both of the punches connected, resulting in both of them being knocked out cold on the floor…

The whole Loki familia stopped cheering. Silence emanated towards the dining hall.

Everyone then looked towards Loki, wanting for a winner to be called.

Loki just shrugged her shoulders and said.

"The first one to wake up will be the winner."

All of the familia members returned their eyes towards the two passed out fighters….

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*HUUUUFF* 

The person who just woke up was Bjorn. He looked around and saw the passed out Bete beside him. He then raised both of his arms as a gesture of winning.

A second later, Bete also woke up. He looked around and saw Bjorn with his arms raised up looking at him… 

"FUCK!"

Bjorn stood up and offered his hand towards Bete, which Bete took.

"You. You just upgraded yourself from a weakling to so-so…. It was a nice fight though."

Bjorn smiled and said.

"Thanks."

Looking at the newly made friendship, the surrounding familia members cheered. After all, it is rare for Bete to acknowledge someone.

After a while, Finn settled down the rowdy crowd and addressed Bjorn.

"Alright, settle down. It was a nice fight Bjorn."

"Thank you, captain."

"I will send someone to give you Bete's grimoire. Anyways, let me ask you this question…. What do you aim upon joining our familia?"

The atmosphere suddenly turned heavy. All eyes are on Bjorn, attempting to decipher what he says, or what he will say.

Bjorn, despite all of this, remained quiet, and gave a self-deprecating smile.

"Honestly…. I do not know…"

Bjorn then looked towards Loki.

"But what I know is… I aim to serve the person who gave me hope 5 years ago… the person who gave me fire… amidst this harsh cold world."

Everyone from the Loki familia gave Bjorn a soft smile… They also knew how it felt… when Loki also gave them a chance in this harsh world.

Finn then turned to his co-executives, which all of them nodded, even the usual stoic Ais. Finn then looked towards Bjorn and said.

"Welcome to the Loki Familia."

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Hehehe, finally, it was done! The fight sequence for this is based on Naruto vs Momoshiki hahaha. I love that Taijutsu sequence, damn. 

Also, take note that Bete's stats during this fight are sealed, even part of his werewolf strength. So yeah… it's like a human vs human fight. And don't worry, Bete's regeneration as a first class adventurer is so damn good, so if he just removed the collar, everything will be fine.

Anyways, please give me suggestions and advice on how I did this fight sequence. Was it too wordy? Was it too long? Short? Anything. 

Thank you for reading it! Hehehe.

Anyways, 

Peace out my dudes!