Seed Of Speed

Diego threw out a simple, probing thrust at Peyni, who snorted as he swung his massive hammer down, deflecting the spear tip before smashing to the ground with a thud that he could feel in his feet. Peyni sent a fist out, but Diego easily dodged by hopping back a little.

"Come, little brother, show me what makes you so confident in your victory," Peyni said as he raised his hammer and held it with both hands.

The crowd cheered as the fight truly began. Diego used his [Serpent's Strike] and the spearhead cut an arch through the air, curving up to stab at Peyni's armpit. Peyni countered with the hammerhead, knocking the spear tip aside, and then followed through with the end of the shaft heading straight for Diego's head. Diego ducked and spun away as he barrowed the momentum from the counter to let his spear swing around him, so that he could catch it behind his back. With a thrust from behind his back, his spear shot out again, aiming for the center of Peyni's c.h.e.s.t.

Peyni barely managed to change the direction of his counterattack to deflect the spearhead, but yet again, Diego barrowed the momentum of his attack, this time to open the distance between them. Since the spear had been behind him, he had to hold onto it, or it would have smacked heavily against his lower back. He spun around on a single foot as he tried to dissipate the energy and stopped to face his brother again. Now, Diego finally had an idea of just how strong this brother of his really was as his hands still tingled with pain from the impact.

Peyni could not help but be secretly surprised by his brother's strength and his speed was even more shocking. Although he had not yet used his full strength, deflecting that last attack had forced him to use eighty percent which was about as much as he needed to fight against his uncles at the sixth stage of the Mortal Body, but his speed! He was not even able to see that last thrust, he had only managed to block it by instinct when he felt threatened. Now, he understood that he had to take his brother seriously.

The crowd roared at the end of the small exchange while the pair stood five meters apart, staring at each other. Almost in unison, the two took a step forward and struck! Diego used [Ten Strikes, One Thrust] while Peyni used his [Mountain Fall]. The illusion of two more spears appeared above and slightly to the right and left, the points forming a triangle while Peyni's hammer lit up with a faint, golden glow. The three spear tips soared up to meet the large hammerhead crashing down, causing a deafening bang of metal at the moment of impact. Diego was forced to retreat a few steps back, but the hammer sailed out of Peyni's hands as blood began to drip from the spot between his thumb and finger on both hands.

The thud of the hammer hitting the sand echoed through the stunned arena, but in the next second, a thunderous roar erupted. Not everyone cheered though, as all of the other sons in red were still frozen in shock while Anoe, Barru, and even Firesand had even risen from their seats.

"Manifestation?!? How is this possible?!?" Anoe cried.

"A Heaven Technique?!?" Firesand exclaimed.

Barru remained silent, but his eyes burned with a fire far brighter than when he watched Ishu achieve Scarlet-Gold Skin. Weapon techniques were divided into different levels Mortal, Earth, or Heaven. Small clans like theirs would only have a handful of Mortal Techniques with a single Earth Technique that would be handed down through the Patriarchs. That was the very reason why all the heirs were trained with the spear as the Telryn Clan's Earth Technique required a spear.

Heaven Techniques were myths of legends in a place like this. They were able to conjure a weighty mountain, searing flames, or freezing ice with their attack. Throughout the entire Teoran Desert, there were only seven Heaven Techniques which belonged to the pillars of the Konto Sect and the Imperial Family of the Anzoli Empire.

Merely finding a second Earth Technique could give them the power to rival the strongest clans in the area. How high would their clan reach with their own Heaven Technique? For a split-second, Barru regretted ordering for Ishu to be killed without mercy if he lost, but now, with a Heaven Technique at his disposal and his Scarlet-Gold Skin, he truly would deserve it.

Diego had no idea of the stir he had caused by revealing his skill. He stood still in the sand ring with a smile on his face while he stared at the floating blue text in front of his eyes.

::Peyni Telryn, fifth stage Mortal Body, defeated! 1 Experience points awarded, 1 Mastery points awarded, 1 Skill point awarded to [Serpent's Strike], 1 Skill point awarded to [Ten Strikes, One Thrust]::

Even though the numbers were little, this was just his first fight, his first step along the path to Godhood. He was going to ascend to the heavens! He would find his sister again in the next world and thank her for this gift! This was his power now and he would master it!

"I lost…" Peyni said blankly as he looked down at his bleeding hands.

"Brother, will you stand with the Telryn Clan and bring us to new heights?" Diego asked while stretching out his empty hand.

He smirked and said, "You're serious about nonsense you were spouting. Fine, it's better than being a corpse, but you still must beat Bako and Tovao." He grasped Diego by the forearm and shook as he stared him in the eyes.

"Naturally," Diego agreed.

Both of them turned to face their father and bowed. Barru had already returned to his chair as had the other two, but they all could hardly contain their excitement.

"Peyni has been defeated. You have an hour to recover your energy, Ishu, before beginning your next duel," Barru said then paused for a moment before continuing, "Shaman Firesand has provided barrels of Kon Water for everyone's refreshments while you wait."

With that, everyone was released, but Barru's eyes never left Diego. Even while he tried to meditate, he could still feel Barru's piercing gaze boring a hole into his back. There was no way he would be able to meditate, so he just closed his eyes and talked with Katalina.

(So, how fast can I replenish my Solar Energy without meditating?) Diego asked.

::In an hour, you will be able to restore fifty units of Solar Energy::

(That little?)

::For a person on the fourth stage of the Mortal Body, that is nearly double the average amount. If it wasn't for the Seed's regenerative powers, it would be twenty::

(I stand corrected.) He chuckled mentally. (Well then, with Barru breathing down my neck, I'll just try my best and, if I'm not at a hundred percent, I'll challenge one of the young Lizard Faction members.)

::This is something you need to learn to do as you are now a cultivator, so practice and meditate::

(Yes ma'am.)

Although Katalina did not reply, Diego swore he could feel her annoyance and chuckled to himself. Slowly, he emptied his mind as he focused solely on his breathing and the sensation in his c.h.e.s.t. Since he was unable to fall into a true trance, his [Scarlet-Gold Skin] did not appear, but that was a good thing as it was far more recognizable than a Heaven Technique; the only cultivation in the clan was the Scarlet-Gold Sun Body Cultivation Manual, so many were familiar with it.

When Barru called time, Diego had only restored forty-eight units of Solar Energy. He stood up and scanned his brothers until his eyes settled on a burnt red, chubby youth in yellow.

"Tuk, please enter the ring," Diego said.

The boy's eyes grew large as he trembled. Mudry, the sixth eldest son, patted Tuk's shoulder and whispered something to him before he stood up. Tuk drew his sword as he walked to the center of the stage and stood across from Diego.

Diego raised and pointed his spear as he said, "Submit or I will make this painful."

"Wha? That's all?"

"Well?" Diego asked, suppressing a laugh.

"I admit defeat!" he instantly replied as he sheathed his sword.

"Then stand with the clan!" Diego said.

"I will!" he said excitedly as he bowed.

The pair shook each other's forearms as Peyni and Diego had done before then turned to their father and bowed.

"Tuk had admit defeat, so you have another hour, Ishu," Barru said.

Diego nodded and sat back down without another word. He needed every moment he could get to replenish his energy.

Tuk had a dazed expression as he walked back to his seat without so much as a bruise or cut. He had fully expected to die today as he was only twelve and was quite horrible with a weapon. There had never been any hope of defeating a single one of his brothers, so he had no idea what to do with himself now that he was alive.