1976 Broken Kite

One second is all it took.

Crow just watched as White poked his cane forward in the air. It was a very light poke. But he could feel dense spiritual energy at the end of it. Only if he could figure out what that energy is going to do before it happens.

Crow tried to rebuild his speed and wanted to dodge.

Energy shot out in invisible ripples. The ripple effect is eerily similar to the ripple style, but it is also different to its core. Crow felt the ripples of energy each one that felt like an ellipse, wash over his body.

The energy he was about to build up was dispersed once again.

Crow didn't suffer any damage, but whatever he wanted to do became useless. He is surprised, but that didn't stop him. He proceeded further with his attacks.

But the same thing kept on happening. White is not doing anything except for disrupting his speed with one stomp on the floor and then one poke in the air. That is stopping Crow from advancing further and his attack is basically useless.

After four of five times of repeating the same, Crow stopped.

He is not insane. There is no point in repeating the same thing when it clearly doesn't work. He took a step back and took a deep breath. He noticed that White's attacks are very efficient. They didn't take much of his energy.

On the other hand, all the energy he placed in his attacks is waste. Even with the energy advantage he has, it is dangerous. Crow carefully analyzed every single variable that might play a role and for the two minutes, he didn't do anything.

White just stood there with a straight back and held his cane gracefully.

"You are good. I am sorry for underestimating you.

"

"No offense taken. It is a common misconception among the masses. I cannot expect your opinion to be different when clearly all the factors point out that I am the weaker one.

"

"You know how long winding you are? The way you speak is irritating.

"

"My apologies Mr. Crow, but this is the way I speak and it would be hard for me to adapt to a new version of speech. I hope you can understand that.

"

Crow sighed and said.

"Of course, I understand. In return, I hope you understood something too.

"

"What might that be?

"

"Since I acknowledged my mistake of underestimating you, it is naturally implied that I will not be holding back anymore.

"

The next moment, under the watchful eyes of everyone, without anyone noticing, Crow disappeared and reappeared behind White.

Even White was surprised.

Crow could sense the surprise, just based on the opponent's reaction.

The dagger slashed White's back, but due to is last moment reaction, he managed to barely dodge the attack, but the coat was still slashed open. The white coat although looked like it was made of a quality leather is a very high level armor.

But even that was cut in an instant.

White became cautious.

He was very vigilant to begin with. But after this attack, there is a change in his aura. He is not a relaxed anymore. He gave off a presence of being a hunter.

Crow didn't bother with it. His speed increased more. Within a fraction of a second, he is already at a place where White stumbled up and a dagger ray was already slashing his back.

White's coat was nicked again as he dodged it by a close shave.

For the next few moves, White was the one on the backfoot.

He couldn't properly block the attacks coming at him and he even has to use the cane in his hand to physically block the attacks. Even then, the force is too much for him as he had to move in the direction of the blow to negate the impact a little.

He is not feeling well about the direction this fight is going.

But the spectators thought otherwise. In their eyes White is doing absolutely great. Particularly the students of the Gambler's academy. Crow is not famous outside of the school, so the outsiders have a mediocre expectation of him. But the students on the other hand know what he is truly capable of.

Even though they still think that Crow is going easy on White, they still gave him his props.

While everyone had their own thoughts, Crow wasn't short of his own. He is good at judging the body language and in turn the state of mind of his opponents. When he increased his speed, he did notice the surprise and caution of White.

But as more moves were exchanged he noticed that White is stabilizing. And it is very very quick.

He did manage to leave a few nicks here and there on White's coat, but that is it. There is no proper damage done. As he was thinking this point, he noticed that White's demeanour changed completely.

He frowned and slashed down with increased force.

*CLANG*

The cane met the dagger coming at it. White slid the cane across the dagger's edge and along with his motion, Crow felt an invisible wave of energy was lashed at him. It is like a whip that hit him squarely on his chest.

He felt a burning pain on his flesh and was surprised to feel that level of pain. The armor he was wearing doesn't seem to be of any use at the moment.

The whip lash was a hundred percent successful hit.

As he thought about this, Crow suddenly realized one more thing. That he is in the middle of a fight and he is distracted.

White ducked to the side at the coming dagger pretty smoothly before poking Crow on the chest with the cane.

It was not forceful and it was definitely not a stab. But as soon as the contact happened, an explosive sound was heard.

The energy hit Crow like an air cannon. The energy became solid and it came at him as waves. And since it is concentrated on such a small point, he could feel his insides churning up around that area.

He flew in the air like an arrow that left the string and had to forcefully take control of himself mid air.

He had his mouth wide open as he looked at White in front of him.

That is not the end of it.

White spun his cane three times in the air. Crow can sense that there is a concentrated lump of energy at the end of the cane, and the energy is flowing into the surroundings with the movement.

But he couldn't sense what is happening to the energy itself. He managed to understand what the end result of that movement was.

He sensed sudden danger from the side and he instinctually dodged. It felt like a blade had flown past him. He could even feel that sharp wind near his cheek. But he couldnt sense the energy of the blade his hand while he poked on the stage.

10:59

nor could he see it.

This made him feel scared.

It is not even vigilance anymore. It is pure fear at this point.

*SWOOSH*

Another invisible blade went past him from the back and his spine tingled. This is an even closer call this time.

*SWOOSH*

The third blade came directly for this throat and he almost got nicked.

Crow looked at White as he tried to regain his balance and for some reason he felt like there is a faint smile behind the mask. White poked his cane straight into the air very slowly.

Crow who didn't recover his balance yet felt a huge force blowing him away. Once again he felt like an arrow shot from the bow. But that feeling didn't last long and it was overtaken by a worse feeling.

Another explosive invisible energy wave shot him in the back while he was still flying around. He bounced to a different direction. Crow tried to circulate his energy and stop in the air. He wanted to levitate and stabilize.

But then only he realized that these invisible energy waves are not just bouncing him around, rather they are hindering his energy flow.

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

More and more explosive sounds kept on happening. Crow felt humiliated. He felt like a broken kite stuck in a cyclone. Bouncing off of wind currents and completely at their mercy.

As if that is not enough, the next moment, he felt a sharp sensation on his skin. From within the waves, invisible energy blades are being shot out.

Several cuts appeared on his skin almost instantly and he bled out. Crow felt overwhelmed and when he looked at White, he felt even more scared as the other party is only standing there with the cane in his hand while he poked on the stage.

It is like a person tapping their cane on the floor when they are bored.

Crow didnt even know how long he has been like that broken kite and took the beating. Just when he thought he would be done for, he suddenly fell to the ground.

It has been fifteen minutes already.

The time for the challenge is over.