'It's not hard to guess what Maebi wants.' Klautz thought.

Klautz had seen it coming. But he had assumed that Akihiko would send him on a challenging trail to test his skills.

Who would've thought Akihiko would send him to a **ty trial and ask Maebi to fight him?

Maebi dashed towards Klautz leaving the Gnoll behind. She had a firm belief in her skill. There was no way that Klautz could harm the Gnoll under her watch.

With the valour, she showed it seemed like Maebi didn't want to give Klautz any chances of escape. Or was it something else?

She made a swishing sound as he dashed through the air closing in the distance between her and Klautz.

*Clang*

She swung her hand striking Klautz's spirit sword. Alarmed by her onslaught Klautz had lifted his sword above his head to protect himself. But he held onto his sword loosely absorbing the shock of the attack as his knees bent, making him duck.

Klautz slipped sideways, Maebi's ninjato travelling through the length of his spirit sword.

'Yup. She is definitely holding back.'

Klautz was no fool. Even though Klautz didn't know of her stats, he knew that she was strong. She had spent a year in hell before Klautz was summoned. What's more? She was considered a great talent in Mizukigakure. How could she be weak?

A full blow swing for her would have killed him already but it didn't.

In fact, Detection Jutsu told Klautz that her strike was too weak, almost equivalent to a strike corresponding to strength in the 40s.

'She is probably holding back because my registered strength is low.'

Klautz was registered as a Level 3 at the check ups which was almost half of Klautz's actual strength.

Klautz had his doubts from the beginning. He held his sword loosely exactly because of that. So as to not give away his strength. She wasn't a ninja yet. But she was a trainee! She could detect Klautz strength too.

'Akihiko wants to learn my secrets. And he used a really bad way to do it. Since he had chose to resort to this, I will do my best to put up an act!' Klautz resolved.

Klautz was the strongest among all the newbies this year. But Maebi had been summoned a year ago. Klautz would have been stronger than the Maebi of that time but the Maebe after a year? Klautz didn't dare. As it is Maebi was known for her talent in kenjutsu.

'No matter what happens I cannot give away my secrets.'

Klautz had decided to nerf himself even if it ended up injuring him. He was completely sure that Maebi wasn't going to end his life. And even if she was intending to, there was nothing he could do in front of her strength.

Akihiko intends to imprint fear in Klautz's heart causing him to reveal his cards. Little did he know that he was messing with the wrong person.

Klautz would grit his teeth and bear any pain but he won't let things go Akihiko's way!

*Clash*

This time Klautz clashed with her going on the aggressive. He made sure to hold back to keep his strength around his 30s. Klautz and Maebi hold back and can fake their Strength and Agility but they cannot fake their Defence and Stamina.

There was nothing Klautz could do about it and only hoped to dodge all of her attacks. But with her heightened senses, it was barely just a hope. There is only so much you can do with skill in the world of hell. Stats play such an important role.

When her strength nerfed to 40s, it wouldn't pierce through Klautz's skin who had Defences in the seventies, she would instinctively know that something was wrong.

'Damn, I can't help it if she finds it suspicious. But I am not revealing my skills and classes!'

For now, Klautz had to focus on dodging and hope that her sword doesn't touch Klautz's skin.

*clash*

A series of clashes followed. To an outsider, it would seem that Klautz and Maebi were equally matched! But both of them knew that was hardly the case.

Klautz dodged all of her casual slashes all the while deflecting those he could not. Klautz footwork was perfect! Unlike Maebi's who was still a trainee.

Even the day Maebi had attacked Klautz in his sleep her footwork had some problems with it. Someone else might not be able to make it out but Klautz could do so at just a glance.

But that doesn't mean that Klautz's situation gets any better. All he could rely on at the moment was his martial skill which was definitely better than Maebi's. Klautz knew that this was going to end somewhere but he wasn't sure how long it was going to continue.

"Leave me alone. What the hell do you want?

" Klautz asked, feigning ignorance.

Klautz took deep breaths as he gained his composure.

"I want you to give up on clearing this trial.

"

Klautz raised his brows.

"Is that so? How am I going to work as a representative without clearing it!

" Klautz roared.

"Hmph! If you can't even put up a fight against the current me then you don't deserve to work as a representative to our village!

"

*Clash* *Clang*

Metal clashed against the spirit. The swordplay continued for a while. Klautz was able to hold out until now without sustaining any injury but for how long?

"Ha… Ha,

" his stamina was getting exhausted at an exponential rate.

Apparently, even though both of them were fighting while holding back which made them equal in strength. But alas, their stamina stats remain the same. And Maebi had much higher stamina than Klautz who was still in his late 70s.

Klautz was feeling tempted to gulp down a stamina potion. But he shook his head.

***

Author:

Creation is hard. Cheer me up with your power stones!

Let me know your thoughts about the chapter in the comment sections!