Alex Pov:
I sighed as I absently spun my little short sword. It's not what I was hoping for.
'At least I gave that smith a hell of a confidence boost, and a good laugh.'
I grumbled mentally as I walked through the woods around the farm.
Apparently mecha-shift weapons are made by people who specifically specialize in making them.
So I got a simple short sword. Not bad, it's sturdy and sharp as hell. But it's definitely no hunter trick weapon or Crescent Rose.
Small mercies, I got a sword. A real fucking sword! I'm not crying your crying.
As for why I'm out in the middle of the woods. Well Luke and Martin think I'm good enough to start patrolling for grim.
How they would know that even though I've never landed a hit on them. I don't know.
However they control the water and food, and have been very nice not charging me for room and board.
So I'm out here. Alone. Again...
'OK, focus Alex. Enough doom and gloom. If they say you're ready, you're ready.'
I was once more rudely interrupted by a Beowolf.
My blood ran cold again as memories of last time played through my head.
And like before, it rushed me. However it didn't seem as fast as before.
That didn't stop me from freezing up again but you know. Progress is progress.
My eyes widened as it's claw came inches from my face.
I didn't move as an almost opaque film of deep emerald green light stopped the claw.
A tentative smile plastered itself on my face. While the grim looked almost confused.
Part of me flicked back to my control training.
----
Luke had an annoying Semblance that let him look like he was, flickering? Guy could audition for a cheap motel light.
Didn't help when my hand, which was perfectly poised to knock him out. Just kinda missed.
Dude had that Heimdall dodge on point. Felt like I was fighting a cloud. Until a punch connected with my face and my aura broke.
"Your footing is still off. Stop planting your foot when you punch. It makes your face an easy target." Luke instructed me with all the grace of a trash compactor.
Martin stepped in from the side as he chuckled. "Ok Luke, enough sparring for the day. Alex, let's pick up from last time."
I grunted as I pulled my sore face up from the soft dirt. Spitting out gunk as I ran a hand down my face. "Yeah, ok."
Sitting with my legs crossed I focused on my breathing. Martin was insistent that I focused on meditating right after my aura broke.
Says it was a life line for him back in his hunter days. Which I found odd.
Kind old Martin, a bad ass hunter of monsters and savior of fair maidens. Still felt weird to think about.
However Martin's idea of meditating was very different from mine.
I leaned forward on instinct. A faint feeling of air rushing past the back of my head reminded me that there was a twenty pound bucket of dirt swinging around my head.
Apparently aura can help with detecting threats. And Martin was dead set on turning me into Spiderman.
Again, something whispered in my subconscious as I moved my head to the right. The bucket's wooden handle clipped my ear as I winced.
Clearing my mind and focusing on my breathing I continued for however long it took Martin to be satisfied.
It was odd. I could almost feel my aura like this. It swayed lightly, like a tall tree in the wind.
It felt hard, like textured brick. Yet oddly malleable, like sculpting clay.
My face slapped into the dirt as once again I lost focus and the bucket came to remind me of Mr. Popo's pecking order.
Good thing about aura, it helped nullify pain quite nicely. Physical pain, emotional damage was eternal.
I grunted as I got back in position and Martin reset the bucket.
----
I just stood there laughing my ass off.
The Beowolf looked absolutely baffled and furious. As it rained blow after blow against my aura. It was draining slightly but my aura refreshed faster than it drained.
"Keep it coming weakling! I'm unmovable! Unstoppable!" I was then interrupted as two more Beowolfs came out of nowhere and slammed me to the ground.
With a grunt of frustration I shot my elbow back as it cracked across one grim's mask.
It howled in pain as it rolled back. Only another of the three took it's place.
I growled low in my throat as I reached for my sword. Just bearly at my fingers.
With some effort I managed to get a grip on the sword as I slashed up at the grim.
It roared as it reeled. I took the opportunity to roll out of another attack.
Scrambling to my feet, I could feel my aura was around half empty. Mentally I beat myself as Luke's constant warnings to stay alert ran through my head.
The three grim circled me as I readied myself.
Then we all rushed forward.
In a flurry of movement and mostly on instinct. I ran my blade through the first grim's mask.
I had to leave my sword stuck there as I dived out the way. The third grim, a long slash along it's stomach plowed through the first grim's corpse.
I stepped back, bobing out the way of the second grim's swipe. I blocked the second swipe with my forearm. Then slammed the bottom of my hand against it's mask in a hammer motion.
Reeling from the hit, I dashed under it's flailing arms as I ran for my sword.
My aura was draining rapidly to fule my sprint. Only, the third grim tackled me.
Snapping it's maw at me, I reach helplessly for my sword. Once more just out of reach.
Then my aura tanked to almost empty. My eyes widened like saucers as my sword kinda just materialized in my hand.
No time for questions as I plunged it into the grim's head. Killing it handily.
Then me and the corpse were ran over by the second grim as it tried to brain me.
I took a couple of hits as my aura was starting to flicker on empty.
Finally getting out from under the grim, I plunged my sword into it's chest. Then twisted hard. Slowly it crumpled on my sword, dead.
Pulling my blade out, I fell. Exhausted as I leaned on my sword.
I took a few gulping breaths as my heart roared in my head.
Then my aura broke. And before I could fully form a question of huh, or what, my sword dissolved.
I once more got a familiar mouthful of dirt and grass. Rolling onto my back with a groan I looked around for my weapon.
It took a moment, but I saw the slight glint of metal by where I killed the third grim.
It was back were it was before appearing in my hand. I then started to laugh.
'Cool, I got a Semblance.' I then closed my eyes for just a few minutes.
----
Luke Pov:
It had been nearly an hour since the kid was supposed to check in.
So obviously I had to go beat some punctuality into the kid. That is if he's still alive.
Coming up on the kid laying in the grass a few feet from his sword I sighed.
The kid's chest was still moving so he wasn't dead. And based on the ripped up dirt and large footprints.
Kid probably fought two or three Beowolfs here. At least he was alive.
Now I have to drag his incompetence back to the farm.
I smiled as I took his ankle in one hand and his sword in the other.
'A bit of pain should help settle the lesson.' I thought with a smirk as I dragged him through the woods.
And maybe, I let his head bounce off a couple rocks and roots. Kid's built like a rock, he can take it.