Ascension Online: I Grow Stronger By Streaming-Chapter 35: Strength

Kai remained calm at the sight of his opponent, his breathing as calm as a pond, and at the right moment, he moved, flowing like a wave, he slashed upwards.

CLANG!

Swords collided and sparks flew, Kai and the raider were locked.

’His strength increased a lot, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.’ Kai thought.

"You bastard!" The raider yelled in fury as he pushed down harder, the force immediately threw Kai backwards, he skidded along the ground, then stabbed his sword into the ground to stop himself.

’Hmm, he has more strength in him.’ Kai analyzed, he looked up and he saw the man attacking again, he very quickly stepped forward and blocked, their swords met and sparks flew.

"Arghhhhh how the hell are you keeping up with me you weakling." The raider yelled in complete anger, he used his foot and attempted to kick Kai, but Kai stepped back and avoided the attack, then immediately after he closed the distance rapidly, moving like a phantom.

"Strong people know their strength, they do not try to yell it out to the world, for everyone to know" Kai said as he slashed, an attack right for the Raider’s head.

The Raider very quickly leaned back and blocked the attack, he was knocked back a couple feet, his face twisted in pure anger.

"Screw you and everything that you have to say." He roared, and rushed ahead, to attack, but Kai had enough of him.

"Butterfly dance" Kai muttered and then stepped forward, attacking in the unpredictable pattern that his sword style was made for.

The raider gripped his sword in panic, he couldn’t tell the path of the attack, he couldn’t block it.

"Crimson Blood Sword style, sweeping slash." The raider suddenly yelled, he moved his hands in a wide motion, a red glow showed from his blade as he managed to block Kai’s attack and even knock Kai back.

Kai found his footing and looked at the raider, he stood there looking completely exhausted. Above his head, it showed that half of his health was gone.

’The attack he used, did it do this to him? Did he really just use his own health to fuel a simple block? He must really hate losing to be able to go this far.’ Kai thought.

He stood there, looking at the Raider, the burning air clung to his skin, the smoke burned both their eyes, yet neither even blinked.

"Life is pretty easy to throw away when you know you can respawn." Kai said, suggesting that the last action of the raider was simply because he knew that he couldn’t die in the game.

"Haha, if only it were that simple." The raider said, his expression turned grim and the air around him went heavy. "The reality is that even in a game that can respawn you, there are still many effects to death.

For me, one of that is known as the state of exile, anyone that dies in our ranks is forced to take on an exile task, one which will push you to the end.

Many people haven’t returned yet, their characters locked somewhere because they got captured or killed in a no respawn area.

So you see, I didn’t use that move because I lack the fear of death, but rather because I would rather risk suicide, than for it to be heard that I died in a starter town." The raider finished speaking, he gripped his sword and then leaned forward.

"This is not a game to me, this is my reality, and you are my enemy, you must fall."

Kai listened to every bit, and he couldn’t help but feel moved himself. This lousy raider had depth, and a reason to fight.

"Fine, then I’ll fight with the respect of someone that’s really my opponent, your death will be that of a warrior." Kai replied.

Their eyes locked, the air went still, everything vanished around them, there was only the two of them in that moment.

The chats rushed in while Kai was locked in concentration.

[LeonDragon: Whoa, this just shifted forms]

[ShadowMonarch33: a real battle of swords, haha, premium]

[LordGooner143: this is about to be historic]

Kai couldn’t see or hear any of those, he didn’t even know that his view count had once again hit five thousand, all he was focused on was the Raider.

A burning leaf fell from the sky, burning as it came down right between the two of them. It got close to the ground, almost completely burnt up.

And when the flame was about to consume what little was left, it hit the ground.

BOOM

Both figures launched forward in that exact moment.

"Butterfly dance"

"Crimson Blood style"

SWOOOSH

SLASH

Both figures passed each other and came to a stop, none of them moved for a few seconds.

What does it mean to be strong, was it the mana, or the swords. All that could be acquired through many means, all that could be borrowed from someone.

Power was abundant in the world, everyone can tap into power, and become powerful. But is that strength?

No, strength is what remains when power is stripped away, strength is what drives a warrior with a shattered body to fight, a mage that lost their core to fight, it is what drives a swordsman to lift their blade up when it is broken.

True strength was not dominance, it wasn’t winning, it was simply defiance, defiance against the logic that tried to imprison a person.

Kai for the first time in the game witnessed true strength, for the moment that his blade cut into the body of the Raider, the Raider gave it his all, refusing to lose, he slashed at the last moment.

He defied it all, and even as he lost, he showed that a man with a goal was a man with strength no matter how stupid that goal and desire was, as long as he was willing to fight to the bitter end for it.

Kai turned around, there was a massive cut in his shoulder, his right shoulder, the very arm that carries his sword.

"I couldn’t cut through your arm and take the sword, tch, that’s sad, I really wanted to give it to her as a gift, now I’ll get exiled and can’t see her again." The raider said without looking backwards, he fell to his knees, blood instantly gushed and he fell forward, his body breaking into particles of light.