Classless Awakening; My Dragon Is Legendary-Chapter 7: Sword Doll
Derrick stood before the wooden doll. In its hands was a standard sword, and it donned standard armor.
"What stands before me?" Derrick asked Royal Knight, who stood beside him, watching.
"This is a magical sword doll used to train students in knight academies," Royal Knight explained.
"The doll is a master swordsman, and should help you refine your swordsmanship talent," Royal Knight continued.
[Task received.]
[Defeat the doll.]
[Reward: +1 level up.]
"As soon as you’re prepared, we can start." Royal Knight had a smirk on his face underneath the helmet.
This doll traumatized most of the knights back in his day, and was the reason many failed to become knights.
"Ready." Derrick held his sword, his feet firmly planted on the ground, and his mind quickly drew up strategies.
Royal Knight pushed a button behind the doll, and all its body parts moved in unison, before settling on a stance.
Derrick took a deep breath, he was far from afraid.
Yes, Royal Knight had told him several times how irrelevant Sir Thompson’s training was, but he refused to believe it.
This was training he had been put through basically all his life, he refused to believe it held no value in the real world.
The doll moved, its speed was decent, not too great, but definitely not slow.
The doll swung its sword and Derrick parried the attack, causing sparks to fly.
Derrick pulled his blade back, spun his body to drive himself forward, executing a move meant for an instant kill.
The doll ducked, letting Derrick’s blade fly above its head.
Derrick didn’t falter, this was just the beginning of their exchange.
The doll stabbed its blade forward, but Derrick was quick to leap backwards, following up with a perfect backflip.
’The Prince’s swordsman’s fighting technique isn’t bad,’ Royal Knight had to admit, but this was just the beginning.
The doll crossed the distance between it and Derrick, its blade reflecting sunlight.
Derrick decided to go on the defensive, waiting to see if he would find a clear opening.
The doll spun backwards, giving it the necessary momentum it needed for a deadly attack.
Derrick remained calm, that attack was strong enough to split him in two, but he didn’t falter.
’Fear is the first step to losing any battle.’ Sir Thompson’s words rang in his head.
Derrick blocked the attack, sending sparks flying, and a strong vibration traveling through Derrick’s hand.
The air reeked of scorched iron and sweat, neither man nor machine willing to surrender.
Derrick exchanged several attacks with the doll, alternating between attack and defense, until finally... He saw an opening.
The doll’s hands were wide apart, and its chest was left bare.
Derrick swung his sword with all his might, he put his full weight into the attack.
To his surprise, the doll dodged the attack, using a maneuver that Derrick had never seen before.
’How?’ Derrick asked himself. The doll struck Derrick’s blade at the right angle, causing it to lose momentum.
The doll took advantage of Derrick’s confusion and kicked him in the chest, sweeping Derrick off his feet.
Derrick’s back hit the ground, his field of vision had changed rapidly.
A faint glint appeared in his field of vision, and he quickly rolled away, barely missing the doll’s sword.
Derrick charged forward once more, this time, with more knowledge of the doll’s behavior and capabilities.
The doll leaped into the air, leaving itself open, and Derrick raised his sword to block.
The doll kicked Derrick’s sword away, and descended upon him, using both legs to kick his head.
[-5% HP.]
Derrick could feel a warm liquid trickle down his nose.
He wiped his nose and there it was, his blood, the doll’s attack clearly packed more weight than he anticipated.
The danger of the situation was just beginning to dawn on Derrick, but his determination didn’t waver.
The reward for defeating this doll was far too great. He couldn’t let it win.
The doll circled Derrick, observing Derrick’s body carefully.
The doll leaped over Derrick, and before he could react, the doll’s sword tore through his back.
Derrick released an unnatural scream, one that forced Royal Knight to turn away.
Derrick groaned, blood gushed out of his back, but he couldn’t give up, not now, not ever.
Derrick took several breaths, trying to calm himself. He didn’t want anger to cloud his mind.
This time, Derrick didn’t wait for the doll, he met it headfirst.
The doll blocked Derrick’s attack, and Derrick abandoned his blade.
[Dragon Fist.]
Derrick’s fist rocketed forward, it hit the doll, causing it to stumble and some of its wood to splinter.
’That strength has to be the dragon spirit,’ Royal Knight concluded.
So far, he had seen potential in Derrick. If he was this good in the preliminary stage, then he would make a fine warrior after his training.
Derrick picked up his blade, taking advantage of the doll’s confusion, he swung his sword, successfully landing another clean attack.
The doll struck Derrick’s blade with its own, and Derrick responded with another dragon fist to its stomach.
The doll stumbled once again.
Derrick leaped into the air, with both his legs facing the doll.
Derrick’s drop-kick landed perfectly.
The doll’s body jerked violently, for a second Derrick could see what looked to be anger in its eyes before it attacked.
It covered the distance between it and Derrick, stopping just shy of a few meters.
The doll stabbed its sword in the ground, held onto it with a single hand, flipped and pushed itself off the sword.
Derrick stared at the doll which was midair, with its sword reflecting the sunlight.
The attack came down on Derrick like a strong wind. He tried to defend against it, but all to no avail.
Derrick dodged another strike from the doll’s sword by a hair’s breadth, he rolled on the ground, allowing him to change directions and get in close to the doll.
Derrick slammed his head into the doll’s chest, sending it back, and followed with a sword slash that the doll deflected.
’He seems to be decent at martial arts, but he still lacks proper training,’ Royal Knight analyzed, proud.
The doll slid underneath Derrick’s legs, swung its sword once more, giving him a fresh wound.
[-10% Health.]
Derrick screamed in pain, another sword slash across his back made him consider giving up.
Derrick huffed, his anger soaring through the roof, and his mind clouded.
Slowly, he stopped being able to think and his vision began shifting.
From the beautiful gardens and the morning suns, he couldn’t see them anymore, all he could see was red.
Derrick roared in pure, primal anger, that made even Royal Knight cautious.
For a second, he thought of ending the match, but he could see the determination in Derrick’s eyes.
Derrick’s blade clattered on the ground once again.
The doll swung its sword, but Derrick dodged, he swung his fist, and this time, the doll lifted off the ground.
Derrick didn’t stop there. While the doll was in the air, he caught it, spun it around and slammed it into the ground.
The doll’s gears squeaked, but Derrick couldn’t care less.
He pinned the doll to the ground, and without any trace of hesitation, he hit the doll with successive dragon fists.
Pieces of wood flew everywhere, and the sound of wood being broken down was clear.
Derrick took the sword from the doll’s hands, and without a second thought, he stabbed the sword through the head of the doll.
The red in Derrick’s vision slowly began to subside now that he had completed his task, allowing him to see the system screen before him.
[Congratulations, you have completed your task.]
[Congratulations, you have leveled up.]
[Energy and health stats have been reset.]
[+1 stat points added to relevant stats.]
[Name: Derrick Dravania.]
[Race: Human.]
[Age: 18.]
[Level: 2.]
[Experience: 0%]
[Health: 100%]
[Energy: 100%]
[Magical affinity: 0 unlocked.]
[Mana points: Null.]
[Magical Talent: Grandmaster]
[Physical ability: 3.]
[Skills: 3]
’Did his body just heal itself after that fight?’ Royal Knight asked himself.
He knew the dragon spirit in Derrick was strong, but never in his wildest dreams did he think it was this potent.
"Whatever this boy is going to become, I just know there will be problems surrounding him," Royal Knight said softly.
"I believe I have defeated your challenge?" Derrick said while pointing at the broken doll a few feet from him, an arrogant smile plastered on his face.
"You did well," Royal Knight admitted. He was impressed but didn’t want to show it, an attempt to regulate Derrick’s pride.
"Let’s move onto the next," Derrick was eager to grow stronger. Thousands of dark beasts were out there, and evil lurked in the shadows. He needed to be ready.
One of those evils was the cloaked old man currently walking through the streets of Dravania.
In his hands were a small dim lamp, his steps were calculated, his aura radiated malevolent intent.
"Halt old man!" A knight dressed in beautiful silver armor said.
His partner stood beside him, not leaving the kingdom’s gate.
These were the guards specifically assigned to supervise the exit and entry into the kingdom.
"What do you seek at this ungodly hour?" the knight asked.
"I would like to leave the kingdom, I need to speak to my family." The old man said weakly, his head bowed in the cloak.
"You’ll need to pay us three silver coins," the knight said with a greedy look in his eyes.
"That’s not the price, young man," the old man said, and fury came up on the knight.
He drew his sword, but before he could use it, his body clattered to the ground.
"By the gods, dark magic!" The second knight screamed while pointing at the old man.
He opened his palm and a whip of water rushed from them.
The whip stopped just inches away from the old man.
The old man raised his head, revealing his dark purple eyes, which were locked onto the knight.
The knight’s body turned pale, and he could feel himself rapidly weakening.
The knight’s armor crashed to the ground, dissolving into fine ash that scattered in the wind.
"I wonder what fool awakened the ancient dragon," chuckled the old man, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "Little do they realize they’ve stirred my master from his slumber, and his wrath makes dragons seem like mere lizards."
