The Achievement Junkie

On the ground, there was one battlefield that even the dragons didn't want to be a part of. They simply ignored Tyres's charge on the multi-armed samurai, giving them space and not wanting to get caught up in their attacks.

"What's wrong, Jin?" taunted the Sword God. "Aren't you glad that I'm fighting your fair and square?"

Jin was laser-focused, not giving up a single moment of opportunity and keeping his defenses tight. He was focused on evasion due to the level gap with occasional parries.

"Is this all you've got? By the look of your arms, they seem more solid yet they're weaker? How pitiful…"

The taunts came one after another but Jin didn't sway from his thoughts. Once Tyres showed his first moment of overconfidence, Jin lashed out with everything he had. Twin strikes with six arms each arched toward the Sword God as Jin showed no hesitation in his match with a god three levels higher than himself.

But Tyres's swords rushed back in defense. His speed was incredible, making use of his superior level to the maximum.

"Not bad… You're stronger than I would've expected as a mortal…" Tyres stated, genuinely startled to see Jin so powerful. "How are you growing stronger as your level worsens?"

"Time, effort, and loyalty," replied Jin, stepping back and readying himself for the next round. "Things you've always failed to understand…"

"Don't question my effort!" Tyres threw two thundering slashes at the samurai, which Jin effectively evaded.

"After stealing my techniques you've only grown more impatient. First, you ignore your teachings and master and then you perverted them…" Jin sighed, disgust riddling his face. "You're the worst pupil anyone could ask for…"

"Then beat me already!" Tyres shouted with a smile.

The Sword God lunged forward, wielding both long swords with precision to knock back the former God of Discipline. Both attacked again but Jin pulled back to defend instead.

"With long swords, I have more reach, more power, and more versatility. What I've created is the epitome of sword styles!"

"Then why am I still alive? How have you failed to kill me time and time again? Answer me that?"

"I'm also alive, so don't--"

"Only due to your allies!" Jin shouted, lunging forward with a loaded, eight-armed strike.

Both swordsmen carved through the earth they stood on and the air around them. Anything within reach was eventually slashed as they clashed over and over again. But Jin kept his defensive mindset, proving that he couldn't currently overcome his former pupil.

"Then let me kill you here! If you let me, then maybe I'll call you master one more time!"

The heavy longswords clashed onto Jin's katanas, defending with six-arms for each strike. Sadly, Jin felt the ground beneath his feet giving way. He was pushed back, receiving some electrical damage as he regained his footing a few meters back.

"So long, Sensei!"

Tyres bolted forward with relentless speed and determination. Just as Jin was regaining his footing, Tyres was already in the middle of his next attack. The speed of the Sword God was stupendous and undeniable. He instantly threatened to steal Jin's life and end their long time feud.

Yet just before Tyres landed his attack, he changed course and stepped to the side. Jin was baffled for a moment until he too spotted the cause.

A rapier coated in lightning, wind, and space energies was thrust forward. Had Tyres not evaded the surprise attack, the rapier was on target to cleanly stab through the Sword God's heart. He may be a god but Tyres wasn't unkillable.

"You… Who are you? You must be a follower of mine, with such swordsmanship," stated Tyres, backing off slightly. When the mysterious man in the helmet kept quiet, Tyres added, "Why not pledge to me? I'll teach you the ultimate techniques and will give you--"

Before Tyres could finish his sentence, he backed up again. The rapier's lunge grew even closer that time. It was evidence of the swordsman's temperament and his strength of character.

"This is my fight!" shouted Jin, unhappy with the unexpected interference. "I'll defeat him on my--"

As if responding to Jin with his actions, the mystery man darted forward and continued his attacks against the Sword God. He completely ignored Jin's statements and showed no interest in the samurai. All the man wanted was to attack Tyres with everything he had.

"Then die with him!" argued Tyres, not liking the idea of two world-class swordsmen against him like this. Though they were mortals, Tyres still never liked facing more than one person at a time.

For a moment, Jin quieted down and watched the man's sword strikes. They seemed predictable yet they were nearly too quick to evade. It was eye-opening for jin to witness such swordsmanship keeping Tyres on his toes.

While Jin internally praised the new combatant, Tyres despised the man to the same extent. For thousands of years, Tyres had claimed to be the Sword God as the fastest sword across Kartonia. Though Jin had his moments, Tryes's affinity for lightning and wind allowed him to argue that over Jin. Yet here was an unknown ancient hero wielding space magic along with lightning and wind energies. He was no god but his speed was already nearing Tyres and forcing the Sword God to take this seriously.

Just as Tyres was about to counter the rapier's thrust, the sword suddenly vanished, leaving Tyres and Jin in a daze. Tyres managed to back up and avoid taking a critical blow but he failed to keep the mystery swordsman from drawing blood.

A shallow wound was created just over Tyres's heart. It was startling but it was proof that the swordsman was to be feared, even as a mortal.

"Too slow…"

A distorted voice calmly mumbled as the mystery man spoke his first words. Both Jin and Tyres were speechless for a moment as the man's style was completely different from theirs. Rather than focus on combos and forcefully creating openings, this man would dash and evade all incoming attacks like child's play until he got close enough to go for killing blows. The man's fighting style was elegant yet cruel, seeking to claim the lives of opponents with merciless, one-hit-kill strikes.