Mana: 26 -> 25
Spell: Thunderous Smite
Spell: Fist (Advantage)
D20 + 9 = 22 (15)
Hit!
Mana: 25 -> 24
1D6 + 2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 22 (2)(6)(5)
22 damage!
Spell: Fist (Advantage)
D20 + 9 = 29 (20)
Critical Hit!
Mana: 24 -> 21
2D6 + 8D6 + 9 = 35 (5)(21)
35 damage!
Mana: 21 -> 20
Spell: Shield
Defence: 28 -> 33
Spell: Fist (Advantage)
D20 + 9 = 10 (1)
Critical Miss!
Spell: Fist (Advantage)
D20 + 9 = 25 (16)
Hit!
Mana: 20 -> 19
1D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 21 (4)(8)
21 damage!
“I surrender,” Iron Dancer finally called, beginning to sheath her blade, even as the half elf’s shield wound back for a heavy strike, though she remained knelt under its shadow. The woman flexed her muscles and with a heavy breath, stood onto her two feet once more, clasping her palm over her fist. “The great hero is truly powerful. It was my honour to face you.”
Adam remained tense, still, but slowly, his shield arm began to descend to his side, and the half elf’s shoulders relaxed. “It was my honour to face your steel. I apologise for my roughness, and hope you take no offence to my rudeness. No, I’m sorry for being so rude. It’s shameless of me to say this now after how I treated you, but I hold no ill will against you within my heart, I ended up losing myself to the spirit of battle.”
Iron Dancer was glad the half elf had at least bowed his head so respectfully, and as the half elf healed the others, doing the same to them, she stepped back, with a heavy, troubled heart, one that would plague her for some time. Even if she was a Master, she wouldn’t be able to cut a piece of his hair. In fact, the half elf seemed as though he had shrugged off every blow they had wrought upon him, and seemed as though he could face another three Masters after them.
Jurot’s heart throbbed. Once more, the gap between them was confirmed. Could he face three Masters at once? No. A single Master like any of them, certainly, and if he was able to gain the initiative, he could perhaps take on two at once, but three? So easily as his brother?
Kitool remained silent, killing the thoughts.
“It seems the Aswadi did not expect to come across our cousin,” Chosen joked.
“It seems that way,” Tanagek replied, though as he and Chosen remained standing beside one another, their eyes were glued to the half elf, whose strength seemingly reached the sky. If the pair of them were to face Adam, in his armour, with his shield, wearing his ring and cloak, the chances of them scratching the half elf was so low, one might have thought it was of no use at all.
“Our nephew is so terrifying,” Sully said, ignoring Ashmir’s slow, pointed gaze, instead holding the half elf within his sights. Even he, with some difficulty, could perhaps defeat three who were Masters, or close to Masters, but how much of his own blood would spill onto the earth?
Maharan stared at the half elf. He blinked.
Elif stared at the half elf. She blinked.
Taygak let out a satisfied sigh at the end of the battle.
Pam looked towards Jurot, wanting to speak to him, but the Iyrman stepped forward. The Experts nearby lost their spirit when they stepped up to face the Iyrmen, and considering how few of them had come this day, the Iyrmen could not request multiple at once, for it would be untoward towards their companions.
“It was a good fight,” Tanagek said, sheathing his sword as the Iyrman claimed a clean victory, facing those who were Experts, or a touch strongest, and though some of them were several years their senior, how could they claim victory against this group who were full of such talented monsters.
“How did you gain such strength?” Womanly Fist finally asked, holding a damp cloth against her forehead, in which the bruise ended up blinding one eye. She couldn’t even admonish the half elf, for hadn’t she done the same to many of her own opponents throughout the years?
“I am blessed by Baktu in a special manner, and being related to my grandparents and my siblings, and of course with the wife who I managed to someone convince to marry me, and the children I am a father too, I have to be at least this strong.”
Womanly Fist had realised her mistake as the half elf continued, though she paid keen attention to him as he showed off his family to the entire world.
Flame Brand, the one who was forced away by so many of their Orders. Mad Dog, who was to Aldland, the Butcher was to Aswadasad. Ascending Swallow, who had claimed victory against a powerful foe not long ago, and was also related to Butcher Marmak. Jurot, his brother who had clashed against King Merryweather. Lanarot, who they realised was a child, and thus was probably the most terrifying of all. Ray Vonda, who was the youngest Ray, and, as he spoke of her, they realised was certainly the most powerful of all. The half elf also spoke of his children, starting with his triplets, and then he spoke of his twins.
“My Jirot, who used to be so small, but the size of a pear within my palm, and my Jarot, named after his greatfather, who was the same, and they would lay on my chest, and though she was tiny, was she any less vicious, my Jirot, and my son, though he has grown so much bigger, is he any less sweet to this fool of a father of his?” Adam called, laughing, but as he laughed, he tensed up, gritting his teeth as his neck ached. “Did you know, the Fariq of High Garden, Yamas Greatwood, he came to meet with me a few years ago. No, wasn’t it last year? Last year, he came to meet with me. He marched his army of Grandmasters to the Iyr, and there he demanded my head. Can you imagine the audacity of asking for justice when it was his Vice Commander who killed my sons? Who tried to kill my daughter? My daughter, who still has the mark against her stomach, where a crossbow bolt almost killed her. My son, who is still so thin, since he finds it difficult to eat.”
Jurot’s hand clasped the half elf’s shoulder, fury glistening within the half elf’s eyes, tears slipping down his cheeks.
“I should have exclaimed it to the world. That I, Adam Fate, the Crazy Father, had killed the Fariq of High Garden. Then, would you have considered my words rude? When I asked you, three Masters, to face me, as I fought against you with my fist and shield, would you have thought I was taunting you? No. You would have understood. You would have understood that this half elf, though he may be a fool, though he may be crazy, he is strong.” Adam reached down for the tea, and as he finished sipping it, he let out a sigh, wiping the tears off his cheeks.
“I apologise, Mo, I had no idea of the pain behind your request,” Three Cat Sword said, the woman clasping a palm over her fist. The woman had first glanced towards Kitool, who had bowed her head, confirming the half elf’s words. ‘It was he who killed Kal Yamas Greatwood…’
“I shall consider this bruise my apology to you,” Womanly Fist joked, causing the half elf’s jaw to tense lightly, and he nodded, letting slip a gentle smile. ‘Even if you oppress me with your rudeness, what acna I do against someone who slew even Kal Yamas Greatwood?’
Iron Dancer was certain what most would think upon hearing the words. They would first not believe it. Then they would suggest perhaps the half elf was wielding such great magical weapons. However, having come across the half elf’s fist, and noting how comfortable he seemed, she was certain the half elf still possessed most of his strength, and that if it was him, he could probably defeat the likes of the Paragons across the land.
Yet…
‘I should have exclaimed it to the world. That I, Adam Fate, the Crazy Father, had killed the Fariq of High Garden.’
Iron Dancer decided against thinking about why the half elf didn’t declare such to the world, for she noted his companions, and though the Lion King and The Mountain were terrifying in their own right, they were not those who wore such tattoos on their foreheads.
“When you step out to defeat the Reavers next year, who will not know of your name?” Sully the Mountain said, though as he thought on his words, and as the half elf was about to respond, he laughed. “Even if you did defeat the Reavers, would Aldland, Floria, or Aswadasad allow you to claim the glory? No, even if Floria and Aswadasad allow you, would Aldland?”
Adam smiled, letting out a soft sigh. “I suppose I’ll just have to claim so much glory no one can deny it…”
As Sully laughed, the trio of Masters, one who was but a step away, understood that the world of Paragons and the world of Masters were two different worlds. To them, the difference was like the difference between them and the Experts beneath them.