Spirit Taming

Chapter 112: Growth Under Pressure

The level of skill that Clark possessed was nothing compared to the minimal movements that the earth gargoyle needed to use to beat him. Every single large attack from Clark was countered with the least amount of energy. The smallest skill.

Crim had become increasingly angry. The fact that he was being slapped back as if he was nothing was playing directly against the dragon essence within his body. It was an insult to all dragons that his body could be sliced up by the earth spikes over and over leaving the slime core exposed and weak.

"Have you been sitting and playing with your emotions this whole time? How will you rise up and beat a fly if you can't even leave a scratch on a more powerful beast than you?" the increasing taunts from Alexander were causing Clark to get more and more worked up. He had never been treated in such a way.

"Clara didn't make that face when I trained her like this. She decided that she was done being weak and started to learn. You are obviously no genius. You are just quick." Alexander was so bold as to sit down and take out a drink from his spatial ring. Calling it a blatant insult was too small. Clark, Crim, and Devi were being directly mocked.

With gritted teeth, Clark pulled the second spear from his spatial ring. He was somehow dual wielding the short spears with balance which surprised Alexander. This meant that Clark had become comfortable enough with his body to alter the foundational moves of the moonlight spearmanship. It was an interesting development but one that had been made in anger.

The crescent moon slashes were chained together from opposite spears within Clark's hands. Just as Earth would slash out with a slap or flap of wings, Clark would jump back in a weaving motion. The use of ghostly steps became more prevalent while he fought.

The reason that Clark had decided to rely on the double spear form of the moonlight spearmanship was because he knew the needles and strength he had were not enough to hurt the toughness that surrounded the gargoyle's body. The obvious move was to become the distraction. To attack so many times that he was now the one keeping Earth's attention.

Crim and Devi heard this mental plan and decided to attack together. Calrk trusted them to use their own skills to battle to their fullest degree. Therefore, when Devi disappeared, Earth was lost as to where he had gone. The earth control that Earth had was not weak, but did not apply to where a floating beast would be.

Crim spread the scaled wings he had to leap in to the air above Earth. Clark slashed down in to a double spear full moon slash. It managed to destroy the three earth spikes springing out beneath him and completely capture Earth's attention.

"Get its eyes!" Clark ordered Crim to use his claws to tear in to the gems that were Earth's eyes. For any beast, eyes, mouth, and joints were the weak points. It was not a bad idea. But Earth was too fast. He felt the threat to the precious earthen gems in his eyes and spread his own wings to wrap around his head.

The slashing claws fell on to Earth's wings causing Crim to roar in frustration. But Crim wasn't the only one attacking. Devi had opened his mouth wide and bitten down on the joint where one of Earth's wings connected to his back. The stone seemed softer around that point and even though Devi didn't steal away any soul energy, he had left slight bite marks.

Earth clearly felt this and lashed out with a massive stomp that caused the ground of the arena to move in a wave. Clark, Crim, and Devi were forced back by the flying stones. Maria had one chance to jump forward and hear the many small scratches covering Clark's body.

"All that for some small tooth marks that are already healing. Weak. " Alexander stood up and moved with miraculous speed for a man of his age. He appeared in front of Clark slamming down with a wooden staff creating a large indentation on the arena floor.

The force was more than just earth, the wind was kicked up around the arena while the earth gargoyle moved back. It knew that its tamer had decided to take a more hands on approach now.

Since Maria had been knocked back against the wall, she was forced to start healing her own wounds with Lit's help. She barely managed to stand as Alexander moved to kick her to the side. The continuous attacks on Maria were taunting Clark. He had expected to just be training with Alexander and not Maria. But that was where he was wrong.

This training was against the pair that had been working together. The healer would never be left alone by wild beasts. Even more so by those targeting both Clark and Maria. Thinking that she was safe because Clark was fighting was absolutely wrong.

The battle style that Alexander boasted was nothing special. He used basic kicks and punches along with the staff. The staff seemed to have multiple energies infused within it proving that it was not only the gargoyles that had elemental magics. When Clark stood shakily, he saw that Maria wasn't even able to counter.

The most she could do was hold up a dagger to block a hit that didn't make Alexander hesitate at all.

"You even let your partner get beaten to a pulp around you. Where is your strength Clark! Did you leave it behind in the ashes? Are you only out to get revenge for one thing then you will sit down and watch the world create more dictators to oppress anyone and everything? Tell me, where is your resolve to become stronger!" Alexander roared with annoyance at seeing his student holding back still.

Clark felt the words echo through him. He was weak, yes he was weak. He had found his family gone. He had died in another life and shown up in this crazy world where science didn't apply. He had nothing but who he was to stand on. But who was he?

Who would he be after he got revenge? Would he wander off to just die in a hole?

"God damn it you old man! Shut up and get on your knees to apologize!" This response finally made Alexander smile. He finally felt he was facing a real opponent.

Crim leaped at Clark in a bout of emotions. The body that Crim had was not a dragons' it was a slimes' he had spent his time in the form that suited him but had not thought to change. Had not abused the limber movements that he had as a slime dragon. Had not considered that he was fighting with partners.

When the large scaled wings appeared behind Clark, Alexander finally felt that he had made progress. The pressure he had poured on Clark was worth it. He started to step forward to challenge Clark's new bond with Crim. "Don't think you can just hit me and walk away. You said that this was a real battle." Maria latched on to Alexander's leg making him hesitate. It was all Clark needed.