Spirit Taming

Chapter 59: Tough Thorns

"Crim, use your tail to sweep his legs!" Clark and Crim had been working on their team work constantly. Their recent battles had shaped the way they developed better strategies."

Crim followed Clark's orders and spun suddenly. The student they were facing fell forward with force landing right under the waiting claws of Crim. He had been targeted immediately because Clark wanted Crim to have plenty of experience against beast tamers.

While Crim handles that, Clark was facing a barbed sheep,

'Barbed Sheep- uncommon

The barbed sheep grows a very unique type of wool after consuming stones and metals. The ability to cause the wool to become sharp and barbed at will giving it tough defenses while also adding the ability to attack. Beware of the sudden charges that can force the barbs in to an enemy. They are exceptionally weak where they do not have dense wool.'

Clark had been using the moonlight spear technique non stop. This had been to train the attack styles while also working his ghostly steps in to the mix. Through his hard work, he had finally managed to use the next two moves well enough to battle.

At the quickest speed that he could, Clark used the falling moon attack. His spear pierced in front of him with deadly precision. The spear tip cut in to the barbed sheep's forehead causing it to flail in pain. To make distance, Clark used the full moon slash.

Clark spun around pushing the barbed sheep back with his spear. The slash was best for creating distance and also multiple opponents. The flailing barbed sheep fell off balance and crashed to the round getting stuck in the dusty arena due to its hardened barbs.

"He crushed another opponent. How!? That's a second year regular class you know!"

"You act like you haven't seen all this. That elite first year has been here all week. It's insane."

The crowd that had been coming to watch Clark had been steadily growing. None of them really knew who he was until those in the gossip circles had started to share. They told them about how Clark was a first year elite student who had placed first within his exam. That he had a mentor that not many knew about. And finally, he had a dragon type beast with him.

Maria had followed Clark's example and been fighting it out in the arena as well. However, she had also taken the chance to focus on her dagger arts while switching to her bow. She needed to train herself more to develop the same kind of fiery battle spirit that she saw in Clark. It was a great inspiration to her, making her also develop great changes.

The only strange thing was that she saw Clark watching her more and more. Partly because she had gone with him but also partially because Clark wanted to know more about her. Yet, Maria didn't know the reason behind it. She had started to wonder if Clark was more worried about her than she thought.

"You're the one that Clara recommended. And you have the same mentor as her." The voice that came from behind Clark after he and Crim had finished their battle was not very familiar. However, Clark took careful notice that the talking around the arena he was training in became softer.

"I'm not sure how you know it but since you are keeping your voice low so others don't hear, I appreciate it. I am Clark. Clara did my license test and recommended I come here. My mentor saw my performance and offered me a chance."

Clark turned to find the Green family's son in front of him. He seemed to have been observing from the side while Clark had been battling. "I heard your class is going to a dungeon tomorrow after you have a secondary class tonight. Since you are preparing so much, care to have a sparring match with me? I wouldn't mind seeing what the next generation can do."

Clark looked at the Green family's son carefully. There was no malice in his eyes or his tone. The body posture that he held was very relaxed. It was like he was waiting for something inevitable. "My name is Leo Green by the way. I usually introduce myself sooner but you were too interesting." The slight laugh convinced Clark that there were no negative reasons from Leo's actions.

"Sure, we can exchange a few moves while talking." Clark agreed and watched as the thorns grew around Leo in to a basic armor. He was going to be using close combat with Clark and it was pretty obvious.

"I won't be using poison while we battle. Just defending and deflecting. Try and get me in the weak points so I can train a little better. We can talk as well." Clark and Crim were suddenly faced with a serious battle aura. Someone who had been in many more fights and had many more life threatening experiences.

This feeling came from the stare that Leo gave them along with the confident steps towards them.

With this, Clark was able to force his mind to move his body. He had to sharpen his will while facing more powerful opponents. From what Calrk had learned, even the toughest of wild beasts could be taken down by the smaller opponent if they were to make the wrong move. Therefore, Clark used the falling moon to pierce and probe at the living thorn armor.

"Crim, try and circle behind." Clark gave the order mentally and watched as the living thorns seemed to thicken the armor it made while somehow sensing that Crim was moving around.

"Ah, many people try that but my partner can tell where the threats are. It's a unique skill that only shows up in a small number of living thorns called danger sense." Leo blocked the pierce and Crim's claw with the back of his hands. The thorns were exceptionally tough.

"What did you want to speak about that you came all the way here?" Clark slashed out in defense only to see that his attack was deflected.

"Right to it then, sounds good. I came," Leo ducked and sent a kick out to block the next swing of Clark's spear. Crim was then pushed back by a downward kick. "I want you to consider working with me. I have a hunch that you will grow much faster than anyone expects. You also showed absurd bloodlust the other day.

I like that someone can look at others fighting with such fire."

Clark had caught on immediately. Leo Green was not someone that wanted malice or scheming. The look on his face and words that he spoke told Clark exactly the kind of man Leo was. He thirsted for battle. He wanted to get out and fight those that would grow stronger and stronger. He wanted to touch the heavens while fighting for his life.

"You are a battle maniac…I can't say I won't work with you, but I have my own personal goals that I need to reach." Clark didn't lie he had to get stronger and the Green family's son may be a helping hand in that.

"No need to only work for me. I just want to bring you along on a few trips here and there. You can bring your friend. I can't say I have anything against her unlike the other family's here." Leo liked that Clark wasn't giving everything. He wanted to wait until the day that he could face the best of the best from Clark.

"Then I won't hold back when the time comes. I am expensive though. I can't hold back my greed for rare materials. I need to get stronger too." Clark smirked as he began his next round of attacks.