"I will restrict my strength to the Lowest-stage of Tier-1 since my Soultrait will still be stronger than yours," Danny said lightly as he stepped out of the changing room.
After filling their stomachs to the brim, they searched for the closest training hall where they could rent an arena to spar.
Michael was already in his combat clothes while wearing the Onyx Dragon Armor Set on top. He wielded Seron Voulge in one hand and swirled it around playfully.
His stance changed once Danny entered the arena wielding a wooden sword, and he turned serious.
Danny might not use an Artifact, and he restricted his strength drastically, but that didn't mean Michael could take this spar lightly. Michael knew that his brother's 5-Star Soultrait was not something that could be taken lightly, especially not after it had been nourished by a Peak Tier-2 War Rune, and the Links of Loyalty of far more than ten thousand subjects.
Danny had even a few subjects with a True Link of Loyalty.
His Soultrait was most definitely greatly nourished and extremely powerful! Even an ordinary wooden sword became a deadly weapon in Danny's hands.
"Show me how much stronger you have become since our last spar!" Danny exclaimed while also changing his combat stance.
He pulled his sword-arm back and stretched his other hand out. His left foot moved forward and the heel under his right foot separated from the ground a little.
Danny took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. As he exhaled, a silver membrane shrouded the wooden sword. The wooden sword looked like it had transformed into a mythical silver sword as it began to exude terrifying pressure.
Michael felt as if inertia increased suddenly as Danny began to use his 5-Star Soultrait [Reinforced Sword Qi].
It was not the first time Michael saw Danny's Reinforced Sword Qi, however, it was the first time that Danny aimed his Reinforced Sword Qi at him.
Right now, they were not brothers, who held each other dearly. No, they were opponents with the desire to win against their opponent.
Michael swallowed his saliva hard and activated Lesser Enhancement on all of his Artifacts to increase his strength as much as possible. He exerted the Eagle Eyes Soultrait to its full capacity as well.
Danny could only see a golden shimmer in his brother's black eyes, and the white hue shrouding Michael's Artifacts.
"Multip–...." Danny started, but he was interrupted by the countdown that the arena's AI started automatically after the brothers had changed into a combat stance.
[3!]
[2!]
[1!]
[Fight!]
Michael burst forth like a lightning bolt the moment the battle started. He thrust Seron Voulge straight at Danny's throat the moment he was in his brother's range.
Danny reacted in time, diverting the trajectory of Michael's thrust with the wooden sword. He strode forward and smacked his empty hand against Seron Voulge's shaft.
Simultaneously, he swiftly changed the wooden sword's position and slashed down at Michael.
Michael wanted to move Seron Voulge to block Danny's attack with the shaft, but the flick against the Voulge's shaft shattered Michael's rhythm and momentum.
He reacted instinctively using the subtle details he could see in Danny's movements and twisted his body. Simultaneously, he used his remaining momentum to kick Danny.
Danny terminated his attack to evade Micahel's kick. He changed his strategy and regained his momentum in an instant and started the second attack.
Michael used the opportunity to step back, swirl Seron Voulge around his body, and regain his momentum. He could subtly determine where Danny was heading and what his next move would be. The way Danny moved, the way he held his weapon, and the way his eyes subtly glanced in the direction he would move next provided more than enough information to initiate a counterattack even before Michael was attacked.
He used Seron Voulge's mid-range and lengthy blade to his advantage and kept Danny at bay with a slice in his direction. Danny evaded the attack and shot toward Michael. However, Michael had predicted that.
A voulge was not only a saber-like weapon but a mix between a staff and a curved blade. Michael moved Seron Voulge around and smashed the blunt lower end against the wooden sword's flat side.
The impact of the wooden sword shook Michael heavily. He expected Danny to be the one, who suffered from the hard impact, but Danny's Reinforced Sword Qi burst forward. It reflected the force and pushed everything onto Michael.
Following that, Danny's empty hand shot forward, shaped like a blade and mantled in Reinforced Sword Qi.
'Your hand is not a fucking sword, bro!' Michael shouted in his mind as the silver Reinforced Sword Qi shot closer to his abdomen. Danny's flat hand was about to pierce the Onyx Dragon Armor Set when Michael's mind and body reacted simultaneously.
First, several Spirit Whips appeared out of nowhere and whipped Danny with full force simultaneously.
Second, Michael's body began to creak as he used his highly advantageous agility and perception to twist his body at an uncomfortable angle.
Michael evaded the attack, and Danny staggered – surprised by the sudden mental attack.
Spirit Whip was only a 1-Star Soultrait with short range and weak power output. However, it was also extremely cheap to manifest a Spirit Whip, and it didn't require much mental power to control them.
Michael only had to target someone while activating Spirit Whip to lash out at them. Using Spirit Whip several times in the same instance was also possible – though the energy consumption increased exponentially.
Danny restricted his strength, but he never restricted his willpower and mind's natural defensive mechanism. He was not prepared against the Spirit Whips, but they weren't lethal to someone like Danny either.
Their strength was merely enough to startle him once.
But that was already enough for Michael. He used the momentum to thrust Seron Voulge deep in his brother's stomach. At least, that was what Michael intended to do.
Danny's body suddenly disappeared as silver fumes filled the air. A huge human-sized silver sword had manifested in front of Danny surprising Michael. Danny had condensed the Reinforced Sword Qi to create the sword, which blocked Michael's attack easily.
The human-sized sword dispersed in all directions before it reshaped itself into ten short-swords. They were all levitating mid-air and moved according to Danny's will.
Danny just smiled seeing Michae's wide-open eyes. He dashed forward while giving the Reinforced Sword Qi shortswords the same order. They shot toward Michael with terrifying velocity and impacted in the next moment.
Danny didn't even think of terminating the onslaught of attacks when he saw the protection enchantments all over Michael's Onyx Dragon Armor Set shining brightly.
Michael used most of his energy to activate the protection enchantments to block the Reinforced Sword Qi that impacted hard all over his body. He stayed focused on Danny and slashed at him. However, Danny disappeared from sight once again.
Not even his Eagle Eyes could find Danny anymore.
His brother had just disappeared into thin air.
But In the next second, something blunt smacked hard against his body.
Blood splattered through the air and his entire field of vision was filled with swords manifested from silver Reinforced Sword Qi.
The next second, a wooden sword pressed against his neck from behind.
"Not good enough, little fool!"
