SPO4 Iswantus, Sharpshooter (4)
1566 Words
Back at the Swaerg Constabulary Training Camp.
Impressed by the sniping skills of the two archer officers, I decide to give archery a shot, even though I haven't summoned a bow and arrow and used it for three years.
“Produ Gouren Youmiyah.”
I summon a crimsonwood bow and arrow, and then try to aim at the target.
Right now, the wind is blowing gently towards the northwest.
It should not affect the trajectory, right?
And... fire.
In five seconds, the arrow hits the target...
...around a finger's worth of length from the center, a bit to the left.
“Hey, not that bad.”
SPO4 Iswantus remarks.
“But not as good as you.”
“In fact, your specialty of switching weapons can be used to surprise our target.”
“Tell me more about it.”
“Simply put, he knows all about our skills and adjusts his barrier's settings to adapt to our attacks. But you... he doesn't know you yet, and he doesn't know that you can swap weapons at will, and that will throw him off.”
“And I think there's another thing that will throw him off.”
“What is it?”
“Improvised weaponry. From everyday items and even found junk. You just need to have some ingenuity.”
“OK, you can train us in your arts.”
“After I see how your buddies fight, that is.”
“Excellent.”
I then proceed to one of the dueling arenas.
SPO1 dela Rosa and PO3 Limdico are currently sparring, with PO3 Jones witnessing the impressive dodging and parrying techniques his two fellow blade-wielders employ.
The sword-and-shield officer then comments...
“You know, I just can't be here alone, waiting for their friendly sparring to end and for me to have a go at it.”
“Well, I'm quite knowledgeable in the art of the sword. Fancy a friendly duel?”
“Sure!”
On the arena next to the one currently in use, we ready our fighting stances.
While PO3 Jones readies his charging attack – that is, he puts his sword above the shield he hoists – I calmly chant two spells.
“Produ Lakab Schwarda.”
“Produ Lakab Kalshag.”
On my left hand, a steel shield manifests.
On my right hand, a steel sword manifests.
“Ah, so you're imitating me, huh?”
“Not just that. I admit I haven't done the fine art of sword-and-shield combat in years.”
“Very well then. It's on!”
PO3 Jones starts his charging attack.
Anticipating his attack, I readily block it with my shield.
“Tip of the day, buddy: You should not let your opponent read your attacks! He'll come up with ways to counter them even before you attack!”
“I know, I know!”
We both break free from our deadlock, and PO3 Jones changes his stance.
Well, he's quite the fast learner. I immediately can't read what type of attack he'll be doing next.
Ah, he's doing a feint attack!
I parry that attack with my sword, and I methodically swing my sword back.
Back when I was still taking up sword-fighting at the Royal Academy, I remember the basics of the four striking points.
They can be found at the inter-cardinal directions – that is, northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest.
Those four points can be used as launching points for more finessed attacks, as well as multi-hit combos.
Eventually, PO3 Jones and I get the hang of things and pull off more intricate swings, strikes, and parries with our weapons.
Seeing that he's getting all flared up, I make the call.
“OK! Our duel's over!”
We immediately put down our swords and shields.
PO3 Jones declares...
“Man, you're really that skilled! No wonder our leader picked you because... you're really good!”
“Ah, it's nothing. I was just recalling how I must use the sword-and-shield combo properly. I admit I kind of got rusty on that department.”
“You shouldn't put yourself down like that.”
Oh. It's SPO1 dela Rosa the katana maiden speaking.
Looks like their sparring duel is over.
“Yes, we admit that we can forget our skills over time, but self-deprecation... shouldn't be a priority.”
SPO1 Limdico follows that up with...
“If you forget a certain skill, let your body recall it. The way you swing the sword... can be a launching point for that attack you forgot years ago.”
PO3 Jones cuts in.
“Alright! Because of your pieces of advice, I'm still flared up! I think I need to duel... Miss Katana!”
“OK, greenhorn. I'll agree on your offer. En garde!”
Seeing as I'm content with witnessing their blade-wielding skills, I leave the dueling arena and the proceed to one of the magical practice grounds.
“Rising liquid tides... drown them in a bubble! Mizubig!”
The lone spell-caster in the Tactical Strikers Team, SPO1 Blackfire, is practicing the basic elemental spells on a training dummy.
As I've recalled from magic class back at the Royal Academy, there is a spell for each of the eight elements: Fire, ice, thunder, water, wind, earth, light, and darkness.
Each spell can be manipulated to create a differing effect before it is actually cast (like in the case of the man who manipulated his Yanigroud spell to erect an earthen barrier back at the King's Cup), and they can be also combined with other attacks or spells to create various effects, as demonstrated in combined link attacks.
“Looking good with your spell-casting, eh?”
“Oh! Hi again, Walter!”
“You're trying to master all the elements, huh?”
“Of course! Even though it's common knowledge that an offensive spell-caster cannot wield spells of opposing elements at the same time because nature, I try to make up for that with casting those opposing-element spells in a timely way.”
“That's good. But you know what's better?”
I immediately summon a simple magician's rod.
“Two persons casting opposing-element spells at the same time. It's also allowed by nature. Here, let's cast a light and darkness spell together.”
“OK.”
With our auras ready for a combined link attack...
She does the incantation for the light spell; I do the one for the darkness one.
“Miraculous rays, shine upon vile fiends! Lightwanag!”
“Claws of darkness, arrest the evil-hearted! Yamilim!”
“Balance of ebony and ivory, shock the foundations of instability! Yin-Yang Bolt!”
White and black lightning bolts emerge from our rods and zap the training dummy with our combined powers of the opposing elements.
The dummy still retains its rigidity. After all, it is built for the strongest of spells.
Even the dreaded Crepitus spell.
“I can't believe it! You can actually cast magic spells?”
“Well, there are some magic spells non-spell-casters can use for everyday adventuring, but I formulated my own set of object summoning spells based on materialization magic, so I know the fundamentals of spell-casting by default. You should try it, too.”
“That's so cool!”
The time eventually ticks to 4 post meridiem, and the entire team has wrapped up the training phase.
We all gather near the archery range for the next phase: Planning our moves against the elusive barrier criminal.
I start the planning with the following.
“You all stated that you've tried several attack strategies, right? And they all failed because of that barrier or barriers?”
The Tactical Strikers all nod their heads in approval.
“Well, why don't you try attacking from three angles at the same time?”
Asks SPO4 Iswantus...
“What do you mean by that?”
“Attack from above ground, level with the ground, and below ground. This way, we can find the fabled Achilles heel.”
“I see. By having separate attack teams that cover all three angles, we can all see that weakness in that barrier much easier.”
“That's the plan. And that is why we must lure the criminal first into a place that allows us all to cover all three attack angles.”
SPO3 Mangacop then cuts in.
“Ah! I know of such place. There's an abandoned construction site on the outskirts of Fiaco. It was supposed to be the Richpointe Tower, right? With multiple floors, we can cover those three angles you're talking about, Mr. Walter.”
“Great. And another thing... use improvised weapons alongside your standard-issue ones.”
SPO4 Iswantus responds...
“Because of unpredictability, right?”
“Yes. He may know your default weapons, but he won't know what aren't. Come up with practical combat solutions that suit your style. For example... if you see a shovel lying around, you can duel-wield it along with your sword. If you see a pile of gravel, well, manipulate gravel with magic. Quick thinking is important in improvisation. Understood, everyone?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Great. That wraps up our training and planning. We can start our hopefully last engagement with Esteban Abada Guy by meeting up at the precinct 7 ante meridiem sharp tomorrow. Rest well, everyone, and good night.”
We all immediately leave the training camp, ready for the day of the operation.
- Writer
