Chapter 233:Test.
He touched the tattoo.
"It doesn’t have a gender."
Ravenna looked confused.
"Is that unusual?"
"Very." Antony’s smile widened. "Most beasts have biological sexes, but mine doesn’t."
Silver understood.
"Which means there’s no conflict when you change."
"Exactly."
Antony’s expression became more excited.
"The beast itself can exist in either configuration, and because of that..."
His female form suddenly disappeared, as Antony moved.
Silver’s eyes narrowed.
He was fast. Before she could react, Antony appeared beside Ravenna.
She barely raised her sword.
CLANG!
Antony’s training blade struck hers sending sparks flying. Ravenna’s feet slid backward from the momentum.
Her eyes widened.
"Wow, you’re fast."
Antony smiled.
"That’s the whole point."
Ravenna immediately counterattacked, slicing her sword towards his direction but Antony twisted sideways. Her blade passed within centimeters of his body.
He moved again, but this time, Ravenna followed. Their weapons clashed repeatedly as they matched each other.
Silver watched.
Antony’s female form was incredibly agile. He moved with extraordinary control, and every step was deliberate. He used his superior agility to change direction instantly.
Ravenna swung again aiming for the neck but Antony ducked. He moved beneath the blade and attempted to strike her side.
Ravenna immediately noticed and blocked, but the impact pushed her backward. She immediately retaliated lower with a burst of flame.
Antony jumped as the fire swept beneath him. He landed on the wall, expertly holding himself up in the precocious position he had placed himself in.
Silver’s eyes narrowed.
He could see why Antony had been considered dangerous. His fighting style wasn’t based on overwhelming power, but on movement.
He avoided attacks until his opponent made a mistake then went for the kill. Unfortunately for him, Ravenna wasn’t making many mistakes.
She activated her Fire edge and flames wrapped around her sword.
Antony smiled.
"Now that’s interesting, I thought you only had one measly skill."
He rushed forward, a giant smile on his face. Ravenna swung the fire coated sword, sending a wave of flamed towards the oncoming opponent.
Unsupringly, Antony dodged bending backwards midrun as the flaming sword passed overhead.
She swung again but Antony easily ducked. Ravenna kicked him the moment he shifted to her right but he jumped backward.
She fired a Flame Bullet and Antony twisted sideways. The projectile passed beside his head before he landed, a cocky smile on his lips.
"You’re good."
Ravenna smiled.
"So are you."
"Thank you."
Antony suddenly changed direction, his speed increased again and struck her with his blade.
Ravenna barely caught the strike.
CLANG!
The force knocked her arm aside forcing her into almost stumbling. Antony tried to capitalize, but Ravenna stepped backward, then thrust her palm forward. Fire exploded between them.
Antony crossed his arms and jumped backward, the blast throwing him across the training floor. He landed on his feet, laughing.
"That was close."
Ravenna lowered her hand.
"You talk too much."
"I’ve been told that, I can’t help my weak tongue."
She charged before he could even finish his statement.
Antony smiled.
This time, he didn’t retreat, but changed. His body shifted back into his male form; the transformation happened almost instantly.
Ravenna’s sword struck, the sound echoing in the room. Antony easily blocked. The sound was different, and impact was heavier.
Ravenna’s eyes widened.
Antony casually pushed her blade away. The strength behind the movement was completely different from his female form.
He then swung his blades. Ravenna blocked, but the impact sent her backward several meters.
Silver’s eyebrows rose.
"So that’s the difference."
Antony grinned.
"Exactly."
His male form had significantly more raw strength. Ravenna steadied herself.
"Damn, that’s strong."
"Yeah well, I’m a man now."
She smiled.
"Then I’ll just have to hit you harder."
Flames gathered around her leaving a strong heatwave. Antony’s eyes brightened.
"That’s what I wanted to hear."
Ravenna attacked, this time, using her fire abilities aggressively. Flame bullets shot across the room in rapid succession.
Antony blocked one, then dodged another, but a third struck his shoulder. He stumbled, his hand clutching his wounded shoulder.
Ravenna rushed forward, her raised flaming sword caming down. Antony blocked, the momentum making him bend his knees. The floor beneath his feet cracked slightly.
Ravenna pushed harder and increased the heat of the flames. Antony’s arms trembled.
"You’re strong."
Ravenna smiled.
"Thanks."
She pushed again, putting half her strength on the sword. Antony suddenly released his grip and Ravenna’s sword dropped downward, destroying her balance.
He stepped aside, then struck her shoulder with the flat of his training weapon.
Ravenna stumbled.
He had used her momentum against her. She immediately turned midstumble but Antony was already behind her.
She swung her the flames on her sword sending an arch of fire.
He ducked.
Ravenna rose her sword again and their weapons clashed. Silver watched silently,neither was fighting recklessly, but testing one another.
Ravenna had the advantage in elemental power, while Antony had the advantage in adaptability. He could change his configuration depending on what the fight demanded.
Strength against defense, Agility against offense. And because his beast had no gender, the transformation didn’t interfere with his synchronization.
It was an unusual ability. One Silver could understand why the original story had highlighted.
Ravenna suddenly changed tactics. She stopped trying to chase Antony; instead, she spread flames across the floor.
Antony’s expression changed.
"Smart."
The flames forced him away from several directions. Ravenna fired but Antony blocked. She fired again a spiral of flames towards him but he dodged.
Then she charged mid dodge. Antony switched to his female form, and slipped through the opening when she tried to punch him.
Ravenna turned but it was too late. Antony’s training weapon stopped against her shoulder, at almost the same moment, Ravenna’s flaming sword stopped against his chest.
They froze, since both had landed a killing blow. Silence filled the room occasionally broken by deep breaths.
Antony looked at the blade against his chest, then at Ravenna’s weapon before laughing.
"Draw."
Ravenna smiled.
"I’ll accept that."
Antony stepped back.
"You’re very strong."
"So are you."
Antony returned to his male form. He wiped sweat from his forehead.
"That’s the first time someone has forced me into both forms in the same fight."
Silver raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Most people don’t adapt quickly enough."
Ravenna sheathed her training weapon.
"Your ability is strange enough. But it’s good especially in a stressful fight,stunning the enemy is the best method, even a second ddlay can change the directly of the fight."
"Thank you."
"That wasn’t necessarily a compliment."
"I’ll take it as one."
Silver laughed. Antony turned toward him.
"So?"
"So?"
"Am I good enough?"
Silver looked at Ravenna. She nodded.
"He’s strong."
Silver nodded.
"I agree, he’s at rank two so it increases his incredibly."
Antony smiled.
"So I can join?"
"Yes."
Antony’s expression brightened.
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
Silver held up a hand.
"But there are conditions."
Antony stopped.
"What conditions?"
"We don’t blindly follow people, like you did with us."
"Obviously, I’m not that stupid."
"We decide where we’re going."
"Fine."
"And if we have a disagreement, we talk about it."
"Fine, I’m good at communicating." Antony nodded enthusiastically. "Sounds easy."
Ravenna looked at Silver.
"You really decided that quickly."
Silver smiled.
"I already had a good feeling about him, and the fight ghat you both had solidified most of my decisions."
Antony looked pleased.
"Then it’s settled."
He held out his hand. Silver shook it.
"Welcome."
Antony grinned.
"I’m going to enjoy this."
Ravenna looked at him.
"You haven’t even asked where we’re going."
Antony shrugged.
"I’ll find out."
Silver laughed.
That was exactly the sort of answer he expected. As they tyrned to leave the training room, Silver couldn’t help thinking about the future.
Antony was supposed to meet Dillain, and become part of Dillain’s team; instead, he had joined Silver and Ravenna.
That meant something.
Silver didn’t know whether it was good or bad yet, but he knew one thing. The moment Antony had approached them, the story had shifted again, and now they had another unexpected companion.
One who could change from a powerful male fighter into an incredibly agile female combatant at will.
Silver glanced at Antony.
The man was already talking about something completely unrelated. Ravenna listened with a faint smile. She seemed to be enjoying his company which was weird on it’s own since she did not like people in the slightest.
Silver shook his head. This was going to be interesting.