The Accidental Archmage - Book Five by Edmund Batara (best e ink reader for manga .txt) 📕

in the middle of the road, resting the dull side of the single-bladed weapon on his right shoulder. Tyler was surprised to see the exile had brought with him what the mage believed to be a nodachi, a sword with a three-foot blade. It looked inappropriate for the swift and close combat Kobu would fight. The stalkers, though keeping their distance, had already encircled him. Kobu didn’t bow as he usually did when meeting new people or sentient beings. The mage did notice a slight smile on the exile’s relaxed face.

“My apologies for not asking your names in this… duel, but I hold that honor to be the sole province of warriors,” Kobu said calmly.

“Nor do we share our names with prey, exile. But the glory and fame of our nest will be lifted tenfold when we bring back your head,” replied one of the females.

Kobu laughed and in response, told them:

“Apples counted

A witless farmer

On winter sapling.”

“I didn’t know his prose was no better than mine,” commented Tyndur with the result of the ranger trying to stifle his snigger.

“Hush. I believe it’s starting,” warned the mage, as he saw Kobu bring the giant version of a katana into a ready position – both hands on the longsword grip, right hand positioned above the left, with the weapon raised at head height in front of him. The exile had moved his left foot forward.  The combatants stood still for several seconds. Nobody spoke and a grim yet expectant silence ruled the woods.

The forms of the three assassins abruptly changed and the mage saw the female half-spider at Kobu’s back jump into the attack. Everything was a blur after that sudden movement. Tyler, with his magically-enhanced vision, saw everything. After barely two seconds, the exile was standing in the middle of the bodies of three dead spider assassins. One was vertically cut in half, another had a split cranium, while the third was sliced through at the midsection, separating the human upper part from the multiple monstrous and hairy limbs of the lower body. Their ichor was everywhere, but the exile miraculously appeared clean of the greenish slime.

“Ymirs frosteistna!” exclaimed the ranger. “What happened?”

Tyndur took some time to say something, though the mage could see that the warrior’s mouth was open in disbelief. The abilities of the einherjar evidently allowed him to see how Kobu fought. Kobu had now changed the form of his weapon to a single-bladed axe similar to that of a woodcutter. As they watched, the exile went from body to body, methodically crushing the heads.

“Not bad,” Tyndur whispered finally, exhaling as he did so.

“Sire? What happened?” again asked Habrok.

He turned to the ranger.

“When the one at the back jumped, the weapon shifted to a polearm with long, wide blades at either end. He stepped back and sideways, avoiding webbing cast by the others. But the polearm was lowered and thrust backward and upward at the first attacker. Kobu didn’t even look back; the blade struck at the head, slicing it open, then he swiftly twirled the weapon, continuing its arc, throwing it against the one in front. He vanished, appeared where the weapon transfixed the still alive assassin, smoothly sliced it sideways, cleaving the other in half. Job done, he returned to the dying survivor, cutting downward. There; you picture it now?”

Habrok nodded.

“Hellishly fast. Didn’t even see anything,” remarked the ranger.

Down Came Three Spiders

I didn’t even know he was that deadly. In our battles, I didn’t have the luxury to see Kobu in action. The other companions had duels enabling me to see how they fought. Kobu was the exception.

Tyler then felt his staff grow warm. Alarmed, he looked around, casting a scrying spell. There were no threats around them. The unexpected heat then disappeared. He looked at the weapon thoughtfully, wondering about the strange occurrence. When he looked up, the mage saw Tyndur and Habrok already starting to move toward their victorious companion. He followed after them.

“Congratulations, Kobu. That was very impressive,” he told the exile. The other companions had already praised the man on his victory. Tyndur even slapped Kobu on the back as he voiced his admiration. A rare event for the einherjar, observed Tyler.

The exile smiled.

“My enemies must think poorly of me to send such beings. I do pray that one day I can go back and correct such a misconception,” replied the exile with a meaningful expression. “I did expect pursuit, but one of a higher level than these vermin.”

“I admit I was concerned for a while. That very long sword – a nodachi? – looked ill-advised for the fight. And the weapon you used was unfamiliar to me,” said the mage.

“I am surprised that you know of such weapons from my homeland, sire. It could also be called an odachi. Both terms refer to swords of such lengths though the term nodachi is older in usage. As to my display of the weapon, it is best to hide from your enemy the true nature of your intentions, and the exact form of the killing implement to be used. A battle already starts from the moment your enemy catches sight of you,” explained the exile.

“And that two-bladed version of the naginata?”

“Ah. A peculiar weapon born out of necessity, driven by the reality of having a magical weapon at my disposal. No single school of swordsmanship or weaponry could prepare me for its versatility. So, I was forced to develop my own – specifically for this gift.”

“I have heard of the art of kenjutsu. Even the famous two heavens as one style of Musashi. I’ve… read that story. So, what do you call your style of fighting?

“The heavenly sword art of living longer, sire,” smiled the exile wryly.

“Interesting,” noted Tyndur. “In Skaney, there are schools for military training, but only basic instruction was given. They’re usually run by the jarls. If one wants specialized training, then a warrior-to-be goes to a mentor, meaning one who has survived wielding the weapons the student wants to use.”

“No specific style or technique in