Chapter 161: Let’s Spar [2]

Though Jacob had grown vigilant, he didn’t show it on his face.

A good actor indeed.

“My father had left a decent amount of wealth before he passed away. So… I was able to afford some resources for my cultivation.”

Jacob spoke as he got into the common combat stance that Noah and the instructor had used before.

As I stood closer to Jacob, the latter looked at me from above.

He was fairly tall, probably 6’3.

A muscular build coupled with his short hair gave him the look of someone who was built for combat.

Though I found his short hair interesting, as the werewolves in general had long hair that gave them a sort of wild look.

“Is that so? Your father might have been a great man.”

I commented as I could sense Jacob willing his mana through the muscles in his legs and arms.

His mana control was decent for someone of his age.

Though werewolves had an inborn talent for channelling mana through their bodies, as their kind was more focused on hand-to-hand combat than using weapons, which many of them believed to be a sign of weakness.

“He indeed was.”

Jacob spoke after a long pause, as his expression fell for a fraction of a second before he quickly raised his head to stare into my eyes.

“I think we should fight.”

Jacob spoke as he raised his hands even higher, making a perfect defensive posture.

“You may attack first.”

I advised Jacob, though I hadn’t gotten into any stance.

It wasn’t that I was actively disrespecting Jacob, but I found taking a particular stance a waste of time and effort.

Free hands allowed a greater amount of freedom, and it also reduced the chances of the opponent predicting my attacks.

If my hands were raised in a high guard, then the options available to me naturally decreased.

Though I would always take a defensive combat stance during the fight whenever it was necessary.

Jacob wasn’t one to wait, as he inched closer to me, his hands just before his face, ready to unleash their entire might.

I observed his movement as he was now a foot away from me.

Swoosh!

With a burst of mana in his legs, Jacob charged forward, his face inches away from mine.

Bang!

Jacob aimed his fist at me, but it was his knee that I had to defend against.

“You are strong.”

Jacob commented as he stepped back a bit, allowing some space between the two of us.

Werewolves were naturally endowed with a much stronger physique than the other races.

So, coupled with his baseline strength and with it being amplified by his mana, Jacob might have hoped for a messy block, but I had easily stopped his attack—

Despite not using a drop of my mana.

With an inferior rank, Jacob was unable to sense the mana in my body, similar to how I was sensing the one in his body, but—

He was at least able to understand whether I had used mana or not.

Jacob didn’t wait for long, as he again charged at me again, this time unleashing a range of punches that were aimed at my face in particular.

But—

I avoided most of them with the most minimal movements, though I had to intercept a few that were a little faster than the others.

Jacob loved uppercuts, as after a few punches, he would surely throw one.

Though I had to agree with his method, as his body could unleash more of its natural strength in that range of motion.

Still… that limited his attack range, as I had quickly gotten used to his style—or that was what I had thought before—

A kick came from below, aimed at my nose.

I bent backward before rolling to the side, but my efforts were in vain, as that was what Jacob had been aiming for.

Bam!

At the last moment, I managed to block his kick that was aimed at the back of my neck, though the sheer power behind the attack made my legs strain from the impact.

“Tsk.”

I pushed his legs aside, as Jacob stumbled from the force behind it.

His eyes had widened for a moment, as despite surviving the kick that was probably his strongest attack, using a great deal of his mana, I had blocked it, and now—

I was standing before him without a hint of the damage that I should have sustained.

“Impossible.”

Jacob’s voice reached me as I slightly massaged my neck.

“How is your body so strong?!”

This time, Jacob had raised his voice in disbelief.

It had to be known that humans had the weakest physique amongst the other races that inhabited Jutan—Elves being the only exception.

That naturally put humans at a disadvantage, as they had to constantly use mana during fights in order to match the speed and strength of their opponents.

And even a single explosive attack to their bodies made them sustain greater damage than what individuals of the other races would have sustained in a similar condition.

But I had not only blocked his attack with ease, but that too without using mana, while Jacob had used a great deal of it.

“It’s just how it is.”

This time, I walked toward Jacob, as I was bored from being on the defensive.

“I was just wondering, but how exactly did your father die?”

The question was insensitive of me, as Jacob paused, his eyes wavering slightly.

I couldn’t care less for his emotions.

“That… I don’t wish to discuss it, sir.”

Jacob had once again returned to his formal way of talking.

“Why is that? Is the reason something like—A mysterious death?”

Silence.

This time, Jacob’s eyes had narrowed on me, and he didn’t waste any effort in hiding his expression.

“What do you mean?”

Jacob growled.

Sigh.

A beast indeed.

Not that I was being racist.

“I meant… What is the official reason of his death?”

“If I may ask, why do you want to know?”

“Just curious.”

“…”

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