"It's fine, as long as you don't break an arm or a leg," Farrow said irresponsibly, while struggling to pull a two-handed greatsword from the shelf. He handed it to Howes with difficulty: "Howes, go spar with Swordsman Bill for a bit."
"O...okay," Howes hesitated for a moment, but quickly agreed. An eighth-level swordsman wasn't much stronger than a fifth-level mage; if he used more control spells and kept his distance, he should be able to manage...
Wait, hold on...
Why is Alchemist Farrow handing me a two-handed greatsword?
Then he remembered the Dragonforce Elixir he'd drunk earlier, and Howes' face instantly went pale.
No way...
Was Alchemist Farrow really... really asking him to fight Bill in close combat?
"A-Alchemist Farrow?" Howes looked at Farrow with a complicated expression—confused, pleading, and fearful—all at once, as if he were about to cry.
Alchemist Farrow, isn't this joke a bit too much?
That's an eighth-level swordsman! Just look at his two-handed greatsword—it's nearly taller than I am. You want me to fight him up close? Isn't that a bit much?
"What are you afraid of? You just drank the Dragonforce Elixir—what's the problem with taking on an eighth-level swordsman? Even if he chops off your arms, your legs, or your head, every alchemist at the Gilded Rose will remember you forever!"
...Howes nearly dropped the greatsword. Chopped off arms and legs was one thing, but his head? What good would it do the Gilded Rose alchemists to remember him if he lost his head...
"Alright, Swordsman Bill, our Mage Howes is ready. Let's begin!"
"Hey..." Howes jumped in surprise. When was I ever ready?!
Unfortunately, Howes didn't even have time to protest before someone shoved him from behind. Off balance, he stumbled straight toward Bill, the greatsword in his hands swinging down at Bill's head...
Bill was a bona fide eighth-level swordsman, a member of the Bullhorn Mercenary Company, with plenty of dangerous battles under his belt. His reflexes were leagues ahead of a fifth-level mage like Howes, who'd never even seen blood. Bill raised his own greatsword and, with a crisp clang, parried Howes' wild overhead swing.
Then came the heavy sound of the blade cutting through the air—Bill's counterattack was fast and fierce. The greatsword, nearly as tall as a man, moved like a straw in his hands. Several quick slashes forced Howes to retreat, step after step, until he was nearly backed into the crowd...
"Howes, aren't you going to fight back? Do you really want to get your arms, legs, and head chopped off?" Farrow called out, completely unconcerned.
...Howes' face turned green. You won't let me use magic, and I'm supposed to fight back against an eighth-level swordsman? What am I supposed to do—poke him with my finger?
But Bill didn't care about any of that. His greatsword struck harder and harder, and after only a few attacks, Howes was driven into a corner. Then another heavy blow came crashing down...
"Damn..." Howes cursed, realizing there was nowhere left to retreat. He couldn't worry about anything else now, so he raised the greatsword to block the attack.
There was a sharp clang...
The onlookers in the hall could hardly bear to watch...
A fifth-level mage trying to block an eighth-level swordsman's attack—especially Bill from Bullhorn, with his monstrous strength. After that swing, that mage would be lucky to ever use his hands again...
"Huh?" But at that moment, Howes let out a surprised cry. He realized his strength was far greater than he'd imagined. With just a simple block, he stopped Bill's attack. No—he didn't just stop it. When the swords clashed, he clearly saw Bill take two steps back...
And after that clash, his arms weren't shaking or broken—not even sore.
Could this be the effect of the Dragonforce Elixir?
Thinking this, Howes tried raising the greatsword again. Only now did he realize that the massive blade felt much lighter than he'd expected. Lifting it was effortless; with a gentle swing, he unleashed a powerful strike.
The blow was so forceful that even Bill had to retreat several steps.
Dragonforce Elixir—it had to be the Dragonforce Elixir!
After experiencing the power of the Dragonforce Elixir firsthand, the fear and confusion vanished from Howes' face. He gripped the greatsword tightly and launched his first counterattack, his strikes growing fiercer and fiercer until he was actually fighting Bill to a standstill.
The two clashed in the center of the hall, swords ringing out again and again. The hundred-plus spectators were left gaping—this Dragonforce Elixir could really let a fifth-level mage go toe-to-toe with an eighth-level swordsman? Wasn't that unbelievable?
No, no, it wasn't just evenly matched...
Some sharp-eyed onlookers quickly realized that Howes was only a fifth-level mage, with no real sword training. To be fighting Bill like this, it was all thanks to the strength from the Dragonforce Elixir. If Howes had proper sword training, Bill might already be down!
After ten minutes, Farrow finally called a halt.
"Thank you, both of you."
"No need to thank me, Alchemist Farrow..." Bill panted heavily. Even with the nickname 'Bullhorn,' after such a grueling, no-frills fight, the eighth-level swordsman was feeling the strain.
On the other hand, Howes showed no sign of fatigue after the fight—in fact, he was so excited he kept asking Farrow, "Alchemist Farrow, was it the Dragonforce Elixir? Was it the Dragonforce Elixir?"
"Yes, yes, it's the Dragonforce Elixir..." Farrow dismissed Howes with a couple of words, then strode back to the center of the hall, smiling as he looked at the pale-faced Hawkins.
"Grand Alchemist Hawkins, I can answer your earlier question now. I really have no intention of trading the Dragonforce Elixir for the Berserker Elixir formula. Do you think I'm that naive or stupid? What makes your so-called Berserker Elixir worthy of an exchange with me? I suggest you go home and look in the mirror, and ask yourself if you're even qualified..."
With that, Farrow spat on the ground.
The hall of the Gilded Rose instantly fell silent...
*******************
So tired, can't fight anymore—I'm out...
Sanjiang votes, recommendation votes—just give in already.