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A Hero Tale {Complete}

Nexus didn't waver, sliding his face past Bruce's strike while pulling his sword downwards to upset the angle of the attack, even if only slightly. Bruce's thumb glided across his left cheek, pressing against the mask uncomfortably as Nexus bared down on Bruce with his superior height and bulk. But what followed was far from elegant as a response. With his head leaning forwards, Nexus brought their first flurry of exchanges to an end, crashing his forehead against the center of Bruce's face. He followed through, barely dazed by the collision, and dispelled his dagger, grabbing tightly onto Bruce's left arm with his right. Then, with a mighty heave, he bent his body to the right, shifting his weight carefully before releasing all his holds, and tossing Bruce several feet across the room. It wasn't the most stupendous throw around. It felt more grounded, human even, despite the slight abnormality in his strength. Nexus rubbed his cheek slowly, and then stretched his neck, before summoning a two-handed Katana between both his hands, and taking a new stance. "Gather yourself," Nexus grunted, waiting patiently for Bruce to reorient himself. "If you're to rest my weary soul, show me resolve, one potent enough to aid in tackling a god from his throne." Nexus narrowed his left eye. "Show me something to believe in."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"No," He bellowed with a methodical breath. The blade wouldn't move upon Bruce's first attempt to pull it away from Nexus' grip. He clung tightly and pulled it in the opposite direction of the swordsman's sidestep, keeping him from taking his back, while also preventing a followup. Those sparkling baby blue eyes of his followed Bruce carefully while he exercised exceptional finesse. The dagger flipped and moved, almost as if it was guiding Nexus' hand, towards his target's gullet. The motion was heavy and precise, like he was scooping the air beneath Bruce, moving in with his blade to knock him right into the ceiling. His knees were braced and he moved his right foot to keep both feet perpendicular, at a clear 90 degree angle that shot outwards and moved with his facing. With his left gauntlet, the one that clung to Bruce's blade and pulled him rightwards slightly, he guarded his face and upper body, using his armoured forearm as a barrier that protected him from the bottom half of the Ki-blade, assuming Bruce sought to use his weapon as a downward facing lever. The hand he used to scoop towards his torso moved under this barrier, and quickly enough to evade the aforementioned motioned. At this point, retreat might have resulted in injury or immediate death for Bruce with his dampened abilities, and a direct counter was unfeasible. Nexus may have not had the strength to break cities, or flashy abilities that defied reality. But on an even battlefield where raw power and bombastic magic meant nothing, he held the distinct advantage of a superior armoury, paired with millennia of sheer experience. And despite Bruce's efforts, Nexus had taken the initiative.

As long as he held the pace, victory would be impossible.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

The blue pole disappeared into a mist, and Nexus armoured hand face Bruce's blade, palm flat. The resounding clank rustled his forearm, but as the initial force of the impact was absorbed, he took another step towards Bruce and grabbed the tip of his energy-blade with the hand that was struck, while summoning a dagger in his opposite hand, and stabbing downwards, aiming for his collarbone. His armour was tough, or perhaps, it was just the weakness of Bruce's ki in its current state that made it so effective?

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Nexus pulled back on the string again, readying another blue arrow, and twisted his wrists forwards. The energy converged and turned into a spear almost immediately. The fluid transition occurred in a second, and he thrust towards Bruce with a step forwards.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Nexus pulled his pole backwards, thrusting it behind him moments after it slid through his fingers to immediately follow Bruce. He moved his foot back again to put force into the strike, and turned his head towards Bruce, ignoring the dust above him as it gently cascaded down his armour and past his eyes. "I've trained with every type of weapon I've seen in the past 9000 years."

Nexus did blink a few times, but bent his head at an angle as to prevent a serious amount of dirt getting anywhere near them. Regardless of whether he hit Bruce or not, Nexus spun around on his right foot and spun the pole around quickly in his right hand. The ends shrunk down and it changed shape until it took the form of a short bow. "Without your power," Nexus gasped, steadying his breath as he pulled a blue arrow out of thin air and lined up a shot, "You've merely your skill to depend on." He released the drawstring and fired an arrow at Bruce. "And it is clear who's experiences hold more merit."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Nexus stopped five feet short of Bruce, slightly out of slashing range. His weapon shifted into a much longer form, rounding itself and padding both ends in some kind of blue cloth. He bent his right knee fluidly as he stopped, and placed one end of the large pole behind his back, while turning the opposite side to attack with all the force in his lower body, aiming to strike at the swordsman's core. Nexus' stance was methodical, and aimed to place as much weight as he could into his strike without losing balance or control. Despite his supposed power, his speed and strength seemed only slightly beyond human. Perhaps with Bruce's own stats lowered, this was Nexus' preferred style of combat? Was he truly weak, depending on weakening his opponents just as much?

A Hero Tale {Complete}

~ Chapter 200 ~

_{Gatekeeper Of Righteous Intent}

Nexus stared Bruce down hesitantly, donning a new set of armour, one plate at a time. The sullen blue onyx plates climbed his torso one after another as he took a sword-wielder's stance, summoning a mystical blue two handed sword. His eyes flashed with a brilliant blue flare. "Defeating me is not impossible," He announced with a heavy voice, "But you will not succeed." He rushed forwards, moving into a sprint. Each step shook his armour, but it clung tightly enough to his body that no immediate openings were obvious along his chest, lower body or upper arms. There was a faint determination in his eyes despite all he'd said in the past. His final will to live and do things his way. To see all of his mistakes, the result of his arrogance, undone by his own hand. Nobody would stop him, unless they were worthy to take his place.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"That's nice," Yzeira whispered, "I told you to sit still."

---

~ End Of Chapter 199 ~

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Yzeira looked at Jenso silently for a moment and sighed. "Right. This is going nowhere. Sit still for a moment..." Several small orbs of red energy emerged from thin air around Jenso's skull and began to rotate slowly. "I'm just going to search your memories manually. This will hurt quite a bit."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"Fairy tale nonsense," Yzeira grunted, "I asked you a very specific question. I don't care about your experiences as an adult. I already know about all of that. So I'll ask it again, slower this time." He leaned forward slightly, glaring into Jenso's eyes. "Did anything special happen to you, prior to your powers awakening?" He waited only a moment before goading him on more.

"I know it must be hard, but please, use that brain of yours to the fullest of your ability. It's working perfectly fine."