Their swords were their hammer, and each other were their metal blocks. But instead of diffusing the backlash between them, they kept it within the fight for their own use. This meant that the backlash was increasing between them.
This backlash was being passed from one fighter to the other. But it couldn't continue indefinitely. The first person to fail to redirect the backlash would have to bear the backlash for the two of them.
By that time, the backlash would already be too big for both of them to handle safely. So the person who bears it will definitely be terribly injured.
This was the goal. It was to outlast the other. The person who endured the longest would win.
But this wasn't easy. Redirecting the backlash is a skillful matter, but it is also taxing on the body in terms of stamina and stress.
Arthur has the advantage in stamina, but he is lacking in skill, which caused his body to bear more stress than Brooks.
This stress first showed up in aches in his hand holding the sword. Then the ache moved to his arm. Soon his legs and torso also began to feel the ache.
His skin between his fingers began to tear. His hands gripping the sword became bloody, but he didn't give up.
He continued to pressure Brooks. He swung his sword so fast that even he could only see an afterimage.
He could only tell where the sword should be based on the feeling of the sword in his hands. His attacks were a blur, but Brooks could still block them.
But things only became worse for him. The blood on his hand made it difficult to grip his sword tightly. His fingers ached, and the blood made the sword slippery.
The backlash also made the sword heavier than usual. The sword became more difficult to control precisely because of the heavy backlash. The blood on his hands only made things worse.
Then the skin of his arm began to split too. Cracks appeared on his forearms and snaked their way to his elbows and shoulders. Still he didn't give up.
Brooks saw this and winced in pain.
The old man wanted to give up. But he knew that Lady Vena wouldn't take kindly to that.
He knows that if he were to give up, she would invalidate Arthur's hard work. He couldn't let that happen, so he could only continue to press Arthur.
Fortunately, something else gave up. The wooden sword in Arthur's hand couldn't take it anymore. It shattered to pieces, which caused the fight to end.
Arthur looked at his bloody hands in a strange fugue state. He hadn't realized the extent of the damage until this moment.
He was focused during the fight, so he didn't feel the pain. But now that adrenaline was fading, the pain was coming with a vengeance. His hand began to shake because of the pain.
Brooks asked, "Are you fine, young master?"
He nodded, unable to speak.
Lady Vena clapped, which drew their attention.
They looked at her as he said, "That wasn't bad, but it is far from enough. I'll be right back. Stay right where you are."
Her figure disappeared from their sight. Arthur didn't know what she wanted to do, but he doubted it would be good for him.
Brooks knew to a great extent what she went to do, so he sighed.
He asked Arthur, "Young master, must you leave?"
Arthur nodded in reply.
He didn't speak, but the look in his eyes showed his determination.
Lady Vena returned a few seconds later. She had two new swords with her.
The swords were metal and sharp. They were not the wooden swords that they used earlier. These swords could maim and kill them if they were not careful.
Arthur's face paled.
Lady Vena noticed his reaction and asked, "Are you scared? Don't be scared. This is the kind of thing they use out there in the world. No one tries to kill others with sticks. If you can't handle a sharp weapon, then you should quit now."
He didn't speak. He just went up to her and took one of the swords with his bloody hands.
His face twitched immediately as he gripped the sword. But he didn't cry out. He remained stoic and ready to fight for his freedom.
Lady Vena noticed that he was in pain, but she ignored it. Brooks couldn't ignore it, though.
The old man saw the brief look of pain and felt his heart ache. He couldn't bear to see that small boy who tried to rob him of bread be in so much pain.
He said to Lady Vena, "He is just a child."
She said, "Which is why he should continue to stay with his mother. But he doesn't want to do that because he thinks he is a man. If he is a man, then he must be ready to bear the responsibility and pain of men."
Brooks tried again, "But he could die."
She responded by saying, "He could die outside too. What's your point?"
Brooks thought that his point was obvious, so he was silent.
Lady Vena Brooks continued, "The outside world is dangerous. He has been sheltered in the Dyson family, so he might think the whole world is like this. He has to learn that it is not."
"Even if he is maimed, I am willing to bear that sacrifice to teach him that lesson. At least we are around right now and can quickly administer lifesaving help and medicine to him."
Then she said, "I am done explaining myself to you. This is for his own good. Are you going to fight him or not?"
Brooks sighed and reached out to take the sword from her.
She didn't like the way he was behaving. It made her frown and say, "You know what? You are not needed anymore."
Brooks's face fell. He became anxious as he asked, "Why not? Please, let me do it."