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Mavericks POV

Menacing….

The aura that emanated from Master Henry at this point was just menacing. I watched in awe for a bit as he manifested his aura before snapping back to the reality that this was my opponent

So this was the strength of the all-so-reserved Master Henry?

A part of me feared him but then there was another part of me that felt like a violent churning in my stomach.

It was a feeling that could only be described with one word really… it was the feeling of thrill that was shut up in my bones.

I squared out and took my stance for my attack, my chest was pounding from how fast my heart was racing at this point.

“Hope you're ready for me, Master Henry?”. Henry smiled at me with a kind of playful confidence.

He didn't have to say a word to pass across his message, all he had to do was square out as well.

There was a slight pause for a moment and a silence much like the calm before the storm. The rest of the pack watched from the outside, fearing that the training room wouldn't be able to contain what was about to happen.

In one swift movement, I blitzed towards him and threw my first punch, but that was no good.

Henry dodged the attack with relative ease, almost like he wasn't trying, but I wasn't done either.

I took a step back only to lunge forward with a flurry of punches. He dodged a few before he started blocking the punches that I was throwing at him.

It seemed like it was easy for him to do but at the same time, I felt a bit of joy as I continued with my attacks, I didn't have him on the ropes but at least I had him blocking the attacks now rather than just dodging

I could feel it within me; all I had to do at this point was to push him a little further, and I would finally land a clean hit.

He seemed to be chuckling at my efforts to hit him.

“You're getting too caught up in your attacks, your Highness… you're forgetting something” I didn't even get the chance to react to that statement before he swung his leg at my face, hitting me cleanly and knocking me halfway across the room.

I caught myself halfway through and I was back on my feet shortly after. I looked up at him and used my right hand to clean my jaw.

It seemed to me like I was bleeding at this point. I stared at the blood and then at Henry who seemed to be smiling.

Oh, I would love to wipe that smile off his face, I thought to myself.

“Concentrate, Your Highness”, his words cut through my imagination and brought me back just in time to dodge a strike from his claws that he had sent towards me.

I evaded his attack and gave us a bit of a distance. He seemed to have allowed me that chance so we could talk better.

“There's a lot of power within you and you are yet to properly channel it because you are thinking too much”

“You need to strike a balance between your offence and your defence and remain calm at all times even when the fight is not going your way…learn to activate all your senses when you fight, not just your fists.”

I paid close attention to the words he said, a part of me felt like this went beyond the fight. I felt like there was a secret message to decipher but I reserved my thoughts around that for when we would eventually leave the training room

For now, my eyes were locked on Master Henry.

If I wanted to be the king who would be able to properly lead my people, I needed to do way better than what I was doing right now. How would I be able to protect and lead my people if I wasn't strong enough to do that?

I took my stance again and drew in one long and calming breath.

By the time I opened my eyes, I started making my way towards Master Henry in a calm spiral. He seemed to smile at this, but he didn't move an inch.

It was a weird feeling I was getting at this point. Normally I should be the predator, and he should be the prey, but it wasn't quite like that.

One thing was for sure, though, I wasn't going to rush into this one. It didn't make any sense to do that. He had speed and he had strength so I needed something he didn't have to beat him

I got in front of him, and eventually, I went in for the attack. We traded blows for a bit, each person blocking the others and weaving where possible.

My eyes changed colour to a fiery red, I needed to amplify my sight to be able to keep up with what he was doing.

He sent in a right hook and caught my face but I immediately carried with another hit that struck him cleanly across his face.

The crowd seemed to be in shock and so was he. Some murmurings and gasps were audible. I had finally landed a hit on him but I felt within me that there was no reason to rejoice. Not yet at least.

He laughed a bit, and suddenly, he went quiet.

“Well done, Your Highness…” he wiped the blood from his lip just before it would heal up. “Now, I'm going on the offence…hope you are ready for me?” I laughed a bit at the fact that he was using my words against me at this point but I smelt trouble.

If I knew anything for sure, this man was not to be trifled with but nonetheless…I wasn't going to lose to him either.

In an instant, he had appeared before me… I was slightly startled by the speed he was manifesting at this point.

I could only step back a bit and block the first punch he threw at me. It felt heavy…very heavy.

He sent in a series of punches and kicks at me but I managed to defend them all. I was panting at this point but the attacks didn't seem like they were ending anytime soon.

I couldn't take this for too long, I needed to end this fight as soon as possible. If I couldn't beat Master Henry, then what was the assurance that I could beat that scum bag if it had to?

What was the guarantee that I could protect Celine and the unborn child that she was carrying?

I caught a punch that he threw and caught him by his shirt pulling him close for a punch to the face. The rage within me fueled the attack; my heart was pounding, and I could feel my fist tighten.

This was it, the final blow.

There was a large bang and the air was disrupted around us. There was a cloud of dust around us.

By the time the dust died down, my eyes could finally see the results of the attack. My fist was rested in his palm…he had caught the punch, but he seemed to have called it quits at this point.

We both stood there panting and staring into each other's eyes as beads of sweat ran down our foreheads.

It started from a chuckle but then we started to laugh breathlessly at each other.

“I guess I eventually got you to break a sweat Master Henry”

“Indeed… you are a fast learner yourself, your highness…” he commented. “ At this point I am sure that you can protect this kingdom if you have to” I soaked in his words.

I was pleased with myself at this point but I still couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that was growing inside of me.

Something was amiss but I couldn't tell what it was.

At least my Luna was alright…