Elemental Cats

Toz did not know if Rick lost his balance as a feint, or if just regained it quickly, but he blocked Toz's sword using the handle of his mace he was holding both ends of.

Since Rick had blocked Toz's overhead strike early in its path, it was easy for Rick to push Toz back and make him stumble.

Unlike the other times when Rick got the advantage and could press the assault, Toz reacted quickly and fell into the stumble, rolling backward on the ground, increasing the distance between him and Rick.

Although Rick didn't need to catch his breath, Toz's counterattack after making him stumble had increased his alertness, and while he was being cautious and reevaluating Toz, Toz was regaining his calm and trying to figure out a way to last longer in the battle against Rick. It was becoming pretty evident that even if Rick only limited his strength to the same as a fourth level beast, he was an experienced fighter and adept at using his mace.

Toz had also noticed that Rick, even if he was limiting his speed and strength, he still had his reflexes, so trying to surprise attack or overwhelm him would be difficult, and Toz would only have one chance with each strategy he could try. And for every time he failed, even if he changed tactic, next time would be that more likely to fail as well.

After the momentary lull in the battle, Rick launched another flurry of attacks at Toz. It was still the same movements from Rick, but Toz found them easier to deal with now that he was more familiar with how the mace and chain worked and how they acted when they got in contact with his sword.

Rick noticed that Toz was getting used to his swings that had mainly targeted his torso so far, so he decided to switch things up a bit and go for Toz's legs as well.

The first sweep at Toz's legs made him jump back, revealing an opening that Rick took advantage of as he stepped forward and kicked Toz in the stomach, sending him flying.

After the seconds of airtime and sliding on the ground, Toz rushed to get back up despite his aching stomach, only to get met with the head of a mace swinging down on his head. His quick reflexes helped him dodge the strike as the mace landed on the ground, sending up a spray of rocky shards.

Toz quickly got to his feet and tried to gain put some distance between the two using the same trick with fireballs that he had already used a few times, so he wasn't too surprised when Rick wasn't affected and rushed through the fireballs holding a hand in front of him.

Toz took advantage of Rick blocking his own sight as he stayed low to the ground and moved a bit to the side so he could use his leg to trip Rick and make him fall.

Rick had been caught unprepared as he was used to Toz moving away after throwing fireballs at his face. Right when he was about to lift his foot and stop himself from falling, he felt something grab onto both his feet and keep them stuck to the ground. Rick, who was already about to fall, could only catch himself with his hands and try to get whatever was holding his feet off as soon as possible.

But when he landed on the ground face first, several bands of metal shot out of the ground, wrapping around his body and binding his arms and mace tightly with his torso.

The binding was hastily made, and if given some time, even if he suppressed his strength, Rick could break free. But not before the sword resting on his neck moved. Rick could only sigh and admit defeat. As soon as he did, Toz breathed out in relief as he sat down to rest. Facing off against Rick's aggressive assaults had been physically exhausting. And trying to devise a plan to either stall Rick long enough or defeat him while fighting had been mentally taxing.

Though Toz had quickly realized that he would certainly get beaten in a way that his pride wouldn't allow if he aimed for a battle of attrition.

After admitting his defeat Rick didn't stay down as he, with a shrug, dispelled his mace and turned the shackles binding his body into fine dust that dispersed into the air.

From a glance, it was obvious that Toz wouldn't even stand a breathing chance against Rick unless rick held back.

"Well done, young man. Follow me back to the reception, and you will get the badge."

After the spar ended, the feeling of danger lurking behind Rick's friendly countenance disappeared and he turned back into an amicable old gentleman. After heading back to the front desk Rick retrieved an explorer's badge that he imprinted with Toz's mana signature. After Toz asked some questions regarding the most profitable resources in fourth level danger zones surrounding Sleepless Brights, they bid each other farewell.

Since it was the guild that wanted the explorers to get an appropriate badge and permission before entering a danger zone, there was no need for the explorers to pay for the badge or examination. Especially considering it might even deter explorers from taking the exam. There were some compassionate guild employees who even wanted to pay explorers to get an Explorers Badge, but since the explorers got paid by being able to sell their resources, there was technically no need for that.

Rick touched his neck and rolled his shoulder while muttering things about how he was getting too old for things like this.

Toz put the badge in one of his pockets and left the guild building. With the fourth level Explorers' Badge, he could finally begin gathering resources to sell and earn enough money to buy his first grimoire. And he knew where to begin doing just that. One of the places he and the cats had found earlier had also been given a good evaluation by Rick. Although Toz had just met Rick, he gave off a trustworthy feeling, as long as he wasn't preparing to fight, so Toz decided to listen to his advice.