The Side Character's Obsession
Copyright© 2026 by HMaster
Chapter 18: Out of control(2)
The gym was silent, save for the sharp clash of blades. Everyone was intently watching the spectacle unfolding before them.
Parkinson moved like a shadow, his wooden sword slicing through the air with a whistle. Austin barely deflected it with his soul-shard, sparks flaring as the weapons collided. Sweat ran down his brow, his feet sliding back from the sheer force of Parkinson’s attack.
“Too slow, Austin!” Parkinson taunted, darting in low. The wooden blade struck Austin’s thigh with a crack, making him stumble.
A ripple of murmurs echoed from their classmates, who leaned closer, their eyes wide with awe and anticipation.
Parkinson didn’t let up. He spun on his heel, his sword aiming for Austin’s ribs. The blow grazed him, drawing a grunt of pain. Parkinson grinned, relentlessly, his strikes blurring together in a flurry of arcs and thrusts. Austin ducked, sidestepped, and blocked, but each movement cost him ground.
“He is getting dominated. Parkinson is in the top five of the first year, and Austin...”
“Austin was ranked in the bottom five in the practical assessment.”
“He is too predictable and slow on his feet.” Comments like these continued to flow toward the arena, where Austin had been getting overwhelmed for the past two minutes.
Valerie was clenching her fist with enough force to turn her knuckles white. Seeing her Lord getting harmed was not something she could ever enjoy. Her heart bled, and her mind was filled with agitation toward Parkinson.
However, she chose to believe in her beloved and silently watched the battle,
‘You can do this... ‘
“What’s wrong? Out of tricks already?” Parkinson sneered, stepping forward with another sweeping strike.
Austin’s mind raced. He wasn’t fast enough to match Parkinson’s speed, but speed wasn’t the only weapon in a fight.
As Parkinson’s wooden sword came down again, Austin sidestepped sharply, letting the blade skim past him. With a flick of his wrist, one dagger flew from his hand, spinning toward the ground near Parkinson’s feet.
The clatter of metal drew Parkinson’s eyes for a fraction of a second. That was all Austin needed.
He surged forward, slamming his shoulder into Parkinson’s chest. The impact sent the faster fighter staggering back, his footing wobbly from the distraction. Austin’s second dagger flashed, nicking Parkinson’s arm with a shallow cut.
“Agh!” Parkinson gritted his teeth; he didn’t think Austin would ever let go of Soul Shard, knowing that the idiot would lose his connection with his Shard once it was released from the hold.
“Way to go, Austin!”
Suddenly, a cheer from the audience erupted, and that made Parkinson’s eyes widen.
He couldn’t believe that no one ... but ... Rhea cheered for him.
The slight distraction was all Austin needed as he shot forward, his fist cocked, and the teenager aimed to hit the boy in the chest.
DHAK
However, something unexpected occurred and Parkinson held his fist right before it could have made contact with its target.
Parkinson’s grip tightened around Austin’s fist like a vice, his knuckles white with pressure. His eyes, sharp and furious, locked onto Austin’s with an intensity that made the room fall silent.
“You think you can win this?” Parkinson hissed, his voice low but filled with menace. He shoved Austin back with a force that sent him stumbling. Without hesitation, Parkinson closed the gap, his wooden sword forgotten on the floor.
Before Austin could steady himself, Parkinson’s palm slammed into his chest, driving him backward. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he barely had time to raise his daggers before Parkinson was on him again.
“You stole her from me!” Parkinson roared, his movements faster and more brutal now, fueled by frustration and humiliation.
A sharp kick caught Austin in the side, sending him crashing to the floor. He rolled quickly, trying to recover, but Parkinson was relentless. A downward strike with his palm connected with Austin’s shoulder, pinning him to the ground.