Understood. I should wait until I am sure I see an opening and then exploit it. I will take my time next time.

Minerva began to size up Nallia moved into another stance. It took Minerva a little while to figure out the stance, but she eventually saw an opening to exploit. With a quick jab she attempted to score a hit.

Nallia started moving the moment Minerva launched her jab, her body trying to twist out of the way as her hands moved to try and deflect the blow aside. But Minerva had spotted the deliberate gap in her guard, and unless Nallia moved at her full speed she would be unable to avoid the attack. But she refused to fall back onto a method as brutish and crude as sheer speed to defend. She would match Minerva's speed, and let skill determine the hits.

The jab connected, and as such Nallia is moved back slightly in the water by the impact. She recovered quickly, and shifted into the next stance as she mentally bumped the difficulty up. This stance was a trap, and although it left her apparently wide open if someone took the bait it would not only be easy for Nallia to avoid the strike, but in doing so she would set herself up for an easy counter that could very well end a fight. Of course it did have a small opening in another location, but Minerva would have to focus past the big opening to spot it.

Minerva watched as her hit made contact with Nallia. Minerva smiled as she realized that made the right call. This was a fairly fun exercise for something that Minerva was taking so seriously. Of course half the fun was figuring out the puzzle.

Such at this puzzle, Nallia had put her stance that left amazingly wide open. This couldn't be true, Nallia wouldn't leave herself so wide open at this level. It was clear that this was some sort of trap. Minerva scanned her opponent's body for another opening but she failed to find one. If Minerva was to find it, it would be through the hard way. Minerva decided to take a fake jab at the obvious opening, Minerva would immediately withdraw her attack if Nallia made any sudden movement. With any luck, the other opening would become obvious...

At Minerva's caution Nallia smiled underneath her breath mask. She was learning. Nallia watched Minerva's eyes, her own visor allowing her to see through the dark glass like substance extending from the top of Minerva's mask and allowing her to see clearly. When Minerva finally did strike it was a jab towards the opening created by the trap, but Nallia identified the strike as a feint almost instantly. She still tried to spring the trap, but since the blow was only a feint by doing so Nallia guaranteed that Minerva would be able to hit her.

As Nallia's hands moved to spring the trap she left herself open, and when Minerva struck into the opening the jab connected. Nallia's next stance was another trap, but this one was an extra step up in difficulty. The opening was hard to find, just as one would expect from this level of challenge. It was also a trap, but another trap was layered on top of that. When the first trap was sprung a new opening presented itself, and if someone took that opening the second trap would catch them.

Minerva smiled underneath of mask, happy with her own results. Once Nallia sprung the trap, the real opening became clear and Minerva was able to exploit it. Information gathering was something Minerva was good at and she was beginning to apply to hand to hand combat.

Nallia moved into another stance and considering difficult kept increasing it was likely the same trick was not going to work. Minerva decided a different tack would be needed. She would now through a series of feints. In addition, she would give ground if necessary to buy time to gather more information. She hoped after doing this a few times she would find the new real opening that exploit. But in reality that would depend on how quickly she could through figure the opening before she was caught in Nallia's counterattacks.

This time Nallia did not truly respond to the feints, her stance shifted each time slightly to shift her guard, and the hole in her guard slowly became bigger and bigger. But when Minerva tried to exploit it Nallia's knee shot up and the armoured knee cap hit her wrist as her foot flicked out into her chest. Nallia recovered from the underwater flip as she spoke into the radio Strike 2. You have an entire body ... use every part of it and expect your opponent to do the same. Even if it isn't the most efficient movement sometimes the unexpected can throw your foe long enough for the blow to get through.

Understood, I need to keep an eye out for any part of the body to be used in defense. I should be ready to do the same if necessary. Of course, now the trick would be to some how get through the knee and feet and what ever else Nallia wanted to use. Still Minerva needed to figure a way through, if she going to learn. She took a moment to figure out to use her body and feints to get her shot in.

Nallia watched Minerva try to factor in the fact Nallia would use her entire body to defend, and how to use a similar strategy. But in the water kicks were more effective to propel you along, and very difficult to use as strikes. They worked if one wasn't expecting them, but otherwise were very difficult to pull off. The chance of Nallia not expecting such an attack was low, although one could feint with a kick quite well.

Eventually, through a feint with a kick and a punch followed by the actual strike itself, Minerva hit Nallia. When she did so Nallia bumped up the difficulty yet again, and at this point very few humans would have to skill to even notice the opening, let alone exploit it. The stance had a number of well concealed traps, a couple would be sprung even at a feint. Nallia didn't really expect Minerva to find the opening and exploit it, but it would be interesting to see if Minerva continues to try and build up strikes or if she would just give up after a couple of attempts.

Minerva was happy to see her strike finally connect, although it took every feint Minerva could think off to pull it off. Overall, Minerva thought she was doing pretty well. The Nallia stepped into another stance. One look and Minerva could not even see a hint of an opening, not even a fake one. This was going to be difficult.

Minerva moved into an offensive stance, however she stayed on tips of her toes. While Nallia stressed she should use every part of her body, Minerva decided her feet could be used for mobility instead of offensive power. Minerva need her feet to give quick withdrawl. As long as she had somewhere in the pool to retreat too, she wouldn't have to stand her ground.

Minerva hoped she could throw some quick feints and withdrawl before Nallia could respond. And with each series of feints, Minerva hoped to gather more information on the stance. Information she could use for her final strike...

Nallia reacted slightly to each feint, but it was here that the reaction speed differences came into play. Despite her best efforts to limit her speed at this level of fighting she had an advantage she couldn't remove. Every time Minerva feinted Nallia found herself dismissing the feint far faster than Minerva could recover. To get a response Minerva had to go further and further into each strike. But in doing so her feint's became less of a feint and more of a strike, only one not delivered with full force and intent.

And that would prove to be a mistake. Attacks like that left you very open, and very vulnerable to a counter. If Nallia had been attacking she would have smashed Minerva again and again through the openings she was offered. And even though she wasn't ... Nallia found her body moving of its own accord. Minerva was off balance and although she tried to kick away her momentum was in the wrong direction and Nallia's own kick forward and slightly to the side cancelled out her attempt to dodge.

Nallia's hand moved in a jab into the side of Minerva's arm where a gap in her plating left her vulnerable. The strike didn't have much force behind it, but considering the location it didn't need to. The strike caused Minerva's arm to spasm as the force overloaded the nervous system in that area.

Strike 3. Give me an opening that big and I will take it.

Minerva shook her arm, desperate to get her arm back under control. It had felt like ever nerve in her elbow had gone off at once. Understood, I need to be defensive as well as offensive. At this point she wasn't sure how well she could do that with one good arm. But she had to at least try.

Minerva moved into the same stance as before. However this time she got ready to shift to a defensive stance as soon as Nallia counterattacked. Hopefully she could gather some information on the opening from the way Nallia attacked.

Minerva just hoped her arm would hold out...

Nallia watched impassively as Minerva shook her hand, trying to return feeling and proper sensation to it. Nallia made a mental note to apologise after this sparring session, before she settled into the stance that she had been in. Minerva still hadn't worked out anything about this stances opening, although since it had taken Nallia nearly a year of constant trying to break through Yautja's guard when he had been teaching her this stance she didn't expect otherwise. Minerva was good, but she wasn't a hunter and didn't have Nallia's instincts, sight and reaction speed.

Nallia waited until Minerva tried a, rather cautious, feint. Since such an attack didn't give her an opening to counter she didn't. Minerva was the attacker here, and she would eventually have to try either another half feint half attack or a full blown strike. Or pattern of strikes as the case may be. Breaking through this stance required a fairly elaborate pattern of strikes to get through.

But no matter what Minerva tried Nallia would block, or parry, or dodge, or counter. Strikes would slowly build up until one of them called an end to the spar. Minerva could end it at any time, but if she was determined to learn all she could Nallia would end it at 10 strikes.

Minerva was getting more and more frustrated as she pressed her attack. She found each attempt would result in a block, or a parry, or even worse a counter. There just seemed like there was nothing Minerva did give her insight into Nallila's stance.

Still nothing impossible. Minerva continued to try get through. Unfortunately, today wasn't going to be her day. No matter how hard she tried, there was only so much she could learn in one day. And she had already hit her limit...

Nallia had no trouble blocking, parrying, or even countering Minerva's attempts. She may be learning quickly, but compared to Nallia she was an amateur at this sort of melee fight. The reaction speed difference gave Nallia yet another edge ... and no matter what Nallia wanted she would always have that extra edge. One by one the strikes built up, until Minerva held back just after Nallia announced she was on strike nine.

Nallia's hands moved, she stopped holding back and moved at full speed and at her full skill level. Her hands moved in a series of feints, each one drawing Minerva's stance out of her guard more and more. By the time Minerva realised she was wide open it was far too late, and Nallia struck into a gap in her armour.

Strike Ten. And I think that is enough for today. Nallia gestured for Minerva to surface, and pushed herself off the pool floor towards the edge of the pool. Nallia easily pulled herself out, and when Minerva moved to follow her Nallia reached down and helped her out. No doubt Minerva's muscles would still be a little numb from Nallia's carefully aimed counters. How did you find this lesson?

Minerva followed Nallia to the surface, her mind was frustrated she could find an opening. However her body was happy that the ordeal was over, she had exhausted herself in making her strikes and taking hits from Nallia. She was so tired in fact, she happily took Nallia's hand as she climbed out of the poool.

I found the lesson to be excellent. I think I learned alot from our training. Minerva grimaced a little as she felt a muscle spasm in her leg. Of course, I still am a far way off from where I need to be, but at least I'm heading in the right direction. Thank you, Nallia.