'Honestly, this will be a good opportunity to test my own swordsmanship as well. Sparring with Uncle Edgar is beneficial, but fighting soone my age will give a clearer benchmark.'
[Mmm… So you won't be able to use your Fireball Spell… how unfortunate. (︶︹︺)]
He lightly grinned, 'Don't worry, I will get a lot more opportunities to use it.'
Behind him, the girls were chatting with animated interest. Felira was practically bouncing beside Arya.
"She's really serious about the sword," Felira whispered. "I heard she defeated so older mbers of her family with her sword alone so ti ago."
Arya smiled. "That sounds just like Sylvia. She lives and breathes swordsmanship."
Emilia crossed her arms quietly. "If Orion is still on the sa level as he was last ti, then he might very well lose…" she trailed off, eyes narrowing slightly, "…But I want to see how far he can go using just his own skill."
As they approached the vast training ground, Orion noticed how students began curiously turning their heads. Sylvia, a prodigy known for her exceptional swordsmanship, had a reputation that naturally attracted attention wherever she went.
Orion's rising notoriety within the academy compounded the interest, and soon whispers spread rapidly among the gathering crowd.
"Isn't that Sylvia? And isn't that Orion Helstorm?"
"Are they about to spar? But wasn't Orion quite… uh how do I say this?"
"Amateur with his sword the last ti he fought."
"Yes! That. But I wonder why she decided to spar with him?"
"Maybe Goddess Sylvia wants to see if Orion lives up to his potential?"
The crowd's murmurs grew louder as more students began rushing over, forming a wide circle around one of the arenas.
The training arenas were expansive circles, marked clearly by glowing boundary runes etched into smooth stone surfaces, designed specifically to handle intense battles.
Sylvia stepped calmly into the arena, her scarlet hair cascading around her shoulders as the sunlight glead brilliantly upon it.
Orion followed suit, his black hair contrasting vividly against his fair skin, an expression of calm focus adorning his face. They stood facing each other, re feet apart, eyes locked.
He drew Realm Guardian carefully from its scabbard, marveling again at its perfect balance. With a ntal nudge, he adjusted its weight, choosing to mimic a standard longsword for fairness and true skill assessnt.
Across from him, Sylvia nodded slightly. "Good. You brought a real sword. I was worried you'd use one of those training rods."
"I did consider a stick. Would've matched my current swordsmanship level," Orion joked.
She didn't smile, but the faintest twitch of amusent flickered in her gaze. "We'll see."
Sylvia smoothly drew her own sword—a slender, elegantly curved blade shimring faintly with polished silver. Orion sensed subtle mana within it, though she clearly refrained from activating its true power.
"Are you ready?" Sylvia asked, shifting smoothly into a graceful combat stance, her eyes narrowing with seriousness.
"Whenever you are," Orion responded calmly, taking a basic but solid stance.
[Master… she looks really serious. Should I secretly enhance your eyesight or maybe give you a power boost?! Just a tiny one! (;￣Д￣)]
'…You can't do any of those.'
[Ugh, I don't wanna see her beat you. (⋟﹏⋞)]
He speechlessly looked at the floating window, 'Have so trust in , will you?'
Shaking his head, he took a deep breath and t his gaze with Sylvia.
"Begin!"
Sylvia moved first, her speed startlingly quick as she closed the distance instantly. Her sword flashed in an arc, slicing cleanly towards Orion's shoulder.
Reacting swiftly, Orion raised Realm Guardian, deflecting the blow smoothly. A sharp clang echoed through the training grounds, drawing audible gasps from the crowd.
Sylvia's follow-up strikes were fluid and precise, the sheer elegance of her swordsmanship srizing. Orion, while less graceful, utilized his powerful physique effectively, countering each strike with steadfast resilience.
Their exchanges intensified rapidly, each clash resonating with vibrant tallic sounds, quickening the crowd's pulses.
Sylvia was clearly superior in technique and experience, yet Orion's surprising strength helped him keep pace.
"You're really sothing, Orion," Sylvia complinted amid their rapid exchanges. "A physique equal to that of a Tier 2 Warrior without even starting on the path of one… but your movents lack refinent!"
Orion chuckled while deflecting another blow and tanking the force. "I'm aware, that's why I practice."
Sylvia's eyes flashed, an excited smile appearing on her face. She accelerated sharply, increasing the pressure of her attacks.
Orion didn't relent as he continued to deflect one strike after another, trying his hardest to keep up with her increasing speed. Yet he couldn't get a single chance to go on the offensive.
"Orion seems to be on the losing end."
"Yes, Goddess Sylvia is treating him like a punching bag."
"Hahaha that's good! Beat that arrogant prick!"
Orion couldn't care less about what the crowd said, as the focus of his entire being was on deflecting or blocking the relentless attacks that kept coming from the front.
'This won't do… this won't do.'
Orion felt himself being gradually overwheld, each blow harder to deflect, his muscles straining against her relentless precision.
'I'm no match against her in sheer technique… but I also can't afford to lose the second match that I have in the academy.'
Seeing no other option, he took a deep breath, ntally releasing the shackles he'd placed on his own Instincts.
Instantly, the world around him shifted again. All colors dimd, sounds faded into the background. The only thing he could hear was the majestic beat of his own heart.
Then—once again, everything reversed completely—colors turned vividly vibrant, and he could distinguish every sound, every voice, with crystal clarity.
Looking ahead, Sylvia's movents had slowed down, and every minuscule detail of Sylvia's attacks beca crystal clear. His body moved instinctively, eting each of Sylvia's strikes perfectly, deflecting and countering seamlessly.
Sylvia's brows furrowed, noticing the sudden drastic improvent. "Good!" she breathed excitedly, deciding to not hold back any longer.
Orion felt his blood boil with exhilaration, their swords dancing in a rapid, almost choreographed display of skill. His previously clumsy movents now matched her refined elegance strike for strike.
With his sheer instinct, he could decide the most optimal mont of his sword to deflect her strikes while counterattacking her, yet she wasn't one to lose.
She deflected his attacks seamlessly without trying to block a single one, as she had realized the disparity in their physique.
The watching crowd fell silent, utterly captivated by the intensity. Students whispered in astonishnt:
"How's Orion keeping up? Wasn't Sylvia supposed to dominate easily?"
"His reflexes suddenly improved dramatically. What just happened?"
Instructor Viren, who had arrived at the spectacle, observed sharply from behind his silver-rimd glasses, his expression intrigued. "His instincts are truly remarkable, as I heard," he muttered thoughtfully.
The duel escalated swiftly, both Orion and Sylvia increasing the intensity unconsciously. Orion's heart thundered, adrenaline surging. Sylvia's eyes were alight with excitent, reveling in this rare, thrilling challenge.
Their swords clashed repeatedly, creating sparks as the intensity threatened to spiral out of control. Orion's Dragon Instinct surged higher, dangerously close to fully unleashing itself, his strikes becoming more aggressive.
Just as Orion was about to increase the weight of the sword, and a purplish light started appearing on Sylvia's sword, Arya stepped forward, lifting her hand gracefully. A gentle yet powerful aura radiated from her as she murmured softly, "[Calming Light]."
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