I took a deep breath and layered divine power over my fist.
Just like the training in the ntal world the night before, the heated divine energy gathered around my hand.
It was as if I was wearing a gauntlet of divine power, and once I confird that, I assud the stance Grandpa had taught .
He had said that when delivering a full-force strike, you don’t just use one part of your body’s strength.
A powerful attack ans channeling strength through your entire body.
Starting from the feet, the force travels through the waist, up to the arms, and then finally explodes in the last mont.
Following the advice that had beco second nature to , I aid my punch at the training dummy.
As my fist connected, cracks started spreading from the point of impact, and the dummy shattered, collapsing onto the ground.
The only thing left to prove it had once stood was the wooden stake embedded in the ground.
"It seems that way."
Sure, I had destroyed training dummies before.
The power of my mace, when swung with all my might, was enough to crumple steel easily.
But to break a dummy with just one punch? That was a first.
This is the power of Divine Close-Combat Technique.
Incredible strength.
"Definitely!"
Motivated? Is that even a question, Grandpa?
I’ve barely even begun, and already I’m pulling off sothing this powerful. How could I not be motivated?
Of course, I’m not ready to use this in real combat just yet. The amount of divine energy it took to create that one strike was enormous.
Even though I have a considerable amount of divine power as Aramadi’s Apostle, it still took more than half of it for a single punch.
This is where practice mode cos in handy. No need to worry about running out of divine energy in there.
"I’ll just have to keep practicing."
It’s not like I have much of a choice anyway. I’ll be grinding away every night, right? If I keep training to the brink of death, eventually, I’ll get the hang of it.
"Miss, that was truly impressive!"
Just as I was recovering from the exhaustion of throwing that punch, I heard Karl’s voice from behind .
No, he hadn’t been stalking like so lovesick fool. I had ordered him to stand by, after all.
For a sparring match later.
When it cos to Karl, I can go all out without holding back.
Right now, there’s no one among the first-year students at the academy who can match in a one-on-one duel if I go all out.
Frey can push a little, but even she is a step or two below . She’s not soone I can really give my all against.
But Karl is different. He’s still much stronger than I am.
I’ve always known how strong he is. Even when we first t, I couldn’t land a single hit on him, and that was when he was holding back.
But here’s the thing—since I first took over this body, I’ve gotten a lot stronger.
And yet, I still don’t have the confidence to catch up to Karl.
The more my skills improved and the stronger I got, the more I realized just how monstrous he truly was.
To think soone like him is just a common knight in House Alrn... No wonder Grandpa was shocked when he found out.
It also makes sense why the professors keep comnting on my talents, saying it must be because I’m from the Alrn family.
"It’s been a while since we last sparred, hasn’t it?"
Karl stepped in front of , holding his favorite wooden sword.
He wasn’t wearing any armor, just simple cloth, but that didn’t matter.
A skilled knight like him knew how to protect his body with his own mana.
Even if I swung my mace with full force, it probably wouldn’t leave a scratch on him.
Unless... if I used Divine Close-Combat Technique, maybe it’d be a different story.
"Since you’ve exerted yourself quite a bit, do you need more ti to rest?"
"Aww, how sweet of you to worry about your master, you useless mutt♡ Should I give you a little pat on the head for your dedication, you disgusting dog?♡"
Before the sparring even began, I provoked Karl. Going all out ant doing everything necessary.
I’m still overwhelmingly weaker than Karl. I can’t afford to hold anything back.
"While I’d love to receive that reward, let’s save it for another ti."
Despite the intensity of my taunt, the buff I received was minimal. Karl had learned to keep his emotions in check.
After hearing my banter every day, I guess he’s beco sowhat immune to it.
But I wasn’t too surprised. I knew it wouldn’t be long before Karl lost his composure.
I raised my shield, crafted by a dwarf, in my left hand, while holding Grandpa—the mace—in my right.
After taking a deep breath, I silently cast a series of divine spells in my mind.
Enhancing my physical abilities. Boosting my vitality. Increasing my luck.
Anything that could help , I cast it.
Then I let the remaining divine power flow throughout my entire body.
Just like how you use mana to enhance your physical abilities, I was using divine power to boost mine.
I was still clumsy and inefficient, but that didn’t matter.
My only goal right now was simple.
To land a hit on Karl.
"Are you ready?"
"And what about you, mutt?♡ Are you ready to be beaten and cry like a little puppy?♡"
"I’m sorry, but I don’t intend to lose to you, Miss."
Karl remained calm, but I could tell the taunt had gotten to him this ti.
The buff I received was palpable.
With the preliminary work done, it was ti.
"Shall we begin, mutt?♡"
"Whenever you’re ready."
I held my breath for a mont and took a step forward.
The distance between us was short.
Even with my short legs, it would only take one step to close the gap.
But Karl wasn’t going to let get that close.
He struck my shield, deliberately keeping the distance between us.
My first charge had been completely neutralized.
Damn, he’s fast.
Looks like he really wasn’t kidding when he said he didn’t plan on losing. Damn mutt.
His sword speed was different from the last ti we sparred!
I bit my lip as I fended off the relentless strikes.
"Desperate to beat your master, huh? You’re pathetic♡ So dirty, so weak, you worthless mutt♡"
"Haha! Better to be dirty than to lose!"
Is he nervous because he saw use Divine Close-Combat Technique?
If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have used it in the first place!
It was nearly impossible to take a step forward between Karl’s flurry of sword strikes.
And to make things worse, the bastard kept maintaining the distance.
When I moved forward, he retreated.
When I tried to create so space, he closed the gap again.
He’s really fighting dirty!
'I’m trying!'
Grandpa had told to stay behind my shield and observe the opponent’s attacks.
Easier said than done! But I did as Grandpa instructed.
After being forced to roll around under his training all night, I’d co to realize just how wise Grandpa was.
If he was offering advice, it must have so rit.
"How long do you plan on just watching, Miss?"
"Playing with you, you dumb mutt♡ How dumb are you?♡ Did you swap your brain with a dog’s?♡"
Karl’s sword was much faster than before, and at first, it was hard to even keep up with it, but as the exchanges continued, I started to get the hang of it.
At first, I had relied purely on my Iron Wall skill’s instincts to block his attacks, but as I grew more accustod to it, I began to make my own judgnts in between.
The instincts I had developed over years of wielding a shield. My high shield mastery. And the advice from Iron Wall.
When those three things rged perfectly—
"Hm?"
—my first parry succeeded.
The mont Karl’s sword hit my shield, its power sharply diminished, and his sword bounced back, giving an opening.
However, that opening didn’t last long.
Karl, with his vast combat experience, quickly adjusted to the change.
As soon as I took a step forward, he countered with three swift strikes, forcing back.
This is intense!
Can a knight really be this desperate to beat their master?! Shouldn’t he take a hint, read the room, and let win? Isn’t that what society is all about?
Then again, if I were in his shoes, I’d be gritting my teeth too.
I an, I can imagine what Lucy would say if Karl lost to .
But Karl, you like being insulted and treated like a dog, right?
So just give in already!
As the fight continued, I began to successfully parry more often.
At first, I’d only manage to parry a strike by chance in the middle of his combo.
But soon enough, I was regularly deflecting his blows, throwing him off balance.
Eventually, I reached the point where I could consciously ti my parries.
"You think you’re hot stuff now?♡ Can’t even break through a little girl’s shield, you weakling♡ Worthless swordsmanship, you pathetic excuse for a knight♡"
Of course, I didn’t forget to keep up the taunts.
In gas, status effects like rage were no big deal, but in real life, it’s a different story! Forcing your opponent to lose their composure is a huge advantage!
Sure, there was the downside that Karl’s attacks grew more intense as he got angrier, but with the buffs from my sugaki skill, I could handle it!
By now, Karl’s one-sided offensive had turned into a fierce exchange of attacks between us.
‘Ti to bare my fangs, huh?’
‘Of course I do!’
While blocking the heavy swings from Karl’s wooden sword, I had been thinking about one thing:
How can I land a hit on this smug mutt, who’s pretending to stay calm despite being furious?
‘Watch closely, Grandpa!’
Watch how the girl you trained drives her mace into this mutt’s face!
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