'Now we begin.'
I muttered as I continuously executed the eight techniques of the empire.
Diagonal slash, horizontal slash, thrust, double slash, and up to a triple slash.
I wielded my sword in such a way that it was difficult to evade, mixing directions left and right.
A storm-like barrage of attacks, as much as I could muster.
But...
Shick! Shick! Sheeick!
My sword only sliced through empty air ti after ti.
I couldn't touch her slightly trembling form at all.
'Aren't you taking this a bit too seriously?'
I joked as I now reversed the empire's eight techniques.
From technique No. 7 to No. 1.
Whoom! Whoom! Whoom!
Yet, my attacks still missed, hopelessly.
'Okay, how about this?'
Now it's random.
I emptied my mind and unfolded the sword techniques in any which way.
Sotis these unconscious combinations can be trickier than the attacks I think through.
Because they're less predictable.
Technique No.1, No. 7.
No. 2, 4, 6.
Booom! Paah! Sssak!
A barrage like a tempest.
It had sufficient irregularity.
But Regina was like an illusion that could never be caught.
No matter the direction or attack, I couldn't touch her smoothly moving form.
Not even a graze.
The problem was that she wasn't even using proper footwork.
With just movent and body control within a single step, she evaded all of my attacks.
'Ah, darn it.'
Even knowing the level difference, I could feel my temper rising.
I am a competitive human being.
I couldn't end it with being unilaterally toyed with.
'We're far from done!'
I purposely let out a loud kiai to draw more strength.
I unfolded the eight techniques of the empire without resting, mixing in sword techniques continuously.
The pure white blade's light flashed incessantly.
The cold of the ice sword seed to freeze the air around it.
I couldn't give her a chance.
If I attacked without giving her ti to breathe, I might have a chance to land at least one hit.
Thinking this, I poured out as much power as I could from my body.
But.
'Pant, pant.'
The first to tire was .
the-place-MVLeMpYr
Non-stop attacking is an act that consus trendous stamina.
It's only because I trained every day since my possession; otherwise, I might have already collapsed on the ground.
"Is that all?"
Regina casually remarked.
It didn't seem to be out of disappointnt.
It sounded more like, 'That's as far as you go.'
But it felt no less unpleasant to hear.
It was as if my limits had been defined, even though it wasn't over.
'Pant, pant... Could it really be?'
I bit my lip hard and forced myself to muster more strength.
I hadn't hit rock bottom yet.
I had enough stamina left to hold on a bit longer.
Then, I would pour everything out until I hit my limit.
That way, I could accept the outco without any regrets.
'I'll use technique No. 8.'
A sword technique I had sealed away on purpose because it was not yet perfected.
The triple slash from the empire's eight techniques was said to be the most powerful.
It was still incomplete, but that didn't matter anymore.
Because it felt like using it would allow to pour out all my strength.
'Haah!'
I yelled out a kiai as if I was screaming.
I was about to run out of breath, and my limbs were shaking, but sohow I perford technique No. 8.
Not yet.
It was still not yet.
I hadn't reached my limit yet.
I decided not to stop until I collapsed, continuing my attack.
At that mont.
[Your basic swordsmanship proficiency has reached its maximum value.]
[You have perfectly mastered the empire's eight techniques.]
[You have acquired the Master of Swordsmanship Basics.]
[The limit of your swordsmanship growth has greatly increased.]
[Your swordsmanship growth speed has noticeably accelerated.]
[The power of all your swordsmanship skills has slightly increased.]
[Your swordsmanship grade has risen to C-.]
'Wow!'
An odd cheer burst out from .
It was the very mont I had been waiting and longing for.
The second mastery of basics.
Along with the perfect completion of the empire's eight techniques.
This was it.
Now, I was no longer just a commoner.
I was the master of the basics of the two techniques I was in charge of.
"Maybe it's better to give up, considering you seem out of your mind?"
Regina looked at with an incredulous expression, likely surprised by the strange cheer I had let out.
"Haha."
I laughed.
"Not at all. I'm perfectly sane right now."
'It's about to get really interesting. I'll make sure of it.'
It wasn't just bravado.
I felt like sothing was about to happen.
Enough to overco the deficiencies I had just a mont ago.
Crack!
I stomped on the ground and unfolded technique No. 8 again.
Shick, shick, shick, shick, shick!
I could tell the difference from the very first movent.
It was faster, more powerful, and more crisply executed without any superfluous movents.
"-!"
Regina's pupils wavered.
If I had been at this level from the beginning, she probably wouldn't have been flustered like this.
But the sight of an opponent who had been exhausted and about to collapse suddenly displaying a much improved level of swordsmanship was understandably disconcerting.
It's not sothing that's possible by common sense.
And that unexpected turnaround brought results.
Flick!
I definitely felt the sensation of the blade touching.
It seed that avoiding with two steps was sothing her pride wouldn't allow.
Seeing the cut hem of her clothes fluttering down to the ground caught my eye.
"How about that? It definitely hit, didn't it?"
I let out a pleased laugh.
Regardless, this duel was my victory.
"You've got to be kidding."
Regina made a strange face, but she didn't seem to be in a bad mood.
There was a hint of a smile on her lips.
"Yeah, you won."
Hearing a concession of defeat from the great Regina was sothing unexpected in life.
"I'll take your word for it."
The answer I had wanted.
A smile naturally appeared on my face.
[End of Volu —> 1]
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