Etiquette (3): The Lash of Love
As in most games, Soul World also featured systems for parrying and countering. Parrying was the act of deflecting an opponent's attack with your body or weapon, while countering involved redirecting that attack right back at them through a parry or some other method.
It was similar to but distinct from a counterattack—counters hit a beat faster, whereas counters redirected the enemy's strike exactly as it came. Parrying was relatively easy if you nailed the timing, but countering was a nightmare. The very concept of sending an attack straight back was profoundly tricky. That's why counters in Soul World were advanced techniques reserved for experts.
Not only was the timing finicky, but unlike parrying, you couldn't even learn it without the proper skill. Like how Lord had sliced through space to hurl my fist back at me, or returned the lightning I'd fired at him.
"......Cough."
Lord's counter had landed clean, drawing a weak cough from my lips. I'd been shocked by my own lightning.
The technique he'd just used was one only masters could wield—a counter that redirected even intangible attacks. Among them, lightning was one of the trickiest natural forces to counter. Its nature meant that if both ends touched the ground, you'd get zapped. That's why Lord had hopped slightly to parry mine.
And he'd even had time to chat mid-air, with an impressively long hang time.
"Looks a bit singed. Scorch marks are a pain to clean, so I'll get you some new clothes later."
"......"
Looking every bit the prosthetic-armed ninja who'd parried lightning, Lord spoke in a relaxed tone. He was still standing with his hands clasped behind his back.
In terms of raw power, it was lightning on par with Hector's. Yet Lord had swatted it away effortlessly. I was starting to feel just how strong he was now that he'd shaken off that poisoning.
He'd be a real rock if the academy ever collapsed.
"......How?"
But first, I had to ask how he'd done it. I knew the technique in theory, but I wanted to see it up close. Seeing was believing, after all.
And Lord, ever obliging, answered my question with a leisurely smile and a calm voice.
"Nature holds all sorts of forces, like your lightning. Gravity, mana, earth power, fire, and so on. Most lack a fixed form, making them incredibly hard to control."
"......"
"But there's a way to master those forces. The ability to wield every power in the world at will. In the East, they call it Geon-gon-dae-nai."
A term anyone who's dipped into wuxia novels has heard. Even without knowing the details, it let you manipulate raw power freely—just like intangible lightning, or even turning water and fire into sword techniques.
Slicing space worked on the same principle: distorting nature's laws to ignore its limits.
In short, mastering Geon-gon-dae-nai was essential for reaching the highest realms. It wasn't required for the story, but if you craved true strength, you grabbed it.
"Reach its pinnacle, and you could even pull off kyung-cheon-dong-ji. I'm too old for it, but Lize might manage."
"Kyung-cheon-dong-ji?"
"Shaking heaven and earth. The power to literally rattle the world—an earthquake."
That explained why they called Lize the whitebeard who'd learned boxing. One punch, and she could trigger a quake.
Sword Saint, Fist Saint. With "star" in their titles, their might was beyond words. Stars floated in the heavens, after all—they were practically part of it.
'Did I bite off more than I can chew?'
After eating a real counter, regret crept in. I'd picked this spar just for a candy, and all I'd gotten was a lesson.
But I couldn't quit now. Lightning aside, I still had one ace up my sleeve.
First, I needed to reposition. Firing it here would send it flying toward the academy.
"That guy from the East can summon lightning or shake the ground just by standing there... but he's never cared much for worldly affairs anyway."
"......"
"Anyway, shall we continue? I can end it if you forfeit."
"No."
No way. I needed at least one solid hit to feel satisfied. Unlike with Hector, I wouldn't go berserk—I'd use everything else I had.
I shook my head roughly, dusting off the scorch marks. Looked like a barber visit was in order soon.
"Just once."
"If you can land it."
Lord shrugged. Watching how long that nonchalance lasted wouldn't be bad.
Before charging, I scanned the area. The open lot was too vast for an ambush. Straight-up assault it was, but I had to mind the bystanders and pick my spot carefully.
"Hup!"
So I just rushed in. Keep the pressure on, and I'd land one eventually.
My real goal: grab some part of him. Ideally the hand holding his sword, but he'd expect that.
Snap!
So I'd play a bit dirty. Right before reaching him, I swept my leg like a broom, kicking up a cloud of dirt straight at his face.
That'd blind him some.
"Mm......"
Lord hadn't expected the cheap shot—he grimaced, then shut his eyes. Perfect, vision blocked.
A scrub would've grabbed an arm and attacked. But not me.
I aimed to circle behind while he hesitated.
Thud—
The second I claimed his back, I swung the axe, but he dodged lightly. Shrunk the distance with one step, like some instant-step technique.
Fine by me. I'd planned for that.
My true target was one thing.
"Who the hell did you learn from...... Huh?"
Lord's eyes snapped open, his face twisting in confusion. Surprise etched across it.
And why not? Crimson mana was gathering at my fingertip.
Compress it raw, then refine for max efficiency. Techniques from Chronos and Gloria.
Red mana had devoured me, but I could still adapt them.
"Wait. I told you not to—"
Lord sounded genuinely flustered, his voice urgent. But too late—his words drowned out.
Pew!
The crimson mana shot from my finger. Not at him, but the ground beside him.
He'd dodge easy, so splash damage it was. The others were far enough, and the speed was too high even for Geon-gon-dae-nai to counter easily.
Now for the real hit...
Shiiiing!
......or so I'd thought.
Lord slashed his sword from below upward as the Death Beam approached. Incredibly, the downward beam bent skyward.
Its direction reversed completely.
Flash!
Instead of the ground, it rocketed into the sky and...
BOOM!
Exploded spectacularly, whipping up a massive gust.
"......"
Was that even human? I seriously doubted it, in a whole different way from me.
Lize had Chaos's blessing at least; Lord was a plain old human. No matter the Geon-gon-dae-nai, how could a person wield that power?
Awe washed over me naturally.
"Sigh......"
Regardless, Lord eyed the sky explosion and let out a deep sigh. Pure frustration laced it.
Maybe that's why Wild Instinct screamed loud: kneel and beg now, or regret it forever.
But he looked normal, so I just stood there.
That's when I realized.
"I didn't want to use the switch, but... no choice."
I'd missed my chance. Poked the sleeping lion for no reason.
Lions cherish their cubs but discipline them harshly if they err. Humans shrink at a mere growl.
Swish—
Lord glanced around and picked up a tiny wooden stick. Frail enough to snap any second.
He twirled it, nodded—good enough.
"Sivar. Let me say this upfront: this isn't a stick. It's a sword."
"......?"
What? That twig looked ready to break.
As if reading my confusion, Lord flashed his usual easy smile and swung the branch sideways.
A massive tree stood nearby.
CRASH!
A crack split it, and it toppled—like it'd been sword-slashed.
I gawked more puzzled than shocked, and Lord emphasized again.
"See? Not a stick—a sword."
I peered close. Faint energy enveloped the twig: violet mana shaped like a blade.
So subtle, you'd miss it without focus.
"As the saying goes: rule man with love's lash, beast with the stick. Let's see which this becomes."
"Sword, you said."
"Yes. A sword."
Swish—With that, he stepped forward. One step, and he was in my face.
I flinched, swinging the axe on instinct. Too sudden, like a horror game.
Crack!
"Agh!"
But he struck first, twig slamming my hand. Agonizing pain shot through.
I thought I'd toughened to pain. Wrong.
Ragnarok hit the dirt; I blocked with my bare hand.
Crack! Thwack!
"Ack! Aaagh!"
The twig nailed that too. I could only scream.
Why did it hurt so much? No clue.
As I clutched my hand and staggered back, Lord spoke sternly.
"As I said at the start: use polite speech, and we stop."
"Y-You said sword......"
"Yes. A sword."
His face stayed strict.
"Right now, I'm striking with the flat."
Casuistry at its finest.
And that's how I first used polite speech that day.
Smack! Thwack!
"Sorry! I'm sorry! It hurts!"
It hurt too much not to.
He targeted the sore spots perfectly.
The faithful getting pounded like a dog in the dog days of summer—apparently that pleases you.