Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Sparring (3)
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Realm.
The word that always came up first whenever anyone discussed someone's prowess.
It was a term created to indicate a rough measure of a person's strength based on their trait levels.
From Level 1 beginners to Level 9 masters.
Of course, realms beyond that were said to exist, but they were nothing more than childish legends passed down as myths.
"I'll yield the first move to you, Rowen."
That said, trait levels didn't necessarily correspond directly to stats.
Everyone had differences in talent, effort, and even training methods.
Because of that, people who loved debates often had heated arguments about whether trait levels or stats were more important in a fight.
"If even the slightest dangerous situation arises, the spar will be stopped immediately. Arien, don't go all out from the start. We wouldn't want Rowen getting seriously hurt."
But even among those enthusiasts, there was one fact everyone acknowledged.
If both stats and trait levels were inferior, there was no way to win a fight.
Unless some heavenly luck from above intervened, it was impossible to seize the advantage.
"No need, Professor Mateo. Thank you for your concern, but I don't think that'll be necessary."
It felt like words aimed directly at this spar.
Even Professor Mateo, who stood among the ranks of the strong, was telling him to go easy on me.
As if I couldn't hold out for even a moment if Arien went all out.
'Not wrong.'
There was a massive wall between me and Arien.
In terms of physical ability, the gap was like that between a child and an adult.
And even in swordsmanship, which I considered my strongest suit, I was still one step behind him.
"...If that's what Rowen thinks, then there's nothing to be done. Still, it would be best not to push yourself too hard."
After Professor Mateo stepped back to officiate the spar.
I looked at Arien, still standing in place, and felt my fighting spirit begin to boil over.
Unlike his usual demeanor, his atmosphere had completely changed the moment he gripped her sword.
That look, as if daring me to go all out, made me want to land one solid hit on him.
—Boom!
The aura that had been coursing through my body suddenly concentrated in my legs.
A charge so fast that the entire scenery in my vision seemed to stretch out.
Screeech!
The sword, infused with aura compressed to its limit, tore through the air as it shot forward.
The tip of the blade aimed straight for Arien's shoulder.
Having closed the distance in an instant, I thrust out my sword with the conviction that this was my best shot.
Clang!
A clear, ringing clash of metal.
Sparks flew from the intense impact between our blades, and my sword was flung back hard.
"..."
He deflected my full-power strike with just a light motion.
After just one exchange, Arien's strength was already palpable.
'Doesn't matter.'
I'd already anticipated that a direct thrust wouldn't land.
This move was extremely focused on offense from the start, so I'd expected him to handle it.
Whoosh!
I used the recoil from my sword being flung back to my advantage.
Strength isn't about resisting force—it's about flowing with it.
I spun my disrupted body, slashing in a fluid motion.
Clang!
But this attack was blocked by a simple swing as well.
The shock traveling along my blade made my hands throb.
In contrast, Arien calmly readjusted his stance as if nothing had happened.
Even though I hadn't seized the early momentum and could be considered at a disadvantage.
A satisfied smile lingered on my lips.
"Hah!"
I gripped the loosening hilt tightly and pressed the assault relentlessly.
Even knowing they'd all be blocked, I kept thrusting nonstop.
Clang-clang-clang-clang!
A barrage of slashes so fast the sword was a blur.
In response, Arien began seriously channeling his aura and swinging his blade.
The training ground filled with sharp metallic clashes.
Our two swords collided fiercely, continuously sparking.
Even as our blades clashed repeatedly, it was always mine that got repelled.
My body ached from the recoil, reaching its limits.
'Keep it up just like this!'
Still, I had no intention of giving Arien any openings.
One might say I wasn't landing a single hit, that it was all pointless blocks.
But my thoughts, clashing swords directly, were different.
Arien was starting to yield ground little by little, imperceptibly.
Even he hadn't anticipated this, his expression gradually hardening.
Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!
Some people say.
That traits and stats dictate every fight.
That without them, and without heavenly luck, victory is impossible.
'That's skill too.'
Seizing the initiative early with overwhelming momentum.
Making a mistake in an unfamiliar situation.
Failing to show full strength against an unseen sword style.
People dismissed incomprehensible things as "good luck."
Thud, thud-thud.
The faint sound of Arien's mana barrier cracking.
I mixed feints with real strikes, using the repulsion to press even harder.
Arms, legs, shoulders, abdomen, back.
I unleashed ever-changing attacks to keep Arien from adapting to my swordsmanship.
"...Ngh."
The defense that seemed unbreakable.
Was slowly, ever so slowly, developing cracks.
Clang-clang-clang-clang!
My hands had lost all strength, barely holding the sword.
My arms were numb; I couldn't even tell if I was moving them properly.
"...Hahat!"
Even as my lungs burned like they were tearing apart, breath rising to my throat.
Even as my aura had faded to just a faint sheath around the blade.
For some reason, a smile appeared on my face as I thrust.
'Luck? Where's the luck in this.'
This was the result of near-death efforts to topple a stronger foe.
Pouring everything to close the gap.
Creating uncomfortable situations to induce carelessness.
Simply adapting my swordsmanship to every action.
All those things people belittled as heavenly luck or coincidence.
Were nothing but inevitabilities born from desperate struggles to shatter my limits.
Clang!
...For the first time.
David, whom everyone believed would lose.
Defied all expectations and struck Goliath's sword aside.
Slash!
A red line etched across Arien's body, seizing the opening.
My blade followed the line beautifully, leaving its mark.
Thud, thud-thud-thud.
"..."
Arien, who had squeezed out his remaining strength to block that final swing.
Was pushed back by the recoil, steadying herself.
He looked at me with a subtle expression.
...Dodged it?
The Hero lived up to his title.
I'd sensed victory the moment I thrust, but Arien had cloaked himself in aura to minimize the damage.
"Sorry, Rowen. Looks like I underestimated you too much until now."
Arien brushed the falling mana particles from the ground as he continued.
'Now it really begins.'
I'd completely shut down Arien's offense with relentless pressure, no breathing room.
Now, with distance opened up, it was my turn to defend.
'...This won't be easy.'
Before Arien drew his sword.
I'd forced him into a constant defensive bind.
A strategy to offset his overwhelming strength and speed.
Turning the openings I lured into strikes aimed at himself, not me.
...He seemed accustomed to it now.
As if preparing for a full assault, aura cloaked his body, and he bounced lightly up and down.
I had to brace for attacks that could come at any moment...
—KABOOM!
Suddenly, a massive shockwave erupted, turning the inside of the sparring ground into mush.
The floor cracked, unable to withstand the overwhelming charge.
Rowen, who had blocked the attack, was hidden in the dust cloud, his form obscured.
"...I'm not an idiot. Come out already."
Thud-thud...
As rocks rolled across the floor, a figure emerged from the smoke.
"That was a bit much all of a sudden..."
Rowen staggered out, his body covered in wounds.
His mana barrier had half-collapsed, crumbling slowly.
"...I figured you could handle it."
As Arien blocked Rowen's attack, she instinctively knew.
He wasn't weaker than her.
Even at full power, victory wasn't guaranteed against this powerhouse.
"Thanks for the trust... but doesn't this feel kinda off?"
Rowen gave an awkward smile as he looked at her.
He could barely stand straight, pushed to his absolute limit.
Yet he refused to fall, raising his sword once more.
"Now it's my turn to come at you?"
For the first time since gripping her sword, she felt genuine enjoyment.