[No title provided]
Nine swords floating in the air. Each one forged from Master's aura, none could be dismissed as a mere glancing blow.
'A head-on fight is impossible by any common sense! So then...'
Convinced I had to disrupt their trajectories as much as possible, I twisted my body diagonally and began circling around Master.
Screeech-! Shiiik-!
"Hup!"
Clang! Kang! Chaaang!!
As if equipped with some guidance system, the swords doggedly pursued me. I knocked them away while constantly seeking an opening for a solid hit.
"......"
Master watched me with an impassive expression, manipulating the aura swords with his hands. He looked utterly without flaw at a glance. His cautious demeanor—even against his own disciple, as if ready to counter any assault—truly befitted a master, filling me with admiration.
I wished I could summon a barrage of aura swords like that and hurl them back, but at my current level, I could barely coat and project aura from the sword in my hand.
I'd tried mimicking the technique out of envy a few times, but maintaining a lump of my aura in form outside my body to strike was no easy feat. Imagine juggling with one hand, spinning a pen with the other, tap-dancing while hula-hooping with your feet? It was a stunt beyond human cognition. How the hell did that guy pull it off? My respect bordered on fear.
Moreover, each sword traced different sword arts, so even a moment's lapse in focus would let one through.
'Power? No. Skill? No. Tactics or strategy? Still lacking compared to Master...'
But there was one thing. Just one area where, at my current realm, I surpassed him.
Piiiing-!!!!
"......!"
Master's grip tightened on his once-relaxed hand as my speed surged dramatically. Smirking faintly, I poured even more aura into my legs.
Transcending human form into something near lightning, I prompted Master to recall his flying aura swords for close defense.
-The others are hardly worthy of the title Aura Lord, but your legs... those alone are truly impressive.
'Here I come, Master.'
Noctus Style 2: Thunderclap Slash
Twisting my dashing legs sharply, I rocketed straight toward Master's rear and swung without missing the split-second opening.
Kaaang-!
"......"
"Blocked, as expected... "
But Master had sharpened his senses, instantly detecting my approach from behind and parrying the flash strike in one motion.
'But—'
Paat-!
"?!"
I instantly distanced myself, then unleashed from the opposite direction.
Kaaang-! Paat-! Kaaang-! Paat-! Kaaang-! Paat-!
2 o'clock position, 5 o'clock. Then 8 o'clock, and 12 o'clock. At speeds too fast to track visually, I hammered from all sides in succession. Without those aura swords, even Master might have taken a hit.
The strain on my legs from explosive launches to exploit openings was no joke, but convinced this was my shot to land one on him, I mustered every ounce of strength.
Tadak!
"Hm!"
Realizing this would grow troublesome, Master spun his aura swords like propellers around him, signaling no approach allowed.
'Too bad—this time it's different!'
Before clashing with the whirling blades, I pulled my sword aside to dodge the incoming strike. Master's puzzled reaction confirmed the technique's success.
Noctus Style 4: Thunderclap Roar
Deliberately evading Master's sword, I pressed my aura-clad palm to the flat of my blade and struck it, unleashing a deafening boom.
Kururung-!! Kwaaaang!!
A thunderous roar shook the entire arena, and the infused aura sparked blue lightning before our eyes.
'Mistake... I just wanted a flash-bang effect, but the power's way more than expected.'
Intended to deprive senses with sound and light, but the overkill backfired on me too. Needs tweaking. Just then, a chill up my spine made me raise my hand to block something incoming.
Kaaang-!
"Your instincts have sharpened. Even with your senses disrupted, you detect this much?"
"This crazy... "
But it didn't faze Master. Or rather, it worked but got countered?
"I'll close my eyes as a handicap. Consider it an honor."
His resolve to fight blind left me deflated, my arms nearly giving out before I forced them steady.
"Are you really human?"
"Is that any way to speak to your master?"
A true master wouldn't prompt such words. Seeing him embody the absolute expert from wuxia novels, I knew I couldn't push further.
'Seal his escape first.'
Shwaak! Shwaak!
Two strikes cut off Master's left and right flanks, pinning him in place. He didn't flinch, sensing they weren't aimed at him, but it felt like the scoff of an absolute being—I couldn't just enjoy it.
'End it in one blow... Half-ass it, and I'll really die!'
Kwaduk-! Kururung!!
I gathered all remaining aura in my body into my sword. Thunder rumbled in my ears as the condensing aura devoured the blade, growing so heavy I could barely lift it.
Sensing my strike ready, I glanced at Master—he poised with a single sword to block. His dignified stance looked precarious against my attack, but knowing he wouldn't fall to this, I steeled myself.
"Here I come."
Noctus Style 3: Modified. True Thunder Mountain Breaker
The blade's condensed aura, brimming with massive lightning, shot toward Master. Blue bolts engulfed him with a deafening roar of destruction.
Kwang! Kwagagagagagagak!!!!
Sweating from the strike's searing heat, I dropped to one knee, drained of all energy and barely standing. I stared at the dust cloud left in its wake.
"Did... I get him?"
No, fuck. Who the hell?
That line I'd secretly cherished in my anxious heart—stolen. Glaring toward the spectator stands at the voice—
"Kekeke. Even against his master, no hesitation in that attack. Must've built up a lot of grudges."
"This fucker."
Haa... That guy from earlier. Gonna kill him.
"Still, that stung. Haven't felt this jolt in ages. The heavenly mysteries within? Passable."
Swish.
"But... you're still sorely lacking. Can't call us both Lords without shame."
"......Go easy, please."
Shuddering, I gripped my fallen sword and eyed Master's drawn scabbard aimed at me, pondering how to take the impending beating with minimal pain.
* * *
"......"
Prazia gazed down at Mars getting thwacked by Helios Count's scabbard on the nearly 80% demolished and scorched arena.
Barred from the finals by the principal's fierce opposition, she'd come to scout her replacement winner, only to stay after hearing of a duel between two of the empire's Lords.
After the famed Helios Count came a man from afar.
"! That man...!"
Though distant, her superhuman physique let her quickly recognize him as the Amor Academy student who'd guided her path. Never dreaming he'd be such an expert despite meeting him face-to-face before, she felt shame toward her past self.
'Which means... the one who saved me and Delphine was...'
Masked then, face unseen, but his build matched the masked man's. Prazia felt unprecedented intrigue toward Mars.
Their match began, and soon after.
"......Incredible."
The once-cheering crowd was now entranced by their superhuman swordplay. Even from afar, Prazia marveled at Helios Count's crushing aura pressure and Mars's precision in targeting openings at blinding speeds.
'Even my dynamic vision nearly missed some. Could I block those strikes...?'
Possible, but she'd lose if prolonged, she calculated. Then a prickling tingle raced up her hand, making her flinch.
"Lightning...?"
Mars unleashed a thunder-infused strike at the count. The blue flash blinded, and the half-wrecked stage underscored its devastation anew. Knowing extra defensive barriers for Lords, their fragility now spoke volumes.
"Ah. He fell."
Mars knelt, exhausted—visible to her. But seeing his dumbfounded grin as the count emerged unscathed from the dust made Prazia chuckle unwittingly.
His world-crumbled expression, like a dog betrayed by its owner over a treat, burst her laughter.
Clothes torn, skin singed black, yet intact, the count approached the spent Mars and began "training" with blows.
"Ow!! Mercy!! I went all out!!! You did too, but this!?"
"If the disciple gives his all, so must the master, no? Heh heh!"
"You! Salty 'cause I hit full force? Ow—! Bones! My bones!!"
"Speed alone's worthless without power or skill. Come on, block properly."
'Huh... Fun.'
Watching Mars get pummeled like dust in rain, Prazia inwardly recalled why Bellum Academy's principal recoiled so.