Chapter 197: Sitri (13)
Chapter 197: Sitri (13)
Han Shin realized that while the two had started with a light practice spar, things had become quite heated.
Clang! Clang! Screech!
Sparks flew between them.
The two moved with blinding speed, their movements punctuated by the embers created whenever their blades clashed. Han Shin watched with his mouth agape as they maneuvered rapidly, each trying to gain the upper hand.
Initially, the atmosphere had been friendly, a simple warm-up where they exchanged light blows and practiced their forms.
However, at some point, the competitive fire had been lit. While Han Shin had briefly stepped away to the library within Grace’s sanctuary to retrieve some books, the intensity of the spar had shifted entirely.
Han Shin wondered what had happened during his short absence, but since it didn't feel like they were seriously trying to harm each other, he decided to keep watching.
It was, in a way, a natural progression for Sitri and Grace to raise the stakes of their duel.
Though Grace and Sitri had never crossed blades on a real battlefield before...
Grace harbored a certain degree of competitiveness toward Sitri. When she had first seen Sitri in Nippur, it was before Sitri had become a follower of Tiamat. At that time, Grace would have stood no chance of winning.
Back then, Nippur was a battlefield for the Evil and Benevolent Gods, and Sitri had been fighting the subordinates of other Benevolent Gods. Grace, meanwhile, had been doing her best to save the people of Nippur while fighting off the demons she was capable of handling.
Grace had only seen Sitri from a distance on the battlefield; to her, it was like watching a clash between titans far beyond her own level.
After Grace contracted with Tiamat and became her follower, she never encountered Sitri on the battlefield again. She had tried her best to save people from the collateral damage of the war between the gods, but the actual clash of such powerful beings lasted only two weeks.
It was a very short period, but it was enough to lay waste to the planet of Nippur. It was only toward the end of the conflict that Grace finally met Tiamat.
Her contract with Tiamat was forged only after the destruction of Nippur became a certainty, leading the Benevolent Gods to decide to seal the Evil Gods within the planet. Afterward, Tiamat fell into a deep slumber due to the sheer amount of power she had expended, and Grace followed suit immediately after becoming a follower.
Her first real activity since then was assisting Han Shin, Tiamat’s proxy, on Earth.
Naturally, Grace had a desire to test herself against Sitri. She had no intention of fighting with genuine murderous intent or trying to kill her, but the impression of Sitri’s strength on the battlefields of Nippur had been lasting. Back then, Grace was undeniably weak, but she believed things were different now that she was a follower.
Of course, neither of them was currently in peak condition.
Sitri had lost her Dark Mana and was in a pathetic state, unable to properly wield the Holy Power she had received after becoming Tiamat’s follower through Han Shin. Grace, too, though she had recovered much of her strength since being first summoned by Han Shin, was still limited in her inherent power as a follower.
Because of this, a spar focusing purely on swordsmanship was actually quite fair.
As mentioned before, the reason for the spar was to stimulate Sitri’s body and provide a light warm-up that might help her get a feel for handling Holy Power. However, as soon as they exchanged a few blows, they both felt the exceptional skill of their opponent. Their competitive spirits flared, and by the time Han Shin went to the shelves to get his books, they had mutually agreed to turn up the heat.
Thus, they were now moving at high speeds, swinging and thrusting their swords in a fierce, high-level duel that was a masterclass for Han Shin just to witness.
Before long, Sitri and Grace were both lost in a state of flow.
They served as catalysts for one another, creating a positive synergistic effect. When Grace pushed harder, Sitri rose to meet her; when Sitri intensified her assault, Grace matched her pace.
The spar had certainly begun without the use of any external power, relying solely on their raw physical strength.
"Wait...?"
Han Shin, who had been watching the duel with bated breath, let out a dumbfounded gasp.
At some point, a faint silver aura had begun to shimmer on Grace’s sword. She was manifesting a very weak amount of Sword Energy. It was difficult to face an opponent using Sword Energy unless one responded with a similar supernatural ability. Even with an exceptionally good weapon, one might be able to block a few hits, but there was a clear limit.
Just as Han Shin was about to consider stopping the duel, he realized why he didn't feel a sense of crisis and why neither Grace nor Sitri stopped.
Sitri was parrying Grace’s silver-clad blade.
To put it simply, Sitri was now using Sword Energy as well.
Grace’s suggestion had been incredibly effective; choosing to spar like this had been a brilliant move. Grace was essentially acting as a pacemaker for Sitri.
By starting the spar at a level Sitri could handle and gradually increasing the intensity, Grace had made the process both challenging and enjoyable.
In the heat of the trance-like duel, Sitri had unconsciously learned how to draw upon Tiamat’s Holy Power from within herself. Though it wasn't perfect yet, she had gained a clumsy grasp of the power and was able to manifest a weak Sword Energy.
Among Asmodeus’s demons, she had been the pinnacle of strength, possessing power that even other factions of Evil Gods could not ignore.
Paving a new path for the first time is always difficult. However, for someone who has already reached the top once, navigating a new field is undeniably easier than it would be for a complete novice.
Sitri was exactly like that.
Once the dam broke, Sitri rapidly grew accustomed to channeling Tiamat’s Holy Power. The faint shimmer of her silver Sword Energy grew clearer and stronger. Seeing Sitri finally able to use Tiamat’s power brought Han Shin a great sense of relief.
The duel, which had seemed so fierce to Han Shin, ended with Grace stepping back first.
However, none of the three people present thought for a moment that Grace had lost. If anything, it was clear that Grace was the victor.
It couldn't be helped; Grace had been considerate of Sitri, holding back her full strength and matching Sitri’s level perfectly. Had Grace fought with genuine intent, Sitri would have been suppressed instantly. Grace had chosen to withdraw first because she had the composure to do so, opting not to end the spar by wounding Sitri or pointing a blade at her throat.
They were comrades now, and since they were still in the stage of getting to know each other, she was being careful.
This consideration deeply moved Sitri.
"Thank you so much for sparring with me," Sitri said, bowing deeply.
Her voice trembled slightly, making it clear just how moved and joyful she was in this moment. The fact that she hadn't been able to handle Tiamat’s Holy Power—the very power she needed to be of use to Han Shin—had been a massive burden on her.
Though no one had pressured her or even mentioned it, Sitri had been anxious and frustrated with herself. This psychological state had been a minor factor preventing her from properly connecting with the Holy Power.
Grace was the one who had broken that deadlock. Sitri was overjoyed that she could finally wield Tiamat’s power thanks to their duel.
Seeing Sitri bow so readily and look so genuinely happy, even Grace—who rarely got flustered—felt a bit embarrassed. She turned her head slightly and spoke.
"...I'm glad you're able to use Lady Tiamat's Holy Power now."
A smile naturally formed on Sitri’s face at Grace’s reaction. This was a side of Grace she hadn't seen before, and it made her feel as though they had grown a little closer.
And... Sitri had found the spar to be purely fun.
Having lived in the cold, cruel world of demons where every fight was a life-or-death struggle, Sitri had never once felt that combat could be enjoyable. Naturally, she wanted to do it again.
"Could we spar again next time?"
"Yes. Let's do it again tomorrow."
Grace had also found the spar stimulating and enjoyable, so she agreed to do it again the very next day.
Watching the two of them in such a friendly atmosphere, Han Shin felt both pleased and satisfied.