Sparring (2): Mana Unleashed
-Shrieeek!! Haren and I thrust our wooden swords at each other. He swung his down from above in a crushing overhead strike. I whipped mine up from below in an upward slash.
-Clang!!! The swords collided at the point where our paths crossed. After a brief struggle of strength, one side gave way and got repelled.
"Kuh?!"
The one flung back was none other than Haren. And that was despite his overhead strike—a stance that usually gave the advantage in raw power. Yet he was bounced away, staggering back two steps.
"What kind of strength is that...?"
His confident expression twisted slightly, but unlike the opponents he'd faced before, Haren's response was sharp. He quickly regained his posture mid-repel, then switched tactics. Instead of trying to overpower me, he lunged with light, nimble thrusts—stab and retreat, circling around.
-Whoosh! Slash!! The air whistled sharply as the tip of his wooden sword targeted vital spots like my throat or eyes with fierce stabs.
But...
Left, 30 degrees. Up... no, veering down.
My eyes darted ceaselessly, taking in the wide field of view, reading every sword path as I captured his entire assault. With light steps, I evaded his attacks. When he thrust at my face, I dodged with a quick tilt of my head and swung my wooden sword straight at his extended wrist.
"Kuh?!"
Haren yanked back his arm and twisted his body in a hurry, but the blade of my sword grazed his wrist by a hair's breadth. Wooden swords had their limits—no wound opened up—but if it'd been real steel, that edge would've sliced flesh clean.
"...Damn it!!"
Leisure faded from Haren's face bit by bit, while worry drained from mine, replaced by growing ease. I deflected his retreating swing and stepped forward, turning the tables with my own offense.
-Thwack!!
"Ugh!!"
Haren's body tilted as he blocked my downward chop from above. The moment he raised his wooden sword with both hands to parry my one-handed swing, I shot out my foot in a surprise sweep—just like Karen had done to me in practice.
-Thud!!
"Gah!!!"
-Crash!!
A deflating wheeze escaped his lips as Haren toppled awkwardly, face-planting into the dirt. He had some skill, at least—blood trickling from his nose, he kicked off the ground, rolled, and sprang back up into balance in a flash.
Still...
"Oops. Want a handkerchief?"
Annoyingly handsome guy's face was caked in dirt, a thin stream of blood dripping from his mashed nose.
"You coward...!"
"Coward?"
Haren trembled, his pride scratched raw, hurling accusations of cowardice. Hearing that made me scoff in disbelief as I glared back.
"You leave your legs wide open and call that cowardice? Hey, you gonna whine about 'cowardice' in a real fight too?"
"...! Don't act like you're teaching me, you arrogant bastard...!"
"Whoops. Slipped out."
Maybe because I'd copied the exact move Karen used to trip me up in spars? Unthinkingly, I started lecturing him just like she did afterward. But that only riled him more. He wiped the blood from his nose with the back of his hand and glared daggers.
…
Damn it. What a disgrace in front of Lady Karen...!!
At that moment, Haren swallowed his rage inwardly, grinding his teeth at the humiliation of showing such an ugly fall right in front of Karen—the one who'd given him this shot(?).
One month of training? What a joke...
He recalled Yuseong's skilled handling in their brief clash, then ground his teeth again at the nonsense Yuseong had boasted before the spar started. Those were the fluid moves of a swordsman with years under his belt. And that leg sweep earlier? Pure battlefield instinct, natural as breathing—something only a veteran could pull off.
And that monstrous strength... That guy doesn't look it, but is he part beastkin?
Wiping the blood, Haren eyed Yuseong more cautiously now, holding back as he analyzed. That power was unbelievable for a human barehanded. Blocking a two-handed swing with one hand? No way a pure human did that without beastkin blood... or mana. Mana?
Mana... That's it!!
His eyes flashed as the pieces clicked. Normally, swordsmen set rules like "no mana" before spars. And Sword Fairy Karen would've known that. But at the start, she'd only restricted weapons—no mention of mana.
That bastard's been using mana from the jump...!!!
Realization hit like fresh air; a rotten grin spread across his face.
"Cowardly bastard... Fine. My fault for not reading the rules right. I'll let it slide."
"...Huh? What're you on about?"
Yuseong stared like he'd spouted nonsense, but Haren ignored him. That freak strength? Had to be mana. The flow wasn't obvious, but he'd just missed sensing it.
So... no reason I can't use it too.
"No more holding back. I'll fight you fair now...!"
"What the hell are you—"
Ignoring Yuseong, Haren focused inward, centering on the power in his heart—the gift that fueled his pride, unlocked after three years of swordplay.
-Whoosh!!!
Mana—the domain of skilled swordsmen—stirred at his will, surging strength into his body.
"........."
Karen watched the duel with cold, sunken eyes, observing intently.
Here we go.
She'd deliberately omitted "no mana" from the rules. Haren only clocked it late, judging by his delayed use... but whatever. He was using it now.
This'll be good experience.
Her gaze settled on Yuseong, recalling his state. Even she, who'd spotted his talent and taken him as disciple, was stunned by his explosive growth. That wasn't just raw gift—it was force-evolved through life-or-death battles, his body forging paths to survival.
And he's faced scenarios most never see in a lifetime.
Overflowing talent. Elite master. Relentless real combat. All fused for Yuseong's skyrocketing progress.
Knowing your own level is crucial.
Endless growth demanded objective self-assessment. But daily spars with her wouldn't highlight it anymore. She'd been pondering a fix... and perfect timing, a fitting opponent appeared.
Just the right level for Yuseong to feel his growth, gauge himself.
And... though it's early,
Karen sighed deeply, thinking of her latest training plan for her disciple. She'd meant to ease in slower, but Yuseong's knack for trouble, plus the surging evil god cult activity since two years back... unsettling.
"Gotta teach him mana."
Cults rampaging or not, she wouldn't coddle him into a greenhouse flower. No master could own his life—he'd venture out, face dangers on his calls. Her role: arm him to survive them.
Best way? Mana mastery. This spar was prep.
"That Haren kid..."
With icy eyes, she sized up the swordsman begging instruction. Decent talent, but leagues below Yuseong. Already tainted by other styles, bad habits ingrained. Teaching him? Pointless, ineffective.
Haren thought this duel his big chance, but Karen barely registered him. Her focus: solely her disciple's growth.
"Yuseong. Watch closely during this spar. Mana isn't everything."
She eyed Haren coldly—the moment he tapped mana, his overwhelming physique turned rigid, his sword path monotonously simple.
…
-Boom!!!
It started when Haren muttered his weird crap. His aura shifted as he concentrated, then he charged with a cocky grin—unlike before.
Head-on?
He'd avoided direct clashes after feeling my power first time. Now, boldly pitting strength against strength.
And...
Fast!
My face hardened at Haren's skyrocketing speed. Instinctively raising my sword to block...
-Chill!!
A shiver ran down my spine. I scrapped the block, tilting my wrist to angle the blade and slide his swing away.
-Kagagang!!!
"Kuh...?"
Right call. His power was on another level now. Surpassing Rikar from that brief party, Haren swung with crushing force. Even deflecting in time, my wrist throbbed holding the sword.
"Haha! Looks like I'm a cut above at handling mana!"
Mana...?
Stunned by the sudden shift, but his boast clued me in. Body enhancement via mana—the stuff I'd only heard of. That's what he was doing.
...A cut above? I haven't even used mana to begin with...?
About to correct his delusion, my eyes met Karen's—watching intently, not intervening.
Master?
Far from stopping mana-using Haren, she leaned in like the real show's starting.
...I see.
Then it hit: why she'd said it'd be a "good chance."
She'd been waiting for Haren to pull mana.
Every damn time... her teaching's pure Sparta.
Me, mana-less, against a mana-boosted foe? Now?
...Hah. Fine.
Bring it.