– Swish…
The sharp metallic echo struck the joints of the bones. The blade, drawn naturally, gleamed with light. Lee Ha-yul dangled the sword low enough that the tip didn’t touch the ground.
It looked like a rather vulnerable stance. His head and upper body were fully exposed. If he were to be attacked there, he could probably have a breath ahead of his opponent.
‘But I doubt that.’
He rejected the simple assumption. Standing across from him was Katsuki Yusei, feeling the weight of the sword gripped in his hand as his eyes settled.
What appeared before his eyes seemed full of weaknesses. However, the experiences he had accumulated and the instinct that boiled in his head fiercely denied that.
In fact, there was no need to rely on reasoning.
Just sensing the frightening intensity that seemed to slice through his entire body made him dismiss that thought entirely.
‘He’s brutal.’
Around him was a formless strike that seemed ready to slice through everything. The moment he stepped into that space, a sense of crisis made his body ache, as if it would shatter into dozens of pieces.
Lee Ha-yul, gripping the sword, looked as if he were a completely different person.
Just the atmosphere around him had changed; from an innocuous impression to that of a monster that had wandered the battlefield for decades.
It was a tremendous, overwhelming transformation. Is it really possible for a person to be perceived so differently just by their aura? Yusei admired that inwardly and readied his stance.
[Starting the first round of practical combat for the midterm evaluation of the second semester. Countdown. 10…]
[9… 8… 7…]
A voice sounded from above, and he tightened his grip on the sword as he acknowledged the diminishing numbers.
‘Common sense wouldn’t suggest that aura alone is that terrifying.’
Aura, after all, emanates from one’s true self. Such feelings cannot arise from hollow appearances alone.
The last time he saw Lee Ha-yul’s skill was during the first semester tournament.
He was astonished at the tremendous growth back then, but thinking of the unbelievable news he had heard since, undoubtedly, he must have achieved even more astonishing growth.
‘I’ll respond with everything I’ve got.’
Even assuming based solely on his aura, he was not someone Yusei could take lightly. On the contrary, he must confront with all of his strength to find even a small opening.
[3.. 2… 1…]
Yusei summoned the magical energy that enveloped his entire body. He steadied himself, preparing to respond to any attack that came his way instantly.
And.
[Match Start]
He faced the blade that had suddenly thrust closer without any traces left.
“…!”
A chilling premonition struck him. His breath scattered through clenched teeth. Yusei instinctively raised his sword to parry.
– Thwack!
A heavy echo reverberated through his hand and rattled his head. His hand throbbed. His body, having deflected the attack, was pushed hard backward. Yusei gritted his teeth and anchored his feet to the ground.
The distance that had opened with one strike. There was no pursuit. Lee Ha-yul, who had appeared before him like a ghost, lowered his sword with a calm demeanor.
“Phew…!”
Only then did Yusei exhale the breath he had trapped in his mouth. The taut nerves made his head dizzy.
‘I almost got finished in one blow.’
If his reaction had been just a split second slower, that sword would have pierced his eye and scrambled his brain.
‘…Did I actually react?’
He wasn’t sure.
Yusei pushed aside his doubts and sharpened his focus. The magical energy pouring from his fingertips turned into a powerful force that wrapped around the blade.
Like a tranquil surface, silver power coiled around the blade. Wrapping thinly around his body, Yusei stepped forward.
The regular scenery stretched long. In a single step, the distance was closed. He then swung the sword. The moonlight flared, drawing a long arc of a powerful strike.
– Czzzz!
An attack that was blocked as if it were a matter of course.
The strike was abruptly severed by Lee Ha-yul’s sword, which also shimmered with a powerful energy. It was similar to Yusei’s but distinctly different in purity, a brilliant white energy.
He had expected it to be blocked on purpose, thus didn’t hesitate to unleash a flurry of slashes.
– Kakakaka! Boom!
Noise erupted between them. The swords clashed in the shared space. Deflecting the encroaching blade, Yusei forced his sword into the opponent’s territory.
Yusei’s swordsmanship emphasized flow. Rather than the sheer power of a single blow or the speed needed to sever an opponent’s throat, it involved deflecting the enemy’s attacks and getting into the rhythm.
He would deflect strong blows, allowing high-speed attacks to blend into the flow. Thus, he would seize the overall rhythm, ensnaring the opponent and ultimately striking them down.
The magical traces remained along the path of his blade, creating a silvery flow.
– Thwack!
A heavy explosion broke out. The flow disconnected, and his arm holding the sword shook.
Even a great storm begins with a gentle breeze. Yet his opponent did not grant Yusei any mercy to grasp even the slightest flow.
How did he know? He cleanly severed the leading edge of the flow that was just beginning to form.
‘How?’
His eyes were closed. Occasionally, they would open, but now they remained shut. Because of that, it was hard to gauge his opponent’s intentions through the position of his pupils.
Usually, he lived relying on his sensing abilities. In such a rapid combat, could he still achieve precise detection?
Questions began to bubble up amidst the disrupted flow.
He felt the intensity of why those who had faced Lee Ha-yul before couldn’t hide their confusion.
Even with his eyes closed, he recognized far more than those who could see.
And through the disrupted flow, a blade slipped in.
It was Lee Ha-yul’s sword. The blade that had decisively disrupted the flow now penetrated through the gaps, slicing through the rhythm.
– Kakakaka!
Occupying space had been lost. Lee Ha-yul’s blade abruptly plunged into the position he once held.
It was overwhelming to regain control of the disrupted flow in his original position. Yusei took a step back.
‘This time, he won’t let me go.’
Having fallen back to regain the flow, Yusei was surprised to see Lee Ha-yul was tight on his heels.
Should I try another sword strike? He pondered briefly but quickly rejected the idea.
Having interlocked swords just now confirmed his suspicions. Yusei’s skill was clearly several levels below Lee Ha-yul’s.
Continuing to engage in swordsplay wasn’t a wise choice.
‘What about the power struggle?’
Clang! The blades clashed.
Yusei planted his feet into the ground and pushed with his weight on his sword.
The awful screech of metal rang out, and sparks mingled with the powerful energy swirling about.
Even so, his opponent showed no sign of being pushed back. Still keeping his eyes shut, he stood his ground like a colossal tree, unwavering.
In the process, the powerful energy was disrupted. Fragments of broken energy floated in the air.
The energy pouring out of his vision was relatively muddied with Yusei’s magic.
‘This is not good.’
He already knew that Lee Ha-yul’s magical power was extraordinary. The energy that he had channeled from him easily surpassed any ordinary force.
For Yusei, who was born with a special magical affinity, being pushed back so overwhelmingly was a unique experience.
Thwack! Shaking his arms hard, he pushed his body back to create some distance. As he knocked his sword back lightly, Lee Ha-yul quickly closed in once more.
Before he could blink, gripping the hilt tightly with both hands, he poured magic into it.
The magical energy that enveloped the blade swelled greatly; dozens of long, branch-like tendrils shot outward from its surface.
“Gah!”
Planting his feet firmly, as Yusei swung his arm wide, the dozens of tendrils of magical energy attached to the blade fluttered down.
It was a technique that fell into the realm of extending capabilities, however small. The energy soaring into the air was sharpened into a crescent shape, much like a waxing crescent moon.
‘No, thinking of mental images, it’s indeed the crescent moon.’
Given that Katsuki Yusei’s unique abilities and techniques were related to the moon, it seemed accurate to say he imagined and manifested a crescent moon, not just a misunderstanding.
Before him, Lee Ha-yul stood unfazed, thrusting his right arm forward.
His hand, holding the sword. Rather than swinging it, he twisted his hand dramatically.
It wasn’t particularly quick. The premonition of the coming crescent moon drew near.
– Clang…!
In turn, the circuit in his mind twisted. Pain coursed through his nerves fiercely. A moment of twisting too many circuits at once had sparked the agony.
He ignored it. There was a risk of his hand blowing up or the circuit reversing and leaving him handicapped, but he had practiced that extensively.
Besides, this was the Sparring Arena set up in the地下, equipped with the best techniques and magic of the modern era, capable of withstanding battles between superior beings.
Furthermore, as part of the Tower of Growth, it could negate lethal injuries to some extent.
Where else could I practice but here?
…For a brief moment, Ariel’s warning flashed in Ha-yul’s mind, but here regeneration would be swift, so it wouldn’t matter.
After justifying to himself, he twisted the circuits forcefully.
– Clang!
The internal circuits of his arm were artificially altered, continuously flowing with magical energy.
Normally, it would simply flow…
‘Magical Blade Strike.’
The altered circuits formed a rudimentary shape of a spell, releasing magic each time the power flowed through.
– Whoosh!
From his twisted arm, blades of energy poured forth like rain.
If through the Shadowless Spear, that speed and volume would be hard to keep up with even with the toes.
He shifted whatever he could to synchronize.
The location of the magic that was born within his arm adjusted to the outside, as he angled the direction of the scattered blows straight ahead.
Just as described, the blades came pouring down like rain, consuming dozens of crescents.
For a moment resisting, the crescents were soon buried under the overwhelming volley.
Yet, the strikes ceased advancing and scattered in the air.
– Swish…
“Whew…”
Seeing the spectacle just in front of him made Yusei shrug.
A prickling sensation poked at his throat. Lowering his gaze, he noticed that, without him realizing it, Lee Ha-yul had moved right beside him, presenting the blade at his neck.
“What was that just now? Was it magic?”
Yusei questioned, examining the now-mangled ceiling and floor.
[Yes.]
[I did cheat a bit, but fundamentally, it’s magic.]
“Magical Blade Strike… I know it’s classified as low-tier, but if the extended power is blocked by a low-tier spell, it bothers me.”
[Um… Is it not strange that I’m the one who seems odd?]
“Is that so?”
Yusei chuckled, dropping his sword and raising his arms above his head.
“I give up.”
[Match Ended]
[Winner, Ipchun Class Lee Ha-yul.]
The announcement of the match’s conclusion echoed from above. Only then did Lee Ha-yul nod and step back.
Simultaneously, the fearsome aura dissipated entirely, revealing his previous harmless expression.
It was hard to reconcile that harmless visage with the one that had ruthlessly sliced through his flow just moments ago.
Yusei shook his head in disbelief at the change in perception he had just witnessed firsthand.
[Well done.]
“Thanks. If there hadn’t been any exchanges, the evaluation scene wouldn’t have had a chance to even happen before the first strike ended.”
[Um… You caught on, huh?]
“At first, I wasn’t sure, but as we traded blows, I became convinced. With my skills being so drastically lower, there’s no way I could have calmly avoided an attack I responded to late.”
Yusei shook his head and extended his hand.
“I’ve wanted a chance to befriend you for a while now, but there haven’t been many opportunities. This time, I’d like to receive some advice on your swordsmanship. Especially, your sword style seems to have a lot in common with ours.”
[That would be a pleasure for me.]
Ha-yul eagerly extended his hand in a request for friendship that left no room for refusal. Simultaneously, he pondered Yusei’s statement.
‘A lot in common with our swordsmanship… Ah, I’ve copied a lot from the second playthrough, so that makes sense.’
He tilted his head momentarily, but the answer soon surfaced.
In the second playthrough, he had visited martial arts factions located in Japan to sharpen his unique abilities through breaking practices.
If the second playthrough also followed a similar path while encountering the Tower of Growth, it’s understandable that the techniques learned from the second playthrough would bear similar traits.
‘Should I head to Japan and break some dojos too?’
Though he had copied plenty from the second playthrough, he still felt overshadowed by the original.
Throughout the final bouts with the second playthrough, he hadn’t landed any particularly effective blows.
Of course, if they were to fight now, the result would probably differ quite a bit…
Regardless, it would be nice to visit Japan as another identity and shake things up at some dojos when he found the time.
“Why do you have a cut on your hand?”
[Ah, I just miscalibrated the magic momentarily.]
“Hmm…? That’s no magic backflow, and it looks bad enough to leave a significant cut…?”
[That’s… something unusual about me.]
“Sounds like a dangerous technique that could end with your hand blown off at any moment.”
[If used correctly, it won’t fly off.]
Lee Ha-yul flicked the blood off his hand while averting his gaze.
*
“Not again, me?”
His second opponent was Aiden. He strode in from the opposite door with a face full of grievance, drawing his blade.
[3… 2… 1…]
[Match Start]
“Dammit… Who’s rigging this match-up?”
[Please don’t swear.]
– Clang!
“Ugh!”
The sword hit squarely on Aiden’s head.
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