Ch.568568. Competitive Spirit (2)

A Master’s clash carries dangers beyond imagination.

Even when Expert knights clash with their mana-infused weapons, it sounds like bombs exploding, with intense mana waves sweeping through space. Masters are even more powerful, never weak.

So Sione and I had agreed to maintain certain boundaries for our first proper one-on-one match worthy of being called a duel.

“Well Ray… you can’t handle the Morning Star.”

What was she trying to do with such provocation?

Well, as I said before, there’s no master defeated by their disciple. All I can say is that Sione hasn’t become strong enough to defeat me yet.

“Here’s the protective equipment. And weapons as well.”

“Thank you. I’m counting on you for fair judging.”

“I will ensure absolute fairness.”

Sione and I each donned the practice weapons and defensive magical artifacts that Hanelrn had distributed. Then we faced each other from opposite ends of the dueling ground.

Unlike with others, I had never properly dueled with Sione before.

Both of us felt equally awkward yet increasingly tense. Looking at each other over the silver concealment structures laid across the dueling ground, we couldn’t help but laugh.

“This duel is a training ground to compete with pure skill. Victory will be determined by forcing your opponent’s surrender or destroying their protective magical artifact. Both of you must swear that you will acknowledge defeat if you use excessive force.”

“Of course.”

“I agree.”

As Hanelrn’s words as referee echoed through the arena.

Even so, if we were to engage in reckless firepower, it would take ages to repair this place again. I composed myself to avoid getting too heated and going overboard.

“Please draw your weapons.”

As Sione and I had agreed, instead of the bow slung over my shoulder, I drew my sword and pointed it at her.

‘This feels strange.’

I had never pointed a sword at Sione before, unlike with others.

Still, we decided to heat up the atmosphere with intense sword exchanges rather than starting with bow combat.

In that awkwardness, I returned her earlier provocation:

“We’ll see who’s better when we try. Get ready, Sione.”

With a dry laugh, Sione drew her sword as well.

‘Look at the difference in sword length.’

The sword I wielded was my usual secondary weapon—a single-edged sword resembling a hwando. Sione, like her other family members, had prepared a long, heavy longsword. Moreover, Sione had another sword like mine on her sword belt.

Since she chose a longsword first, I would need to penetrate deeper and more aggressively to offset her longer attack range and land effective hits.

A clash of swords is a field where quick judgment and reflexes shine. Even though Sione, now a Master, isn’t particularly close with swords, her basic sense and instinct would surely make her sword formidable.

Though I hadn’t delved too deeply, I firmly believed that the swordsmanship I had built up while running dungeons would shine.

“…Begin!”

I kicked the ground first.

‘She said she gave up because she wasn’t rewarded for her practice.’

But that doesn’t mean Sione can’t handle a sword at all.

She had already awakened her mana through the sword and reached Beginner level, so she should have swordsmanship equivalent to an apprentice knight.

‘As expected, she’s firmly holding the middle stance.’

True to my thoughts, she was solidly maintaining the middle stance, which is the foundation for both attack and defense.

She too pointed her sword at me. Her blue pupils, usually clear as a cloudless sky, now contained a cold chill as she stared at me expressionlessly—truly a unique experience to face head-on.

‘If she’s going to be like that.’

I couldn’t help but mischievously want to color that cold face with bewilderment.

‘Let’s focus on engaging with the sword.’

Since neither of our weapons was infused with mana yet, I advanced with the intention of starting an aggressive sword wrestling match, wrapping my sword around her longsword.

Tsuzu-zu-!

With the dissonant sound of metal entangling metal, I could feel the path Sione intended for her sword through our connected blades.

“…This much at least!”

With her clear voice, Sione lowered her stance and raised her sword high.

Chang-!

Blocking any further approach, Sione entered into a sword wrestling competition.

‘She’s solid.’

As she tried to press me down more fiercely than I expected, our swords began to tremble.

She was making efforts not to show any openings I could exploit.

‘But.’

Though not as much as archery, I couldn’t say I had little experience using a sword while navigating countless dungeons.

‘It’s not like there are no openings at all.’

The moment I noticed an imbalance of power as she pushed against my sword, I exploited that gap and pushed her sword aside.

“Ugh…!”

Startled, Sione coated her sword with mana first and pushed back. I quickly circulated mana to block the impact, and a powerful shock reverberated through the dueling ground.

As our mana collided and burst into waves, even the watching knights grimaced, pressed down by the immense energy.

Only I was smiling in this situation.

“Were you in a hurry? Drawing on mana first like that.”

“…Ray, your sister personally taught you swordsmanship several times. Starting with swords to set the mood was disadvantageous for me from the beginning.”

Properly provoked, Sione began to talk more.

Her gaze changed as she became heated from being pushed back so easily.

“It’s fine. I’ll get serious from now on.”

Then she took up her bow and nocked an arrow.

As she aimed at me with a dead release, she showed a cynical smile and said:

“Rather than standing there dazed, you’d better check your magical artifacts again.”

She released her fingers holding the arrow fletching.

‘Fast.’

A practice bow.

Though not particularly powerful and without high-grade magic to enhance its strength, Sione’s arrow was fierce.

However, the trajectory of a single arrow was easier for me to read than anything else, being so accustomed to it.

‘Let’s be flashy.’

Wanting to firmly put Sione in her place, I shot an arrow back.

With a sliding release, my arrow flew smoothly and pierced through hers.

“I wonder who taught you that.”

She had already moved to the side behind different cover and started shooting arrows.

I immediately threw myself behind nearby cover, and at that moment, I saw a flaming arrow burning with mana hit where I had been standing—she must have been practicing the magic she briefly learned at the Academy.

‘Sione must really want to beat me this time.’

This duel would be decided by whose protective artifact failed first—a battle of who could land a decisive hit first.

Within the constraints of a duel, I considered how to show the most spectacular and elaborate contest for all these spectators. After thinking about it, I decided to demonstrate with my body what I had only been contemplating.

‘Archers are weak in close combat.’

It’s common knowledge in this world that archers are very vulnerable in close combat.

Knights with their polearms and mages covered in defensive magic—what could an archer do against them after giving up the advantage of distance?

‘Is that really true?’

At least I firmly believe that while archers’ close combat may not be as flashy and stimulating as knights’ or mages’,

It’s not necessarily that bad either.

Pa-ang-!

As Sione’s arrow flew toward my cover intending to shatter it, I kicked the ground again.

‘The purpose of this duel.’

Master—a level one can reach only by attaining the pinnacle of skill.

The various improvisations Sione and I would show would benefit everyone present.

‘Let’s see what you’ve got.’

I boldly engaged Sione in a psychological battle.

* * *

‘As expected, he won’t move predictably.’

Eliminating cover in the direction your opponent might move, cutting off escape routes one by one to tighten the noose—

This most basic yet effective method for securing victory in such a confined space apparently didn’t appeal to him.

‘He’s boldly closing the distance with me.’

Rather than circling widely to target my blind spots, he approached by dodging the barrage of arrows with acrobatic movements.

‘He’s not someone who would do this without reason.’

As I quickly aimed an arrow at his brazenly approaching figure, our eyes met.

Despite his bold movements, his gaze remained ice-cold and rational. The way he quickly assessed everything around him, searching for the best move he could make—

‘I knew it.’

It resembled that of a hunter determined to achieve results by any means necessary.

Seeing his eager expression, I merely brushed my bangs back indifferently.

‘Do you think I’ll be defeated so easily?’

Just as Ray seemed to have hidden techniques, she too had her own concealed skills.

A magic circle began to form in front of her arrowhead.

As the geometric diagram completed,

“Ray, you pushed too hard.”

Literally, Sione’s enormous spirit began to envelop the dueling ground.