The Pressure Increases
Yuuto’s heart pounded in his chest as he locked eyes with Rainer. The silver-haired swordsman’s smirk had disappeared, replaced by a sharp, cold gaze.
He was done playing around.
Yuuto’s grip tightened on his sword. His system-assisted reaction boost was still active, but the moment he overused it, exhaustion would hit him like a ton of bricks.
"Celia, any advice?"
"Yeah, try not to die."
Yuuto gritted his teeth. "Thanks, very helpful."
"I aim to please," Celia said smugly. "But seriously, don’t try to match him in speed. His Quick Step skill gives him insane mobility. Instead, try countering when he overcommits."
Yuuto nodded slightly. He had to play it smart.
Rainer shifted his stance. His feet positioned lightly on the ground, his rapier pointed forward like a needle waiting to strike.
Then—he vanished.
"Shit—!"
Yuuto barely had time to react before Rainer’s rapier shot toward him like a silver blur.
He dodged, but not completely. A sharp sting cut across his shoulder as Rainer’s attack grazed him.
Blood dripped down his arm.
"Tsk. Still standing?" Rainer muttered. "Fine, let’s turn it up a notch."
He blurred again.
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Yuuto braced himself.
---
Fighting Back
Rainer attacked from the left—Yuuto barely sidestepped.
Then from the right—Yuuto ducked.
Each strike was lightning-fast, precise, and lethal. Yuuto’s system helped him react, but it wasn’t enough.
He needed a way to break Rainer’s rhythm.
"Celia, give me a scan of his attack patterns!"
"Finally using me properly? About time!" Celia snickered. "Processing... Got it! He favors three-strike combos before repositioning. His footwork leans slightly before his final thrust."
Yuuto grinned. That was exactly the opening he needed.
---
The Moment of Opportunity
Rainer lunged again—three quick strikes.
First—Yuuto parried.
Second—Yuuto sidestepped.
Third—Yuuto ducked.
And then, just as Rainer pulled back to reposition—
Yuuto struck.
BAM!
He twisted his body, bringing his sword down hard against Rainer’s wrist.
CRACK!
Rainer’s grip loosened. His rapier wobbled.
"You little—!"
Before he could recover, Yuuto followed up with a kick.
His foot slammed into Rainer’s chest, sending him stumbling backward.
Rainer’s eyes flared with rage. "You dare—"
Before he could charge again—
---
An Unexpected Interruption
"ENOUGH!"
A powerful voice boomed through the forest.
Yuuto and Rainer both froze.
From the trees, a figure emerged.
A young woman in knight armor, with long auburn hair and piercing green eyes. She carried a silver longsword, her expression stern and commanding.
"Elara?" Yuuto blurted out in surprise.
Elara strode forward, glaring at Rainer. "What is the meaning of this?"
Rainer clicked his tongue, brushing dirt off his armor. "Just teaching this weakling his place."
Elara’s eyes narrowed. "I don’t recall giving you permission to start brawling in the middle of an official training ground."
Yuuto’s mind clicked. "Wait, this area actually belongs to the knight order?"
Elara nodded. "This is a designated training ground for recruits and adventurers under Avaloria’s protection. Rainer, you have no authority to claim it."
Rainer scoffed. "I was merely ensuring that unqualified amateurs don’t waste resources."
"That is not your decision to make."
For the first time, Rainer looked uneasy. He clearly didn’t want to go against Elara directly.
He clicked his tongue again and sheathed his rapier. "Tch. Fine. He’s not worth my time anyway."
He turned to Yuuto. "Consider this a warning. Next time, you won’t be so lucky."
With that, he walked off, vanishing into the trees.
Yuuto let out a breath.
---
Aftermath
Elara turned to Yuuto. "You alright?"
Yuuto wiped sweat from his forehead. "Yeah. Just a few scratches."
Elara frowned. "You shouldn’t be fighting opponents like him yet. You’re still too inexperienced."
Yuuto sighed. "Yeah, I figured that out the hard way."
Celia snickered. "At least you didn’t die. I’d call that progress."
Yuuto rolled his eyes.
Elara studied him for a moment, then crossed her arms. "If you really want to get stronger, I can help."
Yuuto blinked. "Wait… are you offering to train me?"
Elara nodded. "You’ve got spirit, I’ll give you that. But spirit alone won’t keep you alive. If you’re serious about becoming a proper adventurer, you need proper training."
Yuuto hesitated for a second—then grinned. "Alright. Let’s do it."
Celia groaned. "Oh great. More training. Wake me up when something interesting happens."
Yuuto smirked. "Jealous I’m spending more time with Elara?"
Cel
ia scoffed. "Please. Like I care."
But her voice sounded a little too quick.
Yuuto chuckled.
Training under Elara… this could be interesting.
---
To Be Continued…