“Kid, you finally look like you’ve got some skill today.”
Tai Lan sheathed his long blade, offering a rare word of praise.
“Your proficiency with the Mutual Strike Technique should be enough to handle an ordinary Rank 4 professional.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. I’ll knock you flat sooner or later.”
Lomio threw him the middle finger, exited the secret room, and his consciousness returned to reality.
Outside the window, the sky was already bright.
He got up to wash, changed into his training clothes, and pushed open the door to head toward the Academy’s martial arts field.
Today was the day he had agreed to spar with Ibuki Rei.
—
The martial arts field.
The early morning sun spilled over the stone floor, and the air still held the cool dampness of dew.
Ibuki Rei was already waiting in the center of the field.
She wore black kendo gear with her long hair tied into a high ponytail. A standard-issue long blade hung at her waist.
Seeing Lomio arrive, her eyes instantly lit up.
“You’re up early. How is your condition?”
“I’m here to earn credits,” Lomio replied casually as he walked to the center of the clearing. “My condition is, of course, excellent.”
“Then, please, instruct me.”
Ibuki Rei gripped her hilt and settled into a starting stance.
Her breathing was steady, and her gaze was focused. Her entire aura instantly became incredibly sharp.
“Come on.”
Lomio also took his stance.
As a character players once coveted in the game, Ibuki Rei was indeed a true practitioner of the way of the sword. Every move and gesture revealed a terrifyingly solid foundation.
As soon as he finished speaking, she moved.
Her figure shot forward like an arrow. Her long blade slashed down diagonally, the edge of the blade letting out a sharp whistle as it tore through the air.
Before the blade even reached him, the sheer pressure made Lomio’s skin prickle. It was actually comparable to when he first met Tai Lan!
Fast!
But Lomio was long accustomed to this kind of speed.
He stepped aside to dodge the slash. His right hand gripped the hilt of the Dragon Sword, drawing the blade in one fluid motion.
The blade flashed.
*Clang!*
The two blades crossed in midair, sending sparks flying.
Ibuki Rei’s pupils shrank slightly.
She could feel that her opponent’s strength was much greater than she had imagined. Moreover—this drawing angle was so tricky it made her scalp tingle.
“Again!”
She gritted her teeth and retreated, adjusting her breath before launching another attack.
This time, her swordplay was even more aggressive.
Three consecutive strikes sealed off all of Lomio’s paths of retreat.
But even though the Dragon Sword’s weight far exceeded that of ordinary blades, Lomio’s speed was still a fraction faster than hers!
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
Three collisions, three showers of sparks.
The webbing between Ibuki Rei’s thumb and index finger went numb from the shock, and she was forced back three steps.
Lomio, however, remained motionless.
‘How is this possible…’
Ibuki Rei tightened her grip on the hilt, a flicker of disbelief crossing her eyes.
She was a Rank 3 peak swordsman. Her strength and speed had undergone systematic, intensive training. Although she knew Lomio had outstanding abilities, she realized after actually clashing that the gap between them was no longer just a small margin!
“Continue.”
Lomio’s voice was calm.
He didn’t give Ibuki Rei a chance to catch her breath and took the initiative to attack.
The blade light fell like a waterfall.
One strike followed another, each one precisely aimed at Ibuki Rei’s openings.
Ibuki Rei parried desperately, but she could feel her rhythm being completely controlled by her opponent. This feeling was like fighting a precision machine. Every one of his strikes landed exactly where it made her most uncomfortable.
‘No, I have to fight back!’
Ibuki Rei took a deep breath, forcing herself to steady her mind.
She seized a momentary gap, exerted her full strength, and slashed down diagonally.
She put everything into this strike.
But—Lomio did not dodge.
He met the edge of her blade head-on, swinging his own sword to meet it.
*Clang!*
The moment the blades locked, Ibuki Rei felt a terrifying force travel through the sword. Her blade was actually knocked right out of her hand!
“What?!”
Ibuki Rei’s eyes widened.
In the next second, the tip of Lomio’s blade was already resting against her throat.
“First round, I win.”
Lomio retracted his sword and took a step back. “10 credits.”
Ibuki Rei stood frozen in place, not reacting for a long time.
She lost.
And she lost without any room for doubt.
“Again!”
She gritted her teeth, picked up her blade, and resumed her starting stance.
“Fine.”
Lomio nodded.
The second round began.
This time, Ibuki Rei changed her strategy. She no longer attacked head-on but chose to circle him, trying to find a flaw in Lomio’s defense.
But she soon discovered that her opponent had no flaws at all.
No matter what angle she attacked from, he could always react one step ahead. Moreover, his counterattacks were getting faster and faster.
After ten moves, Ibuki Rei was once again forced into a corner.
Lomio’s blade tip was at her throat once more.
“Second round.”
Lomio retracted his sword.
Ibuki Rei’s face had turned slightly pale.
She wasn’t someone who couldn’t handle a loss, but this feeling of being completely crushed was difficult to accept.
“Again!”
She gripped her hilt tightly once more.
Third round.
Fourth round.
Fifth round.
…
Ten duels, ten losses.
Ibuki Rei stood in the center of the field, her hand holding the sword trembling slightly. Fine beads of sweat broke out on her forehead, and her breathing became rapid.
“How can this be…” she murmured to herself.
She had practiced kendo since childhood and was exceptionally gifted, reaching the peak of Rank 3 by the age of 18. Her confidence in her swordsmanship came from years of bitter cultivation.
But now—she couldn’t even withstand a single serious move from him.
“If I had gained something from this, it wouldn’t be so bad…” Ibuki Rei looked up at Lomio, her expression tinged with loneliness. “But I couldn’t see through anything at all.”
“If you want to learn, that’s going to cost extra.”
Lomio sheathed the Dragon Sword, his expression calm as he suppressed the urge to laugh out loud.
‘Hehe. After being tortured by Tai Lan every night, it’s finally my turn to torture someone else! This feels pretty good!’
“Your foundation is very solid, and your sword techniques are very standard,” Lomio said slowly. “But you rely too much on technique. The way of the sword isn’t a dance; you don’t win just by making the moves look pretty. Real combat is a contest of killing intent, speed, and timing.”
He walked up to Ibuki Rei and pointed toward her heart.
“Your blade has no killing intent. That’s why you can’t win.”
Ibuki Rei was stunned.
She wanted to argue, but the words wouldn’t come out. She knew he was right.
The kendo education she had received since childhood emphasized etiquette and form. Every move and every stance had to follow standards and possess aesthetic beauty.
“I…” Ibuki Rei opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.
This was the Academy… killing? Was that right?
“Do you want to get stronger?” Lomio asked, seeing her hesitation.
“I do!” Ibuki Rei replied with a nod.
“Then throw away all that flowery nonsense.”
Lomio turned to leave.
“Starting tomorrow, come here every morning. I’ll teach you a brand-new way to cut people down. 30 credits a session. Whether you can learn it depends on your own intuition.”
Ibuki Rei dithered for a moment before nodding firmly. “Fine!”
She had earned 450 credits this time, and with her previous savings, she had a total of about 500. After setting aside 300 credits to prepare alchemy cards for the next exam, she was willing to let Lomio earn the rest if it meant improving.
“Is this meant to motivate me through the loss of credits? I have learned a valuable lesson.”
“…?”
Lomio frowned. Why was this girl starting to talk nonsense too?