Chapter 38. Elven Swordsmanship
Regardless of what the others thought, Fulan continued attacking while watching the prompts appearing on her panel.
[You attempted Elven Swordsmanship in combat despite not knowing it. Elven Swordsmanship Proficiency +2]
[You attacked using Elven Swordsmanship, but the effect was minimal. Elven Swordsmanship Proficiency +1]
…
Fulan’s thought was simple: she could not let this trip be wasted. Since she was already in a match, she might as well grind some proficiency for Elven Swordsmanship first.
From several exchanges, she could tell that Abeyo’s Iron Wall Swordsmanship truly lived up to its reputation. Her attacks seemed to do almost nothing.
She felt that if she were allowed to use Wind Blade, she could easily end the fight. But relying purely on swordsmanship would take much more effort, so she decided to practice the newly acquired skill first.
When Abeyo saw Fulan suddenly leap into the air, he was momentarily confused. He could not quite understand what kind of move it was.
Almost all swordsmanship practiced by humans relied primarily on attacks performed on the ground. From childhood, he had been trained to defend against attacks coming from ground level.
This had always been the case throughout his life, and his habits had never been broken.
He reacted quickly and blocked the first strike, then defended against several more attacks from Fulan. Only then did he realize what she was doing, just like the people watching below.
Elven Swordsmanship? What is she doing?
Abeyo could easily see that the series of movements Fulan was performing was full of flaws and openings. He had simply failed to react properly at the beginning.
Is she deliberately provoking me by using something she just learned?
However, unlike the spectators below, he would not allow himself to be easily stirred by emotions.
His family’s Breathing Method had the effect of discarding unnecessary emotions while preserving only fighting spirit and rationality.
It was a method refined through the efforts of more than a dozen generations of his family.
Because his family specialized in defensive tactics, this effect was extremely useful when facing an opponent.
Watching Fulan leap once more and bring her sword down from above, Abeyo decided that this time he would launch a defensive counterattack.
When he easily blocked the descending strike and Fulan prepared to retreat as before with a light push of her toes, Abeyo suddenly struck.
He unleashed [Triple Strike].
His arm moved at tremendous speed, delivering three attacks in an instant.
This was also one of his family’s secret techniques. Countless opponents had fallen to his sudden Triple Strike after failing to break his defense.
Yet the only response he received was three dull “THUD, THUD, THUD” sounds.
Abeyo’s pupils shrank. His proud Triple Strike was something very few people could withstand. He had never expected Fulan to be among them.
He immediately resumed his stance, refusing to give Fulan any opportunity to attack.
Gasps of shock came from the apprentices watching below. Many of them had personally experienced Abeyo’s defensive Triple Strike. Very few people could retreat unscathed, let alone block all three strikes.
Bernit was also impressed by how quickly the Triple Strike had been defended against. Unlike the apprentices below, he could see the underlying reason.
“Why does an apprentice who has not joined any school possess such physical capability?” he murmured quietly to himself.
He could clearly see that the physical ability Fulan was displaying at that moment far surpassed Abeyo’s.
If Abeyo had not specialized in defensive counterattacks, he might already have had his opening exploited and been struck hard.
Although Bernit knew that Abeyo’s defensive tactics were among the best methods for minimizing differences in Physique, this exchange made it clear that Fulan greatly surpassed him.
However, Abeyo still had another way to win.
That method was the unique technique of the Sword Chant School—Sword Dance.
The perspective returned to Fulan, who had widened the distance between herself and Abeyo with a trace of lingering tension.
He is very skilled at defensive counterattacks, she thought.
Just now, when the Triple Strike had come toward her, she had reacted instantly by activating the Breathing Method and [Mental Power], which allowed her to block all the attacks.
Now it is time to end the fight.
Fulan glanced at her panel, where another prompt had appeared.
[You used Elven Swordsmanship and nearly made a mistake. Fortunately, your quick reflexes turned danger into safety. Elven Swordsmanship Proficiency +3]
[Elven Swordsmanship Proficiency is full. Elven Swordsmanship Level Increased.]
At the same time, she gained a new trait.
[Elven Combat Method: Although you are human, you have truly learned how elves fight through jumping.]
She felt a new sensation spreading through her body.
It was as if her body had gained a new organ—something that allowed her to sense additional things. Yet she could not clearly describe what it was.
Abeyo also realized that Fulan’s strength was far from ordinary. He had to fight in a fully focused state.
He began adjusting his Breathing Method, synchronizing its rhythm with his Mental Power.
Finally, he opened his eyes and no longer assumed a defensive stance. Instead, he casually lowered his sword.
This was a fundamental technique of the Sword Chant School. It greatly enhanced one’s concentration, and over time that concentration would rise to a peak before gradually declining.
Under such focus, wielding a sword would feel as natural as moving one’s arm.
Watching Fulan charge toward him once more, he activated Sword Dance. As it began, the emotional suppression effect of his Breathing Method weakened slightly.
Seeing that Fulan’s attacking posture remained unchanged, a trace of contempt arose in his heart.
How could someone who has not even joined a school understand that the combination of a school’s spells and sword techniques far surpasses those of territorial nobles without fiefdoms?
That was also one of the reasons he had abandoned his inheritance and come to the City of Apprentices.
Of course, the greater reason was that he might not have been able to compete with his brothers.
As Abeyo prepared to block the attack and unleash another Triple Strike, he suddenly saw Fulan’s charging figure shift sideways.
This was the elven way of fighting.
Changing direction in midair.
Although the speed was slightly reduced, could one imagine the shock of an enemy who had leapt toward you suddenly veering to the right or left while still in the air?
Abeyo experienced exactly that.
This elven combat method clearly defied the normal laws of motion. Acting on instinct, his defensive movement completely missed.
Fulan had already redirected herself to his flank, and her sword struck his other side at the waist.
Unlike the earlier sneak attack, this blow carried far greater force. Abeyo nearly lost his grip on the sword, dropping into a half-crouch as his body tilted toward the place that had been struck.
Before he could recover, Fulan delivered another slash, smashing directly into his hand.
Unable to maintain his grip, his hands loosened.
The wooden sword fell to the ground.
A moment passed after the sound of the sword hitting the floor before the spectators finally realized the match was over, and the room erupted in cries of astonishment.
Abeyo also realized that his sword had been knocked from his hand.
He had lost.
That is impossible… What was that just now?
He recalled how Fulan had leapt toward him and then suddenly changed direction in midair.
How could someone change direction in the air at such speed?
Bernit’s astonished exclamation answered his question.
“That was Elven Swordsmanship. You actually learned it!”