Fantasy Libary 44

Title: A Month of Training

Seidoukan Academy, Multipurpose Arena.

In addition to being a venue for duels, the Multipurpose Arena also housed numerous training rooms and practice fields. However, these facilities weren’t open to everyone without restrictions; certain conditions had to be met to gain access. These rooms were among the most sought-after areas in the academy.

Within the arena, there were twelve training rooms that couldn’t be booked by anyone under any circumstances. This was because these twelve rooms were exclusively reserved for the Page One students.

One of the many privileges of being a Page One at Seidoukan Academy was not only having a private dorm room but also a private training room. The quality and size of these training rooms were distributed based on rank; the higher the rank, the better the training room.

For example, the private training room reserved for the academy’s top-ranked student was the best of them all. It had an extremely high ceiling and enough space to accommodate an entire sports stadium. Even if someone acted recklessly here, they wouldn’t need to worry about causing significant damage.

At this moment, two individuals were engaged in a fierce battle in this top-ranked training room.

*CLANG!*

With the sound of metal clashing, Ser-Veresta, the blade with a pristine white edge, collided violently with the cold, gleaming blade of Senbazuru. Sparks erupted like fireworks, scattering in all directions.

“Haah!”

Kirin, dressed in a red sports outfit designed specifically for women, let out a loud shout as her slender wrist twisted, wielding the renowned Senbazuru sword. The blade sliced through the air, unleashing a flurry of lightning-fast slashes toward her opponent.

*CLANG!* *CLANG!* *CLANG!*

The continuous sound of metal clashing echoed, and sparks erupted again and again, illuminating the training room with a dazzling spectacle.

Facing Kirin’s fierce and precise attacks, Ark, dressed in a blue sports uniform for men, remained calm. His hand gripped Ser-Veresta, moving as if guided by instinct. Without moving his body, he swiftly parried the incoming strikes.

The sword, radiating intense heat, clashed repeatedly with Senbazuru yet didn’t destroy it.

Anyone witnessing this would surely be astonished. Ser-Veresta, renowned for its invincible nature and ability to burn through anything in its path, was merely deflecting Kirin’s blade instead of cutting through it. This contradicted the exaggerated legends surrounding the sword.

However, both Ark and Kirin seemed accustomed to this spectacle and continued their relentless duel without pause.

*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*

Kirin’s attacks sliced through the air, growing sharper, faster, and more ferocious. The slashes became stronger and more devastating, creating a storm of blazing blades.

Like a butterfly, Kirin flitted around Ark, the cold steel arcs of Senbazuru slashing from every angle, direction, and trajectory. The resulting scene was a whirlwind of swordplay.

Every time Ark parried Kirin’s sword with Ser-Veresta, it felt as if a spring was being compressed, pushing her to attack even faster.

Kirin displayed exceptional swordsmanship, twisting her wrist and body in response to Ark’s attacks. This allowed her to maintain and even accelerate the pace of her assault.

This was the essence of the Toudou Style’s secret technique—an endless and unrelenting barrage of attacks.

Compared to her performance in the recent Official Ranking Battle, Kirin had undoubtedly grown stronger.

Yet, while Kirin had improved, Ark hadn’t been idle either.

“—Now, my turn.” Suddenly, as if delivering a final verdict, Ark moved.

*BUZZ!*

Ser-Veresta abruptly transformed into an offensive weapon. The sword vibrated intensely before unleashing a powerful strike that intercepted Kirin’s approaching blade.

*CLANG!*

With the loudest clash yet, Ark’s brutal counterattack succeeded. A wave of heat exploded as Kirin was sent flying by the force of the blow.

“Ugh…!”

Kirin felt numbness spread through her hand as she struggled to stabilize herself. Her feet slid across the ground before she finally came to a stop.

By then, Ark had blurred into motion, charging toward her at high speed.

Kirin hurriedly raised her sword, ready to counter Ark’s close-range attack.

However, mid-strike, Ark suddenly lifted Ser-Veresta and, accompanied by a loud hum, hurled it directly at her.

“What—?!” Kirin jolted in shock.

*BAM!*

Kirin was completely unprepared for Ark using Ser-Veresta as a throwing weapon, failing to react in time. Ser-Veresta, used as a javelin, struck her body directly.

The tip of the sword collided violently with the Prana protecting Kirin’s body, enhancing her defensive capabilities to the maximum. Although the attack didn’t penetrate her defenses, it still sent her flying, slamming her hard into the training room wall.

*BUZZ!*

Before she could catch her breath, Ser-Veresta emitted a hum and hovered in the air, its tip pointed directly at her forehead.

“—“

Kirin’s eyes widened in shock, and she didn’t dare move a muscle.

After a moment, as if resigning to her fate, she sighed and dropped her sword, Senbazuru.

“Are you okay?” Ark approached her, grabbing the hilt of Ser-Veresta and lowering the blade.

“I-I’m fine.” Kirin assessed herself and realized Ark had held back well. Thanks to her exceptional energy barrier, she hadn’t sustained any injuries.

“I lost to Ark-senpai again…” Kirin sounded slightly despondent as she said this.

“There’s nothing to be done. Your approach is too rigid. The swordsmanship of the Toudou Style is undeniably strong, but its strength lies in its relentless barrage of attacks. While emphasizing offense, this technique clearly lacks flexibility in defense. When someone counters you with unconventional moves, your openings become glaringly obvious.”

Ark deactivated Ser-Veresta, returning it to its Orga Lux form. Seeing Kirin’s despondency, he reached out and patted her shoulder.

“Besides, you don’t know much about Ser-Veresta. You didn’t know the sword could act on its own without relying on its wielder, which is why you were caught off guard earlier.”

Ark’s explanation seemed to lift Kirin’s spirits a little. Not because she felt comforted, but because she was genuinely impressed.

“I’ve been training with you for almost a month now, and I’m still amazed at how you wield Ser-Veresta.” Kirin admitted earnestly. “It feels like you’ve fully mastered its power. Even though it’s said that the sword can cut through anything, you can control it so precisely that you can fight with Senbazuru without damaging it.”

“It’s not that difficult.” Ark replied calmly, without a hint of boasting. “Ser-Veresta’s unstoppable and all-consuming superiority ultimately stems from the extreme heat concentrated in its blade.”

“So, if you simply reduce the blade’s temperature and limit its output, those properties won’t manifest.”

To ensure a fair training environment, Ark deliberately reduced the heat and power output of Ser-Veresta when sparring with Kirin. This prevented Senbazuru from being destroyed instantly upon contact with the sword.

Without this adjustment, the two of them wouldn’t be able to compete on equal footing.

“Senpai, your skills have improved so quickly.” Kirin said, unsure whether to feel annoyed or happy for him. “Unlike in the Official Ranking Battle last month, I can’t beat you with swordsmanship anymore. You always say you’re not skilled in sword techniques, but even without relying on Ser-Veresta’s power, you might still be able to defeat me with skill alone.”

To this, Ark had only one response:

“It depends on the situation.”