The moonlight cast long shadows across the clearing as two figures faced each other, while the gentle breeze announced its presence for the upcoming spar that's about to go down.
A silver-haired woman held her sword with divine perfection, while the normal-looking man gripped his blade like his life depended on it.
Which, honestly, it probably did.
"I shall not use any divine abilities or skills during this spar. Only pure technique and physical strength."
Aurelia stood perfectly still, her weapon held in a flawless guard position.
"Though I should also mention that my base physical capabilities are still considerably higher than Lord Nero's… So feel free to attack with everything you have."
"Well, that's comforting."
Nero rolled his shoulders and tried to look more confident than he felt.
His Greater Instinct was already analyzing her stance, looking for any possible weakness.
Spoiler alert: there weren't any.
But that doesn't mean he was just gonna give up.
"Whenever you're ready, Lord Nero."
'Alright, here goes nothing. Let's see if all that hellish training actually paid off.'
After all, this spar is a test to gauge his hard work.
*Whoosh!*
Nero exploded forward without warning, Dawnbreaker aimed straight at her center mass.
*Clang!*
Aurelia deflected the thrust with a casual flick of her wrist that made it look effortless.
'Shit, that barely made her move.'
*Swish!*
Nero immediately followed up with a horizontal slash, putting his full strength behind it.
*Clang!*
Another easy parry that sent vibrations shooting up his arm.
"Your form is adequate, but predictable. Try varying your timing."
"Thanks for the coaching while still kicking my ass."
*Stab!*
Nero feinted left, then thrust right at the last second.
*Clang!*
Still blocked like she'd seen it coming from a mile away.
'Okay, so straightforward attacks aren't going to work. Time to get creative.'
*Slash!*
A diagonal cut from high to low.
*Clang!*
Parried.
*Swipe!*
Low horizontal slice aimed at her legs.
*Clang!*
Deflected.
"Are you reading my mind or something?"
"Your movements make it easy to read your intentions, Lord Nero… Your shoulder drops before a thrust, your grip shifts before a slash."
Aurelia stepped back and lowered her sword slightly.
"Additionally, you're focusing too much on offensive maneuvers. Defense is equally important."
*Whoosh!*
She demonstrated by launching a lightning-fast thrust at his chest.
*Clang!*
Nero barely got his blade up in time, the impact nearly ripping Dawnbreaker from his grip.
"See? Lord Nero's defensive instincts need work."
"My defensive instincts are screaming at me to run away and hide."
"Running is not always an option."
*Swish! Swish! Swish!*
Aurelia unleashed a series of attacks that almost made Nero scramble like a chicken with its head cut off.
*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*
He managed to block them all, but his arms were already starting to feel like overcooked noodles.
"Better. You're adapting to my rhythm."
"Yeah, the rhythm of getting completely destroyed."
'She's right though. I am starting to read her attacks better. The muscle memory from all that training is finally kicking in.'
*Whoosh!*
Another thrust, this one aimed at his shoulder.
Nero twisted away and he immediately countered with a quick slash at her wrist.
*Clang!*
Aurelia pulled back and deflected in one smooth motion.
"Much better. You're beginning to see openings."
"I'm beginning to see why people pay money to watch professional fights…"
Despite his jokes, Nero was actually starting to find his groove.
His basic Valkyria Swordsmanship training was taking over, turning conscious thought into pure instinct.
While his hellish bodyweight exercises made a strong body foundation for him to use the swordsmanship without dislocating all of his joints.
The foundation forms flowed together more naturally now in his refined body.
*Stab! Parry! Slash! Defend!*
His footwork also improved as he stopped overthinking every step.
His blade work became smoother as he let muscle memory guide him.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
They exchanged a rapid series of attacks and blocks.
Nero was still getting his ass handed to him, but at least he wasn't embarrassing himself anymore.
"Your improvement is remarkable, Lord Nero. A month ago, this exchange would have ended in seconds."
"Yeah, well, a month ago I was basically a walking target dummy."
*Swish!*
Aurelia aimed a thrust at his thigh.
Nero jumped back and immediately went on the offensive again.
*Stab! Slash! Stab!*
A combination he'd practiced until his arms wanted to fall off.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
They were all blocked, of course, but Aurelia actually had to move her feet to do it.
"Excellent. You're now creating pressure."
"It only took me getting my soul beaten out of my body to figure it out."
'But she's right. I'm actually making her work for it now. The problem is, I'm getting tired and she looks like she could do this all night.'
Despite the short time, the exchange between them is spontaneous and fast, with no breaks in between.
Only about 15 minutes have passed, but the sword exchange between them easily exceeded a few hundreds.
If they were using any normal sword, it would've been shattered a long while ago.
*Whoosh!*
Nero pressed his advantage, throwing everything he'd learned at her.
The basic forms flowed together in combinations that would've been impossible a month ago.
But still…
*Clang!*
Slowly and inevitably, he was losing ground.
Aurelia's technique was just too perfect.
There aren't any flows for him to read and take advantage of.
Every attack he made, she had an efficient counter for.
Every opening he thought he saw turned out to be bait.
"... This isn't working."
Nero disengaged and jumped back, breathing like he'd just run a marathon.
His stamina was ragged while Aurelia looked fresh as a daisy.
"I can't break through your defense… with just sword techniques."
"Then perhaps Lord Nero should try a different approach."
Aurelia tilted her head, genuinely curious what he'd come up with.
'Different approach, huh? Well, I've never been one to play fair anyway.'
That's right, he was never the "talent and prodigy" type of guy.
When he wants something he always works hard for it.
Nero's eyes darted around the clearing, his Greater Instinct cataloging everything he could use.
Rocks, fallen branches, uneven ground, that low-hanging tree limb.
"You know what? You're absolutely right."
'If I can't find any openings, I'll create one!'
*Thunk!*
Nero kicked a fist-sized rock straight at her face without any warning.
*Slash!*
Aurelia deflected it with her sword, but the unexpected move broke her rhythm for a split second.
*Stab!*
Nero lunged forward during the opening.
*Clang!*
Still blocked, but he'd gotten closer than any previous attack.
"Using the environment to create opportunities? It's a good combination of your fighting style, Lord Nero."
"I prefer the term 'creatively disadvantaged.'"
'Okay, so dirty tricks work. Let's see how many I can pull before she adapts.'
*Whoosh!*
Nero grabbed a handful of dirt and flung it at her eyes.
*Swish!*
Aurelia closed her eyes and swept her blade in a wide arc, clearing the dirt and forcing him back.
"Predictable, but effective."
"How about this then?"
*Crack!*
Nero stepped on a large dry branch, snapping it in half.
He kicked the broken piece at her ankles while simultaneously attacking high.
*Clang!*
Aurelia blocked the sword but had to hop over the branch.
For just a moment, she was actually off balance.
*Stab!*
Nero pressed the attack, aiming for her shoulder.
*Clang!*
Blocked again, but she'd had to strain to do it.
"Much better. You're learning to think tactically."
"I'm learning that honor is overrated when you're getting your ass kicked."
'She's adapting faster than I can come up with new tricks. I need something bigger. Something she won't see coming.'
The battle continued with Nero pulling every dirty move in the book.
Kicking dust, throwing rocks, using fallen logs as obstacles.
None of it was enough to land a hit, but he was keeping her busy.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
Their blades met in increasingly desperate exchanges.
Nero's breath was coming in ragged gasps now.
His arms felt like lead weights and his legs were starting to shake.
'This is it. I'm running out of steam fast. If I'm going to do something, it has to be now!'
Nero suddenly stopped attacking and backed away to the center of the clearing.
His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath.
"Getting tired already, Lord Nero?"
"Just... thinking."
'She's too perfect. Every technique I know, she knows better. Every trick I try, she counters. There's only one way to beat someone who's better than you at everything.'
Everything he learnt came from her.
That's why it's easy for her to predict his moves when it comes to pure swordsmanship and movements.
'Let's see if this will work.'
Nero's eyes suddenly narrowed as a plan formed in his mind.
It was stupid, risky, and would probably end with him eating dirt.
But it was the only shot he had.
"You know what, Aurelia? You're right about everything."
"I beg your pardon?"
"My form is predictable. My attacks are easy to read. My defense sucks."
Nero raised Dawnbreaker and shifted into a stance she'd never seen before.
"But you forgot one thing."
*Whooom!*
Power flowed through his blade as his mana channeled into his first active skill.
---
[Fierce Stab (C), Lv: 1]: A concentrated thrust technique that channels the user's full strength into a single devastating point. Learned through repetitive training and countless hours of perfecting basic forms.
Effects: +50% piercing power, +60% accuracy.
---
"What's that?"
"I'm really, really stubborn."
*WHOOSH!*
Nero launched himself forward with every ounce of strength he had left.
His thrust was perfectly aimed, all his power focused into one point.
*CLANG!*
Aurelia deflected it, but the impact actually made her take a step back.
The sheer force behind the attack caught her off guard.
"Impressive… You developed an active skill."
"Like I said. I'm really stubborn."
'But that's not the real attack. Come on, take the bait.'
Aurelia moved to counter-attack, exactly like Nero had hoped.
*Swish!*
Her blade came in fast and low, aimed at his ribs.
At the last possible second, Nero activated his second skill.
---
[Flowing Slice (C), Lv: 1]: A fluid cutting technique that allows the user to redirect their blade's path mid-swing. Developed through understanding the principles of flow and redirection.
Effects: +65% maneuverability, +50% cutting power, allows direction changes during attacks.
---
*Whoosh!*
Nero's sword flowed like water, changing direction mid-attack.
Instead of trying to block her counter, he redirected his blade around it.
The move was so unexpected that for the first time in this spar, Aurelia's perfect defense had a gap.
Even the usual stoic angel was a bit surprised, clearly stunned.
*Slice!*
Dawnbreaker grazed her upper arm, cutting through fabric and drawing a thin line of blood.
*Thud!*
Nero collapsed to his knees, completely drained.
Both skills had burned through what little mana he had in his body.
His vision was getting blurry and his hands were shaking.
"... Well, shit."
He flopped onto his back and stared up at the stars.
"I lost, didn't I?"
Nero made a wryly smile.
But contrary to his expectation…
"No, Lord Nero. You won."
"What now?"
Aurelia held up her arm, showing the shallow cut on her sleeve.
A few drops of red blood glittered in the moonlight like liquid starlight.
"You landed a hit. By the terms of a spar, that constitutes victory."
"Holy crap… I actually did it?"
Nero sat up, but the moment he saw the wound, guilt hit him like a truck.
"Shit, Aurelia, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to actually hurt you."
"It is merely a scratch. Nothing for Lord Nero to concern himself with."
"No. Let me see it."
"... L-Lord Nero, it is truly insignificant."
"Let me see it anyway."
Nero insisted with a stern look as he grabbed her arm gently and pushed up her sleeve to examine the cut.
It was shallow, barely more than a paper cut, but it was real.
He actually managed to wound a divine being.
Meanwhile,
*Thump! Thump!*
Aurelia's heart started doing that fluttering thing again as Nero's fingers traced around the wound.
His touch was gentle, worried, completely focused on making sure she was okay.
Her golden eyes were a bit alarmed and panicky as she watched him fuss over what was essentially a tiny scratch.
"... S-See? It's already starting to heal."
Nero looked up at her, their faces were suddenly very close.
"You sure you're okay?"
"... I–I am perfectly fine, Lord Nero."
Her voice was softer than usual, almost tender.
With the way she turned to avoid his gaze, with a bit of a blush…
"Good. I'd feel like absolute shit if I seriously hurt you during training."
Nero internally chuckled at that sight, but didn't comment about it.
"Your concern is... appreciated."
They stayed frozen like that for a moment, his hand still holding her arm.
The night air suddenly felt charged with something neither wanted to name.
"We should head back."
Nero finally released her arm and stood up, offering her a hand.
"Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
"... Indeed. The mission… awaits."
Aurelia took his hand and let him help her up.
As they walked back toward the camp, both were lost in their own thoughts.
Tomorrow they'd face an intelligent plant monster with questionable allies.
Tonight, Nero crossed a line he thought he couldn't cross.
Nero was no longer the helpless summoner who needed constant babysitting.
'Another improvement…'
But,
'Still not enough to become an OP MC.'
Nero narrowed his eyes.
Bro literally wants to become "the knight who saves the princess" kind of guy.
'I want to become worthy… before asking Aurelia for her hand.'
He's clearly planning to confess.
'With the way she blushed everytime I hold her, it means that I didn't fuck it up.'
At least, he thought so.
That's why he needs to push forward… in both strength and their connection.
Meanwhile,
*THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!*
"..."
Aurelia, who's ahead of Nero, secretly grasped her chest with a frustrated and complicated look on her face.
Needless to say, the tomato redness on her cheeks betrays the way she secretly bit her lips.
It's a cute resistance for who knows how long she can hold.
***
STATUS UPDATE
---
Name: Nero Walker (Jobless Degenerate)
Race: Human
Level: 14 → 16
Stats:
STR: 1.3/10 → 1.6/10 (+0.15) = 1.75
DEX: 1.1/10 → 1.4/10
INT: 1.3/10
VIT: 2.35/10 → 2.37/10
LUCK: 1.005/10
CHA: 0.8/10 → 1/10 (+0.01) = 1.01
Active Skills:
– [Fierce Stab (C), Lv:1]
– [Flowing Slice (C), Lv:1]
Passive Skills:
– [Greater Instinct (C), Lv: 2]
– [Valkyria Swordsmanship (SR), Lv: 1]
Unique Abilities:
– [Waifu Summoner (SSR)]
– [Copycat (A) (Flawed)]
---
***
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