Passing through the streets, the group arrived at a secluded stretch of coastline outside the city.
The waves crashed rhythmically against the reefs, and the salty sea breeze chased away some of the midday heat.
Shane rubbed his stomach, which wasn't quite full yet, and muttered under his breath, "Honestly... I really wanted to order another two bowls of rice."
"I'll treat you later!" Erza immediately chimed in, her eyes burning with intensity. The anticipation for magic was written all over her face. "So, how do I trigger my Magic right now?"
Seeing the girl so eager to try, Shane smiled. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Don't rush. Try swinging your sword first. Find the feeling."
He offered a hint: "Think back to the state you were in at the Tower of Heaven when you split those magic shockwaves."
Hearing this, Erza immediately drew the longsword she was carrying. She walked to an open space nearby, focused her mind on the memory, and began to swing earnestly.
The blade sliced through the air, making swish, swish sounds. Although her movements were casual, they already carried a certain sharpness.
Watching from the side, Shane couldn't help but marvel. Even without Magic, this girl had a natural gift for combat.
Millianna crouched obediently on the sand nearby, resting her chin in her hands. She watched Erza swing the sword without blinking, her small face full of curiosity.
After trying repeatedly for a while, fine beads of sweat appeared on Erza's forehead. She stopped moving and shook her head in frustration. "It's no good. I can't find that feeling."
Grandpa Rob, who had been observing silently, spoke up.
"Just swinging at the air might not be enough. Little Erza, didn't your potential explode under the pressure of actual combat back then? Why not try to replicate that situation? Maybe the feeling will come back."
Shane and Erza looked at each other; both felt the suggestion made a lot of sense.
"He's right. We do need some external stimulus!" Shane nodded. He casually untied the gray cloth wrapped around his right hand.
Amidst a flickering glimmer of light, the cloth in his hand transformed into a sleek, beautifully curved Tachi.
The blade was long and narrow, its curve elegant, reflecting a cold glint in the sunlight.
It seemed that manifesting a Tachi via the Saber ability provided an extra bonus. After repeated testing last night, Shane had determined this was the weapon with the highest material strength he could currently make.
Actually, I still prefer spears...
Shane sighed inwardly, but he was a pragmatist. With a flick of his wrist, he swung a casual test cut.
The weight, the balance, the tactile sensation of the edge slicing through the air—every detail was transmitted to his palm.
"Come on, Erza," he said, taking a stance. "Don't hold back. Come at me just like you did back then."
Erza's eyes sharpened. She had wanted to fight Shane for a while now. Without hesitation, she gripped her sword with both hands, let out a shout, and charged, the tip of her sword thrusting straight at Shane's chest.
Clang!
The Tachi and the longsword collided, producing a crisp metallic ring.
The moment the blades touched, an imperceptible glimmer flashed in Shane's eyes.
A strange sensation welled up in his heart. The Tachi in his hand felt like an extension of his senses.
Through the subtle vibrations transmitted through the blade, he could clearly "perceive" the structure and hardness of the longsword in Erza's hand. He could even sense the tiny abrasions from use and the weak points where the internal stress was uneven!
It was an instinct for weapons that bordered on the supernatural.
Is this the ability of Saber's Noble Phantasm? Shane's thoughts raced. He guessed this might be similar to Arash's [Arrow Construction]—a special sensory ability granted to him by the Heroic Spirit.
What a terrifying ability...
In a life-or-death struggle between blades, being able to see the "Lines of Death" of a weapon was tantamount to holding the key to victory.
If you lose your weapon, you're like a bird with broken wings. How can you fight?
In the next few rounds of exchange, Shane's movements seemed casual, yet every block or slash landed precisely on the points where Erza found it hardest to follow through, or where her blade was most fragile.
After just three or four moves, Shane flicked his wrist. The Tachi traced a tricky arc, slicing upward from below, and struck precisely on a "Death Point" near the guard of Erza's sword.
Snap!
With a crisp sound, the longsword in Erza's hand snapped in two!
The broken tip spun through the air and stabbed into the sand not far away. The momentum of the Tachi even left a thin, bloody scratch on Erza's arm.
Erza stood holding the broken half of her sword, stumbling back two steps, her face written with shock.
She felt like she was full of openings in front of Shane. Every attack felt like she was voluntarily delivering her weakness to his blade.
It was like a fly trapped in a spiderweb—the more she struggled, the more breathless she became from the invisible threads binding her.
"You really are... a monster..." She looked at the black-haired boy standing opposite her with his blade, that annoying peaceful smile still hanging on his face.
They were about the same age, yet not only did he possess Magic, but he also had such master-level swordsmanship and archery... Where did he learn all this? Are there really geniuses who are born knowing everything?
But despite her lament, there was no discouragement in Erza's eyes. Instead, a more vigorous fighting spirit ignited.
"Hmph!"
She snorted lightly and, without hesitation, grabbed the hem of her simple dress.
Riiiiip!
She tore it straight open from above her knees, revealing smooth, straight legs. Her movement was instantly much less restricted.
Next, she deftly used a strip of cloth torn from the dress to tie her scarlet long hair into a sharp high ponytail.
Having done all this, she gripped the broken sword again. Her gaze was like tempered steel as she assumed an offensive stance once more, staring at Shane without showing any weakness.
"Nice spirit," Shane nodded approvingly. "However..."
With a thought, a longsword identical in make to her broken one floated beside him. He casually tossed it to Erza.
"Use this," he said calmly. "There is no training value in using a broken sword. A good weapon... is equally important."
Erza caught the longsword. It felt heavy in her hand. She tried swinging it a couple of times; it was very smooth. Even though the dimensions were no different from before, it was infinitely better than the previous one.
Shane quietly observed her posture holding the sword and nodded slightly.
As expected, Saber is special, he thought to himself.
Back in the Tower of Heaven, he had tried to lend Arash's crimson longbow to others to see if they could use it, but the moment the thought arose, the Noble Phantasm transmitted a strong rejection.
But now, the replica manifested by Saber could be given to others to use... The degree of freedom was beyond imagination. Several application scenarios flashed through Shane's mind in an instant.
Those Depth Authorities weren't wasted! Expensive things are expensive for a reason!
He couldn't help but feel delighted, silently giving a thumbs-up to the unnamed Saber.
The two clashed again.
This time, Erza completely let loose.
She seemed to have inexhaustible energy. Her attacks came in waves, one after another, completely disregarding stamina consumption.
Even if her arms went numb from the shock, even if she gained a few more shallow cuts, she didn't care. She adjusted her posture again and again, attacking fiercely.
Clang!
Another heavy collision.
Erza used the force to retreat half a step, panting slightly. The red hair on her forehead was wet with sweat, sticking to her smooth skin.
She noticed that there were only a few faint white marks on the longsword in her hand. She gained a deeper understanding of the importance of a "good weapon."
Not only is it sharper and sturdier, but... it seems to conduct my power better? The girl realized something.
I've decided, she thought. In the future, I must get more good stuff like this to make fighting easier!
With this thought, the girl pounced again.
This time, she felt the weapon in her hand was unusually compatible, as if it were faintly responding to her will.
At this moment, her state was better than ever before.
CLANG—!
A clash louder and heavier than any before exploded!
Shane felt the power transmitted from the blade suddenly increase by a notch, carrying a strange "resilience." His Tachi, which had been handling things with ease, was actually forced away by this strike!
Surprise flashed in his eyes. He immediately sheathed his blade and retreated, a gratified smile on his face.
"Stop! That feeling just now! Remember it, Erza!"