Turning Chapter 1007

Chapter 1007

"Aren't you cold, Yuder? Even though this is the south, it's still winter," General Gino asked, expressing a natural concern. He knew that if the body became cold, movements would become sluggish, something that should be avoided in a situation where one had to spar in the winter.

Yuder shook his head, conveying that he was fine. "It's not cold enough for my breath to be visible, so this much is okay."

"Hmm. Well, you're the hero who survived healthily in that cold and dark deep sea, so you must have some tricks up your sleeve. I'm looking forward to it in many ways."

Unlike General Gino, Kishiar and Nathan Zuckerman didn't express any words of concern. Yuder could feel from Kishiar's smiling eyes that he was being told to do as he pleased.

And Meghna, who had to face Yuder...

Poof!

As if stimulated by something, she thrust her practice sword into the ground and unhesitatingly took off her outer garment. She was already lightly dressed without a thick coat, and now that she had taken off her uniform jacket, the only thing left on her upper body was a shirt, just like Yuder.

"If Baron Aile says he doesn't need an outer garment, it's only right for me to take mine off too."

"Meghna, you too?"

"I don't want to hear that I won against a much younger person while wearing more warm clothes."

The general burst into laughter again at Meghna's answer, accompanied by a shrug. "Hahaha. Yes. That's just like you."

It seemed that Meghna Kurlieva had no intention of losing to Yuder.

'Well. It doesn't matter.'

As Yuder stretched his wrists one last time before starting, he asked her briefly, "I was told that you said it was okay for me to fight the way I usually do during the spar, using my Awakener power together... Is that still the case?"

"Yes. If we only use swords for the spar, it would defeat the purpose of this match, which is for us to learn from each other's experiences."

He had thought she would answer like that. The main purpose of this spar was to showcase the combat prowess of the Awakeners, represented by Yuder, to General Gino and Meghna.

And Yuder also wanted to take this opportunity to directly gauge the skills of Meghna Kurlieva, a valuable swordswoman who would succeed the general in the future and whom he had not met in his previous life.

"I see. Then, is it alright if I use my Awakener power at the level I normally do when practicing with other members right after the start of the spar, and gradually increase the intensity depending on the situation?"

Meghna's eyebrows twitched at Yuder's words, which could be considered arrogant.

An ordinary person would have gotten angry upon hearing such words, saying, 'Do you mean you don't need to use all your strength against me?' But the adjutant who had long supported General Gino and the Southern Army did not show any signs of being swayed by emotions to that extent.

Meghna, who had been scanning Yuder's face, raised one corner of her lips and let out a short laugh. "Well, if the one who collapsed a mountain and sank the sea were to unleash all his power at once, I wouldn't even get a chance to clash swords with him. Alright. Do as you wish."

The two took their positions, leaving a distance of about twenty steps between them. Although they had tried to find the quietest place possible, the rumor that they were going to spar had spread like wildfire, and the members who had remained in the branch rushed over in droves.

"Yuder is going to spar with General Gino's adjutant? Really?"

"Amazing! I haven't even fought once yet, but I absolutely can't miss this spectacle!"

"Is that something to brag about?"

"Everyone, be careful not to get hurt!"

"It's a bit much to bet money, so let's bet snacks! Snacks!"

The members took their positions far away without giving them a chance to say anything, their faces brimming with vibrant joy. It was only natural, as many of them enjoyed watching one-on-one spars during training more than eating.

'I've had countless battles with the strongest of the strong in my previous life, but it's the first time I'm fighting in such a chaotic atmosphere...'

Before starting, Yuder briefly exchanged glances with Kishiar, who was sitting with his arms crossed on a seat that Nathan Zuckerman had procured from somewhere. He had only intended to check where Kishiar was, but for some reason, Kishiar responded with a sweet smile, slightly pursing his lips and touching them with his fingers before waving them gently. His demeanor was like that of a noble lady who had come to watch a duel, and for a moment, Yuder's concentration was about to shatter into pieces.

"..."

"I'll make the first attack." Although it would have been proper for Yuder, who was much younger, to make the first move, Meghna did not stand on her pride. Yuder took his eyes off Kishiar and focused on the attack that was rushing toward him like an arrow.

"Haa!"

Bang!

An explosive sound that was hard to believe came from the clashing of practice swords. After swiftly retreating, Yuder's blade was enveloped in a spiral of water, while Meghna's blade was covered in faint fragments of aura.

Those who witnessed it murmured in excitement and amazement. Although he was outwardly maintaining his composure, the veteran general, who had accumulated a wealth of experience, was not much different from them in his heart.

"Hmm. Just by wrapping some water around the blade, it becomes possible to block the aura? What did you do?"

"It's not just water. If you look closely, he momentarily freezes the edge upon contact, then releases it. It's the same principle as a swordmaster's aura not being able to completely cut through a solidly frozen ice wall. Water is weak, but ice is strong."

Kishiar gently responded to General Gino's muttering.

"Ah... I see. Now that they've clashed again, I can see it. Even though I'm old, I'm still a master, but it's impressive that it's difficult for even me to grasp it instantly. Meghna is going to have a hard time."

While the two were conversing, Yuder continued to parry all of Meghna's relentless attacks. Her swordsmanship was undoubtedly sharp, fast, and powerful, but it definitely lacked the feeling of being accustomed to real combat.

'The swordsmanship of those who have only repeated orthodox training without encountering enemies they have to fight with their lives on the line has a strong sense of regularity. It's relatively easy to grasp.'

A middle-aged swordswoman who had never neglected her training for a single moment. However, her swordsmanship was deeply imbued with the unique tedium of someone who had not been able to overcome a wall for a long time. It was only natural, as she had likely focused on her duties as an adjutant of the Imperial Army in recent years instead of delving into swordsmanship that yielded no answers no matter how much she tried.

After deflecting her attacks to a certain extent, Yuder suddenly changed the attribute he had wrapped around his sword from water to fire.

Boom!

Startled by the flames that blazed hotly in front of her face, Meghna reflexively flinched and leaped back. However, her retreating feet sank into the ground that had moved in response to Yuder's power, instantly burying her up to her ankles.

'Ugh...?!'

Yuder leaped over Meghna's head and swung his sword down.

Meghna dodged the attack with an almost instinctive sense, rolling her body. Although her shoes came off, she managed to avoid Yuder's sword tip, which only shattered the empty ground instead of striking her.

Bang!

"Wow. He's even making the ground work for him."

"The scariest thing about fighting Yuder is that even the ground isn't on your side."

"If you get hit by that even once, your head will be ringing."

The Cavalry members who were watching excitedly commented one by one. As Yuder lightly landed on the ground and brushed off his sword, Meghna felt a chill run down her spine when she met his cold gaze.

As she caught her breath, a few strands of her hair that had been cut off at the last moment belatedly scattered on her shoulders. Regardless of her dignity, if she had been even a little slower in rolling on the ground, it would have been her neck that was injured instead of her hair. The thought made her body tense up involuntarily.

'...This is the young hero of the Cavalry.'

Yuder Aile naturally intertwined the power of nature and swordsmanship as if they were one, without any hesitation in each and every attack. How could he achieve such a skilled and accomplished method at his age, which would normally require at least several decades of practice? No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't understand.

'Those who naturally master that incomprehensible level from birth are called geniuses, but this is really... on a different level. It's like facing a mage and a swordsman at the same time. I can't believe this is possible.'

While Meghna was trembling, Yuder was also admiring her in his own way as he looked at his opponent, who was standing with one foot bare after dodging without regard for her body.

'Hmm. I see why she's General Gino's prized disciple.'