I can't seem to find an opening, I thought as my attacks were parried over and over again. Ysevel's phantasmal attack is far beyond my current level to replicate, but maybe this will work, I thought, ducking beneath yet another blow aimed at my neck.
Ysevel came in with a fluid, over-head slash that, when it was inevitably parried, forced her into a low, spinning attack that was aimed at Kalia's thigh. Twirling out of the way just in time, Kalia used her own momentum to try to land a slash of her own on me, which I was forced to block with my blade turned upside down over my shoulder.
Shit, that was close. I have to be faster than that, I thought as I was pushed back from the blow.
As I recovered, I drew from the scarlet realm and dashed in at a much higher velocity than ever before, fully focusing my attention on what I had to do next. I readied an upward slash as my sword trailed behind me, knowing Kalia would obviously be ready for it. However, as my blade arced through the air beside me, I infused my attack with scarlet mana and formed a second phantasmal blade just behind my own.
She whirled her sword through the air to catch my real blade, but the look on her face when she noticed the follow-up attack just behind it told me everything I needed to know.
Gotcha, I thought as I grunted with exertion to maintain my focus on the blade.
Unfortunately for me, the second scarlet blade I brought into existence dissipated on impact with her midsection. Reeling from the attack, she quickly rematerialized a few meters away from us. "Stop!" she shouted, holding up a hand with visible surprise written all over her small features. Ysevel looked at me with a similar expression as we both panted heavily.
"What the fuck was that?" she asked between breaths. "I-I saw your attack and got an idea?" I asked half-heartedly, just as confused as they were. "Thoma," Kalia began, rematerializing just in front of us. I almost panicked when I heard her voice so close to me after mentally noting she was a good distance away.
"Y-yes?" I asked, fearing some kind of reprimand judging by the tone of her voice. "That is what I expect from you," she said with finality. I raised an eyebrow in confusion and looked to Ysevel for some kind of answer, but none came.
"Aaaaand what do you mean by that?" I asked as I reformed the blade around my wrist. "Do you have any idea what you've just done?" she asked, cocking her head slightly to the side. "N-no, not really? I mean, I saw Ysevel's attack with her phantasmal forms and figured I'd give it a try in my own way. She's an incredible fighter, and I'd be stupid not to learn from her, after all," I said, glancing at the two of them.
"Yes, but doing that in the middle of combat is a true demonstration of your abilities," she said, gently touching my shoulder. "I'm not sure how to respond to that," I chuckled nervously as I scratched the back of my head. "Can you do it again?" she asked bluntly. "Yeah, I think so," I replied. "Show me. I want to check something to see if I'm right," she said with a decisive nod.
I stepped away from the pair and reformed my blade as I prepared to recreate the attack. Letting my sword trail behind me as I performed a short dash, I infused the attack with scarlet mana and allowed the second phantasmal blade to trail behind my own. This time, however, it didn't dissipate until I completed the swing and followed my blade through the attack.
I turned to face them as I lowered my blade. "Well, how was that?" I asked nervously, hoping I'd provided Kalia with the example she was looking for. "Thoma, that was extraordinary!" Ysevel said with a wide-eyed stare. "R-really?" I asked in disbelief. "Yes! You not only took the concept of my skill, but you've managed to do it in your own way," she said as she trotted towards me.
Kalia, however, stood in silence with a proud smile on her face.
"Th-thank you," I said humbly, rubbing the back of my neck. "Thoma," Kalia said as she moved towards us. "That's the first time I've ever seen that skill coming from a third stage. To say that I'm proud of you wouldn't be fair to what you've just done," she said warmly, putting a hand on my shoulder.
Wait, so she's seen it before? I thought to myself.
"What do you mean?" I asked briefly. "The minaiha is a technique that is usually developed in the fourth stage and perfected in the fifth," she began to explain. "Ysevel's phantasmal attack is known as jikoeshe. It's a skill that allows her to project mirror images of herself in different locations, but the minaiha is primarily focused on delayed attacks," she said, gesturing over to Ysevel briefly.
"Is that what my skill is called?" Ysevel asked with a twinkle in her eye. "Yes, and honestly, you almost had me with that second jikoeshe. That is, if you hadn't called it out," Kalia replied with a wry grin. "Damn it, I knew I shouldn't have said anything," Ysevel furrowed her brow. "It's fine. Although, I'm also impressed at your ability to wield Wraith mana," Kalia said warmly, getting a look of surprise from Ysevel in response. "Thank you," she said with a bow.
"But as for you, Thoma, I think you've made great progress for a third stage," Kalia said, turning to face me. "Thank you, Kalia," I said with a bow. "Although I do think it's time we've begun the next stage of your training," she said with a grin. "The next stage? What do you mean? I thought we were going to hone our skills until they become second nature to us?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
I must have missed something in my own question because as soon as the words left my mouth, Kalia began to chuckle.
I'm dead, aren't I? I sent Ysevel.
When she didn't answer, my stomach dropped.
"Of course, you'll continue to hone your skills, but I think you'd learn faster in the fourth stage, don't you agree, Ysevel?" Kalia asked with a wry grin.