Eiji tentatively set his parameters, designating Twin-Wings' sword speed as the benchmark to surpass.
But then—
"What?"
Eiji was suddenly shocked.
What was happening?
The target was right before his eyes, and he'd set similar parameters multiple times before.
Why did it fail this time?
Exactly.
The parameter setting had failed!
The moment he tried to designate Twin-Wings as the target, his ability abruptly failed to activate.
It wasn't due to insufficient magic power—he'd done this several times before. Though the consumption was significant, his reserves were absolutely adequate. Twin-Wings' sword speed didn't exceed the upper limit he could set.
The reason for the failure was—the target vanished!
Yes, even though Twin-Wings stood right before him, she seemed infinitely distant, completely impossible to designate as a surpassing target!
It was as if she'd slipped free from his parameter setting!
Deceptively within reach, yet like an impossibly slippery loach, she effortlessly wriggled out of his designated parameters, causing his ability to fail.
"Is this her Blazer ability? Neutralizing mine with her own?"
Eiji's expression grew exceptionally grave.
Twin-Wings' swordsmanship was too formidable.
Even world-class warriors using their ultimate Blazer techniques couldn't overcome her blade.
Because any enemy could be defeated with her sword, people rarely paid attention to what Blazer ability she possessed—resulting in her power remaining completely unknown!
No one knew her ability's nature, and Eiji certainly didn't either. Whether the original work mentioned it, he'd long forgotten.
For now, he could only assume her ability could neutralize others'.
But this put him in grave danger.
Without his ability, he was completely outclassed by Edelweiss in every aspect. How could he possibly defeat her?
Eiji glanced at the Device in his hand.
Closing his eyes briefly, his thoughts rapidly shifted as he formulated his next tactical move.
"Not coming?"
While he strategized, the swordswoman opposite spoke again.
"In that case, I'll reopen our battle myself."
Tap.
She lightly pressed against the ground with her foot, producing a crisp sound.
Instantly, Eiji's hair stood on end.
Without hesitation, he retreated several more steps.
Then he saw the concrete where he'd just stood crack like a spiderweb, fragments scattering everywhere.
"This is... vibration force?"
Eiji inhaled sharply.
Had he not retreated in time, he'd likely be severely injured now.
Transmitting force through the ground?
Could vibration force even be applied like this?
Eiji had always believed delivering vibration force required direct physical contact with the target.
He'd never imagined someone could channel vibration force into the ground, then transmit it through the earth to strike an enemy dozens of meters away—using the earth itself as a medium! Incredible!
Indeed, their skill levels weren't even comparable!
The gap between his swordsmanship and Twin-Wings' spanned entire dimensions!
"No, don't succumb to fear!"
Eiji struggled to suppress the panic rising within, summoning his courageous sword heart.
Even he couldn't help feeling terror when facing such a terrifying swordmaster.
"I'm tired of being weak. To become the strongest, I must surpass her—so there's only one thing left to do!"
Eiji took a deep breath, his gaze sharpening once more.
Fear wouldn't solve anything.
To defeat the formidable enemy before him, his resolve must never waver.
"Third move!—Radiant Splendor!"
Summoning his courage, Eiji charged forward again!
"Not bad, that look in your eyes."
Edelweiss praised lightly before raising her sword to meet him.
"Don't resist it!"
Eiji relaxed his mind as much as possible.
Of course, he couldn't completely erase the tension of battle—that was impossible in this moment.
He simply soothed the surging heat of his fighting spirit and thirst for victory, calming his heart like still water, letting his body enter its most natural state.
A single slash.
This strike was slow, crawling like a tortoise.
So slow that Edelweiss couldn't help but pause, wondering if he was joking or had truly lost the will to fight.
She looked into Eiji's eyes.
There, she saw serene determination. The earlier fervor had vanished, replaced by tranquility—yet not a trace of despair.
Edelweiss didn't raise her sword to block, sensing something unusual. Instead, she sidestepped the strike.
But suddenly—
The moment she shifted, the blade's speed exploded.
"A cheap trick."
Such speed was child's play to her. A sudden acceleration couldn't catch her off guard.
She lifted her feather-like cross sword, striking with lightning speed to deflect the blade.
Her sword carried the same vibrating force as before—a single hit would be enough to cripple him.
Yet in an instant—
His blade slowed again.
With flawless precision, the sword tilted just enough to evade hers, slipping past at an angle.
"What an odd rhythm."
Edelweiss understood now.
This was the essence of his technique.
By alternating between sudden bursts of speed and deliberate slowness, he disrupted his opponent's judgment, throwing off their rhythm to create openings.
It demanded masterful control over acceleration and deceleration, meticulous muscle precision, and absolute resistance to having his tempo broken—otherwise, the technique would collapse instantly.
She hadn't encountered such a move before. Likely the boy's own creation—interesting.
But meaningless.
Her sword thrust forward.
No flourish, just a direct stab toward Eiji's wrist.
His muscle control still lacked refinement. With a single glance, she read his rhythm through the rise and fall of his arm's muscles.
Ting—!
A needle-sharp chime rang out.
Eiji staggered back several steps.
Her sword moved like a flash, impossible to track—so he couldn't evade.
"He blocked it with the hilt?"
Yet Edelweiss felt no impact on his wrist.
The moment she thrust, Eiji subtly adjusted his wrist, intercepting her blade's tip with his sword's hilt.
His slash was far slower than Twin-Wings, forcing him into this specialized defense. But with his instincts, he could assume the perfect guard—avoiding defeat by the narrowest margin.
The sheer difference in strength, dozens of times greater, still forced him back ten steps before he barely managed to disperse the impact.
Once he steadied himself, Eiji didn't wait for Edelweiss to urge him again—he charged forward once more.
His eyes had regained their calm, all traces of battle intent and fear suppressed, as if his mind had settled into tranquil stillness.
Yet those pitch-black pupils of his seemed glued to Edelweiss, scrutinizing her from head to toe without missing a single detail.
***
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