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[LFTAW] Chapter 21: Evolving
🕑 Added 2024-01-09 07:13:40 +0000 UTC*Clang!*
The sharp edge of a sword clashed with a silver scabbard in midair, creating a resonant sound of metal collision.
In the narrow courtyard, two figures wrapped in wind collided with each other, causing the surrounding airflow to become chaotic under the friction of the wind.
Riezel charged recklessly at Ais, his slender sword rising and generating numerous arcs of light, slashing toward the girl.
*Clang!* *Cling!* *Clang!* *Cling!*
Successive collision sounds echoed throughout the courtyard.
Facing Riezel's relentless charge and merciless slashes, Ais effortlessly danced with her scabbard, deflecting all incoming flashes of silver.
Wind collided with wind; sword clashed against sword.
The exchange between the swordsman and swordswoman appeared equal, yet one continuously attacked while the other never took a step back, an ongoing spectacle.
Keen observers could discern who held the advantage in this battle.
Regardless, Riezel felt as if he were facing not a person but an immovable mountain. No matter how he sprinted or swung his sword, he couldn't shake his opponent.
However, confronted with this formidable opponent, he felt no fear. Instead, his blood boiled, while his eyes sparkled.
Yes.
He enjoyed it.
He enjoyed fighting a strong opponent.
He enjoyed the urgency, where any mistake could lead to death at any moment, a battle on the brink.
Driven by this mentality, he unleashed all his strength.
*Clang!* *Cling!* *Clang!* *Cling!* *Clang!*
The collision sounds seemed even more intense and never-ending.
Riezel maneuvered around Ais, launching a variety of attacks towards her slender figure. Blade lights and sword afterimages appeared from all directions, slashing towards her entire body.
There was a forceful cleave aimed at her back.
A vertical cut targeted her ankles.
A sudden thrust aimed at her shoulders.
A direct cut towards her abdomen.
Riezel showed no signs of holding back or avoiding vital points; each slash he swung seemed as if he intended to kill Ais for real, with every strike carrying tremendous power and lethality.
Unable to make a dent in the powerful swordswoman without pulling out all the stops, he understood the gap between them and believed that she wouldn't succumb to this degree of attack. So he attacked with full dedication.
Ais, in response, didn't disappoint him, standing there motionless, effortlessly deflecting every one of his slashes with her scabbard.
The girl didn't just parry with her scabbard; she used various straightforward techniques to neutralize his attacks.
Facing a forceful cleave towards her back, she swayed her scabbard from the side, skillfully deflecting the powerful blow with minimal effort.
Against a vertical slash aimed at her ankles, instead of dodging, the girl lifted her foot and kicked his sword grip, robbing it of strength.
A thrust targeting her shoulder was blocked by the scabbard, emphasizing finesse over force. Though the attack was threatening, it was easily parried.
Even the attempt to cut her abdomen had no effect; the scabbard rebounded the strike, sending it back, causing him to lose control and step back.
Gradually, Ais shifted from defense to offense, using the seemingly harmless scabbard to leave marks on Riezel's body.
Her scabbard swung at an incredible speed, while the attacks were sharp. Even without aid from the wind, each strike created a howling gust, hitting him hard.
Unable to track the scabbard's trajectory, Riezel abandoned defense, focusing all attention on relentless attacks, turning his slashes into arcs that became faster, fiercer, and deadlier.
Watching Riezel, who seemed like a cold and ruthless sword demon, relentlessly attacking Ais, those in the manor witnessing the scene through the windows couldn't stay calm.
"Are you kidding me?" Tiona murmured unconsciously.
"Wasn't he a rookie who recently received a blessing?" Tione wore a disbelief expression.
"Hey! Loki, you fool!"
Even Bete, who returned to the window without anyone noticing, stared at the intense battle below. Angered by what he witnessed, he shouted in Loki's direction.
"Are you sure that brat was just an ordinary guy who got blessed a few days ago? There should be limits to joking!"
Not only Bete but Finn, Riveria, and Gareth were left speechless, one after another looking towards Loki.
"A rookie?" Gareth said doubtfully. "With this skill and ability, he's already an expert even in Level 1."
Indeed, Riezel's displayed strength surprised everyone, defying the expectations of the Familia's first-class adventurers who initially only wanted to gauge the rookie's potential.
"Ahh, shit..." Loki scratched her head tiredly. "Just as I thought, it's gonna be like this..."
Evidently, the reactions of her children were within her expectations.
'That kid's damn growth speed; it's strange not to surprise other kids who are growing at an ordinary pace.'
Loki recalled the events from last night.
Last night, after Ais agreed to Riezel's request and promised to teach him her magic, he didn't immediately leave. Instead, he sought Loki's help for the third status update.
...
Riezel Brynhart
Level 1
STR: F385 → D555
END: F380 → D548
DEX: E431 → C623
AGI: E449 → C637
MAG: I0
...
The total proficiency points in all basic abilities had risen to over 700! In the third status update, Riezel's growth speed remained astonishingly rapid and ridiculous! Especially in 'DEX' and 'AGI', both had entered the C-rank!
This was something even adventurers who had worked hard for several years in Level 1 could not achieve.
As mentioned before, those who could develop basic abilities to A-rank were extremely rare, and those who reached S-rank were even rarer. Upgrading to B-rank was already considered a genius, and there weren't many in Orario.
Yet, Riezel achieved C-ranks in two basic abilities in just three days.
Due to this fact, Loki spent the night yesterday doubting her own existence, not to mention others.
And if others were in such a state, let alone Ais, who faced Riezel head-on.
"Ugh!" Ais's golden eyes stared at the continuously attacking Riezel, her pupils slightly contracting.
In his perception, she was an immovable giant mountain, but in her perception, he seemed like a constantly evolving pupa, seemingly small but gradually growing wings, turning into a moth flying towards the flame.
In terms of basic abilities alone, the current Riezel had surpassed more than 90% of Level 1 adventurers, becoming one of the top experts in Level 1.
With the enchant-type magic 'Ariel' bringing about an increase in basic abilities, he had comprehensive improvements in attack, defense, speed, and more. As long as he didn't encounter opponents at Level 2, he could handle them with ease.
Of course, that kind of strength was almost negligible in Ais's eyes.
As the universally recognized strongest swordswoman with the strength of a first-class adventurer, Riezel was not impressive in front of Ais, who had been a Level 5 adventurer for three years.
However, through Loki's words, Ais also knew that Riezel was just an ordinary human who received a blessing just three days ago and had never received a blessing before.
To possess a strength equivalent to an experienced expert in Level 1 within three days? This fact stimulated the deepest part of Ais's heart, surprising even herself.
Even more surprising for her was that, with their ongoing battle, Riezel was still evolving.
Specifically, he seemed to have found the key to controlling 'Ariel', starting to enhance the wind on his sword or directly detonating it under his feet to increase his attack speed and movement speed. He had truly become a gust of wind, swiftly approaching.
Moreover, as time passed, his sword became sharper and less chaotic, becoming somewhat familiar to Ais.
'Is he learning my swordsmanship?' Ais's heart shook uncontrollably.
She was correct.
Riezel was indeed learning her swordsmanship.
'Is this how I should swing a sword?'
In the continuous attacks, his eyes reveal strands of enlightenment, changing his sword movements step by step.
Becoming simpler!
Becoming faster!
With exceptional memory, Riezel observed Ais's movements carefully, noting every technique she used, and relying on his inhuman growth speed to reproduce and master them.
This was an unexpected harvest.
Riezel, who originally only wanted to learn magic from Ais, only realized this at this moment.
'I should learn not only magic.'
'I should grow not only in status.'
'My combat skill, combat technique, also need learning and growth.'
In his previous life, Riezel had only learned Taijutsu for self-defense. So, where did he learn combat techniques used for actual fights, especially sword technique?
No, he hadn't learned at all.
But now, he had the opportunity to learn.
The changes and transformations that he had undergone in Ais's eyes were no different.
'Too fast!' Ais exclaimed in her mind. 'He's changing way too fast!'
Her realization caused flaws in her seemingly flawless movements.
'Right there!' Riezel's eyes suddenly lit up, capturing these subtle imperfections.
*Clang!*
With her seemingly effortless slash, Ais retreated.
'An opportunity!' Riezel instinctively realized that this was the only opportunity in this battle that could pose a threat to her.
Without hesitation, he aimed straight at Ais's exposed chest and thrust his sword forward.
