Chapter 84: Attempt, a Pure Venting of Sword Intent!
Sparring with her Familia members, Mikoto always used wooden swords. Even if a winner was decided, neither would get hurt. She had never thought this kind of thing would happen during a Familia expedition. Without the conditions for sparring, they could only use a tree branch as a substitute.
This experience was truly peculiar!
The key point was its feasibility. During a swordsmanship spar, collisions were unavoidable. Both being Level 2 adventurers, could this tree branch really bear the force?
Mikoto maintained a wait-and-see attitude, looking at Liam with his relaxed smile and asking, "Liam, are we really going to use a tree branch to spar?"
"And it seems there's only this one?"
"What I mean is, you should just use your weapon normally. If you're worried about not being able to control your strength, using the scabbard is also fine."
Liam pointed to the tachi at Mikoto's waist, then loosely gripped the tree branch.
Facing the young woman's blank gaze, he added with a relaxed smile, "During the spar, it's fine for me to just use this branch."
Of course, he had to go all out in the spar; this was respect for Mikoto.
This would also serve to verify the guess in his heart: could sword aura only be vented through conventional weapons, or could it be done through other means?
If the guess was correct, then he could better master the amplification effects brought by the "Sword Soul Template"!
"."
Hearing his additional explanation, a hint of complexity flowed into Mikoto's eyes. If not for Liam's resolute gaze, she would have really suspected.
Was he purely using this spar to amuse himself at her expense?
But he insisted on using a tree branch, and it didn't sound like he was joking. But even if she really won, it would be a dishonorable victory.
Mikoto took a deep breath, trying hard to calm her complicated feelings. Facing Kashima and Chigusa's head-shaking, signaling gazes, and considering the harmonious atmosphere of the expedition team.
Just as she was about to politely decline the sparring proposal.
The withered branch held in Liam's right hand suddenly erupted with a strong sword intent. When Mikoto's gaze swept over it, the feeling it gave her…
Was that of a famous sword revealing its sharp edge!
The complexity in the young woman's eyes disappeared, replaced by an unprecedented gravity. She nodded seriously, "Alright, please give me your guidance!"
Sparring with a tree branch was also a novel experience for Liam. As sword intent was poured into it, he could clearly feel the transformation.
It was as if it were no longer a withered branch used for kindling, but a weapon that could be used for combat!
"All things are swords in my hand, effortlessly wielding them in the Void Palace."
This was the ultimate pursuit of a Sword Soul, and also the path he yearned for. A true swordsman would not be diminished by the loss of a weapon.
But relying on the Sword Soul template meant he would ultimately be limited by the template.
In his past life, he stood from a player's perspective. Now, he was putting it into practice. To walk to the end of the way of the sword, he had to forge his own path!
Standing in the open passage, Liam looked at the young woman in the distance, holding a scabbard as a training weapon with both hands. He suggested with a relaxed expression, "Let's begin."
"Please give me your guidance."
Compared to the usually taciturn Liam, the feeling Mikoto got now was that of a sharp weapon revealing its edge. Both used swordsmanship.
Facing his eyes, as calm as an ancient well, Mikoto actually felt a strong sense of oppression.
This was something she had never experienced even with Lord Takemikazuchi. An undercurrent beneath a calm lake, as if it could completely swallow her at any moment!
Of course, one must go all out in a swordsman's spar. She gripped the hilt tightly with both hands. Out of habit, she didn't proactively launch an attack on Liam.
Even though the other party was using a tree branch, she still wanted to guess Liam's next move.
And the figure in the distance ahead, the extremely fast speed that erupted as the battle began, made even Mikoto dazed for a short moment…
"This is definitely not the speed a Lv2 adventurer should have!"
As this thought arose in her mind, Liam's rapidly approaching figure dashed directly in front of her. Facing a diagonal slash.
Mikoto subconsciously raised her scabbard to defend.
The withered branch, imbued with sword intent, showed no signs of breaking when it collided with the scabbard, erupting with a dull impact sound.
"Bang!"
The powerful force generated upon collision made her arm ache.
Just a brief exchange, and Mikoto was already clearly aware of the huge gap between her and Liam's fighting styles. She retreated to create distance.
Looking at the unscathed tree branch, her pupils suddenly contracted.
"How on earth is this done?!" Recalling the earnest teachings about swordsmanship from her Lord God in the past, she used the opening when Liam retracted his attack to step forward and perform a horizontal sweep.
The target was Liam's abdomen.
But the latter, as if he had anticipated it, blocked the attack with the branch held in one hand. There was a clear power difference; she couldn't advance an inch.
Ultimately, it wasn't a sword style from the same world system. Liam didn't think he had much technique to speak of either; it was purely a suppression in terms of stats.
He simply blocked Mikoto's counterattack.
The branch pressed against the scabbard, and he easily pushed forward. The fork of the branch, broken off for aesthetics, was now held in Liam's white demonic hand.
He raised his hand and pointed at the young woman before him.
And the rich sword intent flowing at the tip of the branch's fork was almost materialized!
"It's over."
"...I've lost."
Facing this extremely sharp sword intent, the cruel result was laid out before her. The scabbard, released by Mikoto, fell to the ground with a clatter.
The young woman's tone was full of bitterness.
Her gaze was no longer as firm as it was at the beginning. Although she was mentally prepared, only by truly sparring could one directly feel the oppressive feeling!
Whether it was speed or strength…
Liam didn't seem to possess what a Lv2 adventurer could have. In terms of technique, facing his powerful offensive, she could only passively defend.
What truly shocked Mikoto was the "weapon" Liam used.
A withered tree branch, something even an ordinary child in Orario could easily break, yet in Liam's hand, it was like a sharp weapon.
When pointed at by the branch.
It seemed that if he wished, he could easily pierce through her head!
"Thank you, senior, for letting me realize the gap in our strength." Although they were of similar age, Liam's attainments in the way of the sword fully deserved the honorific.
Noticing the shocked gazes of her Familia members, Mikoto suddenly felt that losing to Liam…
Was nothing to be ashamed of!
The goal of sparring was mutual improvement. It was also during the battle with Mikoto that Liam could clearly feel the rich sword intent existing within himself.
It was born from repeatedly and persistently training Secret Sword Art.
And this sword intent, unique to himself, could, according to his thoughts, be attached to the surface of any "weapon," enhancing its hardness.
Even without carrying any weapon, if he encountered danger, he would have the means to solve the problem.
Liam looked at the young woman before him, her eyes dim. Recalling the details of the battle, he immediately commented, "Your swordsmanship fundamentals are very solid."
"It's just..." He paused slightly to analyze.
Finally, he added, "Your style is too conservative. As a swordsman, you must at least have the courage to swing your sword. That's probably what you lack."
"After all, a real battle is often decided in an instant."
"Understood."
Mikoto firmly memorized Liam's words. Even when sparring against her Familia companions, her idea was also just to counter their moves as they came.
It seemed she really did lack the courage to attack proactively.
Looking at Liam's relaxed smile, her nervous mood was soothed, "Can you give me the tree branch? I want to see how you did it..."
"Why can an ordinary tree branch be so tough?"
"No problem."
The young woman extended her hand with an expectant look, taking the branch that had defeated her from Liam.
But losing the support of the sword intent, and having experienced the spar just now, the branch was already on the verge of collapsing. It didn't even give her time to react.
In an instant, it crumbled into fine powder!
(End of this chapter)
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