More Lines

“This is important, Olivia, don’t overthink things. Focus like you do when practicing your swordplay!”

But on the surface, that person wouldn’t be as good-natured as Flora, and she even revealed a clear expression of worry.

“I’m sorry. Please continue. I’m listening carefully.”

Olivia quickly pushed those distracting thoughts to the back of her mind and listened attentively.

Ten minutes later, Olivia and Flora arrived together at the old practice grounds of the school.

As always, the Royal Academy supported pre-approved official matches, so there were two teachers specifically in charge of the match, and they had already set up the field.

Meanwhile, the students who loved to gossip had also gathered outside.

“Has this silver-haired gorilla gone crazy lately, challenging people left and right?”

“Who knows? Maybe she’s desperate after losing so much, wants to redeem herself… but the opponent she chose is so unreliable, hasn’t Lucassi already surpassed her?”

“But the record is three to three, and last time she didn’t win easily either.

She probably thinks she’s improved now? Lucassi agreed probably to regain his record.”

“I’m betting on Lucassi anyway. I’ve observed this gorilla for a long time, she hasn’t improved much in a year!”

Although Olivia was not one to believe rumors, if it wasn’t a rumor, she actually cared a little.

For example, the evaluation that she hadn’t improved in a long time… She couldn’t deny it, and she’d been tormented by it.

But this time should be okay… She’d prepared beforehand.

Soon, a brown-haired youth walked onto the field.

“Seriously, Olivia, I don’t understand why a defeated opponent like you still has the courage to challenge me…

Is it because of that laughable three-win record?

That’s all in the past, and I’ve already made it a point of talking about it… It’s really annoying.”

Lucassi kept complaining, and it was obvious how much he cared about his record.

This was probably why Flora could successfully persuade him to accept the challenge even when Olivia wasn’t present.

“Please, go easy on me.”

Seeing Olivia’s serious and stubborn look, Lucassi also put away his expression.

He revealed a slightly serious expression.

“To be honest, as an opponent, I know very well that Olivia, you are very diligent, but there is an innate difference in physique and strength between men and women.

As a high-level knight, your strength is much less than mine, and the techniques you are proud of, I have also gradually caught up over the years… including your technique of destroying other people’s weapons.”

Lucassi raised his sword and gestured with his other hand, which was pointing at the line on his sword.

(As Flora said, the other person has also reached this level.)

Olivia couldn’t help but smile wryly.

To destroy everything, this was the direction that person had pointed out for her efforts seven years ago, before leaving.

She was also quite dull, and it was only three years ago that she finally managed to grasp this realm.

But she proudly thought that she was already strong enough, and used this to constantly challenge opponents in the school who were older than her.

It wasn’t until she was defeated by Cesia in a crushing manner that she began to suffer many defeats.

She then understood that there were not only that person and herself who understood this realm.

And it was only a very basic realm.

Even if you couldn’t reach this realm, and you couldn’t see the lines, most people could see similar things through intuition and knowledge.

So she didn’t blame that person for only teaching her this realm.

From one, comes two, from two, comes three… Without reaching the realm of two, you cannot understand what three is.

So she continued to hone the techniques of this realm… but reached a bottleneck a year ago.

Relying solely on her own knowledge, she couldn’t find the path forward.

Ask others?

In fact, many of those who defeated her did not make destroying other people’s weapons their top priority, because for mere sparring, it was unnecessary to go that far.

But considering the physical differences between men and women, she wanted to end the matches quickly and put psychological pressure on her opponents, so she started by cutting lines and destroying many people’s weapons.

And because of this, she offended many people.

Under such negative public opinion, those who could teach her simply didn’t want to bother with her, and the matches were also as quick as possible.

She couldn’t learn anything at all.

As for her family or the elders in the Blue Lion family, they might understand, but since she expressed her inclination to follow that person and join the Heavenly Knight Order, even her family was unwilling to be close to her.

And the Blue Lion family mark on her was also impossible to remove… Coupled with the teachers’ stance, they also didn’t like her previous arrogance.

This made it impossible for her to find someone outside to guide her.

She didn’t blame others, after all, the fault lay with her.

But she still wanted to improve…

(Don’t think so much, just focus on the battle.)

Olivia was very grateful that Flora had taught her a lot of knowledge regarding Lucassi.

But it also meant that even if she happened to win, she wouldn’t be able to regard it as a sign of her own strength.

Moreover, this duel also brought the original three-seven split to a five-five split.

She had to go all out to have a chance of winning.

“Begin!”

With the teacher acting as the referee shouting, Olivia started charging forward according to her plan.

Without armor, she naturally had to use her speed advantage to take the initiative.

But as soon as she ran a few steps, her mind, which should have been focused on the battle, began to ripple.

When she engaged with Lucassi in close combat, she was certain—

“Why has your strength and speed increased so much?” Lucassi exclaimed.

Her body felt light.

Lighter than any day in the past year.

Whether it was running speed, sword swinging speed, or reaction speed, she was faster than usual.

And a sword strike with all her might was also more powerful than usual.

“Don’t underestimate me, I’m improving too!”

But just as Lucassi said, her performance had only slightly caught up, and there was still an obvious difference compared to Lucassi’s physical fitness…

No.

Strength might be, but speed and agility were where she had the advantage.

After the two were offset, they were evenly matched, and no one could do anything against each other through pure physical confrontation.

Why was this?

Olivia thought of that strange dream, thought of what happened today, and thought of the teachings of Flora all along.

(Because I got enough rest, my body can perform its original strength… Seriously, I was too stupid before, wasn’t I?)

After understanding the reason for this, Olivia couldn’t help but laugh at herself.

But just this wasn’t enough.

She had to use the tactics that Flora had taught her.

At this time, she noticed that Lucassi, realizing that he had no advantage in his physical qualities, seemed embarrassed to protect the line of destruction on his sword.

This was a common behavior for those who had reached the realm of destroying everything.

Olivia had also done it.

But in the face of opponents with higher realms and greater strength, it was a meaningless behavior.

Just like Snow, even with a wooden sword, she couldn’t cut off her sword.

Her every sword strike avoided her sword, and the her force was dispersed.

She would even let her own sword be subjected to a heavier slash… Speaking of which, can she do something similar?

Thinking this, Olivia tried to slash at the place on Lucassi’s sword that he couldn’t protect.

At first, nothing special happened.

Or rather, there were too many effects, which conflicted with each other, ultimately resulting in no effect.

But soon, she remembered Snow’s demonstration.

She remembered the sword techniques she usually practiced, remembered the feeling of holding the sword in her hand, and remembered the different feelings when engaging in close combat with others in various positions…

Gradually, more lines appeared on her opponent’s sword.

There were lines that had no effect when cut, lines that directly caused vibrations, making it highly likely that the sword would be dropped… even some point-like existences appeared.

But this point-like existence was easy to vanish in an instant.

“Are you toying with me?” Lucassi furiously swung his sword.

Seizing a certain opportunity, Olivia thrust her sword out, and pointed it at a certain position on the opponent’s sword.

Lucassi couldn’t fully exert his strength, and his sword was knocked away in an instant, but his footwork was too big, and he stumbled and fell to the ground.