The derisive laughter swelling and receding around her failed to stir any ripple on You’er’s face; she simply fixed her gaze intently on Hansen, who was charging towards her with blistering speed.
It wasn’t merely the blade at his hip, but Hansen’s entire being that seemed to embody the attack.
****
As he closed the distance to within a meter of You’er, Hansen abruptly pivoted, drawing his blade from its scabbard in a swift motion.
“Draw Sword Technique – Wind Scythe.”
You’er’s eyes caught only a fleeting glimpse of a pale green electric gleam, arcing diagonally upwards at a forty-five-degree angle towards her chest and abdomen. Hansen was employing an overhead draw technique.
Hansen’s draw was lightning-fast; even a moment’s hesitation from You’er would have resulted in a direct hit.
In that critical instant, You’er’s toes barely grazed the ground, her body twisting subtly, allowing her to evade the strike with astonishing precision.
“Hm?!”
This sight ignited a spark in many onlookers’ eyes, suggesting that this match might prove more captivating than initially thought.
‘No counter-attack?’ Hansen mused, a hint of irritation in his tone. ‘It seems I’m being underestimated.’
Hansen’s strike had missed its mark.
Logically, You’er could have seized this opportunity to draw her sword and gain an advantage, yet she did not.
Her blade, ‘Hidden Edge,’ remained securely sheathed.
“Since you won’t retaliate, I’ll cease to hold back!”
Hansen’s gaze sharpened.
He cared not for You’er’s intentions; his sole objective was to overwhelm her with the fiercest possible assault.
Hansen’s elemental energy was wind-aligned, yet its characteristic wasn’t ‘sharpness’ or ‘rending,’ but ‘speed.’
When fully unleashed, his blade’s gleam was virtually invisible to the naked eye, capable of leaving more than two afterimages trailing in the air.
You’er furrowed her brow.
Such a dense and furious onslaught could certainly not be dodged by sight alone.
She… she could *feel* it.
It was an instinct, her body and soul already tempered countless times through myriad battles and skirmishes.
A blade strike inevitably displaced air, especially with this wind elemental energy; she could navigate the attack entirely by discerning the flow of air currents and pressure.
Thus, a truly peculiar scene unfolded in the arena.
Regardless of how intricate Hansen’s attack angles became, or how ferocious his cutting speed, You’er consistently anticipated them.
Her body, light as a wisp of cotton, would retreat, advance, or pivot, effortlessly evading the entire barrage of strikes.
“Holy smokes—no way! They dodged *everything*?”
“How did they do that?! Hansen’s blade speed is impossible to track with just your eyes!”
“They can even see attacks from behind! Good heavens, do they have eyes all over their body beneath that outfit?”
“…”
On the sidelines, contrasting with the peculiar, ‘swallowing a sour pear’ expressions of most new and veteran students, the keen-eyed and exceptionally powerful instructors, Sifney and Dannich, swiftly began to dissect the deeper implications.
“Their combat experience is incredibly rich…” Sifney remarked.
“Rich doesn’t even begin to cover it.
They’re like a machine, a machine forged for battle!
It’s evident their practical combat experience is immense; they must have slain countless individuals, many of them ruthless maniacs… Their physical senses are extraordinarily acute, perhaps even capable of detecting the adherence of dust particles!”
Dannich spoke, his words sounding almost like a critique of You’er, yet his face was alight with excitement, a treasure-trove of exhilaration.
As an instructor, discovering and nurturing exceptionally gifted students was his lifelong pursuit.
“Hansen is too eager for victory, yet he overlooks the most obvious issue.
If he doesn’t realize it soon, the outcome of this match will be decided,” Sifney said with a knowing smile.
This time, it seemed, she had not misjudged.
****
“Do you only know how to dodge?” Hansen, unable to land a single hit or inflict any damage despite his prolonged assault, appeared increasingly agitated as he sneered.
No sooner had his taunt faded than he abruptly shifted tactics, dragging his blade horizontally to cleave towards You’er’s waist.
“Drag Blade Technique – Flow-Severing Stream!”
While he specialized in draw techniques, Hansen wasn’t limited to them.
He was proficient in other skills as well, and this ‘Drag Blade Technique’ instantly amplified both the speed and power of his strike.
A green blade aura, over three meters long, burst forth menacingly from his sword’s edge.
This attack, launched with sudden force and complete surprise, was a meticulously planned strike from Hansen after realizing his ordinary assaults were futile against You’er.
With such a broad area of effect, it was clear You’er could no longer evade it by simply shifting aside as before.
‘It’s over, then…’ the watching students thought to themselves.
However, the scene that unfolded next far exceeded their predictions and wildest imaginations.
You’er’s body suddenly shifted, using ‘Hidden Edge’ at her left hip as the axis of symmetry.
Her upper and lower halves pressed together, becoming almost horizontal, and in this manner, she effortlessly neutralized Hansen’s long-prepared ultimate technique.
“Holy hell! What the… are they a freaking snake spirit?!”
“Their body can’t possibly have bones, right?! No matter what, that move just now isn’t something an ordinary person could pull off!”
“A beauty without bones… I’m suddenly rather curious what kind of face is hidden beneath that mask?”
“Brother, your perverted tendencies are acting up again… Speaking of which, when are we forming a team to steal their mask? They must take it off sometime, like when eating or bathing…”
“Stop! You’re the damn pervert, not just perverted, but a freak! Get lost, stay away from me!”
“…”
‘Finally, it’s my turn…’
The moment she rose, a streak of blue light flashed across You’er’s eyes.
‘Hidden Edge’ was finally unsheathed!
“Draw Sword Slash – Frost Scar!”
The sheer terror of a slash unleashed after half a minute of charging with ‘Hidden Edge’ was perfectly demonstrated the moment You’er drew her sword.
A ten-meter diameter, crescent-shaped frost-blue sword scar tore through the sky, arcing upwards from below!
“Sword Aegis! Solidify!”
The frost-blue sword arc, shining brightly, was already upon him.
Hansen found himself completely enveloped by the arc, with no place to hide and no time to react.
He could only summon his Sword Aegis, but he immediately discovered that even this highly protective and proud Sword Aegis shattered in an instant under the arc’s relentless assault.
He could even foresee the terrifying scene of himself being bisected by that horrifying frost-blue sword arc.
Profound horror surged in his eyes.
Only then did he suddenly realize that You’er’s prolonged lack of retaliation had been to accumulate such a formidable sword technique.
The draw sword technique You’er employed was fundamentally different from Hansen’s draw blade art.
Hansen’s draw blade art emphasized swiftness and speed, aiming to conclude the battle before the opponent could even react.
You’er’s draw sword technique, the ‘Draw Sword Slash,’ however, was a devastating strike; where its scar passed, not a blade of grass would grow, unless one’s defenses were incredibly tough and resilient, or one could destroy it with an even more formidable power.
“The victor has been decided.”
Hansen, of course, did not perish beneath the sword arc.
He was caught by Chilong, who, with a face full of calm and disinterest, as if the outcome had long been anticipated, coolly announced the result before setting Hansen down.
“I admit defeat, wholeheartedly,” Hansen said, picking up his tachi and bowing to You’er once more.
This bow held far more sincerity than his previous one.
“You honor me,” You’er replied, returning the bow with her sword.
Her expression remained serene, devoid of pride; it was merely the inevitable outcome.
Yet… she had won.
Both she and Timobi would enroll.
The Gatarnia Academy, a place she had only dreamed of, was now hers; she had finally become a student here…
A deep joy swelled within her.
“Junior, I have a question I’d like to ask.
You’ve just entered the Swordsman rank; how exactly was that sword arc able to shatter my Sword Aegis?” Hansen asked, returning his tachi to his hip and looking at You’er, unashamed to seek guidance.
Calling her ‘Junior’ already signified that he regarded You’er as a formal student.
As for being called ‘Junior’… You’er decided to let it go; people could call her whatever they wished.
After becoming Timobi’s ‘older sister,’ You’er had gradually grown accustomed to being seen as a girl, even frequently referring to herself in a feminine manner (as ‘this older sister’).
Reflecting now, even if she were to genuinely transform into a girl one day, it wouldn’t be a big deal—You’er’s subconscious had already grown indifferent to the possibility.
“Allow me to answer that question.”
From the special seating area, Kairi and a group of veteran students slowly approached.
Kairi’s gaze remained fixed on You’er as he praised, “Hansen’s defeat in this battle is no injustice.
Even I, at the peak of the Great Swordsman rank, have only grasped a mere fraction of Sword Intent, yet our junior, having just entered the Swordsman rank, has already mastered complete Sword Intent.
Indeed, the legendary ‘Heaven-Blessed Genius’ is likely no more than this…”
“What?!… Sword Intent?!” Hansen and the surrounding students’ eyes widened in astonishment.
“Sword Intent is the stepping stone to the Sword Sovereign realm.
Below the Sword Sovereign rank, one who comprehends Sword Intent can break their enemies with sheer force, becoming virtually unrivaled among those of the same tier.” Kairi nodded, smiling at Hansen. “That’s why I said your defeat in this battle is no injustice; our junior’s final draw sword technique was truly magnificent and astonishing.”
“Perhaps…” You’er pursed her lips.
That bit of power likely amounted to nothing in the eyes of a peak Great Swordsman like Kairi.
You’er was not so easily swayed by a few words of praise.
“Haha, congratulations on your enrollment, Junior.
I suspect the academy’s ladder rankings will see significant changes before long.” Realizing his flattery hadn’t quite landed, Kairi chuckled and deftly changed the subject.
“Ladder rankings?” Kairi’s diversion tactic was highly successful; the unfamiliar new term immediately captured You’er’s attention.
“Once you’re officially in Gatarnia, understanding the ladder rankings is only a matter of time, Junior, so there’s no need to rush.” Kairi’s focus was clearly elsewhere now.
Looking at You’er, he ventured, “More importantly, I’d like to invite you to join my ‘Ali Adventure Group.’ I wonder if you would be interested?”