Flight Like a Moth to Flame

Clang!

The sharp blade and silver scabbard collided in midair, producing a ringing clash of metal.

In the somewhat cramped garden, two figures wrapped in wind crashed into each other, throwing the surrounding air into chaos under the friction of their wind power.

Riezel charged at Ais without hesitation. His slender sword flared up, sweeping out countless arcs of light as it slashed toward the girl.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

One clash after another rang out, echoing throughout the entire garden.

Facing Riezel's relentless charge and merciless slashes, Ais lightly danced her scabbard, effortlessly batting away every streak of silver light that came at her.

The winds collided, and so did the swords.

The exchange between the two swordsmen continued in what looked like an even battle, though in truth, one side was attacking without pause while the other had not retreated a single step.

Anyone with a discerning eye could tell who held the advantage in this battle.

At any rate, Riezel felt as though the one standing before him was not a person, but an immovable mountain. No matter how he charged or swung his sword, he could not make her budge in the slightest.

Yet, faced with such an unshakable opponent, Riezel did not feel the least bit afraid. Instead, his blood burned hotter, and his eyes shone brighter and brighter.

That was right.

He was enjoying himself.

Enjoying a battle against a powerful opponent.

Enjoying this fierce fight where every second mattered, where not even the slightest mistake was allowed, where he could be crushed and defeated on the spot at any moment.

Driven by that mindset, Riezel unleashed every bit of his strength.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sounds of collision seemed to grow fiercer and more unceasing.

Riezel began circling around Ais, launching attacks in every conceivable pattern against her slender body. Blade light and sword shadows appeared all around her, slashing toward every part of her body.

There were powerful chops aimed at her back.

There were vertical slashes aimed at her ankles.

There were thrusts targeted at her shoulders.

There were cuts directed straight at her abdomen.

Riezel did not hold back his strength or avoid vital points at all. It was as though he truly intended to kill Ais; every slash he unleashed was so powerful, so deadly.

He had no choice. If he did not use every trick he had, there was no way he could pose even the slightest threat to the Female Swordsman before him.

Knowing the gap between them, Riezel trusted that Ais would not lose to an offensive of this level and attacked with all his heart.

Ais did not disappoint him. She remained standing there without moving an inch, using only her scabbard to neutralize every slash.

The girl was not simply using her scabbard to block. Instead, she used all kinds of direct, simple methods to dismantle Riezel's attacks.

When faced with the powerful chop aimed at her back, she swung her scabbard from the side and, with the most effortless technique possible, knocked the heavy blow off course.

When faced with the vertical slash aimed at her ankle, she did not dodge. Instead, she raised her foot and kicked Riezel's sword hand, making him lose his strength.

The thrust aimed at her shoulder was blocked by the scabbard. This strike, which valued surprise more than force and had high threat but little actual power, was easily stopped.

The cut aimed directly at her abdomen was even more useless. It was immediately deflected by the scabbard as she twisted her wrist and swung down, forcing Riezel to stagger backward uncontrollably.

Gradually, the girl stopped limiting herself to defense and began counterattacking, using that completely nonlethal scabbard to leave mark after mark on Riezel's body.

She swung the scabbard unbelievably fast, and her attacks were exceptionally sharp. Even without deliberately empowering it with wind power, every strike of the scabbard whipped up a Howling Gale and struck Riezel hard.

Riezel could not see the scabbard's trajectory at all. He simply abandoned defense and focused all his attention on attacking, making his arc-shaped slashes faster, fiercer, and deadlier.

Watching Riezel attack Ais relentlessly like a cold and merciless sword demon, the people inside the residence who witnessed the scene through the Window could no longer remain calm.

".No way, right?"

Tiona muttered without realizing it.

"Wasn't he a newcomer who only received a Falna recently?"

Tione also wore a stunned expression, looking as though she could not believe what she was seeing.

"Hey! You bastard, Loki!"

Even Bete had somehow returned to the Window. Watching the fierce battle below as if he had been provoked by something, he roared in Loki's direction. "Are you sure that brat was an ordinary person without a Falna just a few days ago? There has to be a limit to your jokes!"

It was not just Bete. Even Finn, Riveria, and Gareth had been left speechless, all turning to look at Loki.

"A newcomer?" Gareth said suspiciously. "With those skills and that ability, he'd count as an expert even among Lv.1 adventurers."

That was exactly it.

The strength Riezel displayed had far exceeded everyone's expectations, astonishing the First Class Adventurers who had initially only intended to assess the newcomer's potential.

"Well." Loki scratched her head. "So it turned out like this after all?"

Clearly, she had anticipated her Familia members' reactions.

"With that damned growth rate, it'd be strange if these kids who grew step by step weren't shocked."

Loki recalled what had happened last night.

Last night, after Ais agreed to Riezel's request and promised to teach him magic, Riezel had not left immediately. Instead, he asked Loki for help and underwent his third Ability Value update.

Riezel Brihaut

Lv.1

Strength: F385 → D555

Endurance: F380 → D548

Dexterity: E431 → C623

Agility: E449 → C637

Magic: I0

His total Basic Ability proficiency had increased by more than 700!

Even with the third Ability Value update, Riezel's growth rate remained shockingly fast!

In particular, both Dexterity and Agility had entered Stage C!

This was something even adventurers who had worked hard at Lv.1 for years could not accomplish.

Just as had been said before, those who could raise a Basic Ability to Stage S were exceedingly rare. Those who reached Stage A were few and far between. Reaching Stage B was already enough to make one a genius, and there were not many such people even in Orario.

Yet Riezel had attained Basic Abilities at Stage C in only three days—and more than one of them.

Because of that fact, Loki had spent another night doubting her life as a God yesterday, let alone everyone else.

And if the others were like that, then Ais, who was facing Riezel directly, was even more so.

"Him?"

Ais's transparent golden eyes stared directly at the continuously attacking Riezel, her pupils narrowing slightly.

To Riezel, Ais was an immovable mountain. But to Ais, Riezel was like a cocoon constantly transforming—seemingly tiny, yet gradually sprouting wings, becoming a moth, and flying like one drawn to flame.

In terms of Basic Abilities alone, Riezel had now surpassed over ninety percent of Lv.1 adventurers, becoming one of the very best among them.

Combined with the Ability Boost granted by the additional magic Wind Spirit Sprint, Riezel had received comprehensive improvements in attack, defense, speed, and every other aspect. As long as he did not encounter an opponent at Lv.2, he could fight anyone.

Of course, strength at that level was practically no different from nothing in Ais's eyes.

As the strongest Female Swordsman acknowledged by the world, Ais could easily handle Riezel even if he were two or three levels stronger with the strength of a First Class Adventurer. Not to mention that three years had already passed since Ais rose to Lv.5; she was no newly promoted First Class Adventurer.

But from Loki, Ais had also learned that Riezel had been an ordinary person who received his Falna only three days ago. Before that, he had never received one at all.

He had strength comparable to an expert among Lv.1 adventurers after only three days?

That fact stirred the deepest part of Ais's heart and left even her astonished.

What astonished Ais even more was that, as he fought her, Riezel was still continuously transforming.

The clearest sign was that Riezel seemed to be gradually finding the knack for controlling Wind Spirit Sprint. He began empowering his sword with wind power or detonating it directly beneath his feet, increasing his attack and movement speed until he truly became a gust of wind rushing at her.

Moreover, as time passed, Riezel's sword became sharper and sharper. It was no longer as disorderly as before, instead becoming something that felt a little familiar to Ais.

Is he learning my swordsmanship?

An uncontrollable wave surged within Ais's heart.

She was right.

Riezel really was learning from her sword—or rather, from her sword techniques.

So this was how I was supposed to swing a sword?

As he continued attacking, faint understanding emerged in Riezel's eyes, changing even the way he swung his sword.

Simpler!

Faster!

With his exceptional memory, Riezel carefully observed Ais's movements, memorized every technique she used, then relied on his inhuman growth rate to reproduce and master them.

This was an unexpected gain.

Riezel had originally only wanted to learn magic from Ais, but only now did he realize something.

Magic isn't the only thing I should be learning.

Ability Values aren't the only thing that should grow.

My combat skills and fighting techniques also need to be learned and improved.

In his previous life, Riezel had only learned martial arts for self-defense. When had he ever learned combat techniques meant for killing?

Especially swordsmanship—Riezel had never learned it at all.

Now, he had been given an opportunity to learn.

The changes and transformation Riezel displayed were no different in Ais's eyes.

Too fast.

Ais cried out inwardly.

He's growing far too fast!

That discovery caused even Ais's seemingly flawless movements to reveal a tiny opening.

It's here!

A brilliant light suddenly flashed in Riezel's eyes as he actually caught that nearly imperceptible flaw.

Clang!

With a heavy slash that seemed light, Ais retreated.

An opportunity!

Riezel instinctively realized that this was the only chance in this battle for him to threaten Ais.

Without another thought, Riezel thrust straight toward Ais's completely exposed chest.

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