Attacking My Student Right in Front of Me? (Please Vote)

(Heartfelt thanks to "Immortal Sword Heavenly Woe" for the 1,888 reward, and to "Wufeng Haotian" and "Rainy Road Love" for their rewards!)

"Whoosh—!"

Like a ferocious beast, a black-clad figure draped in a cloak, face tightly concealed beneath its hood, shot out from the grass at a blinding speed with a wooden sword in hand, charging straight at Noah.

"Whoosh—!"

The next moment, the black-clad figure, almost entirely hidden beneath the cloak, raised the wooden sword high. Accompanied by a tearing gust of wind, it came crashing down toward Noah amid a fierce howl.

From shooting out of the grass to darting to Noah's side and raising the sword for a slash.

The entire sequence flowed seamlessly, without the slightest pause. It felt as though less than a second had passed before the wooden sword, carrying a shrieking wind, came down upon Noah. It was truly startling.

Having trained diligently in swordsmanship since childhood, Noah immediately recognized the exquisite nature of this black-clad figure's swordsmanship.

Though it could not compare to Doni, that monster who specialized in swordsmanship and possessed extraordinary talent for it, the black-clad figure's mastery was likely not far below Erza's, roughly on par with Erica and Lilliana.

And compared to the swordsmanship, the opponent's speed was even more astonishing.

However, neither aspect was enough to shake Noah.

Having long since noticed the movement in the grass and the black-clad figure's presence, Noah had already acted the instant the wooden sword was raised over the attacker's head.

Thus, when the black-clad figure's wooden sword came slashing down with a shriek of wind, Noah had somehow already shifted a step sideways.

"Swish—!"

The vicious wooden sword howled as it cut down, striking the spot where Noah had stood moments earlier. It brushed past Noah's shoulder as he stepped