Battle!

"What the hell are you?"

Fulvio let out a strange cry, his eyes wide as he stared at Merlin, who was once again closing in.

He held his rapier level, stepping forward half a pace with his left foot, and then a series of swift thrusts enveloped Merlin's entire body.

At this moment, Merlin's pupils contracted, but incredibly, he could see every single one of his thrusts clearly.

Moreover, his body could react completely. Lightning Reflexes had improved him comprehensively, affecting every aspect of his physical being.

At this moment, Merlin didn't dodge. He gripped his sword with both hands, reacting quickly and coordinating his body with precision. At this moment, Merlin's sword flashed out one after another.

Clang! Clang clang clang clang...

His footwork shifted within inches, swinging his Katana in horizontal slashes, upward cuts, downward chops, blocks, and thrusts. Crisp metallic sounds erupted between the two of them.

Fulvio's eyes held disbelief. His fast swordplay was being blocked so easily? Was he really just a beginner swordsman?

However, he soon noticed the lack of smooth connection in Merlin's movements.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and then he lunged forward, drawing a circular slash with his sword.

And at this moment, it was precisely when Merlin was stepping, recovering his stance after a downward cut.

At this moment, his blade couldn't return to defend in time. He saw a sword slash coming at him.

But Merlin's eyes were calm. He immediately bent his legs, leaned back, and then suddenly leaped backward, creating distance.

Fulvio seized this opportunity accurately, the advantage shifting in an instant as he charged forward.

He thrust his sword towards Merlin.

Having just landed, the sword was already attacking, but Merlin's expression remained unchanged because Fulvio's physique couldn't overwhelm him.

Although his sword speed was extremely fast, his body's reaction speed couldn't match his own.

So.

Just as he charged, Merlin had already raised his Katana. At this moment, a clang! sounded as the blade, held horizontally in front of him, appeared precisely in front of the rapier's tip.

Sensing the considerable force transmitted from the sword tip, Merlin once again stepped back and leaped away.

A look of understanding appeared in Fulvio's eyes. This guy's reaction speed was indeed astonishingly fast.

He immediately put away the mindset of merely guiding a junior and now regarded Merlin as an equal opponent.

His gaze unconsciously sharpened as he looked at Merlin and said softly:

"Merlin, you are very strong. Shall we have a formal spar now?"

Merlin, who had already regained his footing, saw a glint in his eyes upon hearing this:

"I couldn't ask for more."

The next moment.

Both of them pushed off the ground simultaneously, charging towards each other.

In the blink of an eye, their weapons clashed.

The piercing clang of metal rang out again.

They both took a step back to gather their strength.

Then, Fulvio's gaze sharpened. His sword speed increased again, his attacks continuous like a tide of Waves.

Merlin felt like a small boat in a storm.

One wrong move, and he would be wrecked.

Rain-like thrusts rained down continuously.

Points of cold light reflected in his pupils.

At this moment.

Merlin's pupils contracted to dots. He gripped his sword hilt tightly, concentrating his mind intensely at this instant, discerning the real rapier amidst the myriad of thrusting sword shadows.

At this moment, no longer considering whether he would be injured, Merlin abruptly stepped forward.

Screech! With a sound, his training uniform at the shoulder blade was pierced in an instant. However, at this moment, Merlin's Katana, hanging to his right side and fully charged with power, unleashed a cold glint.

A resonant clang! sounded.

The rain-like thrusts instantly dissipated.

Fulvio's eyes widened. His sword had been anticipated, and his rapid combo was broken.

With a forceful swing, he knocked Merlin's rapier and right arm aside. His opening was exposed. Fulvio watched as Merlin's Katana, raised to its peak, suddenly changed its trajectory.

He stepped forward with his left foot, gripped his sword with both hands, and focused his gaze on Merlin's chest. In an instant, a cold glint slashed down.

At this moment, Fulvio's pupils contracted sharply. The muscles in his legs tensed, and he leaped backward.

Merlin's eyes flickered slightly, sensing his movement. However, after a moment's thought, he didn't change his attack.

After all, it was just a spar, not a fight to the death.

Then, The blade missed its mark.

Fulvio's figure appeared three meters away, his eyes still wide with shock. That last strike had been truly perilous!

However, he then looked at the collar of his shirt. A slit, the length of a palm, had been torn open by the blade's wind from that last attack.

A flicker of seriousness appeared in his eyes. At this moment, he no longer dared to be the slightest bit careless.

The next moment.

The battle resumed.

The two exchanged blows in the arena.

They continuously shifted positions, slashing at each other.

Clangs of powerful collisions echoed.

Although Merlin's swordsmanship was still immature, his Lightning Reflexes and instantaneous bursts of physical power allowed him to fight on par with a fully focused Fulvio.

Fulvio grew increasingly alarmed as they fought. Merlin's swinging speed was still increasing. No, it wasn't just increasing; his movements were constantly refining, adapting to Fulvio's high-frequency attacks, and he seemed to be becoming more and more at ease.

What a monster!

But because of this, a sense of unwillingness to lose surged in Fulvio's eyes, yet at the same time, a sense of joy bloomed from the depths of his heart.

In his three years as a Bounty Hunter, he had experienced many battles, big and small, but he had never encountered a sword-fighting companion who could match him.

It was only in the last year, as his sister grew, that he had felt some joy, but his sister was still too young and couldn't take a hit at all.

Half an hour later.

His clothes were torn in many places, and he even had some bruises.

Even though the weapons were not sharpened, they still possessed the ability to injure.

He panted, breathing heavily.

The two looked at each other.

Fulvio's face broke into a brilliant smile:

"Merlin, how about a draw this time?"

Fulvio had thoroughly enjoyed himself.

He hadn't felt this sense of danger since he went out to sea!

Merlin nodded, a smile also appearing at the corner of his lips, "Mhm, I'll listen to you, Senior Brother Fohr."

Fohr's eyes flashed with displeasure, and he said helplessly, "Just call me Fohr.

In the realm of swordsmanship, the accomplished lead the way. We are equals. In this dojo, you only need to respect my father.

For everyone else, including me, just call us by our names. Calling us 'Senior Brother' or 'Senior Sister' just doesn't feel right to me."

Fulvio understood perfectly. Right now, he was only gaining the upper hand by relying on his more refined swordsmanship and superior physical condition. If Merlin continued to advance so vigorously in a few more years...

It would only be a matter of time before he surpassed him. Therefore, it was better for them to just call each other by their names, and this would also prevent him from feeling awkward later on.

Just as his sister had said, this ocean respected strength above all else.

Seeing the seriousness in Fohr's eyes, Merlin raised an eyebrow slightly, then thought for a moment before agreeing:

"Alright then, Fohr."

Fulvio smiled and nodded, "My sister and I will be staying at the dojo to recuperate for a while. Let's all cultivate together during this time!

While fundamentals are important, experience fighting others is equally crucial. I believe we will all gain something valuable."

Merlin smiled and nodded. After all, it was a suitable whetstone that had come to him. How could he refuse?

He couldn't be happier!

Practicing in isolation was not the way.

At this moment, Yol and the other two walked over. Upon seeing the torn clothes and the bruises on their bodies, they couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness.

But soon, Teresa looked at them and let out a sound of amazed laughter:

"Heh! Merlin, you're really amazing! You actually managed to push my brother this far.

He's always been so arrogant! And he always looks down on me. You really put him in his place this time! Haha, that feels great!"

Merlin glanced strangely at Fohr, who calmly said:

"That's true. Teresa can't beat me. Although her swordsmanship is skillful, she herself is a bit too naive.

At sea, even though she doesn't fear Pirates with bounties in the tens of millions, and can win in a one-on-one fight, she still suffers quite a bit of damage.

After all, she disdains using any underhanded tactics.

And her opponents, using things like grabbing her chest, spitting, or verbally abusing her, can always destabilize her mindset, causing her to reveal openings.

I've told her, but she never listens."

Teresa glared at Fohr, grinding her teeth in extreme dissatisfaction.

"Can you blame me? Those bastards used dirty tricks, but I can't do the same, can I?

If I did, what would be the difference between us?

I'm not a dirty trickster."

After her rebuttal, she looked at Merlin with some expectation. "Merlin, what do you think?"

Merlin glanced at Fohr, who gave him a look that said, "Go ahead and say what you want." Merlin then grinned at Teresa.

"The dead are not qualified to talk about dirty tricks."

Teresa's face darkened, and she was rendered speechless. However, she then looked at Yol with a flicker of hope. "Yol?"

Yol's lips curved into a smile.

"If it were me, I would crush him with absolute violence, but after he died, I would pray for his soul's transcendence."

That was not an answer to the question.

Teresa said glumly, "What if you couldn't crush him, and the opponent used dirty tricks?"

Yol calmly replied, "Ignore it and beat him to death. Once a person is dead, all their sins disappear.

As for whether his soul goes to hell, that's no longer my concern."

Fulvio's mouth twitched at this, and he leaned closer to Merlin to whisper, "Is Yol always this brutal?"

Merlin glanced at him. "Yol is very kind. If you don't provoke her, she won't do anything bad to you."

Fulvio sighed. He finally understood. Both of them had a rather strong killing intent. They truly were people who had escaped from that place.

However, a hint of confusion appeared in his eyes. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "By the way, Merlin, were you three the only survivors from Frevanz to escape?"

As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere in the room instantly became quiet.

Yol's gaze sharpened subtly, and she moved Lami behind her.

Sensing the change in atmosphere, Fulvio's expression turned awkward.

He was about to explain