Sword-Grip Duel

Fran's subsequent practice was harassed by the two men keeping their distance; one moment they would thrust their swords toward her, and the next they would jump directly into the path of her swings.

After enduring this for a while, Fran finally saw the skill manifest on her panel.

[Elven Swordsmanship (Uninitiated) (Proficiency: 0/10): The style used by the Elven race when wielding a sword; you do not possess this.]

She had finally obtained Elven Swordsmanship; now, even if she were expelled from this course, she would have nothing to fear.

She glanced at the Elven Swordsmanship on her panel again, and a bold idea formed in her mind.

She looked toward Aboyue, who was still some distance away, ignored Ren who was closer, and leaped directly toward him, swinging her wooden sword in mid-air.

She thrust the sword straight at Aboyue's waist, the wooden blade carrying the kinetic energy of her jump, and struck the target hard.

[You have made a clumsy attempt, Elven Swordsmanship proficiency +1]

"Ah!" The impact was so painful that Aboyue let out a shout, drawing the attention of everyone present.

Bella looked at her with worried eyes, feeling a bit guilty; after all, it was she who had suggested Fran join this course.

When everyone's gaze turned toward them, she spoke directly:

"Sorry to disturb everyone, but I have some personal grievances with Aboyue."

Then, she addressed Instructor Burnett:

"Teacher, I request a Sword-Grip Duel with Aboyue to resolve the dispute between us."

Burnett's brow furrowed deeper, his face tightening; he clearly did not like such scenes.

If Fran had instigated the conflict on her own, Burnett would have rejected the request outright.

But the problem was that Fran had just had a conflict with them; although Ren had apologized, Burnett had been teaching for many years.

In his teaching career, there had been no shortage of conflicts arising from deliberate framing or jealousy.

He could see that both of them had a certain foundation in swordsmanship; one person would be fine, but having the other crowding in as well made no sense.

Because Ren had apologized promptly, preventing him from erupting on the spot, he had slightly forgiven their behavior.

He also disliked Fran's scorched-earth attitude, but since the others had provoked her first...

"Aboyue, what do you think? Can this dispute be resolved through a duel?"

Aboyue was furious after being ambushed and poked by a sword.

It made him feel humiliated; he had been personally cultivated by Burnett, so when had anyone ever offended him like this before?

He clutched the spot where he had been struck and slowly stood up. For an apprentice with his physique, although it hurt, he would recover quickly.

"I can... I am willing to have a duel with her!" he said through gritted teeth.

In truth, he could not refuse the request for a duel, even if Instructor Burnett was only asking him.

He had been with Burnett for over a year; how could he not know that while the teacher disliked apprentices fighting, he also disliked apprentices who shied away from a challenge?

Fran suddenly spoke up at this moment:

"Instructor Burnett, I request that this duel be a Sword-Grip Duel."

A Sword-Grip Duel, as the name implied, was a contest to see whose sword fell from their hand first; whoever dropped their weapon lost the duel.

Aboyue froze. He glared viciously at Fran; no one had ever been able to humiliate him like this.

This type of duel was different from a pure sword-fighting match where a simple touch counted as a loss; this tested both sides' endurance and offensive means.

Only when the opponent's sword fell would the winner be decided. Even if one's chest were slashed open, as long as the sword remained in hand, one had not lost!

Is she choosing this duel to humiliate me thoroughly during the fight?

At this moment, Aboyue cast aside all his calculations; if it were a duel, he was not afraid.

What he feared was that because he had disappointed Burnett last year, Fran's sudden addition to the Sword Chant School would snatch away the opportunities that belonged to him.

"I accept! Come on, let it be a Sword-Grip Duel!"

Aboyue said these words with immense rage.

Burnett's expression flickered, then shifted into a sense of resignation.

He knew the conflict between the two could not be eased; neither side had given the other a way out, and it would not end well without a fight.

But if they were going to fight, why not now? It was better than them going back and getting into a private brawl that left both sides severely injured.

Perhaps their relationship would ease after a winner was decided.

Burnett let out a long sigh, his expression softening slightly.

"Everyone listen, this class is suspended for now; wait for notification regarding make-up hours."

The other apprentices watching were whispering among themselves; not a single person left despite the announcement that the class was canceled.

Ren watched the tense atmosphere on the field, his expression shifting slightly. He turned his gaze toward Burnett, an idea forming in his mind.

Once the two reached the dueling grounds, Burnett said sternly:

"You two listen, this is a duel, not a fight to the death. You are not to take each other's lives or cause major permanent disability, do you hear me?"

"Yes!" Both of them gave a perfunctory acknowledgment, but his stern words were etched into their minds.

"The match begins!"

Aboyue did not choose to attack directly; instead, he set up a defensive stance right where he stood.

This was his family's Iron Wall Swordsmanship, which featured a complete set of defensive methods and was the reason he had managed to stand out among the many apprentices.

Possessing a complete set of swordsmanship—including a Breathing Technique, combat skills, numerous stances, and techniques taught by his family elders—made him far more formidable than those noble scions who only had a Body Tempering Method, a few combat skills, and occasionally a Breathing Technique.

Although he had been caught off guard by Fran's strike to his waist earlier, that sneak attack had made him realize that Fran was fast; otherwise, the defensive instincts he had honed since childhood would not have failed to react.

However, he was on the field now, his Breathing Technique and stance fully engaged, and he did not believe Fran could land another hit on him.

Once he blocked Fran's attack, it would be his home turf for a counter-offensive.

But the moment Fran moved, both the spectators and Aboyue were stunned.

In the past, when facing Aboyue's stationary defensive stance, almost everyone would approach slowly, cautiously probing the opponent before considering an attack.

Fran did not follow the conventional path of a slow approach; instead, she employed an attack method no one had expected—she jumped.

Fran maintained her thrusting posture in mid-air, striking directly against Aboyue's rapid parry, but Aboyue only shifted his body slightly backward, his feet remaining as steady as a mountain.

Feeling the immense force, Aboyue could not help but grow solemn. What great strength, but if she continues to use this attack method...

"What is she doing?"

"Why is she using the Elven Swordsmanship footwork that was just taught?"

The apprentices below whispered among themselves, some unable to understand why Fran would use a skill she had not yet mastered.

Burnett also furrowed his brows. He could tell that Fran did not know Elven Swordsmanship; she was simply following the footwork taught moments ago, combined with her own limited understanding, to execute this attack.

He did not understand why Fran would do such a thing.