Asuna Began to Question Her Existence

Li Yu accepted Asuna's invitation, and without another word, the two returned to the classroom, grabbed their weapons, and headed to the field.

Yukino Yukinoshita watched in silence. This was going to be a good show. In a moment, Asuna would probably experience the same frustrating helplessness she had once felt.

"Please go easy on me!" Asuna held her rapier upright before her and fixed her gaze on Li Yu.

Hearing Asuna, Li Yu nodded and said solemnly, "Then let's begin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lightness Technique flared beneath both their feet. The next moment, they charged at each other and clashed.

The Tang Dao and Asuna's rapier collided, their clanging ringing across the field. The two were already in perfect sync, using Lightness Technique to adapt to this high-speed battle.

Asuna blocked every one of Li Yu's attacks. Even when she couldn't quite manage it, she still managed to parry with a remarkably strange burst of speed.

That was interesting. His attack speed had suddenly increased in an instant, and Li Yu understood at once: this was probably Asuna's own talent.

No wonder she used a rapier. It was the only way to bring her sword speed to its fullest. With that thought, Li Yu didn't hesitate. Kenkeiko... activate!

Li Yu's eyes turned purple. As he clashed with Asuna again, she noticed the flash of purple and couldn't help but freeze for a moment.

A Magic Array appeared beneath her feet, and she quickly retreated. But Li Yu suddenly accelerated and charged after her, launching a faster flurry of attacks.

Asuna could only move while counterattacking with her rapier. The two chased each other around the field, the clang of clashing blades ringing out again and again.

Yukino Yukinoshita, who had been watching from the sidelines, fell into thought. Asuna was a completely different person with a sword than she was when using martial techniques.

With that kind of sword speed, Yukino would probably be taken out in a single exchange. It was unbelievably fast.

The battle between Li Yu and Asuna soon drew a crowd. Even some students in class couldn't help glancing outside.

But all they could see were two rapidly moving figures. The speed was too much for students who hadn't even reached Tier Three to follow.

"She's amazing!" Kato Megumi had appeared beside Yukino at some point. The fight had already started when she came out, and she had only learned Lightness Technique.

Just learning it had made such a huge difference. No wonder their teacher had said it was an incredibly practical spell. The battle between those two made that obvious.

"That guy Li Yu is starting..." The corners of Yukino Yukinoshita's mouth curled up slightly as she watched him fight Asuna, and she couldn't help feeling delighted.

Li Yu's moves were looking more and more like Asuna's, and Asuna was clearly struggling to keep up. She must be feeling incredibly frustrated right now.

That was what it felt like to fight Li Yu. What was yours became his, and what was his stayed his. The longer you fought, the more it felt like you were fighting yourself—and your opponent was stronger, too.

Who could you even complain to about that? Yukino wondered how long Asuna could hold out. She'd probably call a stop soon.

Yukino's guess wasn't wrong. Asuna had already noticed that Li Yu's attacks were coming faster and faster, as if... she were fighting herself.

And his sword techniques were exactly the same as hers. How was that even possible? Asuna pushed her talent to its limit, but she had already shifted from attacking to defending. And it had only been a few minutes.

The tide had turned in an instant. She was now certain that Li Yu had learned all her sword moves. And unless she was imagining it, his sword speed was gradually matching hers, too.

That made no sense. She could only move like that because of her talent. But what about Li Yu? How was he doing it? Had he learned it from watching her?

Something was wrong. Very wrong. Asuna's mind faltered for just a moment, and Li Yu's attacks suddenly sped up. Then his sword came to rest on her shoulder.

Only then did Asuna realize she had lost. Feeling thoroughly frustrated, she said, "Now I understand why Yukino doesn't want to fight you. I don't want to fight you either!"

Fighting Li Yu was just too frustrating. What was the point of all her techniques turning into his? She had worked so hard to learn them, only for him to pick them up after a single exchange!

"Hey, you can't put it like that. Don't you think you can only become stronger by defeating yourself?" Li Yu was in a great mood. He figured that counted as consolation.

He had copied Asuna's talent, along with some of her little habits and sword techniques. They were a bit awkward to use with a Tang Dao, but it wasn't a big deal. They still worked just fine!

Asuna's talent was focused on her weapon. It increased her attack speed and accuracy, as well as her dynamic vision.

That was why she used a rapier. As she grew stronger, her sword would probably flash out as fast as lightning, quick and deadly.

"I don't understand. Even if you copied my sword techniques, how can your attack speed keep up with mine?" By all rights, Li Yu shouldn't have been able to keep up with that kind of speed using a Tang Dao.

"Ever heard of brute force? As long as I'm strong enough, I can move fast enough!" Li Yu grinned. There was no way he could tell her he'd copied her talent, so he went with the old "brute force solves everything" explanation!

Asuna eyed him suspiciously. She had a feeling it wasn't that simple. After all, she knew her own abilities better than anyone, and Li Yu's attack speed really did seem a lot like her talent!

"Don't believe me? I can actually go even faster!" Seeing Asuna's doubtful expression, Li Yu's lips curled up. He stepped back a few paces, then began swinging his sword right in front of her.

He showed Asuna an even more terrifying burst of speed. Every swing made a sharp whoosh as Li Yu displayed his strength.

Asuna was completely dumbfounded by what Li Yu had just done. Brute force solves everything? Was that really how it worked? Something seemed off. If brute force could solve everything, then what was the point of her talent?

Asuna couldn't help questioning her entire life. Was her talent really not useful at all?

In reality, Li Yu had also used Yukino Yukinoshita's talent: the ability to exert absolute control over his own physical strength. That was why his sword was now even faster and more terrifying than Asuna's!

After showing off for a while, Li Yu finally stopped. But Asuna was still sunk in deep self-doubt. She also agreed with Yukino Yukinoshita now: she absolutely would not fight Li Yu again!