The Sting of the Golden Needle

"Instructor, but we're still injured." Burke raised his hand.

"Oh? Where are you injured? Are your bones broken? Can't you stand?" The instructor's gaze was so sharp that Burke didn't dare to retort further.

"Solin, start with you."

"Yes!"

The black-haired youth stepped forward. Despite the many bruises on his body, he picked up his sword and began to fight in earnest.

Stepping forward with a dash, he thrust his blade out. Solin's swordsmanship was exceptionally clean and crisp, aiming straight for vital points without a hint of hesitation or wasted movement.

"Clang!" "Clang!"

The instructor held his sword in one hand, dodging Solin's attacks with steady, measured steps before nonchalantly flicking Solin's wooden sword away and kicking him aside.

"Not bad swordsmanship. Aside from being too direct and lacking variety, there are no major issues for now," he remarked, giving a high evaluation.

"Next!"

"Burke."

"Yes!"

Burke also grabbed a wooden sword and rushed forward to attack. Unfortunately, while he swung quickly, his moves were impatient and full of openings, his performance far inferior to Solin's.

After knocking Burke down a few times and offering his critique, the instructor continued calling names.

"Ray."

"Yes!"

The tallest student among the trainees stepped forward. He held the wooden sword as if it were a small toy.

"Hah!"

Ray took a deep breath and swung his sword horizontally toward the instructor.

Facing Ray's powerful swing, the instructor twisted his own wooden sword, coiling around the strike like a python before jabbing into the palm of Ray's hand, forcing him to let go in pain.

"The strength is there, but the swordsmanship is crude—hard to even look at." The instructor shook his head.

"Perhaps you should learn a different weapon."

"Next!"

The remaining students stepped up one by one. Throughout this process, Sylutia stood at the edge of the training ground, watching. Her light blue eyes blinked as she constantly analyzed everyone's movements and their techniques for exerting force.

("Basic Swordsmanship" proficiency +3)

("Basic Swordsmanship" proficiency +2)

("Basic Swordsmanship" proficiency +5)

So there was a way to do this; through this sparring session, she could say she had gained a great deal.

Even with the same swordsmanship, there were different applications and focuses due to each person's physique and habits, and individual strategies shifted accordingly when facing different situations.

Basic Swordsmanship Lv.4: Fundamental techniques for using a sword, the foundation of combat. Current progress (573/1200)

Although she didn't participate in the combat directly, observing was immensely beneficial to Sylutia. Furthermore, while watching the instructor spar, she gradually realized that the combat techniques he was using were likely a more advanced form of martial art.

[Military Swordsmanship Lv.0]: Sword techniques used in the military. Movements are clean and efficient, emphasizing rapid killing in life-or-death situations. Current progress (31/100)

Compared to Basic Swordsmanship, this Military Swordsmanship was more lethal, but it placed higher demands on individual physical attributes; if one lacked sufficient strength and speed, it would be impossible to utilize it effectively.

To be able to learn just by watching others spar—this ability was truly useful. Sylutia felt that coming to study under Scholar Heide had been incredibly rewarding.

However, her leisurely state of observation was soon to end.

"Boys, go to the open space on the left to rest. Now, girls, step forward," the instructor said, scanning the group.

"Valenie, you go first."

"Ah, Uncle Burke, are you calling me?" The daughter of Knight Levin looked surprised.

"Of course."

"Fine." Valenie stepped forward, somewhat dejected, and picked up a wooden sword to charge at Instructor Burke.

Unfortunately, this knight's daughter had not inherited her father's martial prowess. Her skills were merely amateurish, and she was easily defeated by the instructor and knocked to the ground.

"Your grip is weak, your technique is poor, your footwork is loose, and your reactions are sluggish. Not a single movement was decent. It seems Knight Levin has spoiled you far too much," the instructor criticized coldly.

"Ugh."

Valenie's face flushed with embarrassment, and a flash of anger soon crossed her features.

"What right do you have to talk to me? I don't need to be a knight! Besides, if you're so capable, why don't you go spar with my father!"

"Hmph." The instructor couldn't be bothered with the prattle of a young girl and simply ignored her.

"Next, Karen."

"Yes."

Karen took out a wooden spear and stepped forward, lowering her waist and shifting her center of gravity, her eyes locked onto the instructor.

A few seconds later, the wooden spear thrust out abruptly, the tip aiming straight for the instructor's chest.

Facing such an attack, the instructor parried upward with his sword, knocking the spear tip aside, then stepped forward sideways, his blade slicing directly toward Karen's fingers.

Unexpectedly, Karen gripped the spear shaft and pivoted her body, taking the sword strike on her shoulder before thrusting the spear back out again.

"Clang."

Unfortunately, the spear was still blocked by the instructor.

However, after blocking it, the instructor did not continue his assault, instead looking at Karen with appreciation.

"Not bad, very bold. You're a promising talent."

"Next, Comia."

"Ah, me? I don't know any combat techniques." Comia looked like she was about to cry.

"Oh?"

Instructor Burke frowned at this; how could she lack even the most basic foundation? How was someone like this accepted by Scholar Heide?

Shortly after, a servant trotted over to Burke's side and whispered something to him. Burke's brow relaxed slightly, and he cast a few glances at Comia.

"Very well. You won't need to practice spear and sword techniques, but you must still undergo basic physical training. Run ten laps around the training ground."

"Wuu, yes, Instructor." Comia had no choice but to go run.

At this moment, only Iona and Sylutia remained who had not yet participated in combat training.

The instructor glanced at Iona, then shifted his gaze toward the seemingly frail girl standing to the side.

"Iona, come here."

"Yes, Instructor."

Iona's tone was indifferent, as if she found the task before her somewhat boring.

She picked up a wooden sword with one hand and held it in front of her. A faint golden luster flashed in her eyes, and she suddenly lunged straight at the instructor. A trace of golden light coated the blade; this strange phenomenon was fleeting, noticed only by Sylutia.

Wooden swords crossed, and a continuous sound of hacking and clashing rang out across the training ground. This bout did not end quickly.

The fierce battle in the arena soon drew the attention of all the students, and even Comia stopped her running.

"So amazing."

"Iona isn't just beautiful; her swordsmanship is so magnificent."

"This isn't just ordinary swordsmanship, is it?"

In the arena, Iona moved with grace, her footwork agile as she constantly closed and widened the distance. The blade in her hand flashed repeatedly like a needle prick.

"Golden Needle Sword Technique: Thrust!"

In an instant, three dazzling golden threads appeared, piercing toward the instructor like three golden needles. Facing this attack imbued with the power of an extraordinary Aspect Power, the instructor no longer held back.

"Steel Edge Sharp Blade!"

The wooden sword in his hand was suddenly plated with a layer of steel-like silver edge. With a rapid slash, he shattered the wooden sword in Iona's hand, turning it into wood chips that scattered across the sky.

Having lost her wooden sword, Iona stepped back a few paces and released the remaining hilt, ending the fight. She looked at the instructor with pride, her defeat honorable.

"Hmph, as expected of Viscount Callen's daughter."

Before he was imprisoned, Viscount Callen was a powerful figure in the military, and his family possessed no shortage of inherited secret arts and resources.

At this point, the only one left on the field who had not participated in the combat training was Sylutia.

Should she participate in the combat training? If she did, holding back would only lead to all sorts of awkward and twisted situations. But if she didn't hold back and shone too brightly, perhaps even overshadowing the blonde young lady who was supposed to be the protagonist, wouldn't that completely contradict her plan to keep a low profile?

Sylutia was caught in a difficult dilemma.

Perhaps noticing her predicament, or perhaps simply by luck, someone interrupted the training at this moment, relieving her of the situation.