After several months of training at Erwin's school, Yasuo had yet to achieve mastery, but he had become proficient with the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment. His swordsmanship had also improved so much that Keith was astonished, coming to believe Yasuo was the only student who might catch up to the 104th Cadet Corps.
Still, no sound came from Kenny inside.
"Master, I challenge you to a duel!! If I win, I'll..."
Suddenly, Kenny's door flew open, and seven throwing knives hurtled toward Yasuo from different angles.
Yasuo did not panic. He whipped out his long blade and knocked all seven throwing knives out of the air. Kenny appeared like a phantom and kicked Yasuo's blade, sending him staggering back more than a dozen steps.
Gritting his teeth against the momentum, Yasuo suddenly turned and slashed behind him. Sparks flew as his blade caught against the small dagger Kenny held in one hand.
The two remained locked together. "Yasuo, you're already dead." Kenny extended his other, empty hand.
"Not yet!!" Yasuo gritted his teeth, pulled his blade free, and thrust at Kenny. A dagger slid out of Kenny's other sleeve, and he knocked Yasuo's long blade aside with a single strike.
"All right, give it a rest, you two. You're both holding back." Chen Si's voice came from behind them.
"Lord Thunder God!" Yasuo cried excitedly.
Hearing him, Kenny immediately broke away from Yasuo.
"Yasuo, your feet stayed planted throughout that exchange. How can you put any power into a blade that long? And Kenny kept using just one hand, with a ten-centimeter dagger at that."
"Master, why were you holding back? Don't you want to stop me from going to the front?" Yasuo asked in surprise.
"Idiot. I only held back because I didn't want to hurt you. I still don't