Block, Block, Block (Continued)

Seeing the move Mei had unleashed, the girls below the stage grew excited as well.

For the past few years, Mei had relied on this move to beat them into submission and secure her reputation as the top swordswoman of the grade.

It could be said that this sword technique was practically Mei's signature move. Aside from those senior students in the third year who had already advanced to A-rank Valkyries, no one could withstand it.

Will I win?

From the moment she swung her sword, Mei's heart had begun to pound.

She felt both anticipation and fear.

Smack!

But in the next second, Ren Yu's sword arrived as well, swiftly and precisely striking the tip of Mei's blade and knocking her proud attack aside.

Mei's heart suddenly trembled.

How could he be so fast?

And so precise!

Her proud sword technique had been broken. She first felt a wave of disappointment, then relief.

That made sense. Even if the Assistant Teacher wasn't using his strength, his extensive combat experience remained.

"Again!"

Refusing to accept it, she raised her blade and swung once more, a blazing fighting spirit rising within her.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

In an instant, their swords collided several more times, but she still failed to gain any advantage.

Mei knew she had already performed beyond her usual limits and had even used every ounce of strength she had, yet such fierce attacks had not even touched Ren Yu's sleeve.

Ren Yu, standing before her, clearly had yet to use his full strength. From time to time, he even offered her a few small pointers.

"Your quick steps are too large. Make them smaller. Don't raise your sword over your head. Faster. Don't let your strikes go off target..."

As Mei listened, she actually became a little confused.

--A sword could be used like that?

--Even faster? Small quick steps? Shifting my center of gravity?

--Could a person really do all that?

"Assistant Teacher, it sounds easy when you say it, but only a monster like you can pull off such inhuman moves. I can't keep up!"

Mei complained desperately.

Even after using the "Stigmata" on her body, she still could not achieve the "even faster" that Ren Yu had described.

"..."

Ren Yu finally realized the flaw in his thinking. Not everyone was as fast as he was.

It dawned on him, and he decisively turned off the physical enhancement on his badge as well, leaving only the enhancement to his five senses.

"Better now, right?"

Slowing down from a high-speed state felt somewhat awkward, but now he could finally sense the patterns in Mei's moves.

--Unlike him, who relied entirely on his own overwhelming physical prowess, swordsmanship leaned more toward "technique"—a more efficient use of one's body and weapon.

"Huh?"

Mei froze for a moment at his words, then suddenly realized—

--The Assistant Teacher seemed to have slowed down!

"Try taking a step forward, then making an upward slash."

She instinctively did as he said.

Smack!

The two swords collided, and Mei's eyes immediately lit up!

The Assistant Teacher seemed to have staggered!

"Close in!"

She did as he said again.

"Thrust!"

Without hesitation, Mei extended her arm, the tip of her sword pointing straight at Ren Yu's throat!

But in the next second, Ren Yu's voice rang out again!

"Retreat!"

Mei hesitated.

She could obviously win. Why was the Assistant Teacher telling her to retreat?

But in the next second, a sharp white flash swept past, descending beside Mei's forehead.

Swish!

A strand of black hair drifted through the air.

Mei immediately broke out in a cold sweat and understood why Ren Yu had told her to retreat.

When had that sword moved above my head?

If I hadn't retreated just now, I would probably have already lost.

Ren Yu saw her confusion and took the initiative to explain. "Just a feint. Nothing impressive."

Unlike reacting to each move as it came, his style was more carefree. His enemies could never predict how his next strike would come.

Since he had no set patterns, there was no such thing as countering his patterns. Sword fights relied entirely on physical ability and reaction speed.

Probably only Ren Yu dared to fight like this. Anyone else would have been beaten to death long ago.

"You did very well. Take a break and have some water."