“Then, rea…dy…”
-Crack!
Aster’s fist. Aimed at where Frondier’s face had been a moment ago. A speed that seemed to warp space itself.
To the students, it appeared as if Aster’s stomp and punch were almost simultaneous. Even as spectators, their eyes couldn’t keep up with his speed.
Whoosh! Crack! Thud!
The exchange continued. Most of the attacks thrown by Aster and Frondier were either dodged or blocked. Yet, the sound of air being ripped apart echoed through the gymnasium. They were both utilizing their Aura.
A single thought ran through every student’s mind.
‘...If that fist connected, it would be instant death.’
Whether it was a real sword, a wooden sword, or bare hands, nothing seemed to offer any guarantee of safety.
Frondier, skillfully employing his unique defensive techniques, thought to himself.
‘Yeah, I figured as much.’
The moment he saw the burning intensity in Aster’s eyes, he knew this wouldn’t be a light spar. To go all out with Aura from the start, that was so like Aster.
However, on the flip side, just as Frondier had anticipated this, Aster had anticipated Frondier’s anticipation, allowing him to attack with even more unrestrained ferocity.
Swish! Thud!
“!”
A high straight kick shot out from Aster. Frondier tilted his head back to evade it, but it grazed him slightly.
The speed was different this time. No, even before the speed, the attack range was different.
‘How did his leg reach all the way here?’
As remarkable as Aster was, his legs couldn’t just magically extend. Frondier’s eyes darted to Aster’s footwork.
‘...This crazy bastard.’
Frondier realized what was happening.
Aster was constantly utilizing high-speed movement during his Iaijutsu steps. For a brief moment between each step, Aster’s entire body shifted to a different location. An incredibly short distance, but against an opponent facing him head-on, it would be nothing short of despair-inducing.
Fortunately, Frondier was somewhat accustomed to despair.
Swish! Thud! Crack! Bang!
Switching to a more defensive approach, he observed Aster with a cool head.
‘...It’s not exactly the same as Iaijutsu. Unlike Iaijutsu, where movement and attack happen simultaneously, the moment Aster launches an attack, his speed returns to his normal attack speed.’
Of course, those “normal attacks” coming from Aster were still plenty lethal. Still, it wasn’t as if Frondier couldn’t react to them during the attack phase, unlike with Iaijutsu.
‘And he’s still inexperienced.’
It hadn’t been long since Aster started utilizing constant high-speed movement. So, Frondier was gradually starting to notice the telltale signs of when he was about to use it.
‘If that’s the case…’
The moment Aster shifted his weight for another burst of speed.
Thud.
Frondier swept Aster’s leg.
“Whoa!”
Aster let out a surprised yelp as his balance faltered.
Wham!!
Frondier’s fist slammed into Aster’s exposed side, sending him flying through the air.
Both of their faces contorted in pain.
‘Hitting a body at this level doesn’t feel like hitting human flesh at all!’
It was the same sensation he’d felt when fighting Renzo. Like punching a solid block of iron. How was it that his own fist hurt more from the impact?
“How did you know?!”
Compared to Frondier, Aster seemed more riled up by the fact that his attack had been countered than by the actual damage he’d received.
“Because you’re sloppy, you idiot!”
Wham!
Frondier charged at Aster, who was still recovering his stance, and unleashed a swift side kick at full force. Aster blocked it with his arm, but was pushed back several steps. The veins on Aster’s forehead bulged.
And Frondier, adding fuel to the fire, continued his relentless critique.
“It’s so obvious when you’re transitioning from defense to offense, Aster.”
He was reciting the same advice Monty had given him back when his own offensive skills were lacking, directly to Aster.
Of course, this only applied to the moments when Aster employed his high-speed movement, but it was more than enough to provoke him.
As if to prove Frondier’s point, Aster gathered his Aura, focusing it to its peak.
Crack.
Wham!
Aster, utilizing the principles of Iaijutsu, struck Frondier while moving past him. However, his lack of mastery was evident in the attack. It was less of a precise punch and more akin to wildly swinging his arm. The end result resembled a powerful cross.
Still, this time, the speed was closer to a true Iaijutsu. Reacting with the naked eye was impossible.
But Frondier had provoked him precisely to elicit this attack.
That’s why he was able to block it with both arms.
And collapsed onto the floor, still maintaining his defensive posture.
“...Damn game.”
He muttered under his breath, inaudible to anyone else.
Seeing Frondier sprawled on the ground, Aster, his anger still simmering, declared,
“See that, Frondier? Now you know. I’m strong…”
“Yeah, you’re stronger.”
“Wh- what?”
“That’s what I’ve been saying all along, you idiot.”
Frondier pushed himself off the ground and let out a sigh.
‘I’ve never won against him in a spar, not even once.’
In fact, this was the very reason why Frondier believed Aster to be stronger. There was a difference in caliber that couldn’t be bridged with psychological tactics, traps, or feints.
Rising to his feet, Frondier addressed the students.
“So, that’s the gist of it. Professor Aster’s skill.”
“...”
“He’s strong, isn’t he?”
“...”
The students, speechless, stared at Frondier as if they had been robbed of their ability to speak. They looked at him as if he had lost his mind.
Did he just ask if Aster was strong? What had just transpired before their very eyes?
‘...Amazing.’
However, among them, there was one student whose thoughts differed from the rest.
Aias.
The Aias who had feared those stronger than him. He had been fine with adults, like the seasoned knights, who were obviously older and more experienced. But he couldn't stand the thought of someone his own age surpassing him. The feeling of being pushed off the stage was unbearable.
Yet now, Aias’s eyes were sparkling with a different kind of fire.
‘How does he do that? Could I even react to it? If I used my spear’s reach to my advantage, no, would it even matter before it’s shattered?’
Aias couldn’t, for the life of him, figure out a way to counter Aster’s movements. If this was his barehanded strength, how much more formidable would he be with a weapon in hand?
Thump.
Thump, thump.
Aias struggled to conceal his pounding heart and the surge of excitement coursing through him.
He had thought Aster was similar to Frondier. In the sense that their depths of strength seemed unfathomable.
But after witnessing them spar, his perception shifted. Unlike Frondier, who often seemed to hold back, Aster made little attempt to conceal his power. This made it possible to at least try to comprehend the extent of his strength. It was like a towering peak, reaching for the heavens.
Even if the summit remained hidden from view, one could still strive to catch a glimpse of it.
Frondier, on the other hand, was like a dense fog. It was impossible to gauge its true height. It could be lower than Aias imagined, or it could be unimaginably vast.
A tower could be climbed. With each step, one would draw closer to its summit. Perhaps, after a lifetime of dedication, the peak might finally come into view. Reaching it, however, was another matter entirely.
But fog couldn’t be climbed.
While Frondier remained an enigma, impossible to grasp, Aster, in Aias’s eyes, had become…
‘A hero.’
And Frondier, observing Aias’s reaction, couldn’t help but smile wryly, yet with a hint of relief.
‘That’s the path I need to pave.’
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