Raon smiled gently as he watched Sylvia face off against the Vice Head.
'Her condition is good.'
Even though she gave it her all, Sylvia had easily subdued Krishon, so her aura and stamina consumption wasn't significant.
On the other hand, the Vice Head was extremely agitated after being mocked in front of numerous spectators. The best possible situation for Sylvia to face the Vice Head had been created.
"It's surprising that Sylvia easily defeated Krishon, but there's actually no need to watch this match."
"That's right. It's a fight between a Master and a Grandmaster after all."
"Honestly, it won't be easy to even make him use up his stamina or Aura."
"Still, you never know. Seeing how she overwhelmed Krishon like that, there's definitely a possibility!"
"Possibility my ass. Don't say such nonsense."
"Just because you placed a bet. All sorts of happy delusions are running wild, huh?"
Most of the spectators, even if they didn't know the outcome of the duel itself, were treating the match between Sylvia and the Vice Head as if it was already over.
-Hey.
Wrath glared at the spectators before turning his gaze to Raon.
-Do you think your mother can win?
'My answer is the same as before.'
Raon calmly shook his head.
'If they fought 1,000 times, she'd lose 999 times. Unless today is that one time she could win, she'll definitely lose.'
I taught Sylvia the Vice Head's swordsmanship and also passed on martial arts that could break that swordsmanship.
But her opponent is a Grandmaster, far above Sylvia's level.
Even with an energy center made from a Dragon Heart and having grasped all of his martial arts, winning was nearly impossible.
-This king thinks she would lose a thousand times out of a thousand fights.
Wrath clicked his tongue shortly while looking at Sylvia's back.
-But you said how one loses is important too, didn't you?
'That's right.'
-Then I shall quietly observe. How your mother loses. What it is that you desire.
Saying that, he perched on Raon's shoulder.
'I got it. But she's not your mother.'
Raon chuckled and took a step closer to the arena.
"Mom."
He called out "Mom" again like in the morning and waved his hand.
"Raon?"
Sylvia turned around. Her eyes were frozen like plaster. Given who her opponent was, she seemed extremely nervous.
"Think about all the training you've done until now."
He gave her the most necessary advice to help ease her tension.
"Right. That's true."
Sylvia nodded while biting her lip firmly.
"I can't go through that hellish time again."
Sylvia's frozen gaze softened before filling with madness.
'Huh...'
Raon shook his head with a disgruntled look.
'That's not what I meant.'
He had hoped for Sylvia's tension to ease, but not in that way.
"I'll be back."
Sylvia nodded gratefully and headed towards the center of the arena.
'It's neither a look that desires victory nor one that worries about defeat.'
She probably knows better than anyone here how difficult it will be for her to win.
But she wasn't thinking about defeat either. She was just filled with the will to show something.
"Are both of you ready?"
The referee, seeming the most nervous himself, took a deep breath before approaching Sylvia and the Vice Head.
"Yes. I'm ready."
Sylvia replied in a calm tone while gripping her sword hilt.
"Ready."
The Vice Head nodded with his face flushed red, perhaps still recalling the humiliation he had suffered from Sylvia earlier. He gritted his teeth as if urging to start immediately.
Hearing that both were ready, the referee looked up at the highest platform. Glenn also closed his eyes as if signaling to begin.
"Then..."
The referee approached between Sylvia and the Vice Head and raised his hand.
"Let the second duel begin!"
As soon as he lowered his raised hand and stepped back, the Vice Head moved.
He charged fiercely as if trying to finish Sylvia as quickly as possible.
Swish!
The Vice Head's sword-drawing technique, imbued with extreme speed, shot out aiming for Sylvia's collarbone.
As if anticipating the movement, Sylvia calmly turned her left ankle.
She rotated her body like rippling waves on a lake, perfectly avoiding the Vice Head's sword strike.
"Tsk."
The Vice Head clicked his tongue as if displeased and sharply bent the trajectory of his sword that had been extending in a straight line. His blade flashed white as it fell towards Sylvia's head.
Twoong!
Sylvia stepped with only her right foot. Her body flowed to the right as if sliding on ice.
Crash!
The Vice Head's surprise attack crushed the floor instead of Sylvia before coming to a stop.
"Huu..."
Sylvia exhaled a slightly ragged breath as she held her sword at mid-level.
"Your movements are quite good."
The Vice Head frowned as he pulled his sword out of the arena floor.
He leaped towards Sylvia with coldness in his eyes. His footwork was fast yet mysteriously profound. Even from the side, afterimages could be seen.
"Hup!"
Sylvia inhaled sharply as she retreated to the left. She deflected the Vice Head's sword strike that seemed to shoot out at the speed of light and moved counterclockwise.
She created a path to evade her opponent's offensive by using the arena widely.
"Kuk!"
The Vice Head bared his white teeth, seemingly annoyed at Sylvia who was only running away.
"You slippery eel!"
His sword emitted a bright light and drew out three light swords. It was the manifestation of the Ten Forms Sword Style. Three brilliantly shining swords pressed on Sylvia's left and right sides.
Sylvia took a step back as she watched the Vice Head's sword transform into three. In half a breath, she imbued her lowered sword with the flow of a mighty river.
Swish!
The blade surged like a wave, twisting the light swords and cutting the Vice Head's shoulder. Though he was wrapped in an aura barrier, preventing a deep wound, red blood still flowed from his shoulder.
"Huu..."
Despite injuring the Vice Head, Sylvia showed no joy and lowered her stance, preparing for the next move.
"Huh..."
The Vice Head widened his eyes in disbelief as he looked at his blood-stained shoulder. His eyeballs began to turn deep red.
-Now it begins.
'No.'
Raon bit his lip as he watched the blood drip from Sylvia's sword.
'It hasn't even started yet.'
***
Vice Head Killian frowned as he unleashed the Ten Forms Sword Style.
'What is this.'
He had intended to deal with Sylvia as quickly as possible and then face off against Raon, but that damn woman was unbelievably adept at evasion.
Even though he had unleashed sword strikes that should have been impossible to avoid even for a top-tier Master, she deflected all his attacks as if she could see right through him.
'Is she hiding her strength?'
No, that's definitely not it.
Sylvia's complexion was pale, and cold sweat was streaming down her forehead. There wasn't the slightest hint of composure.
The Vice Head twisted his lips as he looked at the already healed wound on his shoulder.
'Right. I just let my guard down.'
It's true that he had ignored Sylvia to focus on Raon. If he fought properly from now on, he could win within 10 exchanges.
'Still, I shouldn't use the Astral Ring.'
The Astral Ring and the latter forms of the Ten Forms Sword Style have deadly power, but they consume a lot of aura.
Since the duel with Raon Zieghart would follow immediately after, he needed to conserve his strength as much as possible.
'I'll end this with the difference in forms.'
The Ten Forms Sword Style has a total of thirty-six forms. Until now, he had only used the first twelve forms, but to end this quickly, he decided to unleash the middle twelve forms.
Swish!
Killian's eyes settled calmly as his sword transformed into five light blades and extended outward.
Swish!
The light blades flew like a soaring tiger, simultaneously targeting Sylvia's arms and legs. It was the Silver Snake Emerging from the Grove of the Ten Forms Sword Style, which would become even faster if she retreated.
Given Sylvia's movements so far, she would surely retreat, making this the worst form for her.
Thud!
But Sylvia, biting her lip tightly, didn't retreat. Instead, she charged forward.
'Huh...'
Killian widened his eyes as he watched Sylvia approach.
'What in the...!'
Instead of retreating in confusion, she was rushing towards the swords. It was an unexpected move.
Sylvia neutralized the Silver Snake Emerging from the Grove with a single movement and then raised a blue light.
Piaaang!
The brilliant aura emanating from her sword technique rushed towards Killian's waist.
'Oh no!'
Killian gritted his teeth. He hadn't even considered defense, so it was too late to block with his sword. He manipulated his astral energy to create an aura wall beside his waist.
Slash!
Sylvia's sword cut through the aura wall and sliced across his waist. The wound opened, and red blood spurted. Though the bleeding stopped quickly, the stinging pain brought irritation.
"Huh!"
Sylvia panted, her shoulders heaving as if breathing with her entire body. Cold sweat was flowing all over her face. Seeing her like this made him even more upset.
"How dare you!"
Killian bit his lip until it bled as he stepped into a footwork technique. His body moved forward as if it had become light itself, materializing in front of Sylvia.
Paaaang!
Five light swords flashed fiercely, as if not giving any time to dodge. It was the Formless Drunken Immortal from the Ten Forms Sword Style, filled with extreme pleasure.
Sylvia neither charged nor retreated. She stepped forward with her left foot and leaned her waist backward.
The five blades of the Formless Drunken Immortal passed by, missing Sylvia's nose by a hair's breadth. Golden strands of hair, cut by the sword wind, fluttered faintly.
"Fine! Let's see how long you can keep dodging!"
With veins bulging on his forehead, Killian unleashed the fifteenth form of the Ten Forms Sword Style, the Flaming Lotus Whirlwind. Six blades gathered like a pinwheel and bore down on Sylvia.
Swish!
The blades, rotating as one, split apart just before reaching Sylvia, aiming for her arms, legs, and neck.
Kyaaang!
Sylvia wasn't surprised this time either. With her lips tightly pressed, she drew a circle with the sword in both hands. A wave of rippling aura completely suppressed the blades of the Flaming Lotus Whirlwind.
"Huh..."
Killian swallowed dryly as he watched the Flaming Lotus Whirlwind subside.
'It's a coincidence.'
For such a coward to break the Ten Forms Sword Style! It's impossible!
Grinding his teeth, he unleashed the strongest of the middle twelve forms, the Shattering Iron Rod. The trajectories of light swords filled the air densely, shooting towards both of Sylvia's shoulders.
Swish!
Sylvia raised her slightly twisted sword like a soaring hawk. Like a lightning rod grounding a thunderbolt, Killian's sword strike rode along her blade and struck the ground.
Kuwaaang!
The power hadn't diminished at all, so the center of the arena where the Shattering Iron Rod had poured down was completely shattered.
"Ugh..."
Sylvia groaned, clutching her chest as if she had suffered internal injuries. However, she maintained a serious gaze while gripping her sword, as if determined to continue fighting.
'A hair's breadth.'
Killian clenched his fist as he looked at Sylvia's steady gaze.
'It's been a hair's breadth difference all along.'
It could be called a coincidence a few times, but seeing her evade up to the middle twelve forms by a paper-thin margin, it's definitely not a coincidence.
'She knows my swordsmanship. She knows the Ten Forms Sword Style.'
Without that, the competition up to this point would have been impossible.
'No way...'
Killian looked at Raon standing behind Sylvia. He was smiling leisurely.
'Was the martial arts manual he requested from the head of the house the Ten Forms Sword Style?'
Now I understand. Raon used his wish not for another martial art, but for my Ten Forms Sword Style.
'He's insane. He's completely out of his mind!'
The Ten Forms Sword Style is certainly not a bad martial art, but it's not a supreme martial art that can reach transcendence either.
It was unbelievable that he had chosen the Ten Forms Sword Style and orchestrated this situation when he could have obtained a far superior martial art more suited to him.
Killian bit his lip as he met Raon's eyes, which seemed to say, "You finally figured it out?"
'I've fallen into their trap from the beginning.'
Making him excited, making him conserve strength for the upcoming battle - it was all part of Raon Zieghart and Sylvia's scheme.
'I've been humiliated, but it's not too late yet.'
He took a deep breath, calming his excited mind.
'I'll end this for sure.'
If he tried to conserve more strength, he might end up using even more power.
He needed to bring Sylvia down as quickly as possible, not just with the last 12 forms, but even by using the Sword Ring if necessary.
"You've used your head quite well. But..."
Killian's chilling gaze fixed on Sylvia.
"The chance given to you has ended."
Astral energy coalesced into a spiral on his blade before erupting in a powerful explosion of light.
***
'Astral Ring...'
Sylvia bit her lip as she watched the massive Astral Ring blazing from the Vice Head's sword.
'So this is where the real fight begins.'
The Vice Head had been conserving his strength until now because of Raon, whom he would face next.
But it seemed he had realized I understood the Ten Forms Sword Style and decided to end this quickly.
Kugugugu.
The light sword that was originally made of astral energy was now burning as an Astral Ring.
Just looking at it made her heart tighten as if she couldn't breathe.
Honestly, just fighting until now had made her body feel as heavy as water-soaked cotton. She had also suffered internal injuries, causing severe pain in her abdomen and chest.
But it wasn't time to fall yet. Not until she saw the end of this fight with her own eyes.
Chwaaak!
The Vice Head charged without a sound. His blade bore down twice as fast as before.
'Whirlwind Demon Strike!'
The Whirlwind Demon Strike of the Ten Forms Sword Style was a form that simultaneously targeted the opponent's waist and lower body, with tremendous speed and illusions that made it impossible to determine exactly where it was aiming.
Sylvia's hand trembled on her sword as she watched the Vice Head's blade fiercely bore down on her.
'Focus.'
A single misjudgment could decide the outcome. She had to concentrate until the end to find where he was aiming.
Swish!
The Vice Head's blade, now right in front of her, fell sharply as if drawing a thundercloud. His target was her right waist.
Thud!
Sylvia stepped firmly with her left foot. Using her left ankle as a pivot, she leaned her upper right body backward.
Swish!
The Vice Head's sword strike grazed her waist as it passed. Though a terrible pain struck as if flesh had been torn away, she ignored it.
She thrust her sword towards the Vice Head's thigh, advancing by pushing her right foot forward from its withdrawn position.
Swish!
Perhaps because the Vice Head was focusing on the Astral Ring, his aura barrier was weaker than before. The blade penetrated a bit deeper than the wounds on his shoulder or waist.
But her own wound was much worse. The internal injury had worsened, causing a burning pain throughout her entire body.
However, there was no time to recover. The Vice Head charged forward, ignoring his wound as if determined to end it this time.
His blade, composed of the Astral Ring, expanded into eight. It meant he was using the last 12 forms.
Whaaaa!
The Astral Ring, infused with white light, descended in an elegant arc like a dancer's fingertips. If she tried to block it directly, her body would be crushed.
She employed the Wandering Footwork she had learned from Raon. She twisted her body to avoid five of the Astral Rings and deflected the ones aiming for her head and chest by concentrating her astral energy.
Kuuuung!
Even though she didn't collide head-on with the Astral Rings and only deflected them, her wrists were bent back and she felt nauseous. The internal injury she had forcibly suppressed worsened.
'Not yet...'
Despite the pain invading her mind, Sylvia didn't back down.
'It's not over yet.'
She pushed through the wave of Astral Rings filled with killing intent and malice to counterattack. Her blade, seizing a momentary opening, slashed the Vice Head's forearm.
"Kuhek..."
Though Sylvia was the one who attacked, she was also the one coughing up blood. Dark, dead blood wet her lips.
"Go ahead and struggle to the very end!"
The Vice Head's sword flashed, becoming a brilliant light. Eight blades imbued with willpower enveloped Sylvia's surroundings.
Sylvia bit her tongue. Even in this extreme situation, she didn't lose her composure as she distinguished between the Astral Rings she could dodge and those she needed to deflect.
Twoong!
In the blink of an eye, she finished her calculations, stepped into the Wandering Footwork, and drew a sword barrier to her right and front.
Paaaak!
But the time was too short and she was overpowered, resulting in cuts to her collarbone and thigh.
Because it was the Astral Ring, chunks of flesh were gouged out even though she had an aura barrier. Blood that was hard to stop even with aura spurted out, soaking her hair and clothes.
"Looks like your struggling is over."
The Vice Head twisted his lips as if it was all over and slashed his sword diagonally downward.
The Participating in the Middle Lines, a finishing move of the Ten Forms Sword Style. A fan-shaped Astral Ring that seemed to fill the entire arena extended along the sharply falling blade.
"Huuk..."
Sylvia gave up on stopping the bleeding. She even pulled in the aura she was using to staunch the blood and imbued it into her blade.
'The Participating in the Middle Lines has a wide range, so there's a gap.'
Perhaps due to her extreme focus, time seemed to flow slowly. The aura perception she hadn't recalled until the end found a gap in the Participating in the Middle Lines.
"Uaaaah!"
Sylvia let out a fierce yell as she struck down with her astral energy towards the gap she had perceived with her aura sense. A blue radiance poured down like a magnificent waterfall.
Kwaddddeuk!
The right wing of the Participating in the Middle Lines shattered like a thin glass window.
Kuung!
Sylvia slipped her body through that gap, then moved to the Vice Head's right side and thrust her sword.
The blue light flashing from her sword technique pierced through the Vice Head's aura barrier and slashed his abdomen. A small hole opened, and blood flowed from his stomach.
"Kuaaaa!"
The Vice Head let out a monstrous cry as he swung his sword. Astral Rings fell like a bombardment.
"Heuk..."
Sylvia threw her body, but couldn't completely escape the bombardment of Astral Rings. Her waist and calves were roughly torn apart.
"You bitch, how far will you go!"
The Vice Head looked at Sylvia with an expression of disgust.
"Haa..."
Sylvia smiled faintly as she looked at the Vice Head's distorted expression. Even though her vision was blurry, she could clearly see what kind of face he was making.
'Now I feel a bit better.'
Ever since he tormented the maids in the annex, she had wanted to make him make that expression. She was glad that it was her, not Raon, who had made him make that face.
It would have been impossible without Raon's teachings and the energy center made from the Dragon Heart. At this moment, she was so grateful to her son.
"Thank you for underestimating me."
Sylvia smiled as she swallowed back the blood that had risen in her throat due to her worsened internal injuries.
Her hair, tied back, had come loose, and her entire body was soaked in blood as if red paint had been poured over her.
Even so, the hand holding her sword did not lower. Even if her grip was torn away, she kept her sword raised till the end.
"Shut up. I said shut up!"
The Vice Head charged forward with a roar. He looked like an enraged bull. Now there was no composure left in his sword. It was filled only with the will to win with all his might.
Piaak!
Despite her defense, blood spurted above her shoulder. The Vice Head's blade had deeply grazed her.
'It's different...'
As the Vice Head gave it his all, the forms of the Ten Forms Sword Style that she knew became so fast and complex that they were difficult to comprehend.
Sylvia bit her lip as she dodged the falling Astral Ring by a hair's breadth. It was truly extreme. It felt like a single misjudgment would lead not to defeat, but to death.
Swish!
Her abdomen was cut. It hurt so much she wanted to collapse right there, but biting her lip, she slashed at the Vice Head's waist.
Chunks of flesh fell from her thigh as blood flowed out enough to make her faint. A chilling shiver ran down her spine, but she bit her tongue and slashed at the Vice Head's ankle.
The losses of flesh being cut and bones being lost continued.
The Vice Head, with his abundant aura, only suffered superficial wounds, but for me, it felt like life itself was falling away with each sword strike.
It's painful. Unbearably, excruciatingly painful.
But I can endure it. Physical pain can't overcome mental anguish.
Compared to the pain of not being able to protect my family, the hurt of failing to protect the maids I considered my children, these current wounds were nothing.
Sylvia smiled, covered in blood. A benevolent smile bloomed within the appearance of a blood demon. It was a beautiful yet eerie sight.
"You, you crazy bitch!"
The Vice Head retreated, his teeth chattering.
"You! What are you doing! Are you not going to stop her even after seeing her like this!"
He shouted at Raon, telling him to stop Sylvia.
But Raon didn't move, his arms still folded. He stared at the arena, his gaze unchanged, as if trusting Sylvia.
"Kuh! Fine! I'll end this completely!"
The Vice Head, sweating profusely, unleashed the Wind Demon Destruction, a finishing move of the Ten Forms Sword Style. Ten light swords whirled through the sky, creating a massive storm of blades.
The storm of Astral Rings spread across the entire arena, extending fragments of light as if to swallow Sylvia whole.
Sylvia bit her lip as she faced the storm of light that seemed to constrict her body.
'Wind Demon Destruction.'
The Wind Demon Destruction was the finishing move of the Ten Forms Sword Style that Raon had taught her most carefully.
It was a lethal martial art that cornered the opponent before cutting off their breath in an instant. To block it, one had to aim for the fleeting moment when the aura gathered.
She closed her eyes as if waiting for death and heightened her senses. Her aura perception, honed to the extreme by pain, read the flow of the Wind Demon Destruction completely.
Kuuuuuung!
The light blades that had been sweeping through the sky and earth compressed above Sylvia's head.
At that moment, Sylvia raised her sword. Her hazy eyes flashed with a red light.
A blue radiance climbed along her blade, performing an elegant dance. The blue blade bored between the light blades, piercing the core of the Wind Demon Destruction.
Kuwaaaaaaang!
A massive shockwave exploded, spreading throughout the entire Grand Training Hall before the sword strike could take its full form.
"Ah..."
The Vice Head, shocked in the middle of forming his technique, couldn't move.
"Heuuk..."
Sylvia advanced with staggering steps. Blood soaked the floor with each step.
With her trembling arm, she raised her sword and brought it down on the Vice Head's head.
But her strength had run out. The blade couldn't split the Vice Head's head and merely tapped it lightly before falling.
Kyaaang!
Sylvia's sword fell to the ground. She smiled at the Vice Head as if feeling her limit.
"...I've lost. But the Radiant Light Flow didn't lose."
With those final words, she fell backwards. However, her back didn't touch the ground.
Raon, who had appeared suddenly, was supporting Sylvia's back.
"You, you guys..."
Raon didn't look at the Vice Head. After wiping Sylvia's blood-covered face with his hand, he led her down from the arena.
His touch was so noble that none of the many people in the arena could open their mouths. It was as if time had stopped.
"Well done."
Raon smiled slightly as he looked at Sylvia, who hadn't walked down on her own feet as he had said.
The winner and loser were decided. However, the winner's face was distorted, while the loser was smiling broadly. It seemed as if the outcome had been reversed.
"Wh-what is this Radiant Light Flow?"
The Vice Head wiped a streak of blood flowing from his forehead and shouted as if grinding his teeth.
"It's the martial art of the annex, and..."
Raon answered as he stroked Sylvia's hair. A red flash of lightning spread across his eyes as he looked back.
"It's the martial art that will defeat you."