Amelia's katana came down in a horizontal arc aimed to cleave Silas in two clean halves.
But Silas seemed rather calm in the face of the attack. Before the katana could even reach him, he sidestepped.
Using the short window, he dashed forward, the dagger in his left hand streaking forward towards Amelia's neck.
However, as if she had anticipated this, her body bent backward, her back parallel to the floor as she avoided the attack.
Before Silas could counter, her legs, still on the floor, suddenly lifted up as she performed a backflip from her absurd position.
The movement made it seem like there was no bone in her body, but Silas was undisturbed.
He knew of her flexibility that bordered on insane, so he was used to such sights during their spars.
In the viewing room, Max watched their fight.
"They are really talented," he commented to the person beside him.
"Who cares? Just let me finish with my job for today instead of watching them fight," the pale figure that sat beside him complained.
The person had black hair combed neatly, with sharp brown pupils.
"Alfred, it seems like you don't know the potential of these two," Max said. "As the vice governor of the planet, you should always support the planet's growth."
Alfred shook his head slowly. "How will me staying here affect their ability? Moreover, if it weren't for you dumping all your tasks on me, I would be able to afford leisure."
"We will do them together, just watch for now," Max hushed.
Alfred just sighed.
In the training chamber, after the brief pause from Amelia's movement, both of them shot forward again.
Silas struck first, making a swift movement to the right side of Amelia before they could even engage, his dagger tearing forward as he thrust at Amelia's neck.
"You think I won't know this technique?" Amelia asked with furrowed brows, her katana intercepting the dagger.
Both weapons were locked at this moment.
"Even if you remember, it is pointless when you can't make use of it."
As Silas spoke, his other dagger thrust forward, aimed directly for her chest.
But a grin appeared on her face instead of fear.
"What do you know about utility?" she asked as his stance shifted. She drove her leg forward, kicking Silas in the stomach.
All the air in his body was forced out of his mouth as he was sent flying through the room.
His back collided with the wall, sending a tremor through the invisible barrier placed there.
"You have gotten weaker than before," Amelia muttered. "Although daggers are not your main weapon, you have mastered it enough to put up a fight." She lunged towards him as those words escaped her mouth.
Silas just smirked.
He looked into his mind at the new cultivation technique that had formed by the time he woke up.
But he went past that.
A new book, [Basic Knowledge on Daggers]
All the texts in the book suddenly flew out, his mind devouring everything, from the most basic lines.
Everything had happened in less than a second.
Silas's daggers rose up in an X-shape as he blocked Amelia's strike.
"Are you in so much hurry to kill me?" he asked with a slight smile.
Before Amelia could assess what had happened, Silas pushed back with his blade, releasing his grip on one of the blades as he drove his fist forward.
Amelia's eyes widened as the punch landed on her lap, making her balance falter.
She fell to the ground on one knee, her body reeling from the pain.
Silas did not give her a chance; his dagger flashed forward as soon as they were on the same level, stopping mere inches away from her neck.
Before Silas could talk to assert his victory, Amelia's palm flashed forward, striking his face squarely.
A chime rang through the stadium as the barrier was activated again.
"That girl is so ferocious," Max said to Alfred, who also nodded.
"She seems stronger than the boy based on skills and strength," Alfred added while stroking his chin.
Max just smiled. "Well, the boy is at a handicap."
"How?" Alfred furrowed his brows.
"He is wearing a vest that weighs 50kg and two wristbands weighing 25kg each."
"That is impossible. He is still so fast despite that, and he is only at the initiate stage," Alfred's eyes widened in horror.
Finally, he sighed. "Truly worthy of being the most talented person in the history of this planet."
Blood trickled down Silas's lips as his head bashed against the barrier.
"Aren't you going too far?" he asked Amelia.
Though he was visibly injured, his face still bore a smile that made Amelia more furious.
She lifted her leg, delivering an overhead kick towards his head.
He rolled under the leg, giving himself enough space between both of them.
Picking up his daggers that were lying on the floor nearby, he pointed one towards her, the other one hanging on his shoulder.
"Let's get this over with. I am in a hurry," he said.
Amelia's lips widened into a grin. She lunged, like a bullet released to kill its target, her katana held with both arms, its edge facing backward.
As she closed in, she swung forward in a quick, horizontal slash.
But Silas was no longer there. At the moment of the attack, he sidestepped, pushing forward with unbroken momentum towards her back.
As Amelia's blade swung, his dagger moved, stopping behind her neck. "Checkmate."
Not wanting to admit defeat, Amelia's legs dropped as she made a clean split, one leg passing between Silas's legs.
She flipped forward immediately. As her other leg swung over, it pressed against Silas's back, using him as leverage, and knocking him to the floor.
Her katana pierced downward, stopping just above his head.
"It seems like you weren't able to defend your position," Amelia said with a smirk.
"Whatever," Silas said, brushing the katana off his head as he stood up.