'This sword is a bit on the heavy end, but it's usable... Hmm, maybe I should go for more downward strikes; striking up or to the side would be less advantageous than striking downwards--actually, my opponent will expect that, so should I try to strike to the side and downwards? Or wait... Maybe only to the side and up! Then my opponent will be caught completely by surprise.'
Koji was contemplating how he was going to fight, and thankfully Cecilia had given them some time to prepare since their younger--Koji's opponent was a ten year old girl named Elize; she didn't look too strong, but Koji knew he couldn't underestimate her.
'Sadly I'm a bit shorter than her, so she may be a problem due to her reach; though she probably expects me to try and get up close and personal, so actually... Maybe I should play to her advantage on purpose? No! I already have decided to take a disadvantage by not using the sword correctly, I can't have another; I have to forfeit this. Okay, I should balance out true technique, and personalized adaptation.'
However, Koji would not have much longer to think; it was time for him to step into battle.
He walked to the opposite side of a field has the girl who he was going against, and he looked at her; she was a bit taller than him, maybe by a few inches; her proportions were pretty standard, though her legs were a bit longer.
Since her legs were longer, Koji knew she would be able to kick him easily; though, kicking him may be really stupid in this situation--due to them both using swords; at this moment, Koji also realized some key details in her expression.
She looked absolutely determined to win! She for sure--no doubt, was not scared at all. However, this must have been a facade.
'Hm, sword fighting is a lot like gambling isn't it? The outcome of the fight is never determined from the start, even if someone is more experienced than the other; in reality, they could still make a key mistake and be struck! Being read by your opponent, this is detrimental; keeping a poker face is essential then, to both gambling and sword fighting. Well, sadly I'm not a gambler.'
Indeed, on the outside Koji was definitely showing emotion--his eyes lit with indecisiveness, and his legs were shaky; it was clear to his opponent that his experience was lacking.
"Fighters, the battle will start in five seconds; be ready! Anyways, before that--I'd like to state the rules and conditions; first off, the battle will end the second you are hit anywhere--secondly, there will be no shots allowed to the well... Private parts or the head allowed, and if you are caught running away--you will instantly lose! Ok combatants, I hope you are both ready."
Cecilia walked over and announced the situation; her hand stuck out between them as she counted to five. The two opponents stood opposite from each other, the girls stance had her sword up upon her shoulder; meanwhile, Koji's stance--well, his sword was simply still pointed to the ground! Indeed, Koji had not taken a stance.
"5..."
'Shit, is this really smart? Maybe I should take a stance...'
"4..."
'Ah, no I've already decided.'
Koji's eyes narrowed as he stood opposite from his opponent; his vision of her eyes was cut off by Cecilia's slender arm as the countdown continued.
"3..."
'Alright, I can win this!'
"2..."
Koji's "stance" became more firm, his grip on the long, wooden sword tightened; at this point, he knew there was no going back; the last problem was decided upon too right at this moment.
'I'll play extremely aggressive.'
"1..."
Koji's feet dug into grass, and so did his opponents; both of them were ready at this moment!
"Begin!"
Cecilia retracted her arm, and then quickly ran her feet back to where she wouldn't be in the way of their fight.
Instantly, Koji had already decided his plan; no regrets, no overthinking--he had none of that! Therefore, he quickly launched an attack by running over to the girl!
'There's no way this hits, but she'll have to block to her right, and then I'll use her own advantage against her--I'll kick her!'
Clack!
Koji's eyes widened as he blocked her sword; indeed, she had struck before his sword got near her! Koji's reflexes saved him, if not for them he wouldn't have still been in the match.
'She read me completely...'
Koji quickly jumped back slightly, and just after this first encounter he was already worried!
'Shit, she's good! Even though I didn't want to underestimate her, clearly I did...'
Meanwhile, the girl simply stood still; her eyes still narrowed at him--and then, Koji realized it.
This girl had been trained for sure, her stance was perfect; her strike was not messy at all, and clearly she had practiced it many times.
However, a smart fighter would turn such a disadvantage--yes, into his biggest advantage!
'She is trained to strike a certain way, if I can prolong the match enough I'll know exactly what she does! Sorry Ms. Cecilia, I can't be aggressive; I must defend.'
No way he would be able to win unless he learnt her style, even though he may get lucky and dodge a strike, he knew she was prepared for if that happened; therefore, he had to learn her weaknesses--and absolutely exploit them to the highest amount he could!
Koji rushed at her again, except his eye was not at where he would strike, but at where her sword would move.
Koji's eyes widened completely as he felt her domineering sword clash down throught the air, almost destroying his shoulder!
Thankfully...
CLACK!
The sword clashed together harder than last time, almost forcing Koji to his knees; his legs wobbled a bit, and especially--holy shit, his arms felt like they were going to break!
'Agh! Fuck, that strike!'
However, the girls blade did not waver; she pressed it down harder onto him!
'Uh oh...'
Koji buckled under the weight, at this point he could barely take it anymore! The girl kept putting pressure on, though he still had one last hope.
Her sword was swiped away as Koji's tilted up, and then with all of his strength--pushed her sword away with his.
'Yes, yes I should strike!'
In the girls recovery, Koji's sword swept across the air to hit her in the side. Except, it was blocked.
His strike, that he had so much confidence in was blocked by her.
'What? How did she recover so quickly!?'
'Shit, she's gonna launch another!'
Koji once again felt that domineering presence of her blade; he felt it's shadow cast onto him as it rained from above, ready to strike his left shoulder! However, he had now realized her style; force her opponent down to be vulnerable, and then seize the advantage! This strike was not meant to win, it was meant to further her advantage.
How did he know this? Well, she had performed a similar strike two times in a row, and he could tell this wasn't her maximum output due to her not being even a bit exhausted.
If Koji dodged it, her plan would be hindered; he would regain some ground in this fight!
'Tck.'
Koji slightly smiled, because he knew; this was a feint! Her sword swung away, and then launched at his legs.
Koji, in retaliation--jumped up, dodging the blow to his legs that would have been brutal.
But what?! He was going to go according to her style, was he not?
Koji knew deep down, she wouldn't continue with her style; her face, her teeth were clenched--her anger, he could tell! Her true weakness was not her limited style, but her anger issues! She was going to try and end the fight as quick as possible.
'Hehe, thank you Ivory.'
(For context, the idea to jump over her swing reminded him of his fight with Ivory, where she attempted to dodge his blow with a jump.)
Koji slightly smiled as his legs landed back upon the grass, and instantly swept his blade up to the girls side; at this point, she was completely baffled and rendered frozen.
This little boy, had read her!?
She landed hard to the ground as Koji's blade hit her relatively hard in the side; indeed, this was a horrible loss for her.
'Good lord, how was a little girl like her so hard to beat? I guess her parents were really dedicated to training her... Well, if she was only my first opponent, this will definitely not be easy.'
Meanwhile, Koji looked over and saw Ecchi laughing; clearly, he had won his fight.
'Should I go talk to him... Or will he just say some dumb shit? Eh, he's always saying dumb shit; it's fine.'
...
'Oh my god it's so cute!'
Meanwhile, the cat girl--who's name is Vera, had a millipede crawling on her slender hand.
'Wait.. It's even a striped one!!'
Vera's face bloomed with joy and admiration as the black millipede that had orange stripes rode up her hand onto her arm.
Yes, this woman who was supposed to be investigating the appearance of an otherworldly threat--she was playing with a bug she found!
"Do you want to come with me? Aww, you can!"
Vera smiled and caressed the millipede's back with her fingers; after, she got up and walked away, still having the insect on her hand.
"Hmm... I'm gonna name you pear!"
Vera's tail flailed around in joy as she kept walking with the millipede, but at this point her demeanor went a bit serious.
'Okay, so I should probably investigate all the major Kingdoms first. Ooo! I should start with the beautiful ones, wait no... Those are more exquisite he's less likely to be there. Ah, wait but they are so beautiful, I'd love to go see them--it's not like I don't have lots of time. Ah, I wonder if they have any clothes specifically tailored for cat-girls; cutting a spot for my tail really gets annoying sometimes; speaking of my tail, I should get some ribbons to tie onto it, that would be so cute!'
Vera kept walking through the forest, and kept thinking completely unrelated thoughts to the situation; so one may ask, why would Alexander hire her?
Well, since she is a cat-girl--she inherited some enhanced traits that cats have, including better smell, hearing, and better reflexes; of course, also she can see in the dark. Indeed, she was very lucky because a lot of cat-girls get traits like colorblindness, sensitivity to light, and even can't taste sweet things.
These qualities, they make her a perfect investigator; combined with the fact she has a talent for it, and loves it--indeed, Alexander wouldn't pick someone who wasn't up for the task.
'Okay, I'll visit Veylith Kingdom first; I did hear that they have a population of cat-people like me! Ahh, this is the best mission I've ever been given; they will definitely have cat-girl focused clothes.'
Veylith was a Kingdom in the fifth realm, just like the one Koji resided in; except, Veylith was hundreds upon hundreds of miles away from where he was, so it was a bit far off from where her target was...
For reference, the fifth realms surface area was about equal to half the size of the earths! Indeed, it was very large; of course, most of it was just wilderness. The walk may seem a long ways to get to all the Kingdoms, however Vera had her methods.
The first Kingdom, yes she would have to walk to--though, for the rest it's much easier. Basically, each Kingdom had transportation chambers to other Kingdoms that they are allied with--one Kingdom, which is a Kingdom built on trade is allied with every other one and has many transportation chambers. When she arrives at Veylith, she will just be able to travel there and so on.
But for now, she was stuck walking.