Seeing her pitiful appearance, her companions immediately began to denounce me in a flurry of voices, saying things like how arrogant I was for not respecting the Princess, and that I should be thrown in prison. Of course, I couldn't hear any of this, and even if I did, I wouldn't care at all.
Everything today was within my calculations. The King making me Ariel's Guardian Knight was actually just putting a shackle on my grandfather, Darius, so he couldn't harm Ariel without restraint. Therefore, having the status of Guardian Knight is what's most important. Whether I am actually by Ariel's side doesn't matter at all.
Scaring those kids was just a side task to keep them away from me and provide some peace. At the very least, I believe the next time they see me, not a single one will dare to take a deep breath in my presence.
This way, as long as Ariel doesn't die, this whole matter has nothing to do with me.
I really am a clever one.
From then on, my daily routine returned. Ariel never summoned me.
I went back to my peaceful days of attending classes on both sides and researching magic while holding Izoruti's small hand when I had nothing else to do.
The summer of the year following Ariel's birthday.
Today is an important day for every Water God Style martial artist.
Most of the Water God Style practitioners in the Asura Kingdom gathered at the Water God Style Main Dojo in Yars.
Although the dojo was large, it still felt extremely crowded.
On this day, the Water God Style would hold its rank-certification matches.
The rank-certification matches were divided into two halves.
The first half was for practitioners below the Saint rank. All participating martial artists could choose other practitioners at their target rank to duel. The winner could then be promoted to their target rank.
For example, I am currently an Intermediate Water God Style practitioner. If I want to be promoted to Advanced, I need to find an Advanced Water God Style practitioner to duel. If I win, I can then call myself an Advanced Water God Style practitioner to the outside world.
The match process is the same as normal sparring: one side defends while the other attacks, and then they switch. If it's one win and one loss, then you need to find another practitioner to challenge until you are victorious in both defense and attack.
Although it seems very crude, the actual reward is just a title. Even if you don't compete, you could still call yourself Advanced, but such a title without substance is just self-deception. Such martial artists die quickly because many practitioners love to challenge those of the Advanced rank, and they would be easily exposed.
There are fewer practitioners at the Saint rank and above. Moreover, most practitioners who travel frequently have their own nicknames. For instance, Alice was once nicknamed the Mad Sword King. So, there are even fewer people who pretend to be Saint-rank martial artists.
Back to the topic, today both Izoruti and I participated in the Advanced-rank matches.
The opponent I chose was a skinny man. In my view, the Water God Style is a style that emphasizes defense more than attack. It requires slightly fewer techniques than the North God Style and Sword God Style. Pure strength and a robust body are the solid foundations of the Water God Style.
However, this theory should be limited to those below the Saint rank. Those few above the Water Saint rank seem to have fairly average builds—neither fat nor thin—and the Water God is even a sixty-year-old woman.
The battle began. I took the offensive first, and he defended.
On the martial arts field where the morning mist had not yet dissipated, my opponent and I stood facing each other. He held his sword against his forearm with his left hand and pressed his right palm lightly on the hilt, performing the sword salute. I, with my sword tip pointing to the ground, covered my right fist with my left hand and returned the hanging sword salute. When our eyes met, his battle aura spread silently like ripples on a lake, and the fallen leaves within three yards of his feet were lifted by the airflow, floating in a ring. This is the 'Kanryu' state unique to Water God Style experts, using battle aura to sense the opponent's breathing and center of gravity.
I took the first step, drawing the 'meteor' blade and tracing a semi-circle to flick toward his wrist, the movement as natural as a stream. My opponent did not draw his sword, parrying only with his scabbard. At the moment of contact, his battle aura flowed, turning the force of my flick into a horizontal push, causing my sword tip to deflect by three inches.
I followed the momentum to change my move, the sword's speed suddenly accelerating like a pouring rainstorm. However, the opponent shifted his body slightly, and his scabbard tapped toward my elbow joint. If this strike hit, it would trigger the 'Counter Current' secret technique of the Intermediate Water God Style, forcing me to abandon my sword. Fortunately, I retreated quickly, pressing the spine of my sword against his scabbard with my backhand, using the rotation to transform the attack into a circular sword light, tracing a deep blue arc between us.
meteor stopped at his chest and abdomen, and I easily won this round of the match.
The defensive match that followed was even simpler. I used meteor to manifest a Water God Style Sword Light Shield in front of me, easily blocking his moves. Because I used magic to simulate the technique, many people watching the match were pointing and whispering.
But I didn't feel guilty at all. I was already being very respectful by not using magic to create a giant Fire Ball to blast you all.
Isn't using magic to simulate Water God Style techniques exactly what the first Water God did? They must just be jealous of me.
Presumably having been notified in advance, the referee did not penalize my behavior. Just like that, I easily obtained the title of Advanced Water God Style.
Izoruti also won her match easily. As disciples of Water God Leda Lia, neither of us brought shame to the old lady.
Izoruti came over with a bright smile to celebrate the victory with me.
After the match was over, she chattered on without stopping.
"Dawn, let me tell you, the morning matches are just appetizers and nothing much to see. The duels in the afternoon are the real highlight. I heard that those below the Saint rank aren't even allowed to watch!"
"Come on, Senior Sister will take you through the back door. I heard there's a Sword King challenging a Sword Emperor this time! Oh, and the Raging Torrent Sword Emperor is planning to challenge Master for the position of Water God today. I'm so looking forward to it!"
And so, holding hands, we slipped into the Water God Style Main Dojo from the back.
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