She's really like a dog; she didn't admit defeat and instead turned her head, trying to bite my arm. I quickly used my other hand to keep her hands locked, then used the free wooden sword to meet her teeth. I was careful with my strength and didn't use force, just wedging the sword between her teeth to stop her from biting wildly. Luckily I held back, or she would have had to attend her birthday party with missing teeth in a few days. Then Alice definitely wouldn't even dare to smile in front of the guests.
Seeing that I was being very measured, Ghislaine didn't intervene. I knew this little girl's personality well, so I kept her restrained and didn't let go easily.
Then I said to Ghislaine in the Beast God Language, "Dear Black Wolf Sword King, why are you here?"
Ghislaine was stunned; she probably hadn't heard the Beast God Language in a long time! She replied directly, "I am working here as a bodyguard."
She answered so directly, and in the Human tongue too. I was originally thinking of helping her hide her identity! Forget it, with someone so brainless and straightforward, I shouldn't use polite clichés; I should get straight to the point.
"Sword King, I wish to duel you. I want to see the Light Katana. Would you be willing?"
"Okay."
How direct. Alice stopped acting up when she heard we were going to duel. I let her go, and she consciously walked to the side to watch.
I walked to the center of the field, bowed, and said, "I would like to duel you twice. I have two combat styles, and I hope you will not hesitate to instruct me."
Seeing me bow, Ghislaine seemed to have a reflex reaction and bowed back. She also nodded in agreement to my request.
I turned to Alice and said to her, "Alice, please help by counting down from three. We will start when you reach one."
Alice nodded blankly; she was probably seeing such a formal duel for the first time.
"3, 2, 1!"
While Alice was counting down, I focused intently on Ghislaine. I knew that the moment she reached one, Ghislaine would ruthlessly use the 'Light Katana' to strike me. My only way to win was to use the Water God Style secret technique 'Flow' before her wooden sword hit me. This was a move specifically designed by the Water God Style to counter the Sword God Style's 'Light Katana.' By deflecting the attack trajectory of the Light Katana, one could evade this certain-hit strike.
I heard from my teacher Leda Lia that the Sword God Style used to be essentially invincible. Once the Light Katana was unleashed, no other style could match it. There were even instances of a Sword God Style Sword Saint slaying a Water God Style Sword King.
So, those masters of the Water God Style painstakingly researched this sword technique, 'Flow,' specifically targeting the Light Katana. The principle is actually very simple: since you can't block it, just don't get hit.
Unfortunately, the gap between me and Ghislaine today was too large. In my memory, I only heard the sound of '1' before a flash of light flew over with a bang, and then I was on the ground. A large bump rose on my forehead, followed immediately by the sensation of pain.
She really went all out without holding back, though seeing as there's only one bump and my head isn't gone, Ghislaine did show some mercy.
"Divine power is the mellow grain, grant the power to stand again to those who have lost their strength—'Healing'."
I cast an Intermediate Healing spell on my forehead.
Seeing the magic I cast, Alice also looked very curious. She probably really wants to learn magic that can heal injuries. That way, after fighting someone in the future, she could beat them half-dead and then save them, avoiding a scolding from her parents.
Ghislaine wasn't particularly surprised to see me use magic; her former teammates probably used it often too.
"What, do you want to fight again?"
"Of course. I still have some cards I haven't played yet! This time, please don't hold back either. Oh, I forgot to mention—I am Water God Leda Lia's disciple, Daolin Prodia Grellat. Please give me your guidance."
Hearing the title of the Water God, Ghislaine's ears perked up. It felt like her fighting spirit had been ignited. She said, "I am Sword God Gal Farion's disciple, Ghislaine Dedoldia. This time, I'll beat you until your teeth are all over the floor!"
Alice was even more excited to hear that it was a duel between disciples of the current Water God and Sword God, and she immediately restarted the countdown: "3, 2, 1!"
When the countdown reached three, I cheated a little this time by condensing an Air Field in the open space between Ghislaine and me. This is one of my latest achievements from the past few years.
By manipulating wind elements to increase the air pressure in an area, everyone within that air zone is subjected to greater pressure, thereby reducing the speed of objects within the area.
Sure enough, when Ghislaine reached one, she rushed over using the Light Katana just like before. Upon entering the Air Field, her speed dropped noticeably. She seemed a bit unaccustomed to it and frowned.
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