They say most people who encounter a wild tiger have their legs give out and can't even run away properly before being eaten?
I could finally understand them now.
Because that's exactly how I felt right now.
My legs weren't giving out and trembling, I had just unconsciously taken a couple of steps back.
High-ranking knight.
The aura emitted by a powerhouse who had crossed the wall was so intense that just looking at it made me feel like a sword was being thrust into my throat.
Even though a high-ranking knight was nothing compared to the strongest being I had encountered so far, Valfreyja sealed in Banaditsa...
...Well, Valfreyja couldn't even emit her proper aura because she was sealed.
If that woman had been able to unleash her aura without restraint, we probably would have been unable to even breathe and could only have rolled on the ground at that time.
"You can both come at me at once if you like. It's meaningful to assess your coordination level too."
Lady Verloren said, looking at me. Unlike yesterday, her voice was cold and inhuman like steel.
You could say the difference between when she was holding a sword and when she wasn't was like night and day?
It felt similar to how Friede and I show extremely aggressive behavior towards opponents we've determined to be enemies.
"What are you doing? Time is passing."
When I just stood still while maintaining a defensive stance, Lady Verloren slightly furrowed her brow as if somewhat impatient and urged me to attack.
"I'll count to five. Five, four, three-"
"Haaaaaah!"
I immediately charged in. Out of an instinctive anxiety that if I let that count finish, my head might fly off.
Eisenvalt swordsmanship that had developed somewhat through battles with Valkyries. The sword tip that had been slightly lowered suddenly shot up, aiming for the opponent's chest.
Clang!
But it was blocked so simply, as if it were only natural. Even though it was an attack imbued with Iron Arm's power.
Lady Verloren parried my sword, rotated to sweep it aside, and in the next moment struck at my shoulder with the pommel of her sword.
"Ugh...!"
I hurriedly twisted my shoulder to dodge. If I had been wearing pauldrons I might have been able to block it, but now I was bare. One hit could have broken my shoulder blade if I wasn't careful.
Swoosh!
A slash followed immediately, as if she had expected me to dodge. The longsword, swung leaving afterimages, aimed for my waist.
"Haah!"
I swung my sword to meet it, manifesting Iron Arm's characteristics even more strongly. The swords clashed with a clear metallic sound, and my hand tingled.
"...Hmm."
Lady Verloren glanced at her own longsword that had been deflected by the impact, then swung her sword again with an indecipherable hum.
Claaang!
This time the sound was different from the start.
Unlike earlier when it had been pushed back by Iron Arm's power, this slash was now as heavy as mine. Was she intending to match my strength?
The only thing certain was that there was no chance of winning if I tried to push through with a contest of strength relying only on Iron Arm.
"Is that all?"
"Not yet...!"
Therefore, I swung my sword with all my might, unleashing even Ice Heart's characteristics.
Emotions growing coldly numb.
In contrast, a fiercely pulsating power mixed with chill.
My mind and body, my entire being transformed into an organ solely for killing the enemy.
This state was the full power deployment I could unleash now. It was a level of strength equal to the original Brunhilde.
Clang! Clack, Crack!
The swords danced violently, spitting out sparks and flashes.
A misdirected thrust pierced the air, and clashing blades scattered broken metal fragments. Sharp metallic sounds rang out repeatedly like bells announcing the morning.
"Your thrusts are decent."
Amidst this, the enemy spoke to me.
"But that's all. Your depth when swinging the sword is shallow. At this rate, you'll only barely penetrate with the tip of the blade."
As she avoided my sword aiming to slash her waist just by stepping back twice.
"A grip technique with subtly sloppy fundamentals. A stark difference in level between thrusts and slashes. Movements like someone who uses a spear forcibly wielding a sword."
Verloren dodged the following thrust by twisting her body, then simply deflected the longsword I swung in pursuit and brought her sword tip to my neck.
"That's why you show an opening the moment you transition from thrust to slash."
She had accurately grasped the essence and weaknesses of Eisenvalt swordsmanship just by exchanging blows with me three or four times.
The breakdown of the swordsmanship itself that still remained slightly, even though I had somewhat compensated for it through fierce battles with Valkyries.
"The idea of filling that gap with brute force isn't bad, but that's only an effective tactic when you have the advantage in strength. When facing someone with equal strength..."
"Haaah!"
I tried to continue my fierce attack by quickly twisting my body and swinging my sword, but
"...It gets broken through this easily."
I ended up with a sword pointed at my neck again after just four sword clashes.
"Do you understand?"
Dry swallowing. My mind, cold as ice, mechanically analyzes the situation I'm in, seeking an answer for victory.
The conclusion was reached without much deliberation.
Impossible.
Quite naturally, I had no way to defeat her.
"Remember this. What you're holding is a sword, not a spear. While the usage of the two weapons can become endlessly similar, they can never become the same."
Lady Verloren advised as she removed the longsword pointed at my neck.
She said it would be wiser to properly learn proper swordsmanship separately instead of wasting time trying to twist spear techniques into sword techniques.
I had no words to refute.
At least not as I am now.
The original Brunhilde was able to finally complete Eisenvalt swordsmanship as an independent sword style after continuously reinforcing it through countless battle experiences and her own genius.
However, how could I, who am now, be capable of something that even she couldn't do when she was at the elite knight level?
As Lady Verloren said, rather than that, it would be more efficient to learn a proper swordsmanship anew.
Then, once the newly learned swordsmanship reaches a mature level, I could use that as a basis to supplement Eisenvalt swordsmanship.
You might ask about the swordsmanship the Valkyries demonstrated?
Yes, I can follow that properly... but it's not enough. That swordsmanship alone couldn't perfectly reinforce the breakdown of Eisenvalt swordsmanship.
Probably because the Valkyries, too, were originally spear wielders, not swordsmen.
Their swordsmanship, like Brunhilde's, was a technique that twisted spear techniques into sword techniques, with just slightly different postures.
That's why they share the same breakdown.
"Do you understand?"
"...Yes."
I nodded as I withdrew the power of Ice Heart.
Although it's embarrassing to be subdued without even being able to do anything properly, I felt I gained something from the duel as I acutely realized what I needed to do from now on.
"Good. Then, again."
...Again?
"Let's continue. I've only pointed out one critical flaw, I haven't yet fully confirmed your bottom level."
Lady Verloren said, pointing her sword tip at me. Teaching me that it was my misunderstanding to think the skill test duel was over.
"This time I'll attack more actively, so respond with all your might."
No, it wasn't just that the duel wasn't over, but that the real thing was starting now.
Come to think of it, this woman had mostly just avoided and parried my attacks until now, only properly attacking me once or twice...?
A chilling sensation ran down my spine. It wasn't the power of Ice Heart. It was just goosebumps.
"...How long are we going to continue this?"
I asked in a disgruntled tone as I took up my stance again. Lady Verloren answered with a face that said 'Why are you asking such an obvious thing?'
"Until you lose consciousness from exhaustion. Isn't that obvious?"
...I'm really going to faint.
Everything went dark before my eyes.
* * *
I really got beaten to a pulp.
"Ugh...!"
"...Your evasive movements are clumsy. You've developed a habit of taking attacks with your armor. How do you intend to fight against enemies who can break through armor?"
A criticism that I have a habit of offering my body to attacks I can't block with my sword in time when situations become urgent.
My left arm, which I had thrust towards the practice sword, hurt excruciatingly as if it might break.
Whack!
"Argh...!"
"You've almost completely neglected unarmed combat. There's no system to it. Are you going to beg for mercy when you lose your sword?"
A criticism that my unarmed combat skills are crude due to over-reliance on swordsmanship.
Her fist that suddenly smashed into my cheek was truly an iron fist despite not having any gauntlets.
"You don't need to become an unarmed fighter, but you should be able to support your swordsmanship to some degree. It's faster and more effective at close range."
"Owww... Yes... I'll keep that in mind..."
I held my cheek and staggered, vowing never to disregard unarmed combat again.
When a high-ranking knight unleashed unarmed techniques, I felt I couldn't block it even if I were wearing armor. It was enough to make me dizzy for a moment, you know?
Of course, since I still didn't lose consciousness even after that, the duel continued.
"...You amplify your strength momentarily, don't you? It's impressive and powerful, but be careful not to rely on it too much."
"Kugh...!"
It continued.
"You're full of openings right after, overconfident in your increased strength. If your attack fails, you'll die from an immediate counterattack. Like this."
"Gahk...!"
It continued.
For a full two hours.
* * *
"Urrrgh..."
"Is this your limit? Let's end the morning duel here. Good work."
And so, only after getting beaten for two full hours was I finally able to end the duel. It felt like the grudges of all those I had killed had manifested as a curse.
What was Friede doing during this time, you ask?
"Hieeeek..."
She was sprawled out next to me, who had collapsed with a thud.
She had joined me midway through the duel and swung her greatsword at Verloren, but she didn't last long.
-Jumping into the air...? I see I underestimated you too.
Verloren seemed to find Friede's tactic of leaping and swinging her greatsword quite absurd, as she let out a dry laugh and thrust her longsword like a storm.
With a fierce momentum as if punishing some grave offense.
-Higyah! Higyagyagyah!
Under that attack, Friede was stabbed eight times in midair and crashed straight to the ground. She half-fainted on the spot.
"Don't leap against human opponents. You'll die before you come down when facing an enemy of equal or higher level."
The words Verloren uttered while looking down at Friede like that were quite memorable.