Raiden i had assud Rovel's dedication to Kendo stemd from a pure, unadulterated love for the art. It was a logical conclusion; why else would soone pour so many hours into such grueling practice?
Besides, if you asked any normal person that question, wasn't the expected, polite answer simply to agree?
She herself adored Kendo. If they shared a common passion, it would give them an easy foundation for conversation, a mutual ground to stand on. Most of the people she knew treated it as a pleasant hobby, a way to pass the ti. They'd nod and agree, sharing a superficial interest. So, she subconsciously expected Rovel to offer a similar, simple affirmation.
"I practice to beco stronger," Rovel stated, his voice steady and clear over the quiet hum of the dojo. "Because only by being strong can I protect my sister."
The ntion of his sister's na, Yuki, softened the sharp lines of his focus. A genuine, almost unconscious smile touched his lips, warming his expression in a way i hadn't seen before.
"To protect your sister?" Raiden i's movents faltered for a fraction of a second, her athyst eyes widening slightly. The answer was… unexpected.
"It might sound like I'm trying to act cool, but it's the honest truth," Rovel admitted, deftly parrying a probing strike from i and using the montum to launch a swift counter. "And I don't want to deceive the President over sothing so simple."
Raiden i didn't reply imdiately. She sidestepped his slash with liquid grace, her gaze now appraising him with a newfound intensity, a deeper level of scrutiny.
"That's the kind of line you'd expect from the hero of a story," she mused, a hint of amusent in her tone. "But… to say it with such conviction, to truly an it… that in itself is admirable."
She didn't dismiss his words. Instead, she offered him her sincere affirmation.
In the next instant, the glowing percentage above her head flickered and surged. The Trust level, which had been a respectable 45%, jumped directly to 60%.
"I was half-expecting the President to call a chuunibyou," Rovel confessed, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin.
"Since Classmate Ruobai wishes to beco stronger, then I will train you without rcy!" Raiden i's deanor shifted in a heartbeat. Her playful curiosity vanished, replaced by the sharp, focused aura of a master swordswoman. Her gaze beca as keen as a newly unsheathed blade. "Are you… prepared?"
A cascade of notifications flooded Rovel's vision.
[Triggered A-Rank Mission: Raiden i's Hellish Training]
[Mission Objective: In a direct confrontation, reduce the HP of Raiden i (using Hokushin Ittō-ryū) to 50%.]
[Buff Obtained During Mission: Raiden i's Hellish Training]
[Raiden i's Hellish Training: Under Raiden i's guidance, Kendo skill proficiency gain is increased by 200% (Stackable). When sparring with Raiden i, experience points will be awarded based on her evaluation. Pain perception is locked at 100%.]
[Mission Duration: Dependent on Raiden i's mood.]
[Mission Reward: Hokushin Ittō-ryū Master Certification (Purple)!]
[Hidden Mission Reward: Raiden i's Trust increases by an additional 20%.]
[Hidden Mission Failure Penalty: Raiden i's Trust decreases by 50%.]
[Mission Options: Accept / Reject]
[Note: After accepting, the mission can be ended unilaterally, but this will count as a mission failure. Being deed unworthy by Raiden i will also result in mission failure.]
'The duration depends on her mood? Seriously?'Rovel thought with a grimace.'Spoken like a true Thunder Queen. Even her missions are haughty.'But the detail that truly made him sweat was the pain setting.'Pain perception locked at 100%... Since when was that an adjustable setting? I don't rember seeing that in the options nu!' The mory of her Battōjutsu from that afternoon, the phantom ache that still lingered, sent a cold dread through him.
After a mont of internal complaint, however, Rovel dismissed his hesitation and accepted the mission without a second thought.
"That kind of resolve…" he said, his voice ringing with earnest conviction, "I've had it since the mont I first picked up a sword."
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Raiden i's eyes, but her words remained as sharp as ever. "I hope Classmate Ruobai doesn't end up crying, then."
"Only if the President doesn't find too annoying to deal with," Rovel retorted, refusing to yield an inch.
"Just call i when we're outside the student council. 'President' sounds so formal," Raiden i said with a wave of her hand, demanding he change his form of address.
In the Far East, using given nas was a sign of closeness, of genuine friendship. He hadn't expected to bridge that gap with the esteed Raiden i in a single day.
"In that case… i," Rovel corrected himself with a slight cough, "you should just call by my na as well."
"No problem, Ruobai," she replied, the corners of her lips curling into a subtle, pleased smile.
Though she had many friends, there was almost no one who could truly challenge her in Kendo. Not since the Homu Sword Saint had vanished, anyway. Rovel was the first.
The difficulty of this A-rank mission was obvious. He had already clashed with i several tis and hadn't managed to so much as scratch her.
Fortunately, she didn't imdiately unleash the full force of her Hokushin Ittō-ryū. Instead, she t him with Basic Kendo, matching his style to gauge his limits.
Even so, Rovel was suffering.
i moved like a phantom. Her footwork was a blur, her blade an extension of her will. Her mastery of the derivative techniques of Basic Kendo was so far beyond his own that it felt like they were practicing two different arts entirely. She didn't just block his sword; she controlled the very space around him. A flick of her wrist would send a subtle wave of sword qi—not enough to injure, but just enough to disrupt his footing, forcing him to abort an attack mid-stride.
[Sparring with Raiden i. Basic Kendo (White) proficiency 30. Mission BUFF and Field BUFF applied. Basic Kendo (White) proficiency extra 66!]
[Sparring with Raiden i. Basic Kendo (White) proficiency 27. Mission BUFF and Field BUFF applied. Basic Kendo (White) proficiency extra 59!]
...
His Basic Kendo proficiency was skyrocketing, but Rovel had no ti to celebrate. i's assault was growing fiercer with every passing mont, her strikes landing with pinpoint accuracy.
Crimson numbers blood in his vision with each solid hit.
A sharp rap against his ribs sent a jolt of very real pain through him. `[-32]`
A swift strike to his shoulder followed. `[-41]`
A glancing blow off his guard. `[-17]`...
In what felt like re seconds, his HP had plumted to 70%.
"What's wrong? Is this all you have?" i taunted lightly, her breathing perfectly even as she watched him pant, leaning heavily on his wooden sword.
"Again!" Rovel roared, pushing off the floor and surging forward, taking the initiative for the first ti.
The sharp clack of wood on wood echoed relentlessly through the dojo. On the sidelines, i's friends watched, their mouths agape. They had never witnessed such an intense Kendo duel before.
What was even more astonishing was i's reaction. She was positively beaming.
Those who spent their days in Raiden i's orbit were masters of reading her expressions; it was a survival skill. And right now, they saw an exhilaration on her face they had rarely, if ever, witnessed. Every clash, every crisp impact, seed to elevate her spirits, pushing her to a higher state of excitent.
Rovel's desperate attacks were largely ineffective. Even when he poured his energy into a 'Basic Kendo: Consecutive Slash,' weaving in threads of sword qi, i dismantled it with an almost casual calm.
It was like watching a grandmaster play against a novice.
Then, it happened. As i executed a graceful retreat, she seed to overextend, leaving a montary, tantalizing flaw in her defense. Rovel's eyes lit up. He seized the opportunity, twisting his wrist to drive his sword straight into the opening.
A faint, knowing smile touched i's lips. The flaw was a deliberate bait, a trap she had set for him. Her counter-strike was already prepared, a fluid motion that would use his own montum against him, landing long before his blade could ever reach her.
Just as she confidently prepared to sidestep and deliver the finishing blow, her breath hitched. Her eyes, which had been tracking the arc of his right arm, widened in shock.
His right hand was empty. The sword wasn't there.
'Not good!'
`[-54]`
`[-10]`
Before her mind could fully process the deception, a sharp, stinging impact struck her side. He had switched hands mid-lunge, his left hand bringing the wooden sword around in a tight, reverse-gripped arc that slipped right under her guard. A second, lighter tap followed almost instantly.
Two damage numbers, small but obvious, floated up from her character model.
Rovel stood, his left hand still holding the sword hilt in that unorthodox grip. A bead of sweat traced a path down his temple, dripping from his chin to splash silently on the polished dojo floor. His chest heaved, his lungs burning, but his ragged breathing slowly began to stabilize.
As the silence stretched, the crisp, clear sound of a system notification chid in his ears.
[Learned new skill: Basic Kendo - Dual-Wielding Style.]
...
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