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In this world, for those people who followed the path of the sword, would be categorized as Knights or Swordmasters, and for those who followed the path of the magic, would be categorized as Mages or Sorcerers.
However, not all would become Swordmasters or Sorcerers in their life.
Ryan didn't know much about mages or sorcerers since he wasn't those people who followed that kind of path, and he is someone who swore an oath to follow the path of the sword.
As for the Knights, they were rank from the low-rank, mid-rank and high-rank and that would depend on their aura. An Aura is like a magic circuit for the Knights, and it has nine stages.
For example, Ryan is a mid-rank Knight at stage four. He is still stuck on this stage for years two years and he haven't made a development for these passed years that come by and that makes him frustrated to the end.
Swordmasters, on the other hand, is a completely different level compared to the Knights. They are capable of manifesting their own aura blade without their physical swords with them.
There are only a few Swordmasters within the continent and most of them either live in seclusion away from the society or others have already passed on.
'From what I know, the current Swordmaster that is well-known within the Miris Continent, aside from Scarlette, is someone who held the highest position within the Imperial Army of Silveria Empire and was noted as the youngest Swordmaster in the history.'
While Ryan is still on his thoughts, Scarlette, on the other hand, frowns under her veil as she looked at Ryan and circles around the man and looked at him from head to toe as she nodded.
The crimson-haired woman noticed that Ryan wasn't paying attention to her and that makes her frowned even more because of the man's lack of perception.
However, that's not her problem then and she just continued.
"You are restraining yourself to reveal your force. There is something that makes you hesitate to unleash your power and that is the reason why your sword form is a bit awkward to watch."
After she said those words, she prepared herself as she charged forward and swung the tiny tree branch that she was holding, and she performed a slashed form to attack Ryan.
Ryan, finally snapped from his thoughts as he noticed the sudden attack coming from the crimson-haired woman, manages to avoid the incoming attack with his reflexes as he withdraws backward and then, unsheathes his sword from his scabbard to defend himself.
'Are you serious?! She is using that tiny tree branch as a sword?! Is this what Swordmasters are?!'
He thought as he looked at the crimson-haired woman who is preparing for another attack and saw how the tiny tree branch had a manifested as a crimson aura blade and from that moment, Ryan felt an incredible amount of pressure coming from her.
However, he manage to stand on his ground and counterattack as both sides clashed swords with each other and because of that, it creates a blast of energy, and a heavy atmosphere surrounds them as the battle between them continues.
While battling, Ryan looked at the tiny tree branch that clashed with his sword and he couldn't help but felt excitement as he couldn't believe himself that he was sparring with someone who is a Swordmaster.
Not only that but an overwhelming force that surrounds him states that clashing with a Swordmaster isn't some trivial matter.
'This is what you called a suicide mission for someone who dared to clashed with a Swordmaster!'
Ryan had heard stories about Scarlette Overland being strong at all, but he never expected to be this kind of strong! Although it's only a rumor about her being a Swordmaster, Ryan had already seen the evidence of her performing an aura blade with that tiny tree branch that she wields as a sword.
However, Ryan could tell that Scarlette wasn't unleashing her true strength but even though that's the case, the tremendous force that Scarlette is unleashing is still hard for Ryan to contain.
But he kept withstanding the force coming from the crimson-haired woman against him and before he could make a counterattack, Scarlette jumped backward but still launched an attack towards Ryan once more.
*SHIING!
*WHOOSH!
*CLANG!
*CLANG!
Ryan keeps on parrying the attacks coming from Scarlette, but he couldn't keep up the pace she is doing, and he felt his muscles are being strained because of the fight.
Scarlette's eyes seemed like a predator and Ryan felt shivers because of that and her intimidating aura that keeps adding up to the intense battle they had right now.
The way her sword form demonstrates is elegant yet fierce. It feels like she is dancing on the battlefield when she swirls around and her crimson-colored hair that dances along the way, follows her every movement.
"AHH!"
Ryan jerked in pain as his sword flowed up in the sky and after that, his sword went on the ground, and he stumbled down because of the pain he felt during the battle.
Scarlette halted from fighting as she saw Ryan stumble on the ground, panting exhaustively as he received bruises and wounds from the fight between them.
Tired from the battle, Ryan still looked up at Scarlette as the crimson-haired woman stood in front of him.
Under the shade of the moon that shines within the night sky, Ryan saw how magnificent the crimson-haired woman is.
Even though the crimson-haired woman had a veil to conceal half of her face, and only her mismatched crimson-lilac eyes can be seen, the crimson-haired woman had a firm yet elegant standing that is worth being respected.
'This is my first time to be defeated in sword fighting and to think a woman would defeat me. Not just any woman but a rumored Swordmaster hidden amongst the crowd and could only speculates her to be one.'
Although Ryan felt bitter for his loss and it hurts his pride but as a Knight who walks on the path of the sword, it's an honor for him to fight someone stronger than him and this would be his lesson for himself.
As he contemplating the previous events that happened, he sighed in defeat as he slumped on the ground because of how exhausted he was.
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