[R]eleasing her grip slightly on the wooden sword, Ionia raised her left wrist and gave it a subtle flick back and forth.
Like magic, a blue status window materialized out of thin air, hovering before her face.
In truth, this extraordinary interface was known as 'the system,' a microchip injected into the wrist of every newborn, purportedly to help them unlock the full potential of manatech.
Unfortunately for Ionia, it hadn't lived up to its promise. She'd put in endless hours, tirelessly working to enhance her stats, but her efforts had only brought her to Rank C.
On top of that, the expected age for a second awakening was 12, and the prolonged wait had nearly extinguished her hope.
She'd grappled with the belief that she would forever bear the weight of her family's disappointment, her status stubbornly fixed at Rank C, the elusive second awakening drifting further out of reach.
However, the tides soon changed, as a dramatic accident involving Draven was poised to trigger her second awakening, elevating her to an S+ rank.
At first, her second awakening drew substantial attention, as such events were exceptionally rare and bestowed upon only the chosen few favored by fate and embraced by mana.
But her newfound S+ status was short-lived. The crowd's intrigue quickly waned when they discovered that she hadn't become a battlemancer but had awakened as a vitamancer, a specialist in healing.
Her abilities were met with skepticism, particularly in a realm where divine powers were revered as the pinnacle of healing proficiency within the empire.
As time passed, doubt casted its shadow over the significance of her newfound talents.
Promptly, she scanned her status window, which presented a breakdown of her information, including basic stats, abilities, skills, and spells.
[Status:
Name:Ionia Lysander
Age: 14
Class: Unknown
Rank: C
Elemental Affinity: Wind
Health Points (HP): 100/100
Mana Points (MP): 50
Abilities:
Strength: 50
Agility: 50
Speed: 50
Reflexes: 50
Endurance: 50
Intelligence: 15
Skills:
Combat - Novice
Melee - Novice
ManaSkin - Basic
Spells:
Repelling Magic (C), Wind Shield (C), Whirlwind strike (D), Aerial Dash (D).]
With a sigh, she flipped her wrist back, closing the status window.
Realistically, what had she expected? After all, Sol had never mentioned any alteration in her stats. He had only encouraged her to redefine her destiny.
It was disappointing, to say the least.
Yet, in the face of these circumstances, she had no option but to employ her modest skills and low-rank spells in combat.
But could she truly win this match?
At this point, it hardly mattered. She finally had the opportunity to expose the overrated sword art that had been praised as something extraordinary. Why concern herself with her underwhelming stats?
"If you admit your fault, we can put this matter to rest." The marquis's voice interrupted her thoughts, snapping her back to reality.
He had already picked up a wooden sword, a sign that they were in for more of a sparring match than a real duel.
"Che! No way!" Ionia blurted out, her grip on her weapon tightening as she witnessed the smug expression on her father's face.
"Very well," he declared, a self-satisfied grin accompanying his words, as he regarded her with disdain. "Since you're so determined, I'll give myself a handicap. I won't use spells, stealth, or aerial dashes. I'll rely solely on melee skills. That should be sufficient to match your... modest level."
Narrowing her eyes at his insults, a hint of a confident smirk graced her lips. "Suit yourself!"
It was all playing out in her advantage anyway. Besides, she had long abandoned pride, shame, and ego.
Survival in her previous life had forced her to do the unthinkable. So, his taunts and mockery no longer affected her.
In fact, she felt no remnants of pride or honor, believing such values wouldn't save her in dire situations and had casted them aside.
The Marquis moved with a fluid grace, positioning himself at the center of the training ground, his expression a provocative sneer that seemed to challenge Ionia.
A sense of exhilaration coursed through her, and when she locked her gaze with the Marquis, her eyes shimmered with a faint but threatening blue glow beneath her bangs. The atmosphere around them instantly grew heavy with an almost imperceptible pressure.
Simultaneously, notifications appeared in her peripheral vision:
[New skills acquired - Bloodlust]
[Bloodlust - activated]
It was a revelation that skills from her past life were still accessible, even if they didn't display on her stats.
With a self-assured smirk, she stepped toward the center, standing infront of her father.
Her newfound Bloodlust skill casted an aura of intimidation that sent shivers through those who observed her.
Ellora, unaccustomed to the overwhelming pressure, crumbled to the ground, breathing heavily, her eyes wide with terror as if an invisible vice gripped her innards.
This feeling was familiar. It was akin to the thirst displayed by a predator when hunting down its prey.
The other onlookers, although managing to withstand the crushing force of Ionia's killing intent, gaped at her in disbelief, as if they were witnessing something unusual.
How could a 14-year-old girl, who had never experienced war or taken a life 'before', radiate such intense Bloodlust?
Even the Marquis seemed slightly taken off-guard. As he regarded his daughter, she seemed like an entirely different person, shedding her familiar innocence and naivety.
"Ready when you are!" Ionia declared with a hint of malice, her stance unique and unfamiliar.
With her right hand gripping the wooden sword, she adopted a stance akin to fencing. However, her left arm hung casually by her side, creating an unusual balance that seemed unstable, riddled with vulnerabilities.
The marquis scrutinized her with a puzzled look and demanded, "Explain this mysterious stance!"
Ionia replied with a hint of defiance, "You'll understand when you attack."
The marquis, held his wooden sword with both hands, preparing for an assault, and declared, "Very well, let's begin then."
In an instant, he surged forward, executing a powerful side-slash. To the onlookers, this match was as good as over as it appeared evident that Ionia's sword would be wrenched from her grip.
But in the blink of an eye, Ionia expertly shifted her weight onto her left leg for leverage, deftly maneuvering her wooden sword to make contact with the tip of the Marquis's weapon. With precision and skill, she intercepted and successfully redirected the force of his rapid attack to the side.
Clack! Cracckk!
The clash of their swords rang out through the training ground, leaving the spectators in awe.
The collective realization was clear: Ionia had managed to block the Marquis, a feat considered by many to be improbable given her size and stature.
With a significant disadvantage in terms of height and physical strength, Ionia understood that facing her opponent head-on could result in injury or losing her grip on her weapon. In such a case, defeat would swiftly follow.
Therefore, her strategy revolved around deflecting and redirecting the Marquis's attacks away from herself.
Observing his daughter's tactical approach, even the Marquis couldn't help but acknowledge her cunningness. He spoke with a hint of respect in his voice, "I see! So, that's what you were up to."