A brilliant light enveloped the entire field, rendering everyone there temporarily blinded. The radiance was so intense that it could rival the brightness of the sun, if not surpass it. What was transpiring? After the light receded, though not entirely, and no longer engulfing him, Leon observed Diana with her sword held high, emitting an ethereal glow that seemed to merge with the weapon.
Despite the anticipated brilliance that made direct eye contact difficult, the sight was undeniably beautiful...
"That's the power of a descendant of the hero," remarked Eve. "If she has control over that power, perhaps we can entrust everything to her. That's why, Master, let's depart. I am confident they can handle themselves. Moreover, you may not cross paths again, sparing you from being branded as ineffectual in the fight. This world is vast, after all."
Leaving them in such a manner didn't appear to be a justifiable reason. Even if it were, Leon found himself unable to take a step in that direction.
Meanwhile, as Diana raised her sword overhead, light converged upon it as though it were an integral part of the blade. She fixed a determined gaze upon the bandit.
"Oh, now isn't this interesting? It's my first time witnessing someone like this. But what would it do to me? Are you sure it wouldn't just inflict a minor injury?"
"How about we give it a try, then?"
"You're either incredibly brave or completely foolish. Well, I suppose there's only one way to find out." With that, the bandit rolled up his sleeves, exposing well-toned arms adorned with various scars.
They both locked eyes before Diana leaped forward. Sparks flew from the sole of her metallic boots, and the air growled as she sliced through it. The light coalescing around her sword left trailing marks, as if it were an afterimage.
The bandit leader burst into motion just a faint moment before she did, wearing a menacing grin. In the next instant, both of their swords met, creating sparks in the air and leaving a crater beneath them. The ground beneath them shook, and shockwaves spread throughout the field, causing pebbles to fly outward from the center of their confrontation.
After that, both of them vanished from their initial positions and reappeared somewhere else, where their swords clashed against each other once again. The resonating clash of their blades produced sound waves akin to shockwaves, causing dirt and pebbles to scatter. The hairs of the onlookers swayed with the wind generated by the intense confrontation.
With their swords crossed, they took a slight step back and launched into another round of attacks. This time, it evolved into a battle of swinging, blocking, and swinging again.
"Amazing..." Leon muttered absentmindedly.
It was his first time witnessing a fight of this caliber. While he had observed duels in the central square of the city of Ceveral, they were, at best, mediocre. Even the more exceptional ones couldn't hold a candle to the intensity of this battle.
Diana employed the same technique, resembling a graceful dance. The bandit attempted a similar style, though it paled in comparison to Diana's finesse. Despite Diana's sword mastery not being on par with the bandit's, she demonstrated superior skill. It was a surprising revelation; talent spoke louder than levels. Even at level 10 against a level 15 swordsman, Diana held her own.
"You're not half bad," remarked the bandit leader with a sly grin. "But let's not forget, shall we, that this is not a one-on-one?"
Diana's eyes widened momentarily before she redirected her attention to an arrow hurtling towards her. With a swift motion, she sliced it, breaking it in two. However, her lapse in focus against the bandit leader proved costly as he seized the opportunity to swing his blade. Diana reacted swiftly but couldn't avoid the impact entirely. She managed to block it, yet her sword flew out of her hands.
"Kuh...! You bastard!" Diana glared at the bandit.
"What? Did you think I came here for a duel? Lest you forget, I'm here to acquire something valuable in that carriage." He pointed at the carriage. "And perhaps claim a special prize as well." He pointed at her, then licked his yellowing teeth.
Leon couldn't help but perceive it as cheating, although technically, what the bandit did wasn't against the rules, but it was still underhanded.
Diana glared at him, assuming a martial arts stance. The bandit leader looked at her in confusion before saying, "Oi, oi, oi, what do you think you're doing? Are you seriously going to face me barehanded?"
That was absurd, of course. Even if Diana somehow had a level 15 in martial arts, it still fell short of the power the sword granted the bandit. In that case, how would she escape such a predicament?
Leon shouted, "Diana! Disarm him! It's giving him a power-up!"
"What?!" Diana exclaimed.
"How did you know that, brat?"
Leon took a deep breath. Would it be unwise to reveal he possessed a skill allowing him to view someone's status? Undoubtedly. So, the only explanation he could offer was, "I have great eyes!"
The explanation was lame, but surprisingly effective, as the bandit redirected his attention to Diana. "Heh. So now you know my secret. Yes, it's true. I gain power-ups from this sword, enhancing my physical attributes to monstrous levels. If you disarm me, I'll be reduced to nothing more than my useless men here. But how will you go about disarming me without your weapon? What, are you going to charge at me without it and try to disarm me barehanded?"
That was the true predicament. Even if she knew the bandit leader's weakness, exploiting it wouldn't be easy. Not to mention...
"He he he..." The other bandits chuckled as they held their weapons at the ready, circling around her. Even those who were unconscious were now awake, leering at her. "Boss, after you're done, can we get a turn?"
"Of course. After that, since women still have some use even if they are already used products, they retain some worth. After all of you have had your way, clean her up and sell her to the black market. A beautiful woman with skills like hers will surely fetch us a handsome sum."
Diana, undeterred by the vile remarks and the impending threat, maintained her martial arts stance. She shot a fierce look at the bandit leader.
"I may not have a sword, but I don't need one to deal with scum like you," Diana retorted defiantly.
The bandit leader, amused by her bravado, chuckled, "Bold words, but let's see if you can back them up."
He pointed his sword at her and gestured for her to come at him. Diana charged with a bellowing roar. When she got close, she immediately continued the fight with kicks, though, of course, she wouldn't be able to accomplish much without a weapon.
As Diana unleashed a flurry of kicks, the bandit leader skillfully parried each one with his sword. Despite her determination, it became evident that without a weapon, she was at a disadvantage.
The other bandits watched with lecherous grins, reveling in the spectacle. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and Leon could feel a sense of urgency creeping in. He needed to find a way to turn the tide in Diana's favor.
Thinking quickly, Leon scanned the surroundings and spotted Diana's discarded sword lying not too far away. Without hesitation, he dashed towards it, narrowly avoiding the attention of the bandits. Grabbing the weapon, he tossed it towards Diana.
"Catch!" he shouted.
With reflexes honed through countless battles, Diana seized the flying sword mid-air.
"Not on my watch!" But before she could even manage to take a swing, the bandit leader was already in motion.
The bandit leader's sword arced towards Diana with deadly precision. In that critical moment, Leon sprinted forward, positioning himself between Diana and the menacing blade. He raised his blade in a desperate attempt to shield her.
The clash of steel echoed through the air as Leon intercepted the bandit leader's strike. The force of the impact jolted through his arms, and he gritted his teeth against the pain. His blade got destroyed as well, shattered to pieces, but fortunately, Leon managed to evade the path of the bandit's sword before it could reach him.
"You brat!"
"Now!" screamed Leon.
Diana, wide-eyed at Leon's unexpected intervention, swiftly regained her composure. She then raised her sword again and enveloped everything in the same blinding light she had used earlier. Closing her eyes, she gathered mana from the surroundings, intensifying the light. When she opened her eyes, she focused a fiery gaze on the bandit.
"SWORD LIGHT BLAST!!!" She swung her sword, and a yellow beam shot out as a slashing force.
The Sword Light Blast surged forward with incredible speed, slicing through the air like a comet. The bandit leader, caught off guard by the sudden and powerful attack, attempted to raise his sword in defense, but it was too late.
The radiant beam struck the bandit leader, sending shockwaves through the area. His defenses crumbled before the onslaught of Diana's formidable technique. The yellow light enveloped him, and a moment later, a powerful explosion echoed through the surroundings.
As the dust settled, it revealed the bandit leader lying on the ground, defeated and visibly injured. The other bandits, who had been eagerly anticipating their turn, now stood in stunned silence, witnessing the unexpected turn of events.
Diana, breathing heavily, approached Leon with a mix of gratitude and surprise in her eyes. "You... you saved me."
Leon, nursing his sore arms, managed a faint smile. "Well, I couldn't just stand there and watch, could I?"