"Idiot, dodge it! Do you want to get stabbed?"
Eris's temper and personality might not have been the best, but when she got angry, she often had her reasons. She didn't have any grudge against Wood—they had only just met, and besides, he was still her distant cousin. She had only intended to scare him a bit, not seriously hurt him.
Clang!
The sound of the sword vibrating echoed through the air. Just as the iron sword was about to reach Wood's face, he swiftly executed an upward kick, sending the sword flying through the air.
The sword spun rapidly like a windmill as it ascended into the sky, and under the pull of gravity, it fell back down in a straight line. However, just before the spinning sword could hit the ground, Wood's sharp reflexes and keen eyesight allowed him to catch the hilt of the sword mid-air, effortlessly transitioning into a ready stance.
"So graceful…"
The swift kick, the spinning sword, and Wood's fluid movements left Eris momentarily stunned. But she quickly realized her slip-up, feeling embarrassed by her moment of admiration.
In an attempt to save face, she sneered and said, "Hmph, it's just flashy moves, all show and no substance."
Unlike Eris, who was trying to downplay the moment, Ghislaine saw much more in Wood's actions.
To an untrained eye, it may have looked like a fancy display. But to someone of Ghislaine's skill, what Wood had done required more than just style—it required genuine technique.
Kicking away a fast-moving sword and causing it to spin in such a controlled way was no small feat; it demanded excellent timing and mastery over one's movements. Then, catching the spinning sword by the hilt at such a speed required incredible agility and sharp vision.
If Wood had misjudged the timing even slightly, his hand would have grasped the sharp blade instead of the hilt, and a mistake like that could easily cost him an arm.
"It seems I underestimated you earlier. But if this is the extent of your skills, you're still far from what Paul described."
Facing an opponent of Ghislaine's caliber, who was two ranks above Paul, Wood knew he couldn't hold anything back. However, he didn't need to defeat Ghislaine; he just needed to earn her approval.
The moment Wood gripped the sword, his body moved swiftly. He used a weakened version of Rokushiki's Soru, making his small frame move like a hunting leopard, instantly closing the gap between him and Ghislaine.
Ghislaine's previously relaxed expression shifted as she saw Wood's speed. For the first time, she began to take him seriously.
Clang!
In the blink of an eye, Wood's sword clashed with Ghislaine's. Eris, who had been watching the entire time, barely had time to register what had happened—her cousin, who was two years younger than her, had managed to close the distance to Ghislaine in mere seconds.
"Impressive speed, but you lack strength."
Ghislaine, who blocked the strike with ease, gave Wood an objective critique.
There was no doubt that Wood's skill had already reached the level of a mid-tier swordsman, and Ghislaine's earlier doubts about his abilities had completely dissipated.
In fact, seeing Wood's talent made Ghislaine realize that Paul hadn't been exaggerating. Now, she was even more eager to see the full extent of his abilities. After all, Paul had claimed that Wood was not just a mid-tier swordsman, but a prodigy capable of rivaling high-tier swordsmen.
Ghislaine's well-defined muscles tensed as she made her next move. Despite being a woman, her strength as a beastfolk warrior was undeniable. With just one arm, she lifted both Wood and his sword, sending him flying through the air.
As Wood was launched into the air, Ghislaine didn't stay idle. She quickly sprinted, following his trajectory, anticipating where he would land.
While airborne, it was nearly impossible to control one's body, and Ghislaine, with her wolf-like agility, easily calculated where Wood would fall. She reached his landing point before he even had the chance to stabilize himself.
With her sword aimed at his heart, it seemed Wood was now completely at a disadvantage. Even Ghislaine believed the match was over, and as a result, she slowed her movements, aiming to end the fight without causing injury.
"It's over, Wood. The outcome is decided."
It was nearly impossible to regain control of one's body mid-air—Ghislaine herself doubted she could do it. Naturally, she assumed the fight was over.
"It's not over yet! It's far too early to decide the outcome!" Wood shouted.
While dodging Ghislaine's strike in mid-air would have been easy for the Wood from his One Piece world, the current Wood lacked the strength and skill to do so. However, that didn't mean he had lost!
Ghislaine, preparing to end the sparring match, was about to offer more advice when she noticed something unusual. Wood had shifted his grip on the sword, holding it in a reverse grip, ready to thrust downwards.
Using the momentum from his fall, Wood aimed the tip of his sword directly at Ghislaine's head.
Despite being airborne and unable to dodge Ghislaine's strike, Wood had chosen to engage in a life-or-death exchange. Ghislaine's blade was aimed at his heart, and he was aiming for her head.
Neither could survive the other's blow. While a pierced heart would undoubtedly kill Wood, Ghislaine wouldn't fare any better if her head was pierced.
The only difference was that Wood, being mid-air, had no way to dodge—he had no choice. But Ghislaine had the option to avoid the attack, though doing so would mean forfeiting her chance to land a fatal blow on Wood.
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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 380+ at p@treon.com/Betek and change @ to a