Mastering swordsmanship isn't just about wielding a blade; it's about truly understanding it.
Ghyslaine retreated several paces, her beast-like eyes locked onto Roy with an intensity that seemed to pierce through him. Letting out a sharp breath, she admitted to herself that her movements had been completely read by him.
Unless she could completely overwhelm him with raw speed and power, defeating him would be near impossible.
This realization was unsettling, and yet undeniably accurate.
At that moment, Roy's Sword Ruler ability was fully triggered.
His mind entered an extraordinary state of clarity, his focus razor-sharp, as if the world itself had slowed down. In this transcendental state, a series of notifications appeared before him:
[Through a special engagement, your skill—Sword Ruler—has been awakened.]
[Your understanding of swordsmanship has deepened.]
[Your skill, Sword Ruler, has leveled up.]
[Sword Ruler (Level 2): Passive Skill]
[Effects: Increases all swordsmanship attacks by 20%. Slightly enhances sword technique comprehension. In combat, there is a chance to trigger Insight.]
[Insight: For a brief moment, perceive your opponent's next move (Consumes mental energy).]
Currently, Roy was in the state of Insight. In theory, no matter how Ghyslaine struck, he could dodge her attack and counter with a decisive blow.
Ghyslaine frowned, adjusting her footwork and circling around him, her aura compressing into a palpable force. She hoped to intimidate Roy into making a mistake, knowing that one moment of panic would decide the match.
But Roy remained unmoved. With the heightened focus provided by Sword Ruler, his mind was in a state of flow. His entire world narrowed down to Ghyslaine's figure, and her attempts to unnerve him were futile.
The frustration was evident in her expression. It was rare for her to encounter someone so difficult to handle. If she couldn't find a weakness, she'd have to create one.
However, each time she prepared to strike, Roy would subtly shift—stepping forward, angling slightly to the side. These minor adjustments disrupted her rhythm, forcing her to reconsider her attack.
Each step seemed to erase any opening she might have exploited, leaving her momentarily stunned.
Despite her power, Ghyslaine couldn't shake the feeling that Roy was slipping through her grasp like water.
Of course, Roy couldn't maintain this state indefinitely. The extraordinary clarity came at the cost of his mental stamina, and he could already feel it waning.
Frustrated by her prolonged inaction, Roy decided to press the advantage. He stepped forward, preparing to strike and seize the initiative.
But Ghyslaine abruptly lowered her sword. Letting out a sigh, she gestured for the match to end.
Roy dropped out of Insight, a slight headache surfacing as the strain on his mind caught up to him. He massaged his temples briefly before walking toward her.
Ghyslaine studied him with curiosity, her sharp gaze scanning him as if searching for answers.
"I've gauged your strength." She said finally. "But there's something I don't understand. How are you reading my movements?"
Roy paused, considering his response. This wasn't someone he could dismiss with a vague answer like he might with Paul. Instead, he opted for honesty.
"It's my ability. The longer I fight someone, the clearer their techniques become to me." He explained.
Ghyslaine's brow furrowed as she pondered this. After a moment, she spoke.
"A talent like precognitive eyes, perhaps? No, your ability seems more limited. Against opponents of your level, it's undoubtedly powerful. But against stronger enemies, it's not nearly as useful."
Roy nodded. He was well aware of its limitations.
Feigning ignorance, he asked, "What are precognitive eyes?"
Ghyslaine thought for a moment before answering. "They're eyes imbued with magic, capable of seeing the trajectory of future actions. It's said to be an ability possessed by the Demon Emperor, who wields twelve magical eyes within her body. Each eye grants a unique ability—Precognitive Eye, Clairvoyance Eye, Magic POWER Eye, X-Ray Eye, and so on. She's also known as the Demon Emperor of Demon Eyes."
Roy nodded, filing away the information for later. With a glimmer of anticipation in his gaze, he asked, "What do you think of my strength?"
"Impressive." Ghyslaine admitted. "You've exceeded my expectations—twice now, in fact."
Inwardly, Ghyslaine had already begun drafting a training plan. She spoke again. "From now on, you'll spar with me. I'll point out the areas you need to improve."
Roy nodded again.
Ghyslaine then began highlighting his flaws, most of which were minor. However, she pointed out one glaring issue: Roy lacked a finishing move capable of deciding a fight in one strike. If his opponents survived his initial attacks, he risked being drawn into prolonged battles.
Roy agreed. She had a point. Still, he thought to himself, Once I regain my full potential, these shortcomings will disappear entirely.
After all, with magic-infused swordsmanship and the ability to unleash instantaneous high-tier spells, there wasn't much a mere finishing move couldn't solve.
And so began Ghyslaine's rigorous swordsmanship lessons.
...
Time always seems to pass quickly, and the day followed its usual rhythm.
Roy gained valuable insights from his sparring with Ghyslaine. After a refreshing bath at the public bathhouse, he returned to his room.
Lighting the oil lamp, the dim amber glow filled the space.
The room was immaculate, reflecting Roy's mild obsession with cleanliness—a trait he carried from his previous life into this one.
He set the lamp on his desk, his gaze lingering on a small figurine of Roxy that rested there.
With a sigh, he murmured, "It's been 734 days since Roxy left. Today is just another day without her."
Pulling out a beginner's magic textbook, Roy began pondering the best way to teach Eris in a way she could grasp easily.
In the original timeline, Eris's talent for magic was rather mediocre—average at best. By the end, she had only managed to learn a single spell: Fireball.
Magic, as Roy understood, is most effectively trained at a young age. Both he and Rudeus had built solid foundations during their formative years. In particular, Roy's unique talents—Immaculate Soul and The Fool—made his magical reserves virtually limitless. No matter how much mana he used, it would never run out.
If he had chosen to focus solely on magic, achieving the rank of a God-Class Magician would have been a foregone conclusion.
However, there was a critical flaw: when it came to combat strength, even a God-Class Magician could struggle against a Sword King.
The gap between mages and swordsmen was too stark. This was why Roy decided to pursue dual mastery of magic and swordsmanship.
And, as it turned out, this choice was the right one. While it slowed his progress in magic, his combat prowess soared exponentially.
Someday, he thought with a smirk, I'll use my magic-infused sword to take down anyone in my way.
As the thought crossed his mind, Roy refined the concept of his magic sword a little further, brainstorming new spells to complement it.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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