The Crisis World XX

Chap. 106: Sparing

"I've never seen you use a sword."

"Then you'll be surprised."

Herlin put up the horses. But the horses are different from mine. Even though he underestimated me, but if it was about sword . I wouldn't lose to him.

"God! Just try it."

"Then, three ... two ... one! Get started!"

And the sparring between me and Herlin that this time was a little different began.

Zwuush... Triiin...

I darted quickly towards Herlin who was still standing still in the same spot and when I attacked him, he managed to hold it well.

"May as well, but what about this one!"

I again bombarded him with dozens of slashes all of which Herlin could still withstand. As usual, he could still hold back and avoid everything. As expected of someone like him.

But I won't give him a chance to think. He is the type of genius who is able to think calmly and quickly in a fight, all I need to do now is continue to corner him.

This was also the first time I used the sword hilt given by Kenshin-san. It felt so comfortable and burning that I usually feel now almost no more. Really helped me in the fight.

Herlin still continued to focus on fending off and had not attacked at all. I had never seen him fight with a sword before, so I was sure that I would win.

"Are you going to continue like that?!"

Zrtts...

"Ap—?!"

As I was focusing on attacking her, suddenly my hand stopped in midair like something was holding her back. No doubt, this is Herlin's ability.

While Herlin who had not wasted the opportunity instantly switched his defensive horses to attack and prepared to make a horizontal slash towards my neck.

"Because of you!"

Bzzt... Triiin...

Although he stopped my movement, but at the last second I managed to move and held him back which surprised him. Herlin never told me about the weakness of his Mind Power ability, but I knew it myself during the attack on Heiwa Pharmacy.

I let out a satisfied grin as it managed to surprise Herlin. And after that, I tried kicking his chin vertically. Although it could still be avoided by him by jumping the salto backwards.

After landing perfectly, Herlin asked me how I could escape the influence of her ability.

"How is it?"

"What?"

"How you got out of my way. How's it?"

"Hehehe .. I don't know."

I don't want to just tell him. Actually it was the result of my hypothesis alone that just happened to work, so I will allow Herlin to think about it for himself.

But I'm wrong if I invite him to fight for intelligence, he can immediately know in the blink of an eye. Herlin looked towards his right palm and realized that it was shaking.

"So so. You flowed electrical energy into your sword and conduction on my sword that came straight to my hand. So that's why I felt a little shaken up earlier."

"Huh .. why did you guess so easily, anyway?" disappointed say.

"But not bad either. I'm surprised that you know my Mind Power weakness."

I smile. "That's easy! As the name suggests, all of his attack control comes from your brain, so I'll just keep attacking you until winning."

"Yes, you're absolutely right. But don't think I'll just let it go."

"Then I'll use a slightly rude way."

Zwuush...

We both attacked each other again. But other than us, Cecilia and Tetsu who were watching us were also commenting on this fight.

"Hah ... after all the boy was just an amateur" muttered Cecilia. "His movements are based on his instincts and intuition alone, but his experience is still very lacking" he continued.

"That's right! If I fight Iraya, I will definitely win easily!" tetsu said confidently.

They both agreed that Iraya was still an amateur and lacking in experience and it was their duty to guide her in order to at least protect herself. And now their attention was both on Herlin.

High focus and sharp eyes. His effective movements and agility in evading and fending off make people who see him may not believe that Herlin has only learned to sword for about two weeks.

"And if we look at the opponent, it's completely different" muttered Cecilia.

"Mrs! Besides ... I went down to teach him."

At once Tetsu's tone of voice turned more serious and arrogant that Cecilia had never felt before. There was no doubt in his words earlier as someone who had been with the swordsman for a long time.

"Tetsu then, who do you think will win in this sparring?"

"Of course Herlin!"

"That's it, huh? Then I'll choose Iraya."

"Eh? Didn't you say yourself that Herlin excelled in all areas of Iraya?"

"I know that, but you know Iraya, right ...."

"Hn?"

"... He always surprises us."

Triiin... Triiin...

Forget the chatter of Tetsu and Cecilia on the sidelines, this time I was focused on fighting Herlin. The determination of who won was also unclear, so I think the one who gave up first would be considered a loser.

But at the moment we both have no intention of giving up. At all.

Herlin darted towards me and tried to attack me with a few stabs. The defensive horses that he had been showing— holding the sword hilt with two hands and waiting for the opponent to come, had now changed.

But I don't want to lose. This is one of my best abilities so at least I won't lose this one duel.

Triiin...

Our swords are back together. I don't know how many times this has happened but there are still no signs this sparing will be completed. The sweat on my face and body had also started to pour out and my breathing had also started to pant.

I looked towards Herlin. He looked calmer and his breath was not too breathless, his sweat did not come out much to prove that my difference with him was still very far from him.

"Hah .. hah ... since when did you learn to sword?" my many.

"Since you were kidnapped back then. Thanks to you I can't get my aura out."

"Eh? Because of me?"

"Of course, stupid. Did you forget you ever put Cecilia in my body? Because the auras of the two of us are not suitable, so I can't bring out my aura and am forced to learn to sword."

"That ah~, yeah." Turns out without me knowing, I was the one who made him learn to sword.

"Then who taught the horses and everything else?" continue many.

"If it was Tetsu who did it, he was truly a reliable teacher. My ability has grown greatly thanks to the teachings from him."

With the flaws he has. He does not hesitate to learn new things and take big risks on himself. If I think you deserve Herlin, you deserve to be a teacher. But I didn't say it directly, I just smiled.

"But lucky everything went well, huh?" my spoken.

"'Currently', huh? Oh yeah, I haven't said this to you."

"Said what?"

"Thank you for saving my life."

"Eh?"

"When I was resigned to Hasuki-san's attack, you suddenly came to my rescue. And for the first time, when I was in your arms and the look in your eyes was focused on Hasuki-san back then, you looked cool in my eyes."

"Herlin ...?"

My cheeks were flushed when Herlin told me like that. He made me blush not only because it reminded me of the events of that night, but also this was the first time—at least of all I remember, Herlin praised me for such a thing.

Because I could not stand staring into his eyes for too long, I then threw away my face because I did not want to show my face that was red as it is today.

"You don't have to say that, it's my job to protect you" I said, turning my face away.

At least I'm happy because I can keep my promise to Oita-san. As a man, even though Herlin is stronger than me right now, I will still try to protect him.

"Oh, yeah."

"Y-yes."

"But Iraya, you should also remember this one."

"What's that?"

"Eeh—Wuogh!!"

Bruukkh...

Herlin suddenly brushed my feet hard which made me lose my balance. Then without pause, he tried to stab me right in the heart.

Triiin...

But quickly I was still able to hold it with the center of my sword hollow. Due to Herlin's oversized sword width as well as his wrong piercing position, I was able to survive. Although Herlin directly pushed me far back.

"Oi! What are you doing?!"

"I'm using your care."

"You are ...! Hah ... couldn't you read the situation a little?" my spoken.

This guy is not reliable. All he thought about was the gap and attacked me and then defeated me, and afterwards lectured me at length until my ears were smoky.

I who had landed not too smoothly then stood up and cleaned my back. While Cecilia who was beside the sparing arena was just patting her face disappointed.

"I think I'm expecting him too much."

"It's okay, right? Sometimes it's exciting to see them like this, too" Tetsu said.

Returning to the arena, I stared at the focus on Herlin who was also doing the same. With a confident smile on my face, I will end this sparing now. I happen to be thirsty, too, so I'm gonna make him buy me a drink.

Zii...

While Herlin was in the stance, suddenly a collection of medium-sized stones floated behind him. He began to use his abilities.

"cheat! You said you wouldn't use your powers!"

"I'm just saying that I'm going to use a sword in this sparing, but never saying I won't use my powers."

"There's just a reason. But then ...."

Bzzt... Bzzt... Bzzt...

"... I won't stay silent either."

Swuush...

I also don't want to lose to him and take out my electric element. Then we hit and attacked each other. The various kinds of attacks we both launched against each other were beginning to impact both of us.

Herlin who was fighting sword with me also did another thing which was to control his flying stone to attack me at the same time with the aim of breaking my concentration.

Therefore I chose to jump the salto backwards and landed perfectly. And after that I pointed my sword towards Herlin.

"What are you gonna do?" ask Herlin.

"Hehehe .. modified the previous technique."

"Hn?"

"Tenrai Sui!"

I focused my aura on my sword and made it as a cannon that instantly fired electrical energy straight ahead at high speed.

It is a modified version of the Hanasaku Tenrai that requires a solid medium as its conductor and is diffuse. While Usui Tenrai can dart on the air medium and is straight parallel to the end of my sword, so I call Usui aka slim.

Herlin who saw that was a little surprised and his eyes widened before then he was able to avoid it. He slightly glanced back and saw the impact of the energy shot just now. It destroyed everything he passed within a hundred meter radius.

"It's very dangerous that I have that," Herlin said.

"Hah .. hah .. I've expected that you can avoid it."

"Because of the attack just now you're exhausted? Yeah, well, it's also time you bought me a drink."

"I won't let it."

Zwuush...

"Ap—?!"

I knew I was exhausted, but all of a sudden the movements he was doing right now I couldn't see following him at all. While I was trying to find Herlin's movement, he suddenly got in front of me and then aimed a hard kick at my chin that made me fall.

Buuagh...

Then after that he pointed the tip of his sword at my face which made me definitely dead if this was a real fight.

"Done! Winner Herlin!" tetsu.

"Hah ..Even in a sword fight I still lose to you," I murmured.

"It turns out it's true that destructive power is not suitable for you. Especially with your stamina still so low."

"You mean?"

"Listen yes, there is no point in issuing one big attack that has no guarantee of hitting the enemy, especially after that you are immediately exhausted by it."

"How should I continue?"

"Easy answer. Change your fighting style and increase your stamina, those two things you still haven't mastered. Fortunately I'm your teacher."

Herlin seemed to be disappointed because even though I had started to develop in fighting techniques, but the stamina capacity I had could not tell a lie.

Herlin then returned the sword he held to me and helped me stand up. Then Cecilia and Tetsu approached us both.

"When I support you, but you still lose" said Cecilia.

"really? Sorry then."

"Herlin is great! As expected of my teaching disciple!"

"Thank you."

Then Banshee also approached Herlin and wanted to return to her invisible mode. But I realized that Herlin had something to think of when he saw Banshee slowly disappear.

"What's wrong?"

"No, I was reminded of that quiet kid in that class."

"Oh .. who sat in that front corner. If it's not wrong, it's Yurei."

"Yes that boy, he said something that made me think of it until now."

"And that's ...?"

"The one who always follows you .. does he belong to you?"

"He said that? Could he be an exception? But he's great at being able to realize Banshee's whereabouts."

"Of course."

Herlin still seems to be thinking about the boy. Of course you will think, a stranger who suddenly knows your biggest secret is of course very suspicious.

"How about we investigate?" my spoken.

"Investigate?"

"Ordinary investigation, we'll make sure he's Exception or not."

"Hm ...."

Herlin was still thinking about that. Yes, this can't be determined today either so I'll let him think first. But suddenly he said something I was trying to avoid.

"By the way, Iraya, don't think I forgot you had to buy me a drink."

"Guk!"

"You lose, remember that."

"Hah .. okay, all right."

His memory is strong. Inevitably I had to buy it even though I was very lazy to do it, anyway. And when I wanted to go down, came the angel of hope at the right time.

"We're back!" Mei-senpai and Anna-san returned while carrying a plastic bag full of cold canned drinks.

"I said it wasn't necessary, but he still forced it" Mei-senpai said.

"Just calm! You've been working hard today, so let me spoil you guys a little with this."

"Angel."

"Goddess."

Herlin and I suddenly muttered words to describe Anna-san's kindness. His body seemed to emit a very bright light because of the kindness he had always done so far. But thanks to him as well, I was relieved of Herlin's punishment. Yeys.

Seriate