Chapter 1007

"How bold. Even if this is the South, it's still winter. Aren’t you cold?"

A chilled body dulled movement. In a winter sparring match, staying warm was crucial. General Gino’s concern was natural, but Yuder simply shook his head, signaling it was nothing to worry about.

"It's not cold enough for breath to show, so this is fine."

"Hmm. Well, you are the hero who came back alive from that frigid, pitch-dark abyss. I’m sure you have your tricks. I’m looking forward to this, in more ways than one."

Unlike General Gino, neither Kishiar nor Nathan Zuckerman offered any comments of concern. The only thing Yuder could read in Kishiar's gaze, as he smiled, was: Do as you like.

And Meghna, his opponent—

Thump!

—plunged her practice sword into the ground as if provoked by something, and without hesitation, shrugged off her outer coat. She was already lightly dressed for the season, but now, like Yuder, only a single shirt remained on her upper body.

"If Baron Aile doesn’t need his coat, I suppose I shouldn’t either."

"Meghna, you too?"

"I don’t want people saying I beat someone much younger than me while bundled up like it’s a snowstorm."

General Gino burst out laughing again at her casual shoulder shrug.

"Hahaha! That’s more like you."

Clearly, Meghna Curlieva had no intention of losing to Yuder.

Well, not that it matters.

Yuder loosened his wrists one final time before asking her a simple question.

"I’ve been told I may use my Awakener abilities as I normally would in combat during this spar. Do you still stand by that decision?"

"I do. If we only sparred with swords, it would defeat the entire purpose of this exchange."

As expected. This sparring session had a clear goal: to demonstrate the combat potential of Awakeners, represented by Yuder, to General Gino and Meghna.

And Yuder, too, wanted to directly assess the abilities of Meghna Curlieva—a skilled swordswoman he’d never met in his past life, yet someone set to inherit the General’s mantle.

"I see. Then I’ll begin with a level of power similar to what I use when training with other members and gradually increase the intensity depending on how things go. Is that acceptable?"

Yuder’s words were downright arrogant. Meghna’s brow twitched.

Most people would’ve gotten angry at being told they weren’t worth full effort. But Meghna, who had long supported General Gino and the Southern army, didn’t allow herself to be swayed by emotion so easily.

After glancing over Yuder’s face, she let out a short laugh, raising one corner of her lips.

"Well, if the man who sank oceans and collapsed mountains went all out from the start, I’d have no chance to even cross swords. Fine. Do as you like."

The two took positions, standing about twenty paces apart. Despite choosing the quietest place possible, word of the spar had already spread like wildfire, and the remaining members of the branch came rushing in.

"Yuder’s sparring with the General’s aide? For real?"

"Incredible! I haven’t packed a single thing yet, but there’s no way I’m missing this!"

"That’s not something to brag about."

"Everyone, keep it safe and don’t get in the way!"

"Let’s not bet money. How about snacks? Snacks!"

Before anyone could intervene, the members were already settling in at a safe distance, faces full of excitement. For many, watching one-on-one spars was more thrilling than mealtime.

I’ve fought countless powerful opponents in my past life, but this chaotic of an atmosphere is a first...

Yuder briefly met Kishiar’s gaze, who was sitting with arms folded on a chair Nathan had procured from somewhere. He hadn’t meant anything by it—just checking where Kishiar was—but the man responded with a sweet, teasing smile, gently pressing his lips to his fingers and waving them as if he were a noblewoman at a duel. It nearly shattered Yuder’s focus.

"..."

"I’ll make the first move."

Ordinarily, someone as much younger as Yuder would’ve been asked to strike first out of courtesy, but Meghna didn’t let pride get in the way. Yuder dropped his gaze from Kishiar and focused on the oncoming assault.

"Haa!"

Boom!

The clash of swords echoed with an explosive sound far too intense for training weapons. As they parted, Yuder’s blade was spiraled with water, while Meghna’s gleamed faintly with fragmented aura.

The watching members erupted in astonished murmurs. Even General Gino, outwardly calm, was just as stirred.

"Hmm. Surrounding the blade with water can block aura? What trick is he using?"

"It’s not just water. If you look closely, he’s freezing and unfreezing specific sections of the blade right at the moment of impact. It’s the same logic as how even a Swordmaster can’t slice through a solid glacier. Water is weak—but ice is strong."

Kishiar responded softly to the General’s musing.

"Ah... I see it now. I may be old, but I’m still a master, and even I couldn’t catch that instantly. Meghna’s in for a rough time."

As the two spoke, Yuder continued parrying every one of Meghna’s strikes. Her swordplay was sharp, fast, and powerful, but unmistakably unrefined in actual combat.

Those who have never fought with their life on the line tend to show rigid patterns from pure textbook training. Easier to read.

A middle-aged swordswoman who had never once slacked in training. Yet the dullness of someone who had long been stuck behind a wall she couldn’t cross clung to her blade. It was only natural—she’d likely spent recent years prioritizing her duties as an aide in the Imperial army over the sword.

Yuder blocked several more of her strikes before abruptly changing the elemental property around his sword—from water to fire.

Fwoosh!

Startled by the flames that burst up near her face, Meghna instinctively flinched and leapt back. But as she did, her foot sank into the ground, which had been subtly reshaped by Yuder’s power, swallowing her ankle.

Wha—?!

As she staggered, Yuder leapt into the air and brought his blade down.

Meghna evaded with pure instinct, rolling out of the way. Her shoe flew off, but the sacrifice meant Yuder’s blade struck only empty earth.

Crash!

"Wow. He’s just tenderizing the ground now."

"When you fight Yuder, the ground’s your enemy too. That’s the scariest part."

"One hit and your skull’s ringing for a week."

Cavalry members offered running commentary with glee. Standing lightly on the ground and dusting [N O V E L I G H T] off his blade, Yuder locked eyes with Meghna, his gaze ice-cold.

As she caught her breath, a few strands of hair, cleanly severed, floated down to her shoulder. A moment later or a second slower, and it wouldn't have been her hair—he would’ve cut her neck. The realization made her muscles tense up involuntarily.

...So this is the Cavalry’s young hero.

Yuder Aile wielded the forces of nature and the sword as if they were one. Every attack was executed with seamless confidence. To achieve such skill and results at his age—it defied understanding.

They call those who are born with such unfathomable, innate mastery “geniuses.” But this... this is on another level. It’s like fighting both a mage and a swordsman at once. I can’t believe this is possible.

While Meghna stood there in awe, Yuder was likewise watching her, silently impressed at how she’d managed to dodge even with one foot bare.

I see now why she became the General’s prized disciple.