Full-Dive Combat Training (3)

*****

A figure leaped from the high branches with astonishing speed, descending directly toward Lyrium with a drawn blade.

A sigh escaped Ren's lips.

"Bro has guts—directly jumping on the 1st rank like that."

The attacker was fast—too fast for an average student.

The gleam of their blade caught the sunlight as they twisted midair, aiming a decisive strike toward Lyrium's exposed flank.

But Lyrium didn't move.

He simply tilted his head slightly, his gaze locking onto the incoming opponent with a mixture of boredom and amusement.

His sword remained sheathed, his stance loose and relaxed.

The moment stretched, tension thick in the air.

And then—

CLANG—!

Steel met flesh in a sudden, resounding clash.

Ren had stepped in, his both hands raised, effortlessly deflecting the attack at the last second.