EP.8 [The Grand Duke's Second Daughter Jeanne d'Arc is a Crazy Woman] (18+)
EP.8 [The Grand Duke's Second Daughter Jeanne d'Arc is a Crazy Woman]
—Whoosh!!!
Despite holding the sword with just one hand,
There was absolutely no sense of imbalance in Jeanne's explosive dash.
'That's mana movement technique. Jeanne is seriously charging at me.'
This movement isn't something that could be achieved simply through extensive physical training.
It's the realm of transcendental mana utilization,
Jeanne is casting the mana movement technique, an ability that only high-level mana awakeners can demonstrate.
'It means she's surpassed Sword Runner. She's become a Sword User.'
Jeanne has become a Sword User swordswoman.
Every class has levels of proficiency according to ability.
The same applies to swordsmen, of course,
In fact, since swordsman is the most popular class, each stage has been identified in even greater detail.
The first level is for those who start walking the path of a swordsman without any special abilities,
So they're called Sword Beginners.
In a broader sense, this also includes those who have awakened to mana
But haven't yet shown significant physical ability changes.
Then comes the point when awakened mana begins to create clear changes in physical abilities,
Swordsmen who enter this stage are called Sword Walkers.
The third level is Sword Runner.
Sword User is a state where one can achieve extraordinary levels of physical enhancement,
A swordsman capable of utilizing what's known as "Ganggi [罡氣]" ability.
As mentioned earlier, Ganggi [罡氣] refers to extraordinary physical enhancement,
Such as the ability to easily swing an axe as thick as a log,
Or possess endurance beyond common sense.
In other words, by this point, it means one has surpassed human physical limitations.
And the term that defines a swordsman who has developed one step beyond Sword Runner,
That is precisely Sword User.
A Sword User's Ganggi [罡氣] becomes much more detailed than a Sword Runner's.
It affects not only basic physical attributes like strength, agility, and endurance, but also technical aspects.
It can be seen as what's commonly called advanced mana control Ganggi [罡氣] manifestation.
For instance, it enables the use of mana movement techniques with proper concentration and distribution of power,
Or allows for efficient consecutive movements based on smooth and quick center of gravity shifts.
Also, because basic level mana projection occurs on the sword, the blade doesn't easily wear out.
In other words, Jeanne's explosive dash right now
Is a mana movement technique made possible by her excellent Ganggi freely distributing her center of gravity.
'She's worthy of being a mercenary leader.'
When I left home at nineteen,
Jeanne was a Sword Runner.
I suspect that not long after that period, she achieved a breakthrough to become a Sword User.
After continuing her training for a few more months and becoming sufficiently familiar with being a Sword User, Jeanne must have finally confidently created her mercenary group.
If Sword Runners are treated as professionals or elites in the mercenary world, Sword Users are classified as leaders.
As a result, by that point, even without an impressive career, there's justification for gathering people.
—Swoosh!!
With such an unwavering and explosive dash, Jeanne
Immediately approached within attacking distance of me.
Then, displaying a sharp sword angle, she swung her sword aimed at me.
Spin!
Watching this, I quickly readjusted my grip on the greatsword's hilt, making the tip point toward the ground.
'A beginner going head-to-head with a Sword User has no chance. I need to take a defensive approach.'
If the opponent is a Sword User or above,
And I'm a greatsword wielder who is relatively slower in mobility,
In this wide-open space combat, I judged it right to choose a fighting style focused on defense.
Keeping the sword tip up for defense can be seen as a stance ready to counter after deflecting the enemy's sword.
In contrast, the stance I've taken now means
Creating a stance that allows for efficient defense against the opponent's fast and continuous attacks with minimal movement.
Clang!!!
Having chosen a defense method tailored for a Sword User,
I immediately moved my sword toward the direction where Jeanne's sword drew a sharp angle.
This resulted in a magnificent sound of clashing steel.
"I thought you just looked the part holding a sword, but your defensive stance is quite decent too?"
I don't want to say it myself, but this defensive method is quite high-level.
As expected of Jeanne, who has trained in swordsmanship since childhood, she recognized this and was slightly surprised.
"I had many opportunities to watch knights dueling on the pilgrim's path."
The source of this advanced technique was the pilgrim's path.
Knights and adventurers following the pilgrim's path
Are mostly people who are obsessed with and serious about swords.
So they generally pursue romantic and orthodox swordsmanship.
Moreover, being people who get itchy if they don't swing a sword even for a day,
As soon as morning comes, they would duel with other swordsmen on pilgrimage with the same purpose.
Their actions became a great learning material for me.
So during the early stages of the pilgrim's path, I watched duels in a manual-like way,
But around the time I achieved awakening, I started watching with focus, thinking about what form of swordsmanship would suit me.
'Hmm, I honestly thought I might be able to deflect Jeanne's sword a bit, but it's really not bouncing off. That must mean the level of Ganggi [罡氣] Jeanne has been training until now is quite substantial.'
The weight difference between Jeanne and me is nearly double,
And the weapon class difference between us is also enormous.
However, because Jeanne's sword is not only a high-priced famous sword but also likely has a certain level of mana projected into it, even if a strong collision occurs, Jeanne's sword wouldn't break.
Nevertheless, in my calculations, due to the aforementioned class difference, I thought Jeanne's sword would definitely bounce off significantly.
As a result, if her form was disrupted, I could exploit that opening and deliver a powerful body tackle, and I had even mapped out this plan.
However, the physical enhancement and weight shifting created by Jeanne's Ganggi [罡氣]
Far exceeded my expected range, so the scene I so desired never materialized.
"I wasn't going to use thrusting, but I guess I have no choice."
Swish swish swish!
Since I had successfully executed a high-level defensive technique,
Jeanne also felt the unexpected situation.
So she immediately went into strategy modification.
Taking a quick and light backstep,
She then transformed into a thrusting stance.
"Isn't that too dangerous? For a duel with a beginner?"
I frowned slightly.
Taking a thrusting stance in a duel with a beginner,
This is an act without sportsmanship.
One-handed thrusting with a longsword is an advanced technique.
Wrist, lower body, waist, shoulder strength,
And balance,
Finally, accuracy.
It's a technique that can only be effective when all these elements are honed to completion.
As a result, it's difficult to learn, but
Once you reach completion level and enter the utilization stage, there are few attacks as tricky.
It's long, fast, and unlike swinging, there's not even an angle.
So from the opponent's perspective, it's difficult to dodge or defend against.
Therefore, when dueling with real swords, it's an attack method rarely used because the safety of the dueling partner is important.
"You're using a turtle guard, so I need to break through even if it means using thrusts, don't I? Otherwise, we'll unnecessarily go into a prolonged battle."
Above all, thrusting is good for shattering defensive swordsmanship.
Since Jeanne can hardly be considered a type with great patience,
From her perspective, it was a countermeasure worth choosing.
—Thrust! Clang! —Thrust! Clang!
Eventually, Jeanne's thrusting attacks began.
Fast and continuous straight attacks from her famous sword,
Although the volume of the sound might have decreased compared to the first attack,
The speed became incomparably amazing.
Tap! Tap tap! Tap tap!
The movement pattern of the sword was thrusting, but
In the case of the movement technique Jeanne was using, it wasn't just simple straight movements.
This is because she's not utilizing movement techniques through normal physical abilities,
But can freely shift her weight based on mana movement techniques.
After moving to the side at a certain angle,
She added variety by thrusting in like lightning.
Against defensive swordsmanship with a regular sword, honestly, there's no need to go this far.
But since my sword is a greatsword with an extremely wide defensive area, Jeanne stepped on the accelerator.
'At this rate, I think I'll be overloaded on my side.'
As a result, the movements of the turtle-like me increased and grew larger.
Moreover, since it wasn't a mutual exchange of offense and defense from the beginning but a one-sided defensive state, the overload started to rise even more.
A height about 16 cm taller,
A weight over 45 kg heavier,
Furthermore, long arms and legs, as well as my heavy greatsword, at some point passed a singularity
Creating a structure where the disadvantages in consecutive movements became more prominent than the advantages in defense.
'Then I need to decide the match.'
But even so, the skill difference between Jeanne and me is too severe to change to a mutual offense-defense pattern.
In the end, it seems I need to go for a one-shot match.
'Unlike swinging, the weakness of a thrusting attack...'
Having decided to settle the match, I heightened my concentration.
While doing so, I looked at Jeanne's straight attacks coming like a storm again.
'That is, when deflected, there's a greater possibility of the form collapsing!!'
—Spin!!!
In that state, the moment I caught Jeanne's sword aiming to thrust at my solar plexus,
I rotated my greatsword blade to make it vertical relative to my body, as if letting the sword tip pass through like an automatic door.
—Thud!!
Then, after placing my right hand on the flat part of the greatsword,
—Thuuud!!!
Just before Jeanne's sword completely crossed the wide area of the greatsword, I put my strength and weight into it and deflected that fierce straight attack to the left from my perspective.
'How about that, with weakened resistance, doesn't it bounce off?'
Then, a different feeling from the first sword clash was transmitted to me.
A swinging sword has a larger radius, making it slower,
But it's good for putting resistance and weight into it.
On the other hand, while a thrusting sword is indeed fast,
Structurally, the sword moves away from the swordsman's center point, making it difficult to create resistance.
However, since it's clearly faster and more concise than a swinging sword,
From my perspective, it was difficult to time the deflection of Jeanne's sword with a strategy.
Therefore, to receive her sword with an even wider area and also create my own proactive timing,
I rotated the greatsword while taking on the risk of my defensive wall being penetrated.
As a result, Jeanne's straight sword dangerously came into my center point.
But crisis is opportunity; I didn't miss that moment and successfully deflected Jeanne's sword with the wide area of my greatsword,
And the strength of my right hand.
'Good. Then counter with a left-hand backspin blow!'
Just as I was preparing to counter, judging that my strategy had worked,
—Whirl!
'Huh?'
Jeanne's body, which seemed to have lost its center due to the sword being deflected, suddenly rotated quickly.
—Swoosh!!
After that, Jeanne's movement didn't end with the turning motion, as if it were natural.
Jeanne, who had already recovered her stance,
Then sharply swung her sword, which was now full of the centrifugal force from just a moment ago.
—Swoosh!!!
In other words, a perfect attack that was deliberately executed,
Jeanne's sword approached near my nape, which was preparing for a backspin blow, and stopped with precision.
'Ugh!'
Flinch!
I felt the swift energy of the sword dominating my nape.
Therefore, my body instinctively flinched, and
"Well, I've lost."
Made me acknowledge defeat.
How did she do it?
Did she anticipate that I would deliberately receive her sword and then counter?
Or did her mana movement technique's weight shifting once again exceed my expected range?
My mind became complicated for a moment,
But in the end, I lost to Jeanne in our first real sword duel.
"I deliberately went in with less force because it looked like you had a strategy, but to open the gate and use that as a basis for counterattack... You were quite good, little brother."
Smirk...!
Having achieved victory, Jeanne immediately raised the corners of her mouth as if unable to contain the thrill.
Thanks to Jeanne's inability to hide her feelings, my doubts were resolved.
It must have been half and half.
She didn't completely read my intentions but just caught a feeling,
So she took out insurance and then filled in the rest with her clearly superior technical skills.
"It was truly an excellent strategy. If you and I were both Sword Users, I would have been caught."
Shing...!
Jeanne retrieved her extended sword and sheathed it while praising me.
But if my algorithm, which knows Jeanne's personality quite well, were to activate its interpretation ability,
It seems she wants to say,
"I am a Sword User, but you, Eugene, are a Sword Runner."
"Did you think I would become a Sword User or a Sword Expert as soon as I awakened?"
Thud!
I also released my combat stance and stuck the head of my greatsword into the grassy ground as I answered.
Jeanne wants me to still desperately need her existence.
That's why she pushed me mercilessly,
Putting on this moonlight show to check if I was at or above her breakthrough level of Sword User.
As a result, having determined that my awakening ability is at the Sword Runner level,
She's so satisfied she doesn't know what to do with herself.
"Still, you have plenty of talent. Just trust and follow this big sister!"
Step! Step! Step!
Jeanne, already in high spirits, couldn't hear my words.
With her mouth almost reaching her ears,
She walked to pass by my side, taking on the appearance of a victor.
"But knowing how to go easy on your brother, that's a bit unexpected? Have you become more generous since becoming a mercenary leader?"
I also muttered my own impressions, not minding her haughtiness.
"Who's going easy! Do you think an active mercenary leader would do such a soft thing?"
Thud! Gasp!
At my words saying she didn't go easy,
Jeanne stopped in her tracks, bristling.
Not only that, she even turned her head and looked up at me standing beside her with a sharp gaze.
"I didn't go easy? Really?"
Swish...!
Having heard Jeanne's response, I took my hands off the greatsword.
"You really didn't go easy, is that right????"
Grab!!!
Then I embraced her waist as if pouncing on it.