(Riven POV – Twilight Manor, Courtyard)
'I guess I'll need to set the pace.'
Ais shifts her stance in response to my words, a simple adjustment, but overflowing with the elegance of someone who's spent years honing the same movement until it became second nature. There are no wasted efforts or excess motions.
I inhale, my lungs filling with air as my heart begins to hammer, pumping hot oxygen through my veins. I use Sun Breathing, forcing more oxygen into my blood as every muscle in my body tightens like a coiled spring.
The ground cracks beneath my feet as I launch forward. To the untrained eye, it would look like I simply disappeared, way too fast for any ordinary perosn to follow. But Ais isn't "most."
Her eyes widen by the smallest fraction, not in surprise, but curiosity. And then her sword moves, already cutting down toward me.
I bring my blade up to meet hers, and steel collides.
The clash rings out across the courtyard with a shrill, piercing chime, sparks scattering like fireflies. Dust bursts from the ground beneath us, grass torn up as pressure ripples outward from the point of contact.
And yet—
'It's like I smashed into a mountain.' I click my tongue.
Her blade doesn't budge. I pour everything into my strike, pushing harder, but it's as if an immovable object met a very stoppable force. She doesn't budge an inch.
"I guess this is the level of strength we should use, then?" I ask, smiling as I meet her golden eyes.
"Mm." Ais gives a small hum, along with a tiny small nod of agreement.
Then, a collosal force slams into me like a tidal wave.
I skid back, boots gouging trenches into the dirt as my arms shudder from the force of her push. My arms ache even despite supposedly using similar strength and yet her expression remains just as blank.
'It hurts my pride to look this weak… but this is where the fight really starts.' I sigh, but my will remains unwavering.
'GS.' I command, trusting my partner to understand.
[Notice: Predicting and simulating the movements of individual Ais Wallenstein. Implement in-combat battle analysis and training.]
Time dilates as Thought Acceleration is activated at max capacity, speeding up my perception by 1,000 times. The initial clash with Ais replays in slow motion as GS dissects all my movements, pointing out every mistake I made. The biggest issue being my use of an upward swing against a shorter opponent, with gravity as an enemy, not an ally.
Time speeds up as I weaken Thought Acceleration. Ais takes a step forward, her blade steady and perfectly aligned, horizontal to the ground at eye-level, not giving me a moment to collect myself.
Overlapping silhouettes flicker in my vision as GS shows me all possible movements and attacks she could make.
She thrusts her sword forward, the blade slicing through the air towards my chest.
My body has long since reacted to her strike, my sword rising to meet hers as the blades sliding against each other and I redirect the tip of her sword aside while making a cut for her torso. She pivots with mechanical grace, as my sword flies harmlessly past her ribs before her counter's already coming.
Steel screeches as our swords grind together and send sparks flying. She spins rapidly, her blade accelerating rapidly as she delivers a brutal, arcing strike.
I could dodge in ten different ways, but instead, I meet her strike head on.
Our blades collide. The vibration tears through my bones, rattling my organs, and in response…
And I smile.
Not out of arrogance. But because this… this is fun. Dangerous. It's the same thrill as tearing something apart with my bare hands, only with a more refined edge.
The courtyard rings with the chime of clashing steel, echoing like music. Each strike I make feels cleaner, sharper, GS feeding me refinements in real time as I begin to lose myself in the rhythm of battle.
'One day,' I think, my grin widening as I lock eyes with her again, our swords locked against each other as we each push for dominance. 'One day I'll fight her as an equal.'
[Notice: 63% of Ais Wallenstein's swordsmanship analysed.]
'That was fast? I should probably step up.' I think, now more interested in fighting than proving myself a worthy teacher.
I don't feel pain. I can keep pushing so long as my mind is willing. I can keep fighting so long as my body moves.
Sun Breathing floods my body with endless strength, and practically infinite stamina. My body recovers almost instantly from any strain.
'Which means…' A manic grin slowly etches itself on my face. 'I don't need to worry about breaking down…'
The thought alone is exhilarating, and the realisation acts as a trigger.
Instead of clashing again, I let the force of the impact push me back, widening the distance. Planting my feet, I breathe deeply, the world narrowing to the beat of my heart and the burning in my chest.
Ais, not one to let up, charges towards, blade steady.
Now.
"Set your heart ablaze!"
Screw hiding my strength…
I'm not holding back.
'Sun Breathing: First Form—Dance.'
I explode forward. The world blurs around me as my sword blazes through the air. To me, it's more than just steel. It's like a flame flowing with me, flickering and twisting as it arcs downward in a blistering vertical slash.
Ais slips back, my blade barely missing her as she raises her sword in a smooth arc to counter.
'It won't be that easy.' I grin, abandoning the slash and twisting my torso.
'Sun Breathing: Second Form—Clear Blue Sky.'
My body whips around as I land, spinning into a full 360° slash. The air splits with a sharp hiss, the ground beneath us tearing open as my blade carves a deep trench and dust sprays upward, after Ais dodges by leaping back again.
But I don't stop.
'Third Form—Raging Sun.'
My feet slam into the earth, propelling me forward. Two horizontal slashes rip through the air in quick succession. Ais slips past the first by a hair, but the second she can't escape from and the clash of steel echoes as she parries, the recoil pushing her back and leaving imprints on the ground as she redirects the blow.
Her golden eyes sharpen, and in the next instant, she slides her blade along mine, stepping into my guard for a slash aimed at my ribs.
'Fourth Form—Burning Bones, Summer Sun.'
I spiral my sword in a sudden twist, catching her slash and flinging it wide before vaulting into a backflip.
'Fifth Form—Solar Heat Haze.'
Mid-air, I twist, my blade flashing in a horizontal arc that hisses toward her neck. She ducks cleanly, the attack singing over her hair as she looks up towards me with a bit more seriousness.
Forms blur together. Sixth. Seventh. Eighth. I chain them into one seamless storm, each strike faster, sharper, heavier. Intended to kill the king of demons, but now adapted perfectly to face a human opponent.
I don't let her breathe. I don't give her room. Every time she moves to attack, I'm already countering. Every time she tries to retreat, I'm already chasing.
Step by step, I begin pushing her back.
The courtyard shakes with our rhythm, steel colliding again and again, the air ringing like a blacksmith's forge. Gasps ripple from the Loki Familia onlookers, and I catch Hestia shouting encouragement over the din.
And then—
[Notice: Analysis of Ais Wallenstein's swordsmanship complete. Reconstruction of Albert Waldstein's original technique partially complete.]
'Upload it to my mind.'
A sharp breath leaves me as I finally ease back, pausing my relentless pursuit. Ais doesn't lunge in; she simply watches, golden eyes steady, waiting for me to make the next move.
Despite everything, her expression hasn't changed much. She doesn't look tired, nor is she shaken. Just calm, focused, and the tiniest bit curious.
I smile, tilting my head innocently. "I think I've more than proved I can swing a sword. Maybe it's time I showed that I can teach as well."
(Ais POV – Twilight Manor, Courtyard)
"…Teach?" The word slips out of my mouth, tilting my thoughts.
I don't understand what he means, but the rest, I can't deny.
'He's strong.'
He's only Level One, yet his speed and strength rival a veteran Level Three. His techniques are phenomenal, and seem to have gotten better with time. And more than that…
His aura.
It's like a blinding sun. It draws my attention from afar, yet burns me up close.
'What makes him strong?' I wonder, eyes narrowing as I grip my blade tighter. 'Is it talent, a skill, or something else entirely?'
I've been watching him from the beginning. Every movement, every strike. And still I don't know.
But I want to.
So—
'I'll fight.'
I raise my sword again, feet shifting into stance. Riven finally finishes whatever strange preparation he was doing, and he suddenly feels more dangerous. And then he comes.
My brow furrows as he swings. Something feels… wrong. Familiar.
Our swords meet dead center, sparks bursting between us as we clash with perfect symmetry.
'That's… my technique?'
No. It must be coincidence. No one could copy it in such a short time, much less mid-battle.
I pull back to prepare for my next attack, only for his sword to thrust forward in the exact same motion I used minutes ago, aimed at my face.
I parry it instantly. But then he slides his blade down mine with the same movement I used to parry him before. His follow-up comes in my rhythm, my timing.
My stomach twists.
'He's using my techniques?'
Another clash. Another mirrored strike. My eyes widen as I realize the truth.
Not only has he imitated me, he's adapted my techniques to suit him… and he's improving.
Each slash cuts sharper. Each step is finished faster. Each strike is closer to perfection.
He's evolving before my eyes.
'It's almost like… watching Father's training again.' The thought drifts up unbidden as our swords clash again. His stance, his timing, even his corrections, they're rougher, but the rhythm feels familiar.
"Focus." Riven's voice cuts through my thoughts. "I'd be a bad teacher if I beat you while you were daydreaming."
My eyes widen slightly. 'So that's what he meant…'
I'm not angry about him copying my techniques. I copied them too. That's how I learned.
This isn't the time to reminisce, it's a chance to improve!
I shift my weight, tighten my grip on my sword. The courtyard fades away as my focus intensifies. Faces, murmurs, cheers… the whole world narrows to the point of his sword.
Each thrust I throw, he refines. Each parry he takes, he redirects the blow, better than I could. My own flaws are reflected back at me… and improved. His movements aren't mockery. They're a mirror showing me what I could be.
The tempo slows in my mind. My breath steadies, sliding into perfect sync with my footwork. In, out. In, out.
I see Father's silhouette overlapping with Riven's in every movement. That memory… a single impossible technique. One he told me I want ready to learn it.
But right now, with each and every strike, I feel closer to grasping it.
My blade floats level with the ground. But still, something's missing. Something infinitely close, yet still far off.
I whisper without thinking, lips chanting the old name: "Ariel…"
The air shifts as my muscles coil like springs. The technique feels whole, incomplete yet powerful, as I launch forward. My thrust becomes a slash at speed blinding even to me, as magic surges through my limbs.
And then reality snaps back.
My eyes widen as Riven's blade shatters under the impact, shards spinning away like stars. My sword continues downward at full power, full speed, no holding back, magic stacked on top.
And it's too late to stop it as…
It makes contact.
(A/N: Chapter was supposed to end there. Would that cliffhanger been fine? 🤣)
(Hestia POV – Twilight Manor, Courtyard)
BOOOOM!
The courtyard explodes with light and sound. Dust and wind whip outward like a shockwave, forcing me to shield my eyes.
"Riven!" My voice cracks, swallowed by the ringing in my ears.
When I lower my arm, all I see is a churning wall of dust and debris. A dark gash carved into the earth stretches from the center of the impact like a scar. Blood splattered on the grass in red arcs.
My heart lurches. 'No. No, no, no—'
Around me, the Loki Familia's faces are frozen in shock. Even Bete's smirk is gone. Riveria's lips press thin as her eyes flash, calculating how to do damage control and salvage the situation. Some of the younger members look pale, Lefiya's knuckles white on her staff.
This wasn't supposed to happen. I might be clueless about a lot of things, but even I know Ais just moved faster than she was allowed to, used magic she wasn't supposed to. And that… wasn't sparring. It was a killing blow.
Riveria is the first to return to her senses. "Someone get the Dian Cecht Familia and bring high-grade potions, all you can carry. Move!" Her voice is calm but edged with underlying tension, and the courtyard bursts into motion as adventurers scatter.
I can't move. My knees shake as I stare at the ravine clawed into the ground.
The only thing keeping me upright is the faint flicker of Riven's Falna bond still thrumming against my soul, indicating that he's alive.
I run towards him, and nobody stops me. They're all too tense, and probably wary, of doing it.
The dust thickens as I near, stinging my eyes. My breath comes fast and shallow. 'Please… please be okay—'
And then I see him.
"Riven!" Tears burst free as I throw myself at him, not caring about the blood, the dirt, the smoke. I wrap my arms around him, unwilling to ever let go.
"Ouch! Goddess, you're hurting me." He groans, like he's in excruciating pain..
For a moment my chest goes cold. Then I realize that he's lying.
"You're still messing with me even now?!" I shout, pinching him hard as my voice breaks. I remember that he can't feel pain, but that doesn't stop me from worrying.
He chuckles softly, arms pulling me against him in a hug, one hand rubbing my back in a maddeningly soothing way. "Sorry for making you worry, Goddess. And sorry I lost the duel, even after all that bragging."
"Who cares about that?! I'm just glad you're alive!" I squeeze him tighter despite the cuts.
Up close, the truth settles my heart. He's bleeding, a lot, but they're all surface wounds. Dozens of small lacerations all over his body, and a deep cut across his hand, none of which are fatal.
"Of course I'm alive." He smirks, seemingly unbothered by the whole ordeal. "I promised I'd never leave you alone. So how can I die? I'm immortal until you leave me first."
I nuzzle my forehead into his chest, half-sobbing, half-scolding. "Idiot…"
*************
A/N: Hello Everyone! How are you all doing? If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
I'll be honest. It's 1AM, and while I tried to push to add more stuff... I'm way too tired for everything I want to add😭. Had planned the whole Loki Familia reaction as well as how the hell Riven isn't dead, and so on... But I guess that'll have to wait.
So, to clarify some things, what happened with Ais was that she kinda got enlightenment after improving some abilities. And she kinda got too in the zone and forgot to limit her abilities, and 2 not to use magic. I'm my head, the attack she just did would be the one her dead used to make the BD the OEBD, and Ariel was needed since her dad used the help of her mom (a spirit) and their magic to cause the injury.
And yes, I'm doing this for plot. The good kind. Riven has his reasons for not turning tail and bolting once he realised she was gonna do that stuff (even if he didn't expect the severity to which she did stuff). Riven didn't survive by BS plot armour. There's an actual reason, which expands plot a lot! I'm actually looking forward to writing it. So much so, I'm almost tempted to upload Danmachi next, but everyone waiting for MHA wouldn't want that🫠.
I tried to avoid cliffhangers, but cliffhanger-kun is persistent. But, as we can all see, a cliffhanger where Riven's sword breaks, and a seemingly 100% fatal attack hits him (as it connects), would be diabolical.
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
As for the remaining things, I suppose that's it. I'm gonna pass out soon, so I hope you all enjoy. Have a good day/night 😴😴😴