Chapter 154: Out-Stats You
Unlike Natsuya, Seiko's reputation hadn't reached the ears of every single
Slayer in the Corps. At least, most of the northern recruits didn't recognize
her on sight.
Naturally, they were intensely curious as to why the mysterious Luminary Hashira
was giving this unfamiliar girl VIP treatment.
"I heard she's a classmate of his, just got back from Hokkaido," a Slayer
whispered, leaning against a weapon rack.
"A classmate?" Another Slayer scoffed jeefully. "I'm his classmate too, so how
come the Hashira hasn't personally brewed coffee for me?"
A tall swordsman shot him a dry look. "Bro, you're a guy. Why would the Luminary
Hashira brew coffee for you?"
A third swordsman, sporting a sharp middle parting, chimed in with a smirk.
"Classmate? Even if they were in the same batch, Miss Yukibashiri is already a
Tsuchinoe (Rank 5). What rank are you again?"
"..."
The first swordsman opened his mouth, failed to find a counter-argument, and
went back to polishing his sword in silence.
Meanwhile, on the veranda, Natsuya lowered his teacup and nudged Seiko's
shoulder.
"Oi, Kaki-chan. Want to test out your new build?"
The girl blinked, caught off guard. "Test what?"
Natsuya gestured toward the open courtyard, where several Slayers were still
peeking over from their drills. "Your stats. Let's see how your training in the
north paid off."
"Besides, do you have any other plans for today?"
She shook her head. "Not really..."
"Good. Then let's run a simulation match."
Natsuya raised his voice slightly, addressing the courtyard. "Alright, break
time's over. Who wants to step up and spar with her?"
Silence fell over the yard for a second. Then, a sharp, confident voice cut
through the quiet.
"Since you're offering, I'll take the match, Lord Luminary."
A tall, athletic female swordsman stepped out from the group, tossing a
half-chewed piece of grass aside. Her eyes carried a fierce, competitive glint.
[Kugisaki Yamahana (Power Level: 112)] — Thunder Breathing LV.2
She was a Hinoto (Rank 4) Slayer—the highest-ranked student currently training
at the Sendai dojo. Having studied under Nikaido Mei, she was a specialist in
the hyper-aggressive, lightning-fast arts of the Thunder school.
Yamahana looked at Seiko, noticing the girl's Tsuchinoe (Rank 5) rank badge.
A Rank 5 challenging a Rank 4? Yamahana thought with a smirk. She looks soft.
I'll go easy on her so she doesn't cry.
"I know you're close with the Boss, but sparring is about raw performance,"
Yamahana said, tossing a wooden sword toward Seiko. "Don't expect any special
treatment just because you're a guest."
Seiko caught the wooden sword with a smooth, practiced reflex. She didn't look
angry; her expression simply shifted into something cold and composed.
A guest? If you only knew how many times Natsuya-aniki has knocked me into the
dirt...
"Whenever you're ready," Seiko replied quietly.
Natsuya checked his HUD. Yamahana is Power Level 112. Seiko is 153. This is
basically a high-level player smurfing in a mid-tier lobby.
This ought to be a quick match.
"Use wooden swords," Natsuya announced, leaning back with his tea. "Begin."
The moment the word dropped, Yamahana exploded into motion.
It was the trademark speed of the Thunder school. Blue-white static crackled
around her boots, and in an absolute blur of kinetic energy, she crossed the
courtyard. To the standard Slayers watching, she was practically invisible.
[Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!]
Too slow.
Seiko didn't flinch. Her reaction time—forged through months of fighting
sub-zero horrors in Hokkaido and Natsuya's brutal "Gamer-style" drills—had long
since surpassed a standard Rank 4 Slayer.
As the blinding streak of lightning closed in, Seiko's body moved like a feather
caught in an arctic draft. She didn't parry. She performed a microscopic
sidestep, letting the raw, concussive wind of Yamahana's lunge brush past her
cheek.
Whoosh!
Yamahana flashed past her, her sword slicing through empty air.
She dodged it?! Yamahana's eyes widened in mid-flight as she skidded to a halt,
turning around in shock. That was my absolute fastest opening!
Before Yamahana could reset her stance, the ambient temperature in the courtyard
plummeted.
A biting, crystalline frost began to coat the grass beneath Seiko's feet. When
the girl drew her wooden sword, it didn't sound like wood scraping against
scabbard leather; it sounded like glaciers cracking in the dead of winter.
[Snow Breathing]
The soft, flowing cadence of Water Breathing was entirely absent. Replaced by
Natsuya's "modded" cold-damage parameters, Seiko's strikes carried the ruthless,
hyper-efficient execution of an apex predator.
She didn't wait for Yamahana to recover her frames.
Seiko closed the distance, her footwork leaving faint traces of rime on the
stones.
Clack!
A single, razor-sharp strike—disguised as a basic form, but accelerated by
high-pressure core rotation—landed squarely against Yamahana's wooden hilt. The
sheer concussive force sent a numbing shock up Yamahana's arms, nearly
dislocating her wrists.
What kind of swordplay is this?! Yamahana gasped, stumbling back three paces.
It's not Water... it's like getting hit by an avalanche!
Seiko didn't gloat. She maintained her absolute, snow-queen composure, pressing
the advantage with a relentless, icy sequence of slashes.
Every block Yamahana made felt heavier than the last, her stamina bar draining
at an alarming rate.
In the corner of the yard, the watching Slayers stared with dropped jaws.
"Wait... isn't Yukibashiri-san supposed to be a Rank 5?" "She's completely
dominating Yamahana-san..." "Is everyone from Hokkaido built like a war
machine?!"
Even Natsuya nodded in quiet approval. Her 'Tech' and 'Mind' specs have caught
up nicely. The Snow Breathing build I theory-crafted for her is performing even
better than expected.
With one final, elegant sweep, Seiko's wooden sword came to a halt—resting a
mere millimeter away from Yamahana's throat.
The courtyard was dead silent.
Yamahana stood frozen, staring at the wooden tip hovering by her windpipe. Cold
sweat beaded on her forehead, mixing with the melting frost that had settled on
her collar.
She had lost. Completely and utterly.
Seiko withdrew her sword, lowering it with a clean, crisp snap. Her expression
softened back into its usual gentle warmth as she offered a polite bow.
"Thank you for the match."
Yamahana swallowed hard, her pride taking a massive hit, but her warrior's
respect forcing her to bow in return. "I... I lost. Your swordsmanship is
incredible."
From the veranda, Natsuya finished his tea and set the cup down.
"Match over," he called out, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Seiko wins."
☆☆☆
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