Chapter 475: I liked this cape, you know.

Aurelia’s gauntlet shot forward, leaving a clean, precise blow to his chest and—

Thud

Kael stumbled half a step back, the air leaving his lungs for an instant.

“Got you.”

Aurelia grinned.

“…”

Kael only stared at her in silence, his eyes scanning her every movement while the General’s grin widened.

“I like that look you have on your face.”

She tried to provoke, but again, Kael didn’t react. After all, time was on his side—the more time he was given in the battle, the better for him.

Aurelia obviously did not know that, but now that she sensed Kael’s weakness, she wanted to end it as quickly as possible. Seeing as he wasn’t giving in to her provocation like the usual young minds with more power in their hands than they deserved, the General decided to continue fighting.

She would treat this as her giving him a practical lesson. After all, what Kael had shown her just now was already more than enough to impress her.

“Let’s continue then.”

Aurelia dashed forward, the grin on her face hadn’t disappeared.

CLANG

The clash continued.

Steel rang through the cold morning air, echoing across the barren field. The sound of their weapons colliding filled the space between them; the rhythm the two warriors created seemed… poetic.

Something that only the two of them could follow.

Aurelia pressed forward again, her silver spear slicing through the air. Kael blocked the strike, his sword flashing upward to meet it—but this time, the General didn’t pull back. She twisted her wrist, the spear’s shaft bending slightly before it snapped forward again with a burst of power.

Kael barely managed to turn his sword in time. The blow sent him sliding backward through the dirt.

He gritted his teeth, his breathing heavier now.

’She’s reading my movements…’

He realized it as well.

He clearly knew that he had better stats—his eyes hadn’t failed him.

Aurelia was not faster than him; she was just… smarter, more experienced.

Aurelia didn’t let him rest or think clearly either. She dashed forward again; her movements remained clean and precise, not wasting a single step or ounce of energy. Every strike she made was planned—a calculated motion to make him defend in exactly the way she wanted.

Ever since the battle began, Kael was moving exactly how she wanted him to. This was the reason she was having such an easy time.

Clank Clank Clank

Kael met her spear each time, his sword blocking and deflecting flawlessly—yet… he could feel himself losing ground.

Despite being stronger, faster, and more durable… he was the one being pushed back.

’How…?’

He clenched his sword tightly; the situation was getting grimmer.

Aurelia’s eyes flickered as she fought; she too noticed something.

Something concerning.

’He’s adapting.’

Each time she struck, Kael blocked a little faster, his movements became a little cleaner.

His learning speed was… terrifying.

And the worst part?

He wasn’t even realizing that he was doing all this.

’Is this what it means to be the Hero…?’

Still, his lack of real battle experience showed. His movements were sharp but stiff—the kind you got from perfect drills, not from the chaos of real combat.

“You’re strong, Hero, I admit that.

But strength alone won’t win you this.”

She grinned slightly.

Again, Kael didn’t answer.

He parried again, but this time her spear slipped past his guard, the edge grazing his cheek. It wasn’t enough to hurt him—Kael had moved his head at the very last second—but by doing so, he did lose balance.

“See?

It won’t work.”

Aurelia laughed lightly, like a teacher enjoying teaching a good student.

Kael’s expression didn’t change. Before the General could respond, his sword shot forward—faster than before.

CLANG

The sheer force of it made her spear vibrate as she blocked.

“!!!”

The shock went up her arm, numbing it a little, but she kept her focus.

She knew she needed to take charge in this moment of weakness, or she would be overwhelmed.

And that was what she did.

She twisted her weapon and swept low again; Kael jumped back to dodge, missing the opportunity to take the lead.

And the worst part?

He didn’t even realize that it was a missed opportunity.

’Lack of battle awareness, huh…’

Aurelia noted in her head. She had made a point to note down every one of his weaknesses so they could work on it once he returned with her.

Kael, on the other hand, focused on the fur that had scattered into the wind.

Yes, even though he had dodged, the edge of her spear still caught the end of his cape, slicing through it cleanly.

“I liked this cape, you know.”

Kael finally said something, his expression hardening.

He then raised his sword, exhaled slowly, and lowered his stance.

“You look scarier now.

You liked it that much, huh…?”

The General smiled.

“Shouldn’t have worn it during the duel then.”

She shrugged.

“I didn’t think you’d be able to do anything to it.”

Kael shot back, and in an instant, the General’s face changed.

“Oh, you have no clue what I am able to do, child.”

The woman gripped her spear tighter and for the first time since the battle began, she decided to use it.

Her mana gathered around her weapon; the silver steel began to glow faintly blue, humming with dangerous energy.

Spear Aura.

Whoosh

When she swung again, the air itself seemed to split. The blade of energy extending from her spear made the ground crack where it passed.

“Be prepared, this one won’t be easy to deal with.

Avoid trying to block, since that wouldn’t work.”

Aurelia warned as she moved forward.

Kael crossed his sword in front of him, as if completely ignoring her words. When Aurelia saw it, she sighed in disappointment.

The very fact that he raised his sword to block even when she specifically told him not to showed his lack of experience.

To think he wouldn’t even recognize Spear Aura and would try to take it head-on. Every warrior should know how big of a mistake that was.

Aura—a weapon’s Aura—made it so that the said weapon was capable of cutting even the hardest of metals. No armor, shield, or barrier could resist an Aura-charged weapon.

Blocking an Aura-charged weapon with one’s own weapon… it was foolish since an Aura-charged weapon would simply cut through the weapon without Aura like it was paper.

And Kael…

He was going to learn that the hard way.

In the end, just for a slight second, Aurelia glanced in a particular direction, staring at the Healer she had brought together with her.

’If he gets hurt, I can heal him.’

With that thought in her mind, her eyes shined with determined light.

“Let this be a lesson.”

She spoke as she finally thrust forward.

But then—

CLANG

A sharper, louder, and deeper clang was heard—one that echoed throughout the plain fields, one that… made the General widen her eyes in disbelief.

Her spear…

It was blocked.

Its tip didn’t cut through.

Her Aura didn’t slice his weapon in half.

Instead…

Kael’s sword… was glowing too.

A faint, silver shimmer ran along its edge, flickering like sunlight.

“Sword Aura…?”

Aurelia whispered, the disbelief in her voice clear.

“How—w-when did you learn Sword Aura?”

She asked, stuttering in between.

“I am still waiting for my lesson, General Aurelia.”

Kael grinned, his cold blue eyes shining in disdain.

Then, he stepped forward again, his sword swinging with renewed force.

CLANG

Aurelia barely blocked, forcefully overcoming her shock since Kael didn’t give her a chance otherwise.

CLANK CLANK CLANK

Crack

The ground beneath them cracked as they exchanged blows faster than before. Sparks flew, air split, and dust scattered around them.

The watching soldiers couldn’t even follow the movements anymore—just flashes of light and sound echoing across the empty plain while they stared at the battle, wide-eyed.

Aurelia gritted her teeth.

Kael’s strength was unbelievable. Every time she thought she’d pushed him down, he adjusted. Every time she tried a new pattern, he learned from it.

The worst part?

Something inside her told her that he was still holding something back.

Her mind, however, believed he was giving it his all—and that drove her to push harder.

CLANK CLANK CLANK

She struck again and again, each strike better than before in one way or another. Her Spear Aura cut through the cold air. Kael blocked all her attacks, but the strain began to show.

His arms trembled slightly from the repeated impacts.

His breathing… grew heavier.

He had more stamina than her—he knew that.

But still, somehow, he was the one tiring faster.

And as he searched for answers while blocking her relentless attacks,

He finally noticed it.

Aurelia’s attacks weren’t perfect—they were… efficient.

She didn’t use her full strength every time—she used… just enough.

Her movements weren’t flashy—they were… smart.

Every time she moved, she didn’t move in a perfect, flawless manner like how she was taught. She adjusted the movement according to what the moment demanded. Sometimes, she sacrificed some of the strength in her attack to save stamina; sometimes, she did exactly the opposite. Sometimes, she even changed or skipped a few movements just to save time, and sometimes, she made extra movements for better balance.

That was what it was—

Her battle sense, her awareness, and her experience.

That was Aurelia Stormborn—the Sky Serpent General.

And today—

Kael was planning to squeeze out every single part of her excellence and… make it his own.

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