Chapter 49: Master?

Jia took another step back, a cold sweat now running down her spine. ’What the hell is up with him… the vibe around him is so… dangerous. Should I attack or give up?’ She saw no opening, and all the possible attacks she came up with in her mind ended with her getting her ass beat.

She stopped, ’Am I really scared of a human? …A human? No, I refuse to accept that!’ She crouched down, entering a combative stance, her movements akin to a prowling beast’s. She was not going to allow fear to take over.

Vell watched on with an amused smile on his face, he knew he could strike her down, even she knew that, and instead of giving up, she decided to face that fear head-on. ’She is strong, probably around high apprentice, maybe a little higher, so in terms of rank, we are the same, but skill… that is a whole different game.’ He exhaled and raised his dagger in the air.

Jia sensed something bad, so she leaped, hoping to stop whatever attack he was preparing. Her daggers cut the air in a horizontal strike, but this was useless as he simply moved back. He looked like he was floating, with that cocky expression on his face, taunting Jia so she could keep attacking.

She gritted her teeth, frustration bubbling beneath her skin. His movements were too smooth, too calculated—like he was toying with her. She felt like a predator being baited by a hunter who knew every move she would make before she made it.

“Stop smirking like that, human!” she growled, lunging forward again, her strikes faster and more precise this time. Each slash of her daggers was a calculated risk, aiming for his vital spots, yet he dodged them with an almost casual grace.

He sidestepped a particularly aggressive strike, spinning just out of range, and countered with a flick of his wrist. The motion was subtle, but the air hissed as his dagger’s edge narrowly grazed her arm, leaving a shallow cut.

She winced but did not falter. The pain was sharp, grounding her in the moment. She adjusted her grip on the daggers, her breaths coming quick but steady. ’Focus. Do not let him control the fight. There has to be an opening somewhere. Find it!’

Vell’s amused chuckle only fueled her resolve. “You are predictable,” he said, his tone light but with a sharp undertone of critique. “Relying on raw speed and aggression is not enough. You fight the way you were taught, like a beast, and I am sure that has led you to many victories, but I am sorry to say, something like that will not work against someone like me.”

She froze for a split second, his words hitting harder than the strike. Predictable? She was not used to being underestimated. Her opponents usually crumbled under her relentless assault, but this was not like anyone she had fought before. The opponent before her was smart and calculating, her usual brute force would not work.

’I see now… I am too rushed… take your time and think this through.’ Her eyes narrowed, and she shifted her stance again, lowering her center of gravity further. This time, her movements slowed, deliberate instead of rushed. The wild energy that had driven her attacks moments ago was replaced by a calculated stillness.

“Oh? Well, this is new, I wonder what tactic you will use now.” He flipped the dagger inward, also changing his stance, his smirk growing wider.

She exhaled slowly, her focus sharpening. She studied every detail of his posture—the subtle shift of his weight, the way his dagger hand angled ever so slightly inward. He was poised to counter, but counters required reactions, and reactions could be baited.

’I need to force him to move first,’ she thought, her grip tightening around her daggers.

She darted forward, feinting a strike to his left. His eyes followed the movement, his body subtly shifting to intercept. But just as her blade neared, she twisted sharply, redirecting her attack toward his exposed right side.

His grin faltered for an instant as he was forced to block in haste. Their blades clashed with a sharp, metallic ring, and the force of the impact sent vibrations up Jia’s arm. It was not much, but it was enough to make him take a half-step back.

“Not bad,” he admitted, his tone tinged with genuine surprise. “You are finally fighting better, but that alone is not enough. This time, I will attack. Ready? Here I come.”

Yenna watched from the back, her concern growing. ’Are they not taking this too seriously for a spar? Someone might get hurt.’ She took a hesitant step forward, her hands fidgeting nervously. ’Should I intervene?’ she wondered, though the weight of her decision felt heavier than she expected. A memory of Vell played in her heart, how he hated being interrupted, so she knew better and just backed off.

Jia put up her guard, her body showing signs of exhaustion. Vell attacked, moving like a phantom. Jia wondered if she was seeing things, but no, she was fully awake. He swung his dagger downward with a casual expression on his face. Jia took the attack head-on, but it was a lot heavier than she expected, and she ended up on her knees, her body even more tired.

She looked up at him, her vision swimming from exhaustion, but there was no sign of mercy in his eyes. ’It seems I have lost this spar.’ She dropped her daggers, exhaling while her hands raised up in the air. He backed off, but his expression was that of disappointment.

“I expected more from you.” His words hit harder than she expected, and she bit her lip in frustration and embarrassment at being looked down upon. He glanced back at her and then smiled. “But you are not bad at all. If we fix those rough edges, you will be a fearsome warrior.”

She stayed kneeling, processing his words. She did not want to admit it, but the fact still remained, he was the better fighter. “Fuck!” She punched the wall, frustration building up as she took occasional glances at Vell.

He kept the dagger, as he wanted to polish up his rusty body, but a voice called out to him.

“Master?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep