“Instructor, but we still have injuries on our bodies.” Baren raised his hand.

“Oh, where are the injuries? Broken bones? Can’t stand up?” The instructor’s sharp gaze made Baren dare not continue to argue.

“Solyn, you start.”

“Yes!”

The black-haired youth stepped forward. Despite still having many bruises on his body, he picked up the sword and began fighting seriously.

Stepping forward and charging, then thrusting with the blade, Solyn’s swordsmanship was particularly crisp and direct, aimed straight at vital points without any unnecessary movements.

“Clang” “Clang”

The instructor held his sword with one hand, steadily dodging Solyn’s attacks with firm footsteps, then effortlessly knocked Solyn’s wooden sword away and kicked him flying.

“Good swordsmanship. Aside from being too direct and lacking variation, there are no major issues for now.” He gave a relatively high evaluation.

“Next!”

“Baren.”

“Yes!”

Baren also picked up a wooden sword and charged forward to attack. Unfortunately, although he swung his sword quickly, his techniques were impatient with many openings, his performance far inferior to Solyn’s earlier display.

After knocking Baren down several times and offering comments, the instructor continued calling names.

“Ray.”

“Yes!”

The tallest student among the group stepped forward. He held the wooden sword as if it were a small toy.

“Hah.”

Ray took a deep breath and swept his sword toward where the instructor stood.

Facing Ray’s powerful swing, the instructor’s wooden sword twisted like a python, wrapping around and stabbing into Ray’s palm, making him cry out in pain and release the sword.

“Strength is acceptable, but swordsmanship is crude and hard to watch.” The instructor shook his head.

“Perhaps you should learn other weapons.”

“Next!”

The remaining classmates came forward in turn. Throughout this process, Sylutia stood watching in the training ground, her light blue eyes blinking as she continuously analyzed everyone’s movements and their force application techniques.

(‘Basic Swordsmanship’ proficiency +3)

(‘Basic Swordsmanship’ proficiency +2)

(‘Basic Swordsmanship’ proficiency +5)

…

So there were methods like this. Through these sparring matches, she could say she gained a lot.

Even with the same swordsmanship, because of each person’s build and habits, there were different uses and emphases. And when facing different situations, individuals’ response strategies also changed accordingly.

Basic Swordsmanship Lv.4: Basic sword techniques, foundation of combat, current progress (573/1200)

Although she didn’t directly participate in combat, observing also benefited Sylutia greatly. Additionally, while watching the instructor spar, she gradually understood that the combat techniques he used should be a more advanced fighting style.

[Military Swordsmanship Lv.0]: Sword techniques used in the military, movements are crisp and efficient, emphasizing quick life-or-death combat, current progress (31/100)

Compared to basic swordsmanship, this military swordsmanship had stronger killing power but required higher individual physical qualities. Without sufficient strength and speed, one couldn’t utilize its effectiveness at all.

Just by watching others spar, she could learn – this ability was really useful. Sylutia felt that coming to study with Scholar Hyde had brought her many gains.

However, her leisurely observation state was about to end soon.

“Boys go rest in the left open area, now girls come forward.” The instructor’s gaze swept over them.

“Valeny, you first.”

“Ah, Uncle Burke, are you calling me?” Knight Levin’s daughter looked surprised.

“Of course.”

“Alright.” Valeny stepped forward somewhat dejectedly, picking up a wooden sword and charging toward Instructor Burke.

Unfortunately, this knight’s daughter didn’t inherit her father’s martial skills, having only rudimentary abilities. She was easily defeated by the instructor and thrown to the ground.

“Your grip is weak, skills unrefined, footwork loose, reactions slow – not a single movement is proper. It seems Levin has spoiled you too much.” The instructor criticized coldly.

“Uh.”

Valeny looked thoroughly embarrassed, then quickly flashed with anger.

“How dare you criticize me! I don’t need to become a knight anyway! If you’re so capable, go duel with my father!”

“Hmph.” The instructor couldn’t be bothered with such a little girl’s ranting and simply ignored her.

“Next, Karen.”

“Yes.”

Karen took out a wooden spear and stepped forward. She lowered her waist, kept her center of gravity low, and fixed her eyes on the instructor.

Several seconds later, the wooden spear suddenly thrust forward, its tip aimed straight at the instructor’s chest.

Facing this attack, the instructor gripped his sword and lifted it upward, knocking the spear tip away, then stepped forward sideways, his blade directly cutting toward Karen’s fingers.

Unexpectedly, Karen gripped the spear shaft and twisted her body sideways, actually taking the sword strike on her shoulder, then thrust with her spear again.

“Clang”

Unfortunately, this spear thrust was still blocked by the instructor.

However, after blocking it, the instructor didn’t continue attacking but looked at Karen with appreciation.

“Good, quite courageous. Good potential.”

“Next, Komea.”

“Ah, I, I don’t know any fighting techniques.” Komea looked like she was about to cry.

“Oh?”

Instructor Burke frowned at this. How could someone have absolutely no basics? How did Scholar Hyde accept such a person?

Soon, a servant hurried to Burke’s side and whispered something to him. Then Burke’s frown eased somewhat as he looked at Komea a few times.

“Alright, you don’t need to practice spear or sword techniques from now on. But basic physical training is still necessary – run ten laps around the training ground.”

“Wah, yes, instructor.” Komea had no choice but to go run now.

At this point, only Iona and Sylutia remained in the field who hadn’t participated in combat training yet.

The instructor glanced at Iona, then shifted his gaze to the seemingly delicate girl beside her.

“Iona, come forward.”

“Yes, instructor.”

Iona’s tone was flat, as if she found what she was about to do somewhat boring.

She picked up a wooden sword with one hand and held it in front of her, then a faint golden light flashed in her eyes. Suddenly she thrust straight at the instructor, the blade also carrying a trace of golden light. This strange phenomenon was very brief, and only Sylutia noticed it immediately.

Wooden swords crossed, continuous slashing and clashing sounds came from the training ground. This exchange didn’t end quickly.

The intense battle in the field quickly attracted the attention of all the students, even Komea stopped running.

“So amazing.”

“Iona is not only beautiful, her swordsmanship is so dazzling too.”

“This isn’t ordinary swordsmanship, is it?”

In the field, Iona’s figure was graceful, her footsteps nimble, continuously closing in and pulling back, the sword in her hand constantly flashing like needles.

‘Golden Needle Sword Technique·Thrust!’

In that instant, three dazzling golden threads appeared, like three golden needles stabbing toward the instructor. Facing this attack imbued with supernatural Aspect power, the instructor no longer held back.

‘Steel Sharp Blade!’

The wooden sword in his hand suddenly became coated with a steel-silver edge. With an extremely fast slash, he directly shattered the wooden sword in Iona’s hand, turning it into scattered wood chips flying everywhere.

After losing her wooden sword, Iona retreated several steps, released the remaining hilt in her hand, and stopped fighting. Now she looked proudly at the instructor, honored even in defeat.

“Hmph, truly worthy of being Viscount Caren’s daughter indeed.”

Before being imprisoned, Viscount Caren was a powerful figure in the military, with no shortage of family-inherited secret techniques and resources.

At this moment, the only one left in the field who hadn’t participated in combat training was Sylutia.

Should she participate in the combat training? If she went up, holding back would only create various awkward and twisted situations. But if she didn’t hold back and shone brilliantly, even surpassing the golden-haired young lady who should be the main character, wouldn’t that completely violate her previous plan to keep a low profile?

Sylutia fell into a difficult dilemma.

As if noticing her predicament, or perhaps just by pure luck, someone interrupted the training at this moment, giving her a way out.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep