Chapter 304: Karma (XXII)
Right now, Zeva stood in front of me, her eyes burning with madness and excitement. She licked her lips, both hands gripping her twin blades tightly.
The steel shone under the light, and I could almost hear the hunger in her breathing.
"Show me, Aestrea! Don’t you dare hold back!" she shouted, stepping forward with sharp speed.
The ground cracked under her feet as she rushed in.
Clang!
Her right sword came at my chest with a heavy slash, but I tilted my blade and pushed it aside.
At the same time, her left sword sliced low, aiming for my waist. I dropped my knee, sliding my blade down to block.
The clash rang out, steel biting against steel.
"Too wild," I said calmly, twisting my sword and sending her left blade off balance.
"Your arms don’t move together yet."
Zeva only laughed.
"Shut up! That’s how I fight!"
She spun, both swords flashing, as she started using a sword art that perfectly combined with her, after all... she was the one who created it.
It was called—Maniac Demon Twin Swords.
『 First Move: Demon’s Frenzy! 』
She rushed me with a storm of strikes, her twin swords slashing in different angles, left high, right low, then both crashing down together.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew as I blocked each one, my wrist moving with steady control. I didn’t step back, not even once.
"Again, you’re too greedy," I told her, shifting my sword sideways to parry another swing.
Her strike cut the air instead of me.
"You need to control your center. You’re wasting strength."
"Gh—damn it!" she snarled, her face twisting in frustration.
But instead of stopping, she pulled her blades back, her shoulders trembling with excitement.
『 Second Move: Devil’s Tear! 』
Both swords curved inward, crossing like fangs of a beast, aiming straight for my throat.
Swoosh!
The speed was sharp, the sound tearing through space itself.
I leaned slightly, my sword sliding between her blades.
Clang!
Her twin swords locked against mine, the edge of one only a finger away from my neck.
"Closer," I muttered, pushing her arms outward with a sudden twist. "But you’re still forcing too much. Balance them."
Her breathing got rougher, her madness cracking just a little. I could see her eyes flicker, not only with hunger but also with thought.
"Tch... Don’t talk like that while I’m fighting!" she shouted, but her next strikes were already more controlled.
『 Third Move: Demon’s Howl! 』
She roared as she slashed upward with her right sword, then instantly swung her left sword down, both blades making an X-shaped attack.
Slash!
Slash!
I raised my sword, meeting the first strike.
Clang!
Then I twisted and caught the second strike right at the edge. The force actually made my arm tremble a little, but I held it with ease.
"Better," I said, pushing her swords away and tapping her forehead with the hilt of mine.
"You’re starting to think, Zeva."
Her chest rose and fell fast, sweat dripping down her cheek. For the first time, her grin wasn’t just madness; it had a sharp edge of pride.
"Heh... Damn you. You’re making me... focus."
"Good," I said, lowering my sword.
"Madness alone won’t win. Calm yourself, sharpen your mind. Then your twin swords will truly cut everything."
Zeva stood there, biting her lip, her hands shaking as she held her blades tighter. And slowly, her laugh faded into a steady breath.
"...Again," she whispered, eyes glowing, not only with madness, but with a new light of determination.
"I’ll show you I can do it...!" she hissed, and rushed forward.
Clang!
Her right blade came down fast, but this time her left didn’t lag behind, it twisted in at the same time, aiming at my ribs.
I blocked the first strike and slid my sword sideways just in time to stop the second. Sparks burst out.
"Better," I said, nodding faintly.
"You’re starting to keep them in sync."
Zeva didn’t answer. For once, she wasn’t laughing or screaming.
She bit her lip, her eyes sharp as she stepped back and spun both swords, adjusting her stance. Then she burst forward again.
『 First Move: Demon’s Frenzy! 』
The storm of strikes came again, but this time they weren’t messy. Each slash had weight, the rhythm building like drumbeats.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
My blade moved fast, blocking one, deflecting another, sparks flying with every hit.
"You’re learning!" I called out as she swung for my head.
Swoosh!
I ducked under and tapped her side with my elbow.
She grunted but didn’t stop. Her madness had turned into focus, her strikes flowing like a dance.
She jumped back, sweat dripping, then crossed her blades again.
『 Second Move: Devil’s Tear! 』
This time, the fangs of her swords snapped toward me with perfect timing, almost biting into my throat.
Shhhk!
The air screamed as steel closed in.
I tilted my blade between them, stopping the strike. But the pressure was different now... it wasn’t wild force like before.
Her arms moved like one, steady and firm.
For the first time, my hand trembled slightly as I pushed her blades away.
"...Not bad," I muttered, smirking a little.
Her grin widened almost immediately, sharp and proud.
"Hah! I saw it—you flinched!"
Before I could answer, she pulled back and launched her last move.
『 Third Move: Demon’s Howl! 』
The twin blades slashed in an X, faster than before.
Slash! Slash!
The sound cracked through the air. Her footwork was cleaner, her body tighter. For a moment, even I had to move my sword faster than usual.
Clang!
My blade caught the first strike.
Clang!
The second crashed down right after, the steel grinding hard against mine. Sparks lit between us, heat rushing across my cheek.
I pushed her away and narrowed my eyes.
"...You’re improving faster than I expected."
Zeva’s breath was ragged, but her eyes shone with a new fire.
"Hah... Don’t... underestimate me... I’ll... I’ll cut you down one day!"
Her stance tightened again, her swords trembling in her hands but steady in direction. She charged, mixing her three moves together, chaining them in a way she couldn’t do before.
『 First Move: Demon’s Frenzy! 』
Clang! Clang!
『 Second Move: Devil’s Tear! 』
Slash!
『 Third Move: Demon’s Howl! 』
Clang!
She roared with every strike, her twin blades blurring in front of me. For a second, it was like fighting a real demon.
I met every blow.
My sword shifted left, right, down, up, parrying her blows perfectly, causing sparks to shower the ground.
Each time she struck, I gave her a word.
"Lower your shoulder!"
Clang!
"Twist your wrist more!"
Clang!
"Keep your feet apart!"
Clang!
She listened, she adjusted, and her strikes got sharper and sharper. The madness in her eyes turned into fierce focus, sweat running down her neck.
But in the end... she still wasn’t there yet.
Her blades came at me again in a perfect X.
For once, it was so sharp that I actually had to shift my stance and step back. My sword shot forward, catching the middle of the cross.
I twisted my wrist, pulled my blade up, and...
CLANG!
Both her swords flew from her hands, spinning high into the air before stabbing into the dirt behind her.
Zeva froze, her chest heaving, sweat pouring down her face.
I lowered my sword and looked at her calmly.
"Not bad, Zeva. You’ve come far in just one match. But remember this, swordsmanship isn’t only about hunger or madness. It’s about patience, timing, and control. You almost had it."
It was amusing how I was now teaching her swordsmanship, after all, when we first met, she had directly challenged me to a battle without my consent.
And she even wanted me to become her disciple...
But now, she stood there, trembling, her hands empty.
For a moment, her lips twitched like she wanted to scream. But then... she lowered her head, a strange smile on her face.
"...Fuck you," she muttered, her voice shaky but calm.
"Just a year or so ago, I was much stronger than you..."
I chuckled and patted her shoulder as I walked past.
"Happens."
Her eyes followed me, wide and restless. But when I didn’t turn back, she let out a breathless laugh and whispered:
"...Next time... I’ll win."
I lifted my sword, already looking toward the people.
Two smaller figures came forward, side by side.
Ruli and Leaf... my twin assassins, and also adopted daughters if I may.
They looked so alike, with their small frames and sharp eyes, but their hair gave them away. Leaf’s pale green hair was tied in a neat braid, while Ruli’s pale lilac hair hung loose over her shoulders.
Both of them held their short blades tight, their steps quiet, like shadows sliding across the floor.
"Master..." Ruli’s voice was calm, but her brown eyes sparked with lightning.
"Don’t go easy," Leaf added, her tone softer, but her water mana was already flowing around her like mist.
I raised my sword and smiled faintly.
"Good. Show me your growth."
The twins shared a glance, and in the next breath, they moved.
Whoosh!