"Don't misunderstand. Your pathetic lesson had little to do with my progress... Though honestly, this still isn't what I'd call good."
His gaze drifted momentarily before snapping back.
"Fine. Maybe your pitiful teaching helped, since I did learn the basics from it. But right now?"
He smirked.
"You're still facing amateur work. If you think this is refined, then you're even further behind than I thought."
Lieutenant Dante remained silent, his sharp eyes studying Northern like a hawk tracking prey.
Slowly, he adjusted his sword's position, shifting into a razor-edged stance that unlocked countless attacking angles through precise footwork.
Northern remained unfazed. Though the mental strain taxed him, he kept analyzing Dante's swordplay, forcing all other distractions to the edges of his awareness.
It sounded simple yet the effort wrenched at his mind, demanding relentless focus.
