Julian couldn't help but find his partner more alluring—the way she puffed out her cheeks while eating dumplings. It was gorgeous.
"Shall we exercise together?"
His rough voice reverberated through the dining room, causing her to shudder.
"Ah?"
Shocked at first, he soon noticed her radiant expression.
"Let's go."
They cleaned the tables and rushed downstairs.
Sena almost slipped several times, and Julian enjoyed watching her cute actions.
"Phew."
Julian wore the white training outfit while gazing at his reflection. He sighed, knowing that Sena might win this time—she had most likely surpassed his physical strength. He left the changing room and spotted Sena with her wooden bokken, swinging it.
"Julian, I feel stronger."
The excitement in her voice made Julian chuckle.
He sensed power from her swings thanks to the gust of wind following each blow.
"I can see."
Julian stepped ahead of Sena, his stance low.
He held the bokken lightly in his hands. He started to understand the difference between an Evoker and an Assault or Guardian.
'I cannot keep fighting like I did before.'
Sena's eyes sparkled as she lifted her bokken and parted her legs. Her previous aloof confidence was gone, replaced with a calm focus and sharp eyes.
"Same rules?"
"Of course, Sena. Show me everything."
Silence filled the room; a warm midday sun shone through the windows.
Julian moved first—his bokken cutting through the air with a powerful cleave. Sena's eyes flicked to the tip of his bokken, stepping forward as she avoided his strike and countered with a sudden thrust aimed at his chest.
'What?'
Tak!
Sena's eyes trembled when Julian deflected her bow at the last moment. The clash of wood echoed in the quiet room.
"I see…" She whispered before taking another deep breath.
Julian struggled with her faster movements. He watched Sena like a hawk, trying to avoid her swift attacks.
Tak!
Sena pressed her advantage, feinting low—Julian blocked it easily
She used the momentum, her footwork carrying her around his side, landing a sharp counter despite Julian's attempt to twist and avoid.
"One point."
"Good movement, Sena."
Julian focused, realising he couldn't match her speed or strength.
Instead, he sensed the flow of Mana inside his abdomen, swirling like a pool of stagnant water.
'Can I use it?' He questioned himself.
Julian adjusted himself while trying to stir the Mana inside him. He stood opposite Sena, who took a low stance and watched him with her beautiful golden eyes.
"Let's go."
Tak!
Tak!
A fierce attack from Julian aimed to strike Sena's shoulders, his wrists twisting to land a feint, but Sena stepped back, deflecting both blows, before closing the distance in the blink of an eye, causing Julian to gasp.
"Ugh…"
Sena's bokken thrust into his chest, sending Julian flying backwards.
"Two points."
Julian's body ached while he focused on the pool of Mana. His focus on Sena collapsed, and he made two mistakes.
'Why do you look so unhappy, Sena?'
"Julian, don't go easy on me…"
Her words cut like a knife. Julian didn't go easy, but now that she started evolving, he couldn't keep up physically.
However, the last attack, like a plunger clearing a blockage, gave him a flash of inspiration instead of trying to force the Mana to move. Julian would instead make the Mana follow his will in attempting to cast Shadow's Grasp in reality.
"Sorry, I won't."
Sena's eyes trembled before she bit her lower lips and steadied her bokken for a third time. But seeing Julian's action caused her to gasp.
He didn't take a stance like a swordsman.
Julian held the bokken in his left hand and pointed it at the ground. He led with his right foot and aimed his claw-shaped hand at her body.
'I can feel it stirring inside me, this is how I should fight.'
"Here I come!" Julian's voice snapped Sena out of her depressive daze.
"Eh?"
Sena lunged forward, her bokken held tight. However, the moment Julian clenched his hand, her eyes widened, and his bokken swept across her body.
Tak!
"A point to Julian?"
"Yes." He agreed before pointing his bokken towards the floor.
"Do you know what I'm doing, Sena?"
She was a sharp woman, but her pupils trembled looking up at him.
"What did you do?"
He smiled.
"I'll show you."
Julian returned to his spot and prepared himself, holding his right arm forward. When Sena dashed towards him again, Julian spread his fingers, aiming it at his partner, then closed his fingers to mimic grasping something.
"I won't fail again!"
This time, Sena's eyes shone blue momentarily but fizzled before she could react.
In her mind, she had plenty of time, but instead of deflecting, she hesitated after noticing a shadow around Julian's body as his bokken pierced forward and struck her in the abdomen.
"Cough! Cough!"
Tears welled in her eyes while she doubled over, taking deep breaths until the pain subsided.
"Two points each."
"What was that, Julian?" She asked in a soft tone.
"How I'm going to fight. You noticed right? I've lost the strength and speed to compete with you. I am using what I can."
Sena gazed at his face, nodding before taking a deep breath and gripping her bokken tight. Then, she walked back and exhaled slowly, readying herself once more.
'This isn't good, using magic in reality is exhausting.' A bead of sweat dripped down his forehead.
They stood opposite, both holding their swords, calm yet anxious.
'Don't hesitate.'
"Ready." Sena declared and, without giving Julian a chance, rushed forward.
Julian's eyes narrowed upon seeing the faint blue aura flowing around her sword, while he pushed harder, a black mist wrapping around his legs, arms and right hand.
The wooden bokken clashed violently, and a high-pitched clash of wood reverberated in the room. The power from the blows caused Julian to grit his teeth.
An overwhelming surge of strength almost forced him backwards.
His muscles were exhausted from expending Mana on his movements.
"You're… strong!"
"It doesn't matter."
Sena followed up, her small frame darting under Julian's guard. He grabbed the air, attempting to trap her. But she swung her bokken in a crescent arc, with a blue aura flowing after the blade. Her attack severed the Mana, fizzling his spell entirely.
'Not this time!'
His pupils trembled, barely deflecting Sena's follow-up with his right forearm. Even though she lacked the strength to pierce through his defence, she still made a bruise on his arm before she stepped off his thigh.
Tak!
Woosh!
Sena's body twirled midair like a gymnast, slicing the air with her bokken for another strike at Julian's head. He twisted, narrowly dodging her blow, before catching Sena in his arms.
She stopped moving.
Her bokken poised above his neck.
"Three points, I win."
Julian smirked, holding Sena in a bridal carry. She dropped her bokken, gazing into his eyes, her golden irises shimmering. He could feel her excitement and happiness from winning, just from the smile on her lips.
'Although I increased my strength using Mana, it cannot match a guardian…'
He used his Mana to boost his strength—the method used after the worlds melded, breaking the rules, something that shouldn't be possible for another month at least.
'Sena mimicked me, using her aura, though.'
"What's wrong Julian?" Sena asked while leaning against his chest, her eyes peering up at him.
"Nothing, just thinking about how amazing you are."