[System Notification!]
[You have entered a Special Event: Battle of the Swordmasters]
[Effect: All combat-related skills will be boosted by +2 Levels due to the intense martial aura present in the battlefield!]
[Skill Level Ups!]
[Combat Instincts]→ Lv. 5
[Mixed Martial Arts]→ Lv. 4
[Ken-jutsu]→ Lv. 5
[Basic Martial Arts]→ Lv. 4
[Dodging]→ Lv. 3
[Physical Endurance]→ Lv. 3
[Observation]→ Lv. 3
Rito's body tensed slightly as an unusual warmth coursed through his limbs. His muscles seemed to instinctively adjust, his senses sharpening as if his body had undergone an abrupt yet seamless transformation.
'What the hell?' He clenched his fists, feeling an odd sense of control over his movements—almost as if his fighting instincts had just been refined within moments.
The realisation sent a chill down his spine.
This wasn't normal.
The sudden system boost wasn't just an arbitrary increase in numbers. He could feel it. The way his body subtly adjusted, the way his senses picked up on the faintest of shifts around him—it was like something fundamental had changed within him.
And yet, no one else seemed to notice.
Around him, the audience remained focused on the battlefield, unaware of the silent transformation occurring within him. Even the elite figures beside him—Miyuki, Tatsuya, and Fujibayashi—remained as composed as ever.
'Damn… If I had leveled these up normally, it would have taken me months of effort.'
The growth system truly was something out of this world.
Suppressing his excitement, Rito took a deep breath and forced himself to act naturally. Now wasn't the time to dwell on his gains—he needed to focus on the match before him.
The two swordmasters in the arena had taken their stances, and an eerie silence fell upon the hall.
Then—
Clang!
A blinding flash of steel erupted as the first strike was exchanged.
The moment the swords clashed, a sharp metallic ring echoed through the grand hall, resonating with an almost harmonious violence. The two swordsmen moved like lightning, their bodies shifting through the arena with an eerie fluidity.
Step. Twist. Parry. Strike.
Their footwork was calculated to the finest detail, never wasting an inch of movement. The rapid swings of their blades blurred under the golden glow of the arena lights, creating fleeting arcs of brilliance with each exchange.
Rito's eyes widened as he absorbed every movement.
The swordsmen weren't relying on brute force. Every attack was precise—a perfect blend of speed, control, and adaptability. Their grips on the hilt were firm yet flexible, allowing them to seamlessly switch between offensive thrusts and defensive parries with near-instantaneous reaction times.
It wasn't just a duel; it was an art form.
Their wrist movements dictated the angle of the blade, their shoulders absorbed the shock of impact, and their hips controlled the direction of force—an impeccable synchronisation of the human body and the sword.
Rito felt his heartbeat accelerate.
'Damn, this is real swordsmanship.'
They weren't using any exaggerated movements or fancy flourishes like in anime. There was no wasted effort—only refined efficiency.
As the clash continued, Miyuki turned to her brother, curiosity in her gaze.
"Onii-sama, what do you think about their swordsmanship?"
Tatsuya, who had been watching with his usual unreadable expression, finally spoke.
"They're skilled," he admitted. "Their stance and footwork suggest they've trained in traditional kenjutsu, but their technique is purely practical—no lethal sword arts involved. Instead of aiming for a decisive killing blow, they're relying on adaptation and counters."
Miyuki nodded in understanding. "So, it's like a battle of reaction time?"
"More than that," Tatsuya continued. "They're reading each other's movements and breathing patterns, predicting attacks in real time. It's a test of instinct, discipline, and refinement—not brute strength or aggression."
Hearing this, Rito focused even more, his Level 3 observation skill kicking in like a floodgate breaking open.
Suddenly—
Images filled his mind.
A rush of information surged through him—flashes of martial arts techniques he had never learnt, movements he had never studied, yet somehow understood.
His mind synchronised the battle before him with the countless martial arts videos he had watched in the past. Every block, every pivot, every precise rotation of the wrist—his brain began decoding the fight in real time.
Then, without thinking, he muttered under his breath—
"...He's going to shift left for a feint... but the counter will come from the right, mid-section."
Miyuki's eyes flickered toward him, surprise evident on her face.
Tatsuya, too, turned to him with a sharp gaze.
A moment later—
It happened exactly as Rito had predicted.
One swordsman faked a leftward advance, causing his opponent to instinctively prepare a block. But in the last instant, he twisted right, aiming for an open mid-section strike—forcing the other swordsman to dodge in desperation.
Miyuki inhaled slightly. "He... "He predicted that?"
Tatsuya narrowed his eyes.
'No… That wasn't just a wild guess. His reaction time was instant.'
He had read the fight.
Just like a seasoned warrior.
And yet—Rito wasn't a trained swordsman.
Something about him was changing.
The swords clashed once more, the sound reverberating through the grand hall like thunder. Yet, Rito wasn't focused on the fight anymore. His mind was still processing what just happened.
He had predicted the move perfectly—as if his body and mind had long understood the flow of combat.
(That was... weird.)
He frowned slightly, still feeling the aftershocks of his Level 3 Observation syncing with his combat knowledge. It was a strange sensation, like instinctively recalling memories he never had.
Just then—
"You know swordsmanship?"
Tatsuya's deep voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Rito turned to face him, only to find both Tatsuya and Miyuki looking at him with mild interest. No, Tatsuya's gaze was sharper, as if he were analyzing every part of him.
Mikan, who had been too busy watching the match, only now realized that her brother had just casually predicted the movements of two master swordsmen.
"Eh? Rito... You know how to fight?"
Rito awkwardly waved his hands. "No, no! I just, uh, have a bit of interest in martial arts. You know, like watching videos and all. Nothing serious."
Tatsuya didn't respond immediately, but Rito could tell that he wasn't convinced. The way his piercing gaze lingered on him for a few seconds longer was enough proof.
Miyuki tilted her head slightly. "But you knew exactly what was going to happen... before it even happened."
"Yeah," Mikan added, crossing her arms. "Don't tell me you've been secretly training behind my back?"
Rito scratched his cheek. "Hahaha... It's just luck, I guess?"
Tatsuya still didn't break his gaze.
(Just luck, huh...)
A moment later, he finally looked back at the fight.
Miyuki, though still curious, didn't push further.
Mikan gave Rito a suspicious glance but let it go.
And just like that, the tension melted away.
But Rito knew.
(That guy didn't believe a single word I said.)
Even though Tatsuya didn't press him for details, Rito could feel that he had been marked—at least in Tatsuya's mind.
(Well... this might get troublesome.)
He sighed internally.
Meanwhile, his mind was still racing.
Something inside him was changing—no, awakening.
And he had no idea what it truly meant yet.
Rito exhaled slowly, forcing himself to relax, but deep inside, his thoughts were turbulent.
His Observation skill had just risen to Level 4 mid-battle, and now, every movement of the swordsmen felt even clearer—like a well-choreographed sequence he could read ahead of time.
[Observation (Lv. 3) → (Lv. 4)]Your ability to analyze movements and patterns has significantly improved.
It wasn't just theoretical knowledge anymore. His body seemed to react instinctively to what his eyes saw, as if an unseen force was guiding him.
Was this the true power of his Growth System?
Or… was it something deeper?
As Rito pondered, the battle in the arena reached its climax. The two swordsmen, now breathing heavily, locked eyes for one final exchange.
Their stances shifted ever so slightly—just a minor adjustment. But to Rito's heightened senses, it was obvious.
(One will go for a straight thrust. The other will counter with a rising diagonal slash...)
The thought appeared in his mind almost automatically.
And then—
It happened exactly as he predicted.
The crowd gasped as the swords clashed in mid-air, neither side giving way. But then, in an unexpected twist, both fighters stopped.
A moment of silence.
Then, they lowered their swords at the exact same time.
The battle had ended in a draw.
Rito blinked. (They... weren't going for a decisive finish?)
The audience murmured in surprise, but Tatsuya simply nodded as if he had expected it. Miyuki, too, seemed pleased rather than disappointed.
"They weren't fighting to win," she mused aloud.
Tatsuya confirmed her words. "It was a display of skill. Winning or losing wasn't the goal—refinement was."
Rito's fingers twitched. (So that's why... They were testing each other rather than aiming for a clean victory.)
Despite their incredible speed and power, neither swordsman had resorted to a killing technique. It was purely an exhibition of swordsmanship at its peak.
And yet—
Something felt off.
Rito closed his eyes for a moment, sorting through the information flooding his brain. His mind was still reacting to the battle, processing every move, every subtle motion—
—until suddenly, his body tensed.
His stamina, which should have been slightly drained from his heightened focus, was recovering faster than normal.
His mind felt clearer.
His breathing had steadied almost instantly.
A hidden shackle in your bloodline has slightly loosened.Effect: Stamina and Mana recovery has increased.
Rito's eyes widened slightly.
Mana?
For a second, he almost dismissed it as a mistake. He didn't have magic. At least, he had never used magic before.
And yet… his body was acting as if it recognized the concept of mana naturally.
(What the hell is happening to me…?)
Before he could dwell on it further, Fujibayashi suddenly spoke, a playful grin on her lips.
"Well, wasn't that interesting?" she mused, shifting her gaze between Rito and Tatsuya. "Looks like we have another promising talent here."
Rito tensed slightly.
Miyuki smiled. "Yes, it's impressive how well Rito-kun could follow the fight. Even I had trouble predicting some of those movements."
"Ahahaha…" Rito laughed nervously, scratching his cheek. "Like I said, just luck…"
Tatsuya didn't say anything. But his gaze?
It was sharp. Unwavering.
Rito knew Tatsuya didn't believe him.
(Damn it… Did I attract too much attention?)
The last thing he wanted was to be investigated by someone like Tatsuya Shiba—especially if magic was truly involved in this world.
But there was nothing he could do now.
For now, he had to pretend nothing was happening.
Even as his body slowly began to awaken.