Estimated reading time: ~4 minutes
Chapter 61
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As soon as I leave her manor, I arrive at Ashley’s training hall.
「Both of you, stand a bit further apart. And no using skills or magic, alright?」
Anon reminds us of the rules, then announces, 「Okay, begin!」 signaling the start of our match.
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Ashley is cautious.
Although we’re both Holy Knights, our combat styles differ.
I don’t use a shield, relying solely on my sword for both offense and defense. My defense consists of evasion and parrying with my blade, so I don’t need a shield.
In contrast, Ashley is equipped with a wooden sword and a large steel training shield. The shield is made of steel and stands as tall as a woman.
Judging by her stance and equipment, she’s likely the type to defend patiently and strike when her opponent slips up.
I’m the unconventional Holy Knight, while Ashley represents the more standard style.
Her eyes, partially hidden behind the shield, are sharp, revealing a strong determination not to miss any openings.
Enough with the slow approach. I’ll attack first!
「Haaa!」 I shout, swinging my wooden sword down from above—but it’s blocked by her shield.
Of course it’s blocked. It’s a huge shield, after all.
Well then, I’ve got two strategies to overcome Ashley’s great shield—let’s try the first one.
The first strategy to overcome Ashley’s great shield is speed.
Speed, speed, pure and simple speed.
Let’s kick it up a notch.
I start by hammering her shield with a relentless barrage of strikes.
The wooden sword clatters against the shield repeatedly.
Her eyes, peeking out from behind the shield, are vigilantly watching for a chance to counterattack.
And it happens right after my barrage—just as I deliver an especially strong upward strike to her shield, intending to create some distance.
Ashley exposes more than half of her body and thrusts forward.
It’s an incredibly troublesome attack from my perspective.
It comes at the exact moment I’m catching my breath, while I’m blinking, and it’s a perfect thrust that minimizes my ability to perceive it.
It’s Ashley’s masterful, seemingly unavoidable counterattack.
Just as I think, 「I’m about to get stabbed!」 I manage to thrust my wooden sword upwards at the last second, killing the momentum of her attack and narrowly avoiding disaster.
「Phew,」 I exhale as I create some distance.
Next, I need a strategy to counter Ashley’s counterattacks.
That strategy is a series of rapid strikes combined with high-speed movement that doesn’t allow her to predict my location. I charge at her again as she stands firm with her shield.
Tak-tak-tak-tak—my wooden sword chips away at the great shield—tak-tak-tak—never standing still in the same spot.
I move from one blind spot to another.
But Ashley skillfully evades all of my attacks.
However, I notice that her seemingly impenetrable guard is slowly beginning to show signs of weakness.
Ashley lets out a pained grunt.
If I keep increasing my speed and unpredictability, I should be able to break through her guard.
「Is this good enough for the esteemed Holy Knight?」 I taunt.
Of course, she must realize that she’s at a disadvantage if this continues.
But—
「This is far from enough!!」 she yells, thrusting her shield forward and sending me flying.
「As expected of Holy Knight Ashley.」
She’s like something out of a joke, having fought those three on equal terms all by herself.
It won’t be easy to defeat her with half-hearted efforts.
In that case, it’s time for my second strategy to overcome Ashley.
And that is—
「Strength is the true power」 he mutters.
I call it the 『Strength is Power Strategy.』
To execute this admittedly dumb plan, I crouch low, kick off the ground, and leap in front of her great shield in a single bound.
Then, using all the momentum I gained from kicking off the ground, I slam the hilt of my wooden sword into her shield.
「What?!」 Ashley cries out in shock.
I’ve just punched through Ashley’s steel great shield.
And in this short time, I’ve come to understand that Ashley isn’t the type to give up so easily.
I grab the section I’ve broken through, lift the shield—and Ashley along with it—vertically into the air, and—
「Hiyaaa!」
I slam it down onto the ground in one swift motion.
Seeing Ashley lying on the ground with her eyes spinning, Anon comes running over with a panicked look on his face.
It’s the signal that the match has ended.
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