The protagonist of Yo-Ma Great War 2, the King of Swords, Leo Arpeta, changed his combat method depending on the sword he wielded.
It was the same in reality.
âThe balance between attack and defense, speed, accuracy, and power are really exquisitely balanced⊠He has the ability to grab the perfect sword by testing the opponentâs ability while not even knowing about his detailed characteristics.â
At that moment, he had chosen a classic sword that was so lightweight that he could swiftly attack with it.
No matter how strong Evan was, Leo overpowered him. All of his attacks were eerily accurate. Evan couldnât afford to let down his guard even a little, or he would have been hurt in no time.
âYou dodge well! Then, shall we try to go a little faster?â
âWhat theâŠUgh!â
Leo was constantly using his sword and talking as Evan moved without hesitation, making a breathless sound whenever he got attacked.
Evan wanted to compliment himself for taking Leoâs full momentum head-on, and for moving and twisting his body continually, which was even more amazing than he had expected of himself originally.
âHow is this guy able to dodge meâŠ?â
At first, Leo used his sword lightly enough to try Evan, but now he was becoming even more and more excited. Every time Evan dodged or blocked his sword, Leo increased the speed of the attacks. It was getting more and more difficult for Evan to respond to such velocity!
And surprisingly to everyone around him and himself too, he was regularly avoiding them!
âHow many slimes could he have crushed at this young age? No, itâs not just his movements that seem fast. His vision combined with his speed of reaction has an outstanding sense of harmony ⊠I canât even guess what the source of the techniques he is using. What is it? Where on earth did this guy come up with such a funny technique?â
Leo Arpeta threw his sword in the utmost excitement. Everyone screamed.
âWellâŠ.!â
But what was even more unbelievable was Evanâs response.
Everyone thought the flying sword would inflict a deep wound without fail, but Evanâs purple eyes were shining brightly, and his body twisted strangely. He was able to dodge the trajectory of the sword successfully.
âWhat⊠!â
âHow!â
Eventually, Leoâs black sword passed right above Evanâs head. Several strands of his hair fluttered in the air as he triumphantly avoided the sword.
âIt looks like the battle is good enough. Keep going!â
âNo, stop!â
The legendary warrior didnât listen to any of the shouts coming from the others. Leo, who had fallen in love with Evanâs movements, increased his attacking speed to the next level. He was now fiercely pushing Evan to the edge of his abilities.
However, even more, surprising was the fact that Evan was equally responding somehow.
âI donât know for sure, but isnât that dangerous?â
âHuh, Leo might be feeling very excited. Itâs been a while since he has moved that much himself.â
When it was finally becoming hard to even find the shadow of Leoâs sword, Bernard started to get worried and tried to ask Aria. However, she was busy laughing at the whole scene.
They were a good couple in general, but that didnât help in the current situation. Bernard looked at Illoin this time with a disgusted expression. The woman in question was deeply focused on the battle between the two.
âThe way he is using his fists⊠It is assisting his movements by shaking the atmosphere with magical power. It looks like he has also achieved some strength in the realm of martial arts. He also has a unique power born in the dungeon, presented by God, that only humans can achieve after they have ventured there⊠Itâs awesome how has he been able to grow so strong at that ageâŠâ
This commentary didnât help at all. Bernard was skeptical of his former colleagues, and now his disciple was about to die!
âLetâs go faster. Faster!â
âIâm really going to die!â
Evan was screaming by now.
Using the mana dominance and the power of the weight of his mana, he could somehow put weight on Leoâs sword to slow it down or push his body with the power of mana to force himself to avoid the sword. He had to employ various movements to keep himself from getting killed!
âOoh!â
âShit!â
Even Leo, who was enjoying the battle, found a gap and pierced his fist through without being bored, ensuring Evan wouldnât be able to relax even for a bit.
It was a little scary when he thought about how far Evan would be able to achieve later, but right now, he was enjoying the battle.
âWow⊠!â
âHa! This guyâs physical strength is amazing. He has enough guts, very good! There is nothing lacking!â
The battle, supposed to end in less than a minute, had already exceeded the 5 minutes mark and was getting closer to 10 minutes. Evan was fighting by pushing the limits of his physical strength against a super legend like Leo.
âItâs really impossible now!â
âNo, I think youâre still fine as long as youâre struggling!â
âI hate you all!â
However, Grandpaâs judgment was correct. Evan was able to endure Leo for one more minute only.
Even though Leo tried to go a step further with every passing second, Evan never let himself be attacked in any way.
âHuh, look at him!â
Rather, Evan gathered energy in his left fist at the last moment, which formed the shape of a sharp knife blade, even scrambling for Leoâs neck.
Leoâs basic defense was so high that there were no scars that got left behind, but Evan was the winner in terms of the number of effective hits alone.
At that moment, Leo, who had finally been hit by Evan, smiled and tried to reach out to his other sword at an even faster pacing. Bernard screamed and stopped him.
âThatâs it! Leo, are you really going to kill my disciple!â
âUh, sorry. After being attacked, I reached out for it instinctivelyâŠâ
âAhhhhhh!â
As soon as Bernard broke in and declared the match to end, Evan fell onto the ground. After the battle was over, a great feeling of fatigue overcame him. He couldnât even lift a finger.
âLord, let me die. My heart might burst any minute.â
âYou just fought with me, and your skills have improved. Youâve become faster too.â
âOf course my skills would improve⊠I just fought a legend like youâŠâ
All skills, including non-skills, grew faster from learning with a stronger person. And the stronger Evan fought, the faster he grew.
Evan had just fought a total of seven minutes with the strongest man in the world. However, it was strange that his skill didnât grow as much as he had expected.
âI donât know, but hasnât the 2nd level risen enough?â Evan thought, still lying in that place.
âUh, wait a minute. Then, isnât it that if I enter the Bathhouse now, I can get this training effect more properly applied?â
When he thought about it, Evan forgot the pain in the whole body and jumped up. It was unfair that he was forced to fight like this!
âGrandpa, Iâll be going to the Bathhouse. I shall be taking my leave.â
âWhat bathhouse?â
âThere is a Brotherhood Bathhouse that I made together with Grandpa Bernard. You know, like the ones in Steama, the hot spring village. It is better than those, I bet.â
Leoâs eyes sparkled at the words that it was better than Steama Hot Springs.
âOh, how did you make such a thing again? No, do not explain. Oh, do it, I donât know. Anyway, okay, letâs go together!â
âWithout a doubt, the dungeon city of Sherden has really improved to live in, and such facilities have been created! Illoin, are you going to go with us?â
âYes, Iâm willing.â
Evanâs expression hardened in an instant, but it seemed that the party had already made up their mind to go to the Bathhouse.
Eventually, he had no choice but to resign and head to the Brotherhood Bathhouse with them. The news that they were going to the bathhouse spread through the dungeon city residents in just a few minutes, making them follow in their footstepsâŠ
Fortunately, they were able to enjoy a quiet bath thanks to the Marquisâ soldiers and knights, who blocked the rest of the people.
âOkay, then letâs start.â
âWhat are you talking about? Do you want to talk about my disciple?â
âDonât think about making Evan your disciple. Heâs a child who canât learn swordsmanship.â
After dissolving fatigue and pain in the Bathhouseâs water, the party returned and sat around the table, refreshed and in a light mood once again.
The reason they had gathered here was obvious.
âWe need to focus on the Mahwa variant, the Mahwa variant! You came all the way here to tell me about it, didnât you?â
âOh, yeah. I was so shocked by Evanâs performance that I forgot for a moment.â
âI understand that, too⊠â
âNo, you donât.â
Even though the situation had reached this point, Evan was still insisting on the point that he was weak. But in fact, he had no reason to believe that. Maybe Leo didnât notice, and Bernard seemed to be forgetting tooâŠ
âI was clearly wearing the boots before.â
Evan hadnât taken off his boots even amid battle because he was afraid that Leo would tease him wrongly and maybe even kill him.
His stats had dropped in half. He had been able to improve his whole body and didnât die!
âGrandpa Bernard is so proud of me, that I was able to match Grandpa Leoâs strength. Or did Grandpa Leoâs skills deteriorate a bit after a lot of heyday?â
When Evan fought him, Leo would deliberately move slowly in line with Evan, but even then, Evan thought that the movement was a little slow for the strongest man who had defeated the Demon King.
However, Leo couldnât help it, either. He had gotten way older and thus was past his real prime.
âHow great is it to be so strong at the age of 70?â
Evan convinced himself in that way and nodded. He felt more eager to practice now.
âI have to start getting in shape too if I donât want to be left behind by your new student.â
On the other hand, Leo did not even know that Evan thought of such cheeky thoughts and was saying such a thing joyfully.
âAfter fighting him in person, I saw a lot of things I wanted to teach Evan. You can apply the tricks of swordsmanship to your fighting skills, and you can also improve your body movements and combat skills. I will definitely teach you while staying in the dungeon city.â
â⊠Alright, then do whatever you want. If you donât give permission, the story wonât start.â
âIâll have to go the Church, of course.â As expected, Leo climbed up like a veteran protagonist and won the position of Evanâs teacher.
âIf thatâs settled then, letâs talk about the Mahwa variant. HmmâŠâ
Leo coughed and made an earnest expression. There was a feeling that it was already too late, but the words flowing from his mouth were shocking enough.
âThey started targeting the dungeon, Bernard. If the Mahwa Flower starts to bloom inside itâŠWe might lose everything.â
To Evanâs ears, it sounded like a new death sign.