Episode 42.14-15 (1/2)
”Guess I'm done here.”
As Lecan was about to leave, Haydent called him.
”Lecan-dono. You may take one item Solusgia-dono has on him.”
”Ah, yeah, we're doing that.”
Lecan approached Solusgia lying on the ground. Medics and priests are already running toward him.
Curious about the necklace, Lecan appraised it and found out it had <Self Recovery (Small)> Grace. However it has a usage limit, and the Grace has already lost its power.
The <Box> Solusgia had turned out to really be <Free Box>. With a surprisingly large capacity.
”Haydent. I'll take the <Free Box> on his left waist. Deliver it to me once the content's been taken out.”
Haydent looked at the medics and priests tending Solusgia before turning back at Lecan and gave his affirmation.
Then just as Lecan turned around, a voice resounded.
”Lecan-dono!”
It's Heles.
”Lecan-dono. Will you be so kind as to have a match with me?”
”What? You and me?”
”Yes. That's right.”
Haydent interrupted them here.
”Lady Heles. What is your reason to challenge Lecan-dono in a duel?”
”No, it's not a duel. It's a practice match. Lecan-dono is my master. I would like to show him my growth thus far.”
A troubled Haydent looked at Lecan.
”I see. In that case, I'm down. Haydent, I'm gonna borrow the arena for a bit.”
Solusgia was moved elsewhere, Haydent returned to audience seats, and Lecan was left only with Heles in the arena.
”<Deploy>!”
”<Deploy>!”
The two deployed <Shield of Wolkan> in the same breath.
A faint smile came up on Heles's face.
Heles clad her sword in mana, walked up to Lecan like a breeze of wind before unleashing a diagonal downward slash.
(Nicely done slash.)
Lecan blocked the slash with his shield and let out a diagonal downward slash as well.
Heles blocked it with her shield. However, she immediately twisted the shield the instance Lecan's blade touched it, parrying the slash away. At the same time, she made her sword slid up Lecan's shield toward Lecan's left chest.
Lecan swiftly spun to the right, beat back Heles's sword with his shield, then he spun his body in the opposite direction and slashed his sword down from overhead at Heles.
Heles daringly stepped forward toward that slash, and mowed her sword from left to right as she blocked the slash with her shield.
Lecan nimbly leaped backward to dodge the attack.
(She's making use of her body elasticity well.)
(Quite an adaptive fighting style.)
The two continued exchanging blows for a while.
There was zero hesitation in Heles's sword. It's a truly straight and free swordsmanship. Her strikes hold terrifying power behind them. Likely far outclass Solusgia. Solusgia failed to assess Heles's strength as a mid dungeon conqueror due to him looking down on her as being woman. Though he had no way of knowing she also got an extra boost from 10,000 spiders either.
(Come to think of it, this is the first time I got to see Heles's skill after the conquest.)
Even Lecan found himself surprised when he blocked a direct attack from Heles with his shield. Heles's swordsmanship has gone even further than the last time they fought together in that dungeon. A flexible, elegant and powerful swordsmanship.
Lecan kept getting more and more impressed by her growth as he took every strike she unleashed.
(Would be nice to dive in a dungeon together with her someday.)
The seemingly everlasting exchange of swords saw an abrupt end.
Heles stopped attacking and bowed at Lecan as she was catching up with her breath.
”I'm still no match for you after all. Lecan-dono. You have my gratitude.”
”Yea. You've really improved. Pretty impressive.”
Heles showed him her best smile yet then, but Lecan noticed a glimmer of tear on the edge of her eye.
(Is she hurt somewhere?)