479 Chapter 479: Stop calling her incompeten (1/2)

Cackling wildly, Nirvana swung her blazing mace at Melina, intent on smashing her arms. Her strike was fierce and swift, meant to overpower her opponent before she could react. After all, from what Nirvana knew, Melina was a poor swordswoman. She was talented at magic, but that only meant something when she was at range.

In close combat, Nirvana was confident of crushing Melina. She hadn't got the skills for swordsmanship, after all…

Clang!

”…eh?!”

To Nirvana's complete surprise, Melina parried her mace and knocked her back in one, fluid strike. The blond swordswoman stared at her stunned opponent with a cool, unwavering gaze, refusing to falter. Nirvana clumsily tumbled onto the ground with a huge crash, ending up in an undignified heap.

At that moment, everyone froze. Except Adrian. He seized the chance to break out of the encirclement and withdraw to a safe distance. Of all the duelists on the battlefield, he alone was aware of Melina's skill with the blade, and was unsurprised. While Nirvana's teammates spun around to stare at their fallen leader, he tackled one of them and knocked her to the ground, his Sakura petals cutting her into pieces.

Well, not really. The boundary field was in place to preserve her life, but it was clear that at least one of the members in the opposing team had been successfully eliminated while they were distracted. This was why you don't underestimate your enemy and let your guard down, kids…

Fergus Franklin grinned and pumped his fist into the air.

”That's my girl!” he cheered. Beside him, his father-in-law's jaw dropped in shock as he struggled to comprehend what had just happened. I don't know what the deal was with him – were you really that surprised that your granddaughter could fight with a sword? Then again, almost the whole Franklin family had been against Melina learning the sword because…apparently she had no talent for it. Who were these idiots to judge whether someone had talent for swordsmanship or not? Why were they to judge whether someone deserved to learn swordsmanship or not?

I couldn't help but feel gratified at the awe and astonishment on all the spectators' faces. Apparently they had bought into the dumb rumors and never expected Melina to wield a sword proficiently.

Beside me, Miura and Rossetti were also amazed.

”My, my.” Miura's lip curled into a smile and she nodded at me, impressed. ”It seems like your teaching has paid off, after all.”

Assuming a sword stance, Melina prepared to fight back against her opponent, who was still sitting on the ground, astounded.

For a moment, Nirvana didn't move. Then she forced a sneer and slowly got to her feet, her aura blazing fiercely once more.

”Heh! What are you getting your hopes up for? You parried my attack only once. That's just a fluke!”

Melina watched her for a moment, and almost looked as if she was going to sigh.

”You're not attacking?” she asked.

”Eh?”

Nirvana stared at her dumbly, but before she knew it, Melina had vanished from sight. The blond swordswoman was already at her flank, her sword flashing upward in a deadly arc and toward her blind spot. Nirvana spun around in reflex, realizing the danger, but she was too slow to react. Melina's sword caught her in the shoulder and slashed a wound open, sending up a spray of blood.

”Argh!”

Shrieking, Nirvana staggered backward, still uncomprehending. Melina didn't wait for her to recover and mercilessly pointed her sword at her staggering foe.

”Yes!” I cheered, clenching my fist in excitement. ”Take that! This is why you should stop calling her incompetent! Watch them both, all of you! They will show you that you can't judge anyone on talent or whatever nonsense!”

Miura chuckled. ”You're really invested in your disciples, aren't you?”

”That's the point of being a master,” I replied as I leaned back, calming down. ”The privilege to be proud of their achievements. But…it's not over yet.”

Indeed, Melina was still attacking as ferociously as she could, thrusting her sword and slashing at Nirvana. The latter was now on the defensive, desperately parrying and blocking whatever attacks the former was throwing at her. Cuts marked her body, blood dripping from her wounds and perspiration trickling down her pale face when she realized how outmatched she really was – by someone she had disregarded as inferior to her in close combat.

It was so satisfying to see her eat humble pie.

The duel was now dictated by Melina, who was setting the pace. She raised her sword up high for a mighty swing, and once again Nirvana brought her mace up to block the blade with her thick, heavy shaft.

However, Melina didn't swing her sword down and instead kicked Nirvana from below, her foot landing squarely on the latter's gut and sending her crashing down into the ground.

Oh boy. She learned that trick from me, didn't she? I couldn't help but grin. Melina had pulled off the perfect feint attack, drawing her opponent's attention elsewhere and creating an opening, through which she launched her real attack.

”Kuh!”

Lying on the ground, Nirvana glared at Melina. Her fingers curled into a fist as she lay sprawled on the ground, still unable to believe what was transpiring.

”Why…?”

Forcing herself from the ground, Nirvana lost herself to anger, swinging her mace with everything she had. Her crimson mana exploded, ending dirt and soil into the air.

”YOOOOOU!”

Screaming, Nirvana launched herself at Melina. But the blond swordswoman merely swung her sword and blew the cloud of dust that Nirvana herself had caused right into her opponent's face.

”?!”

Nirvana stumbled past a deftly dodging Melina, blinded and gagging from the sand that had landed on her face. Some of it had gotten into her mouth and she was desperately coughing it out. Wiping at her eyes and spitting frantically, Nirvana fumbled around.

”Ack! Bleh! What…?!”

Melina didn't answer verbally and instead slashed her opponent with her sword. The power from her blow was so strong that it sent Nirvana hurtling several meters away, leaving a trail of blood in the air. Nirvana's momentum continued to send her skidding across the rocky ground, her body bouncing up and down like a broken doll. She only stopped when she crashed into a broken outcrop, cracking the solid rock and sending shattered stone raining down on her slumped body.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then the spectators began murmuring amongst themselves, chattering excitedly about what they had just seen.

”That…that child…she's really good!”

”Her swordsmanship is excellent!”