Two Strikes

“Tyr, let’s duel.”

On the drill grounds, Instructor Tina had just announced free practice when Silas blocked Tyr’s path.

“You broke through the first layer of the 《Sword Qi Body Tempering Technique》?”

Tyr looked at Silas in surprise. He could clearly sense the sharp aura radiating from Silas's body.

“That’s right.”

Silas looked at Tyr solemnly. He felt that this was his only chance to ever surpass Tyr.

He had begun practicing the 《Sword Qi Body Tempering Technique》 earlier than Tyr, so he was bound to break through the first layer first. This was his only opportunity to get the upper hand.

During their recent training in the Sword Prison, he had fully witnessed how monstrous Tyr's talent was.

If he didn't seize this opportunity to defeat Tyr, he felt that Tyr would only pull further and further ahead of him in the future.

“Again? Seriously, I was the one who saved you from your sister's sword the other day.”

To be honest, Tyr didn't want to fight Silas. His opponent was simply too weak.

Dueling Silas wouldn't give him any constructive feedback; it was a complete waste of time.

“That's a separate matter.”

After being saved by Tyr that day, all of Silas's resentment and indignation toward him had completely vanished.

But his desire to defeat Tyr remained unchanged. He wanted to win, just once.

“Alright.”

Seeing Silas's expression, Tyr knew that this fight was unavoidable.

But this was also a good opportunity to showcase his strength to everyone, so that no one would bother him again in the future.

Once Tyr agreed, the two of them squared off on the drill grounds.

Their impending duel naturally drew the attention of the other reserves on the drill grounds. They stopped what they were doing and gathered around the two.

“How long do you think Silas can last against Tyr this time?”

“It might be different this time. Silas seems to have broken through to the first layer of the 《Sword Qi Body Tempering Technique》. If Tyr hasn't broken through yet, he'll have a hard time breaching Silas's defense.”

“Has Tyr broken through the first layer of the 《Sword Qi Body Tempering Technique》? Does anyone know?”

At this, everyone shook their heads in unison. Tyr finished his morning training far too quickly.

Whenever Tyr left, they were all still in the middle of their training. No one had actually seen what stage Tyr's 《Sword Qi Body Tempering Technique》 had reached.

Probably only the instructors in the Sword Prison knew.

Inside the ring, Silas circulated his magic power through his entire body. A faint, greenish-blue aura drifted across his skin, exuding a sharp, piercing intent.

“Watch out.”

Silas let out a low shout and lunged toward Tyr like an arrow released from a bowstring.

His eyes were locked onto Tyr's legs. Silas knew very well that Tyr's bizarre footwork would be his greatest obstacle to victory.

Having fought Tyr several times before, Silas had fully experienced the dread of that footwork. Even though Tyr stood right in front of him, no matter how hard Silas tried, he could never land a hit.

Tyr's movements were too nimble. Forget landing a blow on his body, Silas hadn't even been able to touch the hem of Tyr's clothes.

After learning his lessons the hard way, Silas realized that if he wanted to defeat Tyr, he had to neutralize his footwork first.

But this time, Tyr had absolutely no intention of dodging. He assumed a stance as a surge of greenish-blue magic power rose from his body.

Immediately after, wisps of sword light began to manifest across his skin.

Silas's pupils shrank. That was the hallmark of breaking through the first layer of the 《Sword Qi Body Tempering Technique》.

But at this point, the arrow was already on the string. He had already charged right in front of Tyr and had no time to overthink. He slashed his wooden sword toward Tyr.

Tyr simply tossed aside his wooden sword. Striking second but arriving first, he thrust his palm upward.

【Baji • Sky-Reaching Palm】

Silas only felt a heavy impact slam into his chin. His slightly crouched body was instantly forced upright by Tyr's strike, leaving him staring up at the sky above the Sword Prison.

But it wasn't over yet. Tyr took a step forward with his right leg, raised his left hand to grab the hand Silas held the sword with, pulled Silas toward him, and drove his right elbow forward with explosive force while releasing his left grip.

【Baji • Liangyi Strike】

“Bam!”

A dull thud echoed from Silas's chest, and he was sent flying backward even faster than he had charged.

He tumbled across the ground, rolling several times before finally coming to a stop, unable to get back up for a long time.

In truth, Tyr's very first move had already dazed Silas. The subsequent elbow strike was just a little extra gift.

“Actually, I broke through the first layer of the 《Sword Qi Body Tempering Technique》 a month ago.”

Tyr walked over to Silas and spoke as he looked down at him staring blankly at the sky. He wasn't sure if Silas was in any state to hear him.

After Tyr turned and walked away, the reserves watching on the drill grounds instantly erupted into a frenzy.

“Two strikes, and it’s over?”

“Is that the point? Didn't you hear Tyr say he broke through the first layer of the 《Sword Qi Body Tempering Technique》 a month ago? What kind of monster is he?”

“Silas has nothing to be ashamed of in this loss.”

“Well, at least he did better than that Bloodthirsty Magic Wolf pup from the other day. He managed to last two strikes against Tyr.”

“Look closer. Silas was already knocked completely upright by the very first move.”

“And Tyr didn't even use a sword.”

“Total domination.”

Silas could no longer hear the chatter on the drill grounds. At this moment, his mind was completely filled with Tyr's palm strike, which had almost made him bite his own tongue.

He was clearly the one who swung his sword first. Why did Tyr's palm hit his chin first?

“Can you still get up?”

Letitia walked over to Silas and reached out a hand to pull him up.

Silas grabbed Letitia's hand, but just as she pulled, he suddenly felt a sharp, stabbing pain.

“Hiss—”

Releasing Letitia's hand, Silas rolled over and scrambled to his feet on his own, using both his hands and knees.

Pulling open his shirt, Silas saw a deep, dark bruise on his chest.

“That was one hell of a hit.”

Barry walked over, looked at the bruise on Silas's chest, and grimaced.

Before Tyr arrived, the three of them had been the top contenders in the Sword Prison. Since Silas and Letitia were siblings, Barry had always been suppressed, which made him feel quite frustrated.

Ever since Tyr's arrival, the three of them had been forced onto the same side. Yet, even when they teamed up, they still got pinned to the ground and beaten, which was even more depressing.

“By the way, what exactly is that strange fighting style of his? I've never seen anything like it.”

As the son of a Count, Barry considered himself quite well-traveled and knowledgeable since childhood. He had seen many martial artists, but none in his memory bore any resemblance to Tyr.

“Is that the point? Didn't you hear him say he broke through the first layer of the 《Sword Qi Body Tempering Technique》 a month ago? We'll never be able to beat him in the future.”

This defeat had completely snapped Silas back to reality.