Chapter 94: The Sword Domain and a Key
"Be careful, Rovel," Fu Hua warned, her tone sharp and focused. "According to Schicksal's data archives, this is the most powerful type of Death Soldier ever recorded."
"Understood. I'll be careful." The words had barely left Rovel's lips when the High-Level Ninja Death Soldier across from him vanished.
In the next instant, two katanas were screaming toward him, their twin arcs of silver light moving even faster than his own Battōjutsu.
At the same level, a Death Soldier's attributes were double that of a human. The one before him was level 40, which meant Rovel was effectively facing a level 80 opponent who had also achieved Minor Accomplishment in Kendo.
It was no wonder Fu Hua had been so insistent. A foe of this caliber was far beyond what any ordinary person could hope to handle.
Rovel raised his sword, the clang of steel on steel ringing through the simulation space. The sheer force of the impact was immense, a brutal shock that traveled up his arms and sent him flying backward.
The Death Soldier gave him no time to recover, immediately blurring into motion to press its advantage. Rovel's feet hit the ground, and he skidded for several meters before grinding to a halt, his boots carving grooves into the floor.
But it was too late. The Death Soldier's next strike was already upon him.
"True Shadow Flash: First Form."
Rovel's figure dissolved from its spot. In its place, three identical figures appeared, surrounding the Death Soldier from three different directions.
The machine paused, its programming clearly struggling to process the sudden development. For a split second, it couldn't determine which of the three was the real Rovel.
The three shadows lunged in perfect unison.
But the Death Soldier's reaction was inhumanly fast. With a fluid twist, it used its twin blades to intercept the attacks from two directions. The moment its katanas made contact, it unleashed a counter-strike that shattered both shadows, causing them to dissipate like smoke.
It then pivoted, swinging its remaining blade toward the only target left—the real Rovel.
"True Shadow Flash: Second Form - Return!"
The scattered remnants of the two broken shadows instantly re-converged, their ethereal forms coalescing into a tangible force that slammed through the Death Soldier's body, knocking it high into the air.
Two damage numbers popped from above its head.
"She's as strong as advertised," Rovel muttered, letting out a long, steadying breath. "I almost didn't react in time."
In his current state, a single clean hit from that thing would likely be the end of him.
He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, the world had changed. He had activated Tai Xu Sword Intent. In an instant, every possible attack pattern, every subtle shift in the Death Soldier's posture, every potential trajectory became crystal clear in his mind.
Rovel broke into a sprint, heading directly for the Death Soldier's projected landing point.
Though it had been launched into the air, the machine was not helpless. It twisted its body with impossible agility, swinging both katanas down at the approaching Rovel on the ground.
"Too many openings."
Rovel whispered the classic, chuunibyou line, a faint smile on his lips. He then leaped high into the air, his body dissolving into a cascade of afterimages.
"Basic Kendo: Consecutive Slash!"
'Weakness Attack.''Sword Qi Attachment.''Weakness Attack.' 'Sword Qi Attachment.'
A storm of steel descended upon the Death Soldier. In a single stunning instant, dozens of damage numbers erupted from its body, each one marking a perfectly placed strike against a vital point.
Rovel landed softly, his feet barely making a sound. With a calm, fluid motion, he returned the Prototype Pulse Katana to its sheath and deactivated Tai Xu Sword Intent. Only then did he allow himself another long exhale.
[Defeated High-Level Ninja Death Soldier. Obtained 6,000 EXP. (EXP gain reduced by 80% in data simulation.)]
[Used Basic Kendo to defeat High-Level Ninja Death Soldier. Skill proficiency +2000.]
[Location Bonus: 'Combat Simulation Training Space'. Additional skill proficiency +2000!]
[Basic Kendo (White) · Minor Accomplishment (100,000/100,000). Proficiency maxed. Promoting to next stage.]
[Basic Kendo (White) · Great Accomplishment (1,000/1,000,000).]
[Basic Kendo (White) · Great Accomplishment Additional Effect: Sword Domain.]
[Sword Domain: A passive field generated by the perfect fusion of the user's will, Sword Qi, and comprehended Sword Intent. Within this domain, Sword Qi, Sword Intent, and sword techniques achieve a state of harmonious unity.]
[Effect: Within the domain, the physical and mental burden of using Sword Intent and advanced sword techniques is significantly reduced. Multiple Sword Intents can be activated simultaneously. Note: Activating multiple Sword Intents will exponentially increase the burden!]
How should he put it? It seemed... decent.
The upgrade didn't bring him a jolt of surprise. It wasn't something entirely new, but rather a completion—a refinement of what he already possessed.
Even so, it represented another significant boost to his strength. The power that Tai Xu Sword Intent granted him was already immense. It gave him observational skills that bordered on precognition and allowed him to control his own body to an almost unimaginable degree.
Under normal circumstances, Rovel could manage a Triple Slash at best.
But with the support of Tai Xu Sword Intent, he could execute a Ten Consecutive Slash, or perhaps even more. Every ounce of strength, every contracting muscle, every precise angle of his blade was under his perfect command.
To put it bluntly, if he were to face a version of himself who also possessed Tai Xu Sword Intent while he himself did not, he would be killed instantly.
That was the gap.
"What's wrong?" Rovel asked, looking at Fu Hua in confusion. He had just noticed that she was staring at him, her gaze sharp and intense.
"Your... your Sword Intent..."
Fu Hua's brow furrowed. She glanced at Rovel, then lowered her head in thought for a moment before shaking it slightly.
"It's nothing."
Rovel tilted his head. Though he found her reaction strange, he didn't press the issue.
Fu Hua's current identity was a sensitive one. As one of the pieces Otto had placed on the board at St. Freya Academy, there were many things she couldn't speak of openly. She still had Shenzhou to consider, and for the sake of its peace, she had to bear this burden alone.
After they left the combat simulation training room, Fu Hua seemed somewhat absent-minded.
"I can explore St. Freya on my own from here," Rovel said, taking the initiative. "I won't trouble you any further, Fu Hua. If you have time later, please let me treat you to a meal as thanks for your help."
"Uh... sorry," Fu Hua said, rubbing her temples as if shaking off a deep thought. She looked slightly apologetic. "I seem to have been a bit distracted."
"It's okay. Well then... I'll see you later." Rovel waved goodbye to her and then began to wander through the academy grounds on his own.
'Right,'Rovel suddenly remembered.'I still have one spin left on the Random Lucky Wheel.'
The items he had received the last two times had been nothing short of extraordinary: one was Elysia's Crystal Flower, and the other was a Honkai Beast factor named "Taiyi."
He focused his thoughts. 'System, use my spin on the Random Lucky Wheel.'
[System Prompt: You have one opportunity for the Random Lucky Wheel. Do you wish to use it?]
The moment he confirmed, a spectral wheel of light materialized before him and began to spin, colors blurring into a vibrant ring.
Then, just as quickly as it started, it stopped.
[Congratulations! You have obtained the item: Key of Domination: Xuanyuan Sword!]
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