Chapter 58

Leord, his fighting spirit ignited, stepped forward towards Beinard.

"Is it a sword this time! Good, entertain me!"

Beinard, facing Leord who had stepped into range, wore a fierce grin. Leord, in turn, slashed at the grinning Beinard, who bared his teeth.

The two swords clashed, producing a sharp, dry sound that continued without pause. Gradually, the intervals between the sounds grew shorter, indicating that both were increasing their sword speed.

"Hahahaha! Good swordsmanship! Who taught you this!"

Beinard, who seemed at ease, laughed loudly and asked Leord. However, Leord had no spare breath to answer, for even a moment's lapse in concentration would result in him being cut down by Beinard.

The wooden swords clashed with a sharp sound. Leord, using the sword techniques taught by Barbato, desperately tried to match Beinard, but Beinard still seemed to have plenty of room to spare, laughing joyfully.

Seeing Beinard's grin, Leord gritted his teeth in frustration, realizing that this was his limit.

Thus, while swinging his sword, Leord cast a spell without incantation—a soil magic spell he had practiced many times with Gilbert and Barbato.

"Huh!?"

Beinard, suddenly trapped in a pitfall, lost his balance. Leord, delighted that the pitfall had worked, launched a fierce attack on the off-balance Beinard.

"Quite an interesting strategy! However, there is an unbridgeable gap between you and me!"

The wooden sword Leord swung at the off-balance Beinard was deflected, and in return, Beinard's wooden sword pierced Leord's abdomen.

"Ugh... Gah...!?"

Leord, clutching his pierced abdomen, retreated, choking and glaring at Beinard in pain.

"Your trick just now was good. Mages tend to favor flashy spells, but yours was interesting. No, it was practical and excellent!"

Unaware of Leord's suffering, Beinard praised him. Leord, though flattered, glared at Beinard with resentment, thinking it was not the right time for compliments.

"Haha! Don't make such a scary face. I'm simply evaluating your fighting style."

Leord, finally able to breathe normally, repositioned his wooden sword and faced Beinard. Beinard, realizing that Leord's spirit was unbroken, smiled even more brightly.

"Indeed, a man must be like this!"

Leord approached the wooden sword-wielding Beinard, who looked pleased, and swung his sword. However, it was easily parried.

But Leord knew this from the start. Beinard was superior in strength, skill, and experience.

Therefore, Leord had to use all his strength and push himself to the limit. Because without doing so, he could never land a single blow.

"Aaaaaaaah!!!"

"Brute force is not good."

Leord, screaming like a madman, swung his sword with all his might, but it was ineffective against Beinard. Leord's sword skills were no match for Beinard's, as he well knew.

Thus, Leord did not hesitate to use any means necessary.

Leord began to chant to activate a spell that would risk his own life.

"O thunder that tears the sky, O black clouds that scorch the heavens, answer my call.

Pierce with a single ray of light, roar, thunder!"

"What!? An incantation!?"

"Stop it, young master!"

The incantation was already complete. The sky above, as if responding to Leord's incantation, changed from clear to overcast. Gilbert, the referee, tried to intervene, but Leord's spell name was already out of his mouth.

"Thunderbolt!!!"

Lightning struck, aiming to pierce Beinard.

Leord and Beinard, whose swords were still clashing, stepped back to avoid the Thunderbolt, and Beinard managed to avoid the direct hit due to his superhuman speed. However, Leord could not avoid it.

The spot where the Thunderbolt struck was enveloped in a cloud of dust, and Leord's condition was unknown. Beinard, realizing the situation was dire, rushed to check on Leord.

In the next instant, the ground beneath Beinard's feet gave way.

"Gotcha!!!"

Leord, who had been hiding in the dust, lunged forward with his sword.

"Excellent...!

But still too weak!"

Beinard, twisting his body forcefully, avoided the thrust. However, his balance was still off. Leord, seizing the perfect opportunity, launched a follow-up attack.

"Uaaaaaaaah!"

He attacked Beinard fiercely, but all his strikes were deflected. Realizing that this approach was ineffective, Leord considered other options. He decided to use magic in addition to his sword to attack Beinard.

"Truly remarkable! But still immature! You are weak! Learn the world, Leord Harvest!"

Beinard, regaining his balance, knocked Leord's wooden sword away. Beinard then advanced on the weaponless Leord, who fired Aqua Spears at him, but Beinard dodged them all.

(Not yet...!

This can't end yet!

I need just one hit. I must land it!)