Chapter 67. Neighbor (3)

Thud - Thud.

Yuri's face was filled with a smile as she lightly stretched her body.

'What good luck.'

She had only expressed a little dissatisfaction with the once-a-week sparring sessions for a year, and the other party had even put up points on their own.

And it was a huge amount of 10,000 points per session.

'Hmm, should I have tried to haggle? If they were willing to start at 10,000 points, maybe I could have gotten more out of them?'

Yuri was annoyed with herself for making such a beginner's mistake by immediately agreeing out of sheer joy.

But such self-criticism was short-lived.

Yuri grinned again.

'With this, I can escape being a pauper!'

Yuri, who had used up all her points in the last special sale, had only 150 points left.

Despite feeling bitter about her empty pockets, she couldn't help but be delighted with the sudden 10,000-point commission.

If Theresa hadn't been watching, she might have even danced around.

Moreover, the first sparring session began right away.

'Hehehe...'

The 10,000-point bag was respectfully placed in a corner of the sparring ground.

Yuri, who had been happily looking at the advance payment she had just received, stretched her body.

Although her body was in good condition, it had stiffened a bit due to sleeping for five whole days.

Crack.

Yuri turned her head to the front at the satisfying sound of her bones cracking.

There, Theresa was also loosening up her body.

'This is the second time.'

Theresa, whom Yuri had briefly met in the Forest of Beginnings.

At that time, she had avoided fighting Theresa because she had a specific goal.

So this was the first time they were properly facing each other.

'Just how strong is she?'

Yuri knew roughly that her skills were not to be underestimated.

However, it seemed that she would have to spar to know exactly how strong Theresa, the top student of the 49th batch, was.

Yuri said in a cheerful voice.

"Alright, before we start in earnest, let me explain the rules of 'Exciting Sparring Time with Yuri!'"

Theresa, who had been listening to Yuri's cheerful voice, took a stance, twirling her spear.

Seeing this, Yuri continued her explanation, very kindly.

"First, the usage fee is 10,000 points per session, with no time limit. And since this is a sparring session, please try to avoid dangerous attacks that could threaten each other's lives."

"...Okay."

"If the number of exchanges exceeds 100, the session will automatically end! Also, if one of us gains a clear advantage, the sparring will end! Any objections?"

"None."

As Theresa shook her head, Yuri drew her sword.

Yuri's playful expression instantly turned serious.

"Then..."

Swish.

"Let's start."

Yuri's upper body slightly bent forward as she announced the start.

At the same time, her body shot forward.

Theresa and Yuri's first encounter.

And up until today.

Yuri, who had always been caught off guard by sudden attacks.

This time, she took the initiative.

Swish!

"One."

Yuri, with a slight smile, began counting.

Theresa responded calmly.

Clang.

The sword flying towards her was pushed back by the rotating spear shaft.

Using that force, Yuri's body spun halfway and swung her sword again.

"Two."

Clang.

The trajectory of the spear, which seemed to protect Theresa, once again deflected Yuri's sword.

"Three!"

Spear and sword.

The two metal weapons repeatedly clashed and separated in the air.

Each time, the number Yuri counted increased, reaching fifteen, and the intensity of the sparring temporarily eased.

Clang!

Screech.

The spear and sword were swung more powerfully than ever.

Using the recoil, they moved away from each other.

They looked at each other.

Without words, they both felt it.

'This is the end of the warm-up.'

'Now it begins.'

The light probing attacks were over, and now the real sparring was about to start.

Rumble.

As the two of them drew mana, a small vibration echoed through the cave.

The air resonated due to the mana they had drawn.

Rumble.

As the small vibrations continued, the tension between them grew even thicker.

'Show me!'

'Your true skills!'

Without a word, they charged at each other.

And swung their weapons without hesitation.

Whoosh.

Though the weapons were different, the sound of them cutting through the air was the same.

After that, the exchanges became faster and more intense.

Of course, the rules of the sparring session stated that dangerous attacks that could threaten each other's lives should be avoided, but they seemed to disregard this, launching their attacks without any hesitation.

'So fast?'

'She's definitely fast.'

Though their weapons were different, both of them prioritized speed.

Therefore, their exchanges were so fast that an ordinary person would find it difficult to follow with their eyes.

Clang - Clang.

Theresa's thrusts.

Yuri's slashes.

The attacks aimed at each other went back and forth countless times, but only shadows and sounds were visible.

What was even more surprising was that this wasn't their maximum speed.

They hadn't even used their true techniques yet.

As the exchanges approached 50, Yuri was amazed.

'Of course!'

Of course, Yuri didn't have much experience.

In fact, the only person she had properly sparred with was Muchi.

Therefore, the fact that someone of a similar age could keep up with her speed was just fascinating and enjoyable.

At that moment, as they were happily exchanging blows, Yuri had a puzzled look on her face.

She felt a strange sense of dissonance.

'Clearly... she's fast.'

Why does it feel slow?

Theresa's speed wasn't slow to the point of being unbelievable.

She was moving at a similar pace to Yuri, wasn't she?

But the strange thing was that she seemed slower compared to when they met in the Forest of Beginnings.

Clang!

As the exchanges passed 70.

Yuri realized.

'Ah... it's not that Theresa has slowed down.'

Her speed was probably similar to, or even a bit faster than, when they met in the Forest of Beginnings.

So the reason she seemed slower was...

'I've become faster since then!'

The reason was simple.

It had only been a few days since they met.

Even excluding the time she was unconscious, it was only about two days.

But in those two short days, Yuri had experienced a lot and gained a lot.

Thanks to pushing the mana flow to its limits to find the special sale, she had seen new possibilities.

Thanks to the lower-grade mana enhancement elixir, her mana had increased significantly.

And most importantly...

'The Hundred Steps Ritual.'

In that crazy ritual, she had surpassed her limits many times.

The limits of fear.

The physical limits.

The mental limits.

By transcending these extremes and stepping into a new realm, Yuri had evolved to a higher level in that short time.

'Back then, it was so difficult...'

Now that she faced her grown self, she felt that she could endure that level of pain many times over.

Meanwhile, Theresa's face hardened.

'Is this really a new recruit who came in just a few days ago?'

But she soon had to nod in agreement.

'This is the level she should be at.'

At the same time, Theresa gritted her teeth.

'If I were to undergo the Hundred Steps Ritual now... could I take even fifteen steps?'

To that question, she could firmly answer 'no.'

Thanks to this, it became clear.

The kid in front of her was holding back against her.

Her eyes grew intense.

'With my skills, I want to draw out this kid's full potential.'

The skills she had seen when they met in the Dragon Selection.

And the miraculous fifteen steps she witnessed just a few days ago.

The kid in front of her was strong.

Though only a 50th batch student, her strength was not something to be underestimated just because she was a senior.

Moreover, Yuri Holland was undoubtedly a 'true genius.'

Among the countless geniuses in the world, the cradle of geniuses was the Cradle.

Yuri Holland possessed talent that could be called the best among them.

Or perhaps, she might be the greatest talent in the history of the Cradle.

Isn't that what the fifteen steps proved?

Therefore, she wanted to clash with her.

To see if her efforts over the past year could surpass that wall of talent.

[You are a rock, Theresa. The hard rock surrounding you will never break easily. So... come to the Cradle.]

Those were the words of the person she most admired.

Those words became a milestone in Theresa Winchester's life.

[In the Cradle, where countless geniuses gather, you will always compare yourself to them. You might be disappointed by the gap between your talent and theirs. No, you will definitely be disappointed. But Theresa, our beloved Theresa...]

The rough, calloused hand that felt like a rock caressed her cheek.

[You must clash with them. Clashing with their sharp and shining talents... you must carve yourself out until the gem inside the hard rock is revealed.]

That person, Mei Winchester, had said.

Clashing with shining talents would not be easy.

It would be extremely painful and difficult, a continuous cycle of frustration, and you would always want to give up.

Still, Theresa followed that person's advice and entered the Cradle.

And those words turned out to be true.

Compared to the geniuses commonly found in the Cradle, her talent was truly insignificant.

Therefore, she had to constantly compare herself to others and often felt disappointed in herself.

It was an inevitable part of being human.

But there was one thing she never did.

Give up.

Even when comparing herself to others.

Even when blaming herself for her shortcomings.

Even when endlessly frustrated.

She never gave up.

Over the past year, she had honed herself by clashing with countless geniuses.

Starting from the Yellow Dragon Token, she became the top student of the 49th batch.

And in this Dragon Selection, she obtained the Golden Dragon Token.

Still, she didn't stop.

She wanted to clash with the sharpest and most brilliant talent, Yuri Holland.

Following the words left by that person, Mei Winchester.

[Tomorrow's you will definitely be stronger than today's you.]

'I will be stronger tomorrow than I am today.'

Following those words she had repeated thousands, tens of thousands of times.

Following that path she had taken thousands, tens of thousands of times, with her palms torn and hardened.

Theresa's spear was thrust forward, and finally, her spear became a comet with a long tail, rushing towards Yuri.

The Winchester family's secret spear technique.

Chasing the Star.

Yuri, seeing the trajectory of the white spear coming towards her, stiffened her face.

'This is... dangerous?'

The attack didn't seem particularly fast or threatening.

But Yuri's instincts were ringing loudly.

This was the most dangerous attack so far.

'So I'll dodge it.'

Seeing the spear coming like a comet, Yuri used the mana flow.

Whoosh.

Theresa's Chasing the Star, which had been deflected by Yuri's mana flow, shook and changed direction.

At the same time, the trajectory aimed at Yuri was altered by the deflection.

Yuri thought this was enough.

But then.

Thud!

The trajectory of Chasing the Star, which had been deflected, suddenly changed direction again.

'...?!'

The force of the deflection was used to change the direction of Theresa's spear, which then flew back towards Yuri.

Yuri, encountering this situation for the first time, was taken aback.

Fortunately, the spear had lost a lot of its power while changing direction.

Swish.

Yuri's figure wavered as she used her footwork, and Theresa's Chasing the Star pierced through his afterimage.

Then.

Bang!

Yuri's sword and Theresa's spear clashed and separated with a loud noise.

The two, who had been in a standoff for a moment, simultaneously sheathed their weapons and spoke.

"Hundred."

"...Hundred."

The 100 exchanges they had agreed upon had just ended.

The first sparring session ended without either of them gaining a clear advantage.

Yuri, seeing a small hole in the left shoulder of her clothes, muttered to herself.

"...What a loss."

She only had this one outfit, and why did it keep getting punctured like this, both last time and today?

Though she grumbled, Yuri's eyes were filled with interest as she looked at Theresa.

'Good.'

It seemed that this sparring session would be more than just earning 10,000 points.