The rules are also very simple. Two people fight against each other. They attack the parts that make the enemy incapacitated or fatal—mainly the arms and head. A successful hit counts as a "kill" and earns one point.
But there is an important additional rule designed to make the training closer to real combat.
It is called the "back attack rule."
This means that even if you successfully land a killing blow on your opponent, if they had already initiated an attack before being struck, that attack is still considered valid.
In other words, if you fail to block or evade the enemy's final strike—even after you have already "killed" them—then both sides are considered defeated, and neither gains points.
At first glance, it might seem harsh, but in actual close-quarters combat, this rule is extremely realistic.
In real battles, momentum does not stop just because the body is already dead. A committed strike carries force until the very end. In many historical melee engagements, mutual kills occurred precisely because of this "final strike" effect.
Interestingly, this training method did not originate within the Great Tree Village.
It was proposed by Yuuki Asuna.
In her original world, similar combat concepts either existed in limited form or were not widely formalized. However, in the world she came from—where sword-based combat culture was highly developed—such duel systems were relatively common among young practitioners.
Some of it could even be traced back to cultural influences, since structured swordsmanship had long been popular during their upbringing.
In essence, martial arts tournaments, kendo-style competitions, and fencing matches all shared a similar foundation. The differences lay mostly in rules and restrictions rather than the core idea of controlled combat.
Once this training system was introduced to the Great Tree Village, it spread quickly.
The reason was simple: they were already training in combat anyway. Turning it into a structured, competitive system made it more engaging, more efficient, and more motivating.
When Mikoto watched the scene unfolding in the square, she could not help but narrow her eyes slightly.
The sound of wooden weapons clashing echoed sharply through the air. The fighters moved with speed and precision, exchanging blows at an intensity that made it hard to believe this was "training." In one exchange, a wooden sword even snapped under the force of impact.
"…Don't they feel pain doing this?" she asked, her expression tightening slightly.
"It hurts, of course," Noa replied casually. "But that's part of the training."
Mikoto raised an eyebrow. "Then why go this far just for training?"
The question lingered in the air.
Noa scratched his cheek slightly, as if deciding how honest he should be.
Then he sighed and answered plainly.
"Because this place isn't exactly safe."
"This Great Tree Village… is actually one of the most dangerous locations in the world in its own way. It even has a reputation similar to something like a 'Forest of Death.'"
Mikoto blinked. "Forest of Death?"
"There are powerful creatures in the surrounding areas. While they're not usually a direct threat to the village itself, they still require regular cleanup operations."
He gestured slightly toward the training square.
"And as you can see, the people here aren't weak."
Mikoto followed his gaze.
Only now did she fully register it.
The participants in the sparring matches were not ordinary fighters. Their movements, reactions, and strength clearly exceeded that of most ability users she had encountered in her world—likely beyond Level 3 or even Level 4 in terms of raw physical enhancement.
That realization made her expression turn more serious.
"This place has its own power system," Noa continued. "A fairly complete one, with a very high ceiling."
He paused briefly.
"If I had to describe the upper limit… it could eventually reach the level of gods."
Mikoto's eyes widened slightly.
Noa turned his head toward her, his tone calm but deliberate.
"The path is already right in front of you."
"If it were you… would you walk it?"
————————————
Want More advance Chapter?
Please Visit > https://www.patreon.com/c/Apple695