"Heavenly Dominion, Heavenly Dominion across the ages…"
"Heavenly Dominion… Alise!"
The instant that final name left his mouth, the space in the center of the room twisted violently.
A figure slowly coalesced.
She was a red-haired woman with a lean, athletic build and bright features, her pupils carrying an elusive curve that never seemed to settle anywhere.
She wore light leather armor, a slender rapier hanging at her waist, and her whole presence gave off a sunlight-warm aura.
Alise Lovell.
One of the Astraea Familia, a loyal follower of the Goddess of Justice.
And also… one of Ryuu's most important comrades from back then.
She stood there, emerald-green eyes sweeping the room in a daze, until they finally landed on Genichi.
"Wait, wait, wait…"
Her voice was crisp, threaded with obvious confusion.
"What is going on here?"
Genichi didn't answer.
He stood, took a practice sword from the rack beside him, and tossed it to Alise.
Alise caught it on reflex, the confusion on her face deepening.
"Spar with me."
Genichi lifted his own sword, the tip aimed at Alise.
Fighting intent burned in those pitch-black eyes.
Alise froze for a couple seconds, then looked down at the sword in her hand, then back up at Genichi. Her expression shifted from confused to downright weird.
"You want me to spar with you?"
"Yes."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure."
Alise went quiet for a moment, then suddenly laughed.
The smile that followed was bright and dazzling, like sunlight breaking through clouds.
"Alright, alright. If you insist…"
She tightened her grip and settled into a textbook opening stance.
"But at least tell me why you called me. And what kind of place this is. And…"
She paused, something complicated flickering through her emerald eyes.
"Ryuu… is she okay?"
Genichi looked at her and gave a small nod.
"Ryuu's fine."
"She's not in Orario right now, but she'll be back soon."
"As for everything else…"
He paused.
"Fight me first."
"You don't want anything to happen to Ryuu, do you?"
Alise's smile stiffened slightly.
A sharp glint flashed through her emerald eyes.
But it disappeared just as fast, buried under the surface.
She took a slow breath, then put that sunny smile back on.
"If that's how you're going to play it, then let me teach you a proper lesson!"
The moment the words fell, she moved.
Like a streak of red lightning, she crossed the distance between them in an instant.
Her sword drove straight toward Genichi's chest.
Fast.
Accurate.
Ruthless.
This was Astraea Familia swordsmanship, killing technique tempered through countless real battles.
Genichi's eyes narrowed. He twisted aside.
The blade grazed past his clothes, kicking up a sharp gust of wind.
But he didn't retreat.
As he evaded, his own sword swung out, slashing for Alise's waist.
Alise hopped lightly, slipping past the cut, and by the time she landed she'd already opened distance again.
"Huh?"
She tilted her head, a hint of approval flashing in those emerald eyes.
"Not bad reaction time."
"But…"
Her lips curled upward.
"Just reacting isn't enough."
The next second, she rushed him again.
This time she didn't just thrust. She unleashed a continuous chain of attacks.
Chop, cut, thrust, sweep, lift, flick.
Every strike was precise and vicious, every move aimed at a vital point.
This was swordsmanship taught personally by Astraea, technique refined through endless real combat, something Genichi, a rookie who only knew how to hack-hack-hack, couldn't compare to.
Clang clang clang!
The collisions rang out nonstop, sparks snapping into the air.
But it didn't take long for Genichi to be forced on the back foot.
It wasn't a problem with stats.
With all his abilities pushed to SSS 1499 before ranking up to Level 3, plus the corrections from the Seven Deadly Sins, Apotheosis, Devil, and other skills, his raw foundation was already enough to contend with a Level 4 like Alise.
The real problem was swordsmanship.
His swordsmanship was awful.
In the past, he'd relied on power, speed, and those absurdly strong skills.
Against monsters weaker than him, he could one-shot them clean and fast.
Against enemies stronger than him, he could stall with magic and trump cards.
But now, facing a refined swordfighter, his greatest weakness finally showed itself.
Alise's blade moved like a living thing, always appearing in the place that felt worst for him.
Every block, every dodge, was already within her expectations.
Every counterattack he tried was casually dissolved.
In just a few minutes, several shallow marks appeared across Genichi's body.
Even with practice swords, the impacts still left bruises and red welts.
Alise remained completely at ease, that bright smile never leaving her face.
"Oh wow. Your swordsmanship is really bad."
She kept attacking while still finding room to tease him.
"Who taught you? Don't tell me you taught yourself."
Genichi didn't answer.
He grit his teeth and swung again and again, trying to find the smallest opening.
But Alise's sword was like a wall with no cracks, leaving him nowhere to start.
A few more exchanges later, more marks bloomed across his body.
Finally—
"Alright, alright. That's enough for today."
Alise suddenly lowered her sword and stepped back several paces, opening distance.
She looked at Genichi, something complicated flickering through her emerald eyes.
"Your fundamentals are good. Strength, speed, reaction."
"But…"
She paused.
"Your swordsmanship is seriously bad."
"If you run into a true swordmaster, you won't last three moves."
…
Genichi stayed silent, staring down at the sword in his hand.
He knew she was telling the truth.
His swordsmanship really was awful.
Alise watched him, then smiled.
"But it's fine."
She stepped forward and patted his shoulder.
"Swordsmanship is something you can learn. Train enough and you'll get it."
"And if you want…"
She paused, her smile turning even brighter.
"I can teach you."
Genichi lifted his head to look at her.
Something complicated passed through those pitch-black eyes.
"…Why?"
"Why are you willing to teach me?"
Alise blinked.
"Because of Ryuu."
She turned and walked to the window, gazing out at the sky dyed red by the setting sun.
"I don't know how you met her, and I don't know where she is right now…"
"But you helped her."
"And you said you'd bring her back."
Her voice softened.
"So I'm willing to trust you."
"And I'm willing to help you."
Genichi silently watched her back.
After a moment, he spoke.
"…Thank you."
Alise looked over her shoulder at him and smiled.
Bright and dazzling, like sunlight breaking through clouds.
"You're welcome."
She walked back, picked up the practice sword, and spun it once in her hand.
"Then starting tomorrow, I'll teach you swordsmanship."
"I'll turn you from a hack-and-slash rookie into a real swordsman."
Genichi looked at her and gave a small nod.
"Alright."
(End of Chapter)
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