"Instructor, but we're still injured," Barron raised his hand.
"Oh, where are you injured? Broken bones? Can't stand up?" The instructor's gaze was sharp, making Barron not dare to argue further.
"Soren, you're first."
"Yes!"
The black-haired youth stepped forward. Despite still having many bruises, he picked up his sword and began to fight seriously.
Stepping forward, then thrusting the blade, Soren's swordsmanship was exceptionally clean, quick, and aimed directly at vital points, with no unnecessary movements.
"Clang" "Clang"
The instructor held his sword with one hand, his steps steady as he dodged Soren's attacks. Then, with a casual flick, he sent Soren's wooden sword flying and kicked him away.
"Good swordsmanship. Aside from being too direct and lacking variation, there's nothing wrong with it for now," he gave a relatively high evaluation.
"Next!"
"Barron."
"Yes!"
Barron also took a wooden sword and rushed forward to attack. Unfortunately, though he swung his sword quickly, his moves were impatient and full of flaws, performing far worse than Soren just now.
After knocking Barron down a few times and giving his critique, the instructor continued to call people.
"Lei."
"Yes!"
The tallest student among the trainees stepped forward. He held the wooden sword as if it were a small toy.
"Hmph."
Lei took a deep breath, gripping his sword and sweeping it towards where the instructor stood.
Facing Lei's powerful swing, the instructor's wooden sword twisted, coiling like a python, and stabbed into the palm of Lei's sword-holding hand, causing him to cry out in pain and release his grip.
"The strength is acceptable, but the swordsmanship is crude and difficult to watch," the instructor shook his head.
"Perhaps you should learn other weapons."
"Next!"
The other students went forward one by one. During this process, Sylvia stood on the training ground watching, her light blue eyes blinking, constantly analyzing everyone's movements and their force application techniques.
('Basic Swordsmanship' proficiency + 3)
('Basic Swordsmanship' proficiency + 2)
('Basic Swordsmanship' proficiency + 5)
...So there's also this method. Through this sparring session, she could be said to have gained a lot.
Even with the same swordsmanship, due to differences in each person's physique and habits, there are different uses and emphases. Moreover, when facing different situations, individual coping strategies also change accordingly.
Basic Swordsmanship Lv.4: Basic sword techniques, the foundation of combat. Current progress (573/1200)
Despite not directly participating in the fight, observing also greatly benefited Sylvia. Additionally, while watching the instructor spar, she gradually realized that the combat technique the opponent was using should be a more advanced one.
[Military Swordsmanship Lv.0]: Sword techniques used in the military, with clean movements, emphasizing quick kills in life-and-death situations. Current progress (31/100)
Compared to Basic Swordsmanship, this set of Military Swordsmanship is more lethal, but it requires higher individual physical qualities. If one's strength and speed are insufficient, it cannot be effectively utilized.
Just by watching others spar, she could learn; this ability is quite useful, Sylvia felt that coming to Scholar Hyde for studies this time was truly fruitful.
However, her leisurely state of watching the battle was about to end soon.
"Boys, go rest on the left open ground. Now, girls, step forward," the instructor's gaze swept across.
"Valerie, you first."
"Ah, Uncle Burke, did you call me?" Knight Leven's daughter looked surprised.
"Of course."
"Alright," Valerie stepped forward somewhat dejectedly, picked up a wooden sword, and charged towards Instructor Burke.
Unfortunately, this knight's daughter did not inherit her father's martial arts; it was merely a smattering of skills, and she was easily defeated by the instructor, falling to the ground.
"Your grip on the sword is weak, your technique is unrefined, your footwork is loose, and your reactions are slow. Not a single move is decent. It seems Leven has spoiled you too much," the instructor criticized coldly.
"Uh."
Valerie's face was full of embarrassment, and soon a hint of anger flashed across her face.
"How can you say that about me? I don't need to be a knight! Besides, if you're so capable, go spar with my father!"
"Hmph." The instructor ignored such girlish ramblings, simply disregarding them.
"Next, Karen."
"Yes."
Karen took out a wooden spear and stepped forward. She lowered her waist, keeping her center of gravity low, and her eyes fixed on the instructor.
Seconds later, the wooden spear suddenly thrust out, its tip aiming directly at the instructor's chest.
Facing such an attack, the instructor parried upwards with his sword, knocking the spear tip away, then sidestepped forward, his blade slicing directly at Karen's fingers.
Unexpectedly, Karen gripped the spear shaft and rotated her body, taking the sword strike with her shoulder, then thrust the spear back again.
"Clang"
Unfortunately, the spear was still blocked by the instructor.
However, after blocking it, the instructor did not continue his attack but looked at Karen with appreciation.
"Not bad, very decisive. She's a good prospect."
"Next, Komiya."
"Ah, I, I don't know any combat techniques," Komiya looked like she was about to cry.
"Oh?"
Instructor Burke frowned at this. How could she not even have a basic foundation? How was such a person accepted by Scholar Hyde?
Soon, a servant jogged over to Burke and quietly told him something. Burke's brows then relaxed a bit, and he glanced at Komiya several times.
"Alright, you won't need to practice spear and sword techniques anymore, but basic physical training is still required. Run ten laps around the training ground."
"W-woo, yes, Instructor," Komiya could only go running now.
At this point, only Iona and Sylvia had not participated in the combat training.
The instructor glanced at Iona, then shifted his gaze to the seemingly delicate young woman beside her.
"Iona, come here."
"Yes, Instructor."
Iona's tone was flat, as if she found the task before her somewhat boring.
She picked up a wooden sword with one hand, holding it in front of her, then a faint golden glow flashed in her eyes, followed by a sudden thrust at the instructor. A trace of golden light also accompanied the blade. This strange phenomenon was very brief, and only Sylvia immediately noticed it.
Wooden swords clashed, and continuous hacking and clashing sounds came from the training ground. This exchange did not end quickly.
The fierce battle in the arena quickly drew the attention of all the students, even Komiya's steps halted.
"So powerful."
"Iona is not only beautiful, but her swordsmanship is also so elegant."
"This isn't ordinary swordsmanship, is it?"
In the arena, Iona's figure was graceful, her footsteps agile, as she continuously moved closer and farther, her sword blade flashing like needle stabs.
'Golden Needle Sword Art: Thrust!'
In an instant, three dazzling golden threads flashed, like three golden needles piercing towards the instructor. Facing this attack imbued with extraordinary essence, the instructor no longer held back.
'Steel Edge Blade!'
The wooden sword in his hand was instantly coated with a layer of steel-silver edge. With a rapid slash, it directly shattered the wooden sword in Iona's hand, turning it into a shower of flying wood chips.
After losing her wooden sword, Iona retreated a few steps, releasing the remaining sword hilt in her hand, no longer fighting. At this moment, she looked at the instructor with pride, glorious even in defeat.
"Hmph, as expected of Viscount Kalun's daughter."
Viscount Kalun, before his imprisonment, was a powerful figure in the military, with no shortage of inherited secret arts and resources.
At this time, Sylvia was the only one left in the arena who had not participated in the sparring training.
Should she participate in the sparring training? If she did, holding back would only lead to various distorted and awkward situations. But if she didn't hold back and shone brightly, even overshadowing the golden-haired young lady who was supposed to be the protagonist, wouldn't that completely go against her previous plan of keeping a low profile?
Sylvia fell into a difficult choice.
It seemed someone noticed her predicament, or perhaps it was simply good luck, as someone interrupted the training at this moment, getting her out of trouble.
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