Chapter 12: Hokushin Ittō-ryū
Rovel glanced at his status panel and nodded, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. This method of grinding experience was undeniably efficient.
He now had eight Free Attribute Points sitting unused. Since he hadn't yet settled on a specific combat specialization, he wasn't in a rush to allocate them and decided to save them for later.
His `Basic Kendo (White)` proficiency had also climbed to 'Proficient (700/1000)'. He was on the verge of breaking through to the next stage.
'Basic Kendo: Consecutive Slash'was a derivative skill, a technique born from the core art, so it didn't have its own proficiency bar to fill.'However… if it's a derivative skill, there must be others, right?'
He thought back to the spar. Raiden Mei's 'Borrowing Force' technique, for instance—a move that could unleash an explosive burst of power in a single instant, leaving him utterly unable to defend.
As he continued his practice swings, Rovel replayed Mei's movements in his mind, dissecting every shift of weight, every turn of her body.
[Practicing Basic Kendo (White). Skill Proficiency +2. As you are the Kendo Club's second seat, bonus Skill Proficiency +1.]
[Practicing Basic Kendo (White). Skill Proficiency +3. As you are the Kendo Club's second seat, bonus Skill Proficiency +1.]
Perhaps because his focus was split, the rate at which he gained proficiency had dipped slightly.
But Rovel wasn't concerned with a few points here and there. He wasn't sure if it was his 'Intelligence' attribute at work, but the memory of their match was crystal clear in his mind, every detail available for review.
He began to mimic Raiden Mei's stance, adjusting his feet with minute precision. He pivoted on his heels, letting the rotation of his body guide the wooden sword in a powerful, sweeping arc.
Thwack!
[-171]!
The strike slammed into the training dummy, carving a shockingly high damage number into the air above it.
[New skill learned: Basic Kendo: Momentum.]
[Basic Kendo: Momentum: Allows the user to deliver a more powerful strike by channeling the force of their body's rotation. If the user's momentum is interrupted, the skill will fail. The damage bonus is determined by Basic Kendo proficiency and the user's Agility, with a maximum damage bonus of 200%.]
"Two hundred percent?" Rovel stared at the number, a surprised whistle escaping his lips.
If a normal strike dealt 70 damage to the dummy, a perfectly executed Momentum strike could deal up to 210 damage. That was a full three times the normal output.
And this was just a derivative skill from the most basic, white-tiered kendo art. What kind of monstrous bonuses would higher-level techniques provide?
No wonder he'd been so thoroughly crushed by Raiden Mei, even when their base attributes were nearly identical. The damage amplification from skills was on another level entirely.
Seeing that his `Basic Kendo (White)` was so close to its next evolution, Rovel felt a fresh surge of motivation. He poured his focus into every swing, his form becoming more and more precise. The proficiency bar rose steadily.
[Practicing Basic Kendo (White). Skill Proficiency +5. As you are the Kendo Club's second seat, bonus Skill Proficiency +2.]
[Practicing Basic Kendo (White). Skill Proficiency +6. As you are the Kendo Club's second seat, bonus Skill Proficiency +3.]
Three hours flew by. As Rovel executed another downward slash, a faint, almost invisible shimmer of energy shot out from the tip of his wooden sword, striking the training dummy a short distance away.
[-13]
[Basic Kendo (White) - Proficient (1000/1000). Proficiency is full. Promoting to the next stage.]
[Basic Kendo (White) - Mastery: (0/10000)]
[Basic Kendo (White) - Mastery Additional Effect: Sword Qi]
[Sword Qi: Your strikes can now be infused with Sword Qi, creating a ranged projectile. Sword Qi damage is equal to 20% of the original strike's damage. You can freely control whether to unleash Sword Qi.]
"Sword Qi? Does this mean my damage is now effectively 120% of the original? A permanent twenty percent bonus?!"
Rovel was stunned yet again. The game's progression system was incredibly generous.
Suddenly, a thought struck him. He held his breath, focused, and unleashed a Consecutive Slash against the training dummy.
[-70]
[-14]
[-40]
[-8]
Four distinct damage numbers blossomed above the dummy simultaneously.
'Just as I thought… it stacks with Consecutive Slash!' A flicker of genuine joy lit up Rovel's eyes.
"Ruo Bai-san, your rate of progress… it's a little frightening."
A calm voice spoke from behind him. He turned to see none other than the Kendo Club's president, Raiden Mei.
"President," Rovel greeted her with a nod. He quickly noticed that her trust level had quietly risen from 30% to 35%. The way she looked at him now held a new intensity, a glint of… eagerness.
"Weren't you already at the club today?" Rovel asked, a bit confused. He had assumed she was done for the day. He glanced at the clock; without him realizing it, it was already four in the afternoon.
"I practice kendo for about three hours every day," Mei explained, her voice even. "One hour in the morning, one in the afternoon, and I'll practice for another hour after I get home."
"I see," Rovel murmured, impressed by her discipline.
"By the way," Mei said, her grip tightening on the wooden sword in her hand, a restless energy about her. "Would you care to… spar again?"
"Let's do it!"
Looking at his newly mastered `Basic Kendo` and his two powerful derivative skills, Rovel felt a surge of confidence. He felt terrifyingly strong.
The two of them stepped onto the sparring platform. A nearby student called out, "Begin!" and they moved in the same instant.
Clack!
Wood met wood with a sharp, crisp report that echoed through the dojo.
This time, facing Raiden Mei's relentless assault, Rovel was no longer the flustered novice from the morning, barely able to parry. After a flurry of exchanges, the two were fighting on even ground.
"Ruo Bai-san, your improvement is truly remarkable," Raiden Mei praised, her voice carrying a note of genuine admiration. In less than half a day, he had become capable of meeting her head-on.
"Thank you for the compliment," Rovel replied with a faint smile, before pressing his attack once more.
Mei showed no fear. She closed the distance, her feet already beginning to pivot as she prepared to channel her momentum into a devastating strike.
But Rovel wasn't going to let her have her way. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he unleashed a wave of Sword Qi, aiming it low at her calf. Mei's eyes widened slightly as she was forced to retreat, her powerful Momentum technique… interrupted!
Seizing the opening her retreat created, Rovel spun, mirroring the very technique he had just countered, and unleashed a Momentum-fueled strike of his own.
Mei raised her sword to block. When their weapons collided, the sheer force of the impact sent her stumbling back two full steps.
"Interesting…" A brilliant spark ignited in Mei's eyes. She seemed even more excited now, her gaze fixed on Rovel with a look of pure delight. It had been far too long since she'd met an opponent who could truly challenge her.
Rovel stood his ground, waiting for her to regain her footing, just as she had graciously done for him that morning.
"Am I seeing things?! The second seat… he actually pushed back President Raiden?!"
"This morning he was getting instantly wiped just like the rest of us! How did he get so strong in half a day? He's already holding his own against the president?"
"The president probably just let her guard down… besides, have you noticed? She's only been using basic kendo this whole time. She has another identity, you know."
"You mean…"
On the platform, Raiden Mei slowly sheathed her wooden sword at her waist, her posture changing completely. A razor-sharp edge entered her eyes, and the air around her grew heavy.
Still, she offered a final, polite warning.
"Ruo Bai-san, I'm going to use my full strength now."
"Come," Rovel said, gripping his sword with both hands, his expression turning serious.
In the next second, Raiden Mei vanished.
She didn't blur or move quickly; she was simply gone from his line of sight. By the time Rovel's instincts screamed and he tried to react, her wooden sword had already struck his abdomen with pinpoint accuracy.
[-475]!
A terrifying damage number erupted over Rovel's head, signaling the decisive end of the match.
Only then did Raiden Mei's voice finally reach his ears, calm and clear.
"Hokushin Ittō-ryū… Battōjutsu!"
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