Chapter 16: Raiden Mei's Hellish Training
Raiden Mei had assumed Rovel's dedication to Kendo stemmed from a pure, unadulterated love for the art. It was a logical conclusion; why else would someone pour so many hours into such grueling practice?
Besides, if you asked any normal person that question, wasn't the expected, polite answer simply to agree?
She herself adored Kendo. If they shared a common passion, it would give them an easy foundation for conversation, a mutual ground to stand on. Most of the people she knew treated it as a pleasant hobby, a way to pass the time. They'd nod and agree, sharing a superficial interest. So, she subconsciously expected Rovel to offer a similar, simple affirmation.
"I practice to become stronger," Rovel stated, his voice steady and clear over the quiet hum of the dojo. "Because only by being strong can I protect my sister."
The mention of his sister's name, Yuki, softened the sharp lines of his focus. A genuine, almost unconscious smile touched his lips, warming his expression in a way Mei hadn't seen before.
"To protect your sister?" Raiden Mei's movements faltered for a fraction of a second, her amethyst eyes widening slightly. The answer was… unexpected.
"It might sound like I'm trying to act cool, but it's the honest truth," Rovel admitted, deftly parrying a probing strike from Mei and using the momentum to launch a swift counter. "And I don't want to deceive the President over something so simple."
Raiden Mei didn't reply immediately. She sidestepped his slash with liquid grace, her gaze now appraising him with a newfound intensity, a deeper level of scrutiny.
"That's the kind of line you'd expect from the hero of a story," she mused, a hint of amusement in her tone. "But… to say it with such conviction, to truly mean it… that in itself is admirable."
She didn't dismiss his words. Instead, she offered him her sincere affirmation.
In the next instant, the glowing percentage above her head flickered and surged. The Trust level, which had been a respectable 45%, jumped directly to 60%.
"I was half-expecting the President to call me a chuunibyou," Rovel confessed, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin.
"Since Classmate Ruobai wishes to become stronger, then I will train you without mercy!" Raiden Mei's demeanor shifted in a heartbeat. Her playful curiosity vanished, replaced by the sharp, focused aura of a master swordswoman. Her gaze became as keen as a newly unsheathed blade. "Are you… prepared?"
A cascade of notifications flooded Rovel's vision.
[Triggered A-Rank Mission: Raiden Mei's Hellish Training]
[Mission Objective: In a direct confrontation, reduce the HP of Raiden Mei (using Hokushin Ittō-ryū) to 50%.]
[Buff Obtained During Mission: Raiden Mei's Hellish Training]
[Raiden Mei's Hellish Training: Under Raiden Mei's guidance, Kendo skill proficiency gain is increased by 200% (Stackable). When sparring with Raiden Mei, experience points will be awarded based on her evaluation. Pain perception is locked at 100%.]
[Mission Duration: Dependent on Raiden Mei's mood.]
[Mission Reward: Hokushin Ittō-ryū Master Certification (Purple)!]
[Hidden Mission Reward: Raiden Mei's Trust increases by an additional 20%.]
[Hidden Mission Failure Penalty: Raiden Mei's Trust decreases by 50%.]
[Mission Options: Accept / Reject]
[Note: After accepting, the mission can be ended unilaterally, but this will count as a mission failure. Being deemed unworthy by Raiden Mei will also result in mission failure.]
'The duration depends on her mood? Seriously?'Rovel thought with a grimace.'Spoken like a true Thunder Queen. Even her missions are haughty.'But the detail that truly made him sweat was the pain setting.'Pain perception locked at 100%... Since when was that an adjustable setting? I don't remember seeing that in the options menu!' The memory of her Battōjutsu from that afternoon, the phantom ache that still lingered, sent a cold dread through him.
After a moment of internal complaint, however, Rovel dismissed his hesitation and accepted the mission without a second thought.
"That kind of resolve…" he said, his voice ringing with earnest conviction, "I've had it since the moment I first picked up a sword."
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Raiden Mei's eyes, but her words remained as sharp as ever. "I hope Classmate Ruobai doesn't end up crying, then."
"Only if the President doesn't find me too annoying to deal with," Rovel retorted, refusing to yield an inch.
"Just call me Mei when we're outside the student council. 'President' sounds so formal," Raiden Mei said with a wave of her hand, demanding he change his form of address.
In the Far East, using given names was a sign of closeness, of genuine friendship. He hadn't expected to bridge that gap with the esteemed Raiden Mei in a single day.
"In that case… Mei," Rovel corrected himself with a slight cough, "you should just call me by my name as well."
"No problem, Ruobai," she replied, the corners of her lips curling into a subtle, pleased smile.
Though she had many friends, there was almost no one who could truly challenge her in Kendo. Not since the Homu Sword Saint had vanished, anyway. Rovel was the first.
The difficulty of this A-rank mission was obvious. He had already clashed with Mei several times and hadn't managed to so much as scratch her.
Fortunately, she didn't immediately unleash the full force of her Hokushin Ittō-ryū. Instead, she met him with Basic Kendo, matching his style to gauge his limits.
Even so, Rovel was suffering.
Mei moved like a phantom. Her footwork was a blur, her blade an extension of her will. Her mastery of the derivative techniques of Basic Kendo was so far beyond his own that it felt like they were practicing two different arts entirely. She didn't just block his sword; she controlled the very space around him. A flick of her wrist would send a subtle wave of sword qi—not enough to injure, but just enough to disrupt his footing, forcing him to abort an attack mid-stride.
[Sparring with Raiden Mei. Basic Kendo (White) proficiency +30. Mission BUFF and Field BUFF applied. Basic Kendo (White) proficiency extra +66!]
[Sparring with Raiden Mei. Basic Kendo (White) proficiency +27. Mission BUFF and Field BUFF applied. Basic Kendo (White) proficiency extra +59!]
...
His Basic Kendo proficiency was skyrocketing, but Rovel had no time to celebrate. Mei's assault was growing fiercer with every passing moment, her strikes landing with pinpoint accuracy.
Crimson numbers bloomed in his vision with each solid hit.
A sharp rap against his ribs sent a jolt of very real pain through him. `[-32]`
A swift strike to his shoulder followed. `[-41]`
A glancing blow off his guard. `[-17]`...
In what felt like mere seconds, his HP had plummeted to 70%.
"What's wrong? Is this all you have?" Mei taunted lightly, her breathing perfectly even as she watched him pant, leaning heavily on his wooden sword.
"Again!" Rovel roared, pushing off the floor and surging forward, taking the initiative for the first time.
The sharp clack of wood on wood echoed relentlessly through the dojo. On the sidelines, Mei's friends watched, their mouths agape. They had never witnessed such an intense Kendo duel before.
What was even more astonishing was Mei's reaction. She was positively beaming.
Those who spent their days in Raiden Mei's orbit were masters of reading her expressions; it was a survival skill. And right now, they saw an exhilaration on her face they had rarely, if ever, witnessed. Every clash, every crisp impact, seemed to elevate her spirits, pushing her to a higher state of excitement.
Rovel's desperate attacks were largely ineffective. Even when he poured his energy into a 'Basic Kendo: Consecutive Slash,' weaving in threads of sword qi, Mei dismantled it with an almost casual calm.
It was like watching a grandmaster play against a novice.
Then, it happened. As Mei executed a graceful retreat, she seemed to overextend, leaving a momentary, tantalizing flaw in her defense. Rovel's eyes lit up. He seized the opportunity, twisting his wrist to drive his sword straight into the opening.
A faint, knowing smile touched Mei's lips. The flaw was a deliberate bait, a trap she had set for him. Her counter-strike was already prepared, a fluid motion that would use his own momentum against him, landing long before his blade could ever reach her.
Just as she confidently prepared to sidestep and deliver the finishing blow, her breath hitched. Her eyes, which had been tracking the arc of his right arm, widened in shock.
His right hand was empty. The sword wasn't there.
'Not good!'
`[-54]`
`[-10]`
Before her mind could fully process the deception, a sharp, stinging impact struck her side. He had switched hands mid-lunge, his left hand bringing the wooden sword around in a tight, reverse-gripped arc that slipped right under her guard. A second, lighter tap followed almost instantly.
Two damage numbers, small but obvious, floated up from her character model.
Rovel stood, his left hand still holding the sword hilt in that unorthodox grip. A bead of sweat traced a path down his temple, dripping from his chin to splash silently on the polished dojo floor. His chest heaved, his lungs burning, but his ragged breathing slowly began to stabilize.
As the silence stretched, the crisp, clear sound of a system notification chimed in his ears.
[Learned new skill: Basic Kendo - Dual-Wielding Style.]
...
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