Chapter 20: Sword Intent?
[You have defeated Lu Renjia (Level 9). Gained 140 experience points.]
[You have defeated an opponent using Basic Kendo (White). Skill proficiency +37.]
[You have defeated Paohui Yi (Level 8). Gained 110 experience points.]
[You have defeated an opponent using Basic Kendo (White). Skill proficiency +33.]
[Your experience bar is full. You have leveled up!]
[Level 6. Experience required for next level: 57/3000.]
[All four primary attributes +1. You have gained 2 free attribute points.]
...
Soon, the dojo was a sea of groaning bodies. Only one person from the Judo Club remained on his feet: Shoda Shinichi. He stared at the fallen forms of his clubmates, his lips trembling and his legs quaking uncontrollably.
According to the game's rules, a defeat was only registered when a character's health dropped below thirty percent. By some miracle, Shoda Shinichi was still just above that threshold.
"Don't... don't come any closer..."
He watched, wide-eyed, as Rovel advanced on him, each step echoing like a death knell in the silent dojo. Shoda scrambled backward until his back hit the wall, the hard surface offering no comfort, only the reality that he was trapped. His psychological defenses, already strained to their limit, began to shatter.
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" he shrieked, his voice cracking with pure terror.
[You have defeated Shoda Shinichi (Level 11). Gained 185 experience points.]
[You have defeated an opponent using Basic Kendo (White). Skill proficiency +55.]
After clearing out the Judo Club, Rovel had amassed a total of 1,233 experience points. His current status was [EXP: 1040/3000], and his Basic Kendo proficiency had climbed to a staggering [8300/10000].
The only real downside was the lack of a field buff. If there had been some kind of environmental or quest-related bonus active, the skill proficiency gains would have been even more absurd. A real shame.
"Next club," Rovel announced, turning to Sugi Mikado, who was standing by the door looking utterly shell-shocked. He gestured for him to lead the way.
"Yes, Second Seat!" Sugi Mikado snapped to attention, his response as crisp and immediate as a soldier receiving a direct order. This time, the title of "Second Seat" was uttered not out of simple respect, but from the very depths of his soul, laced with a deep sense of awe.
In the wake of this single, decisive battle, the average trust level of the Kendo Club members toward Rovel had surged to forty percent.
Their next destination was the Aikido Club.
Before long, another chorus of pained groans and tearful cries filled the air.
Sugi Mikado could only watch, his heart pounding at the sheer, unadulterated violence of the scene. The Aikido Club had several female members, but Rovel showed not a shred of hesitation. Without holding back in the slightest, he efficiently and methodically converted every single one of them into a neat bundle of experience points.
"Next..."
"And the next..."
The entire process took two hours. In that time, Rovel systematically swept through all six of Chiba Academy's martial arts clubs, leaving only his own Kendo Club untouched.
[C-Rank Quest: Rectify the Clubs - Completed!]
[Quest Reward: Prestige in Chiba Academy +200.]
[Ding! Having defeated all Martial Arts Club presidents in Chiba Academy aside from Raiden Mei, you have obtained the Excellent-grade title: Under One Person.]
[Title: Under One Person]
[Effect: Within the grounds of Chiba Academy, all individuals except Raiden Mei will suffer a 10% reduction to all attributes when facing you.]
[Description: You are the man pinned down by Raiden Mei.]
Rovel stared at the system window, a silent question mark forming in his mind. Wasn't there something fundamentally wrong with that title description?
Still, the effect itself seemed rather useless. After all, with Raiden Mei being the sole exception, was there anyone left in this school who could even pose a threat to him?
He did wonder, however, how long the debuff would last on the other students. If it was a persistent effect, he could totally come back every now and then to farm them for experience and proficiency. The thought brought a faint smile to his lips.
The strongest club in Chiba Academy was, without a doubt, the Kendo Club, with the Judo Club a distant second. The remaining clubs were all significantly weaker. Consequently, the experience they yielded was far less, averaging under a thousand points per club.
But it was more than enough. He had reached Level 7.
Rovel glanced at his experience bar: [3000/5000]. He only needed another two thousand points to level up again.
More, his Kendo proficiency was now [9953/10000]. He was on the very cusp of a breakthrough.
Just as Rovel was leading the exhilarated, almost fanatical Kendo Club members back to their dojo, they were met with a sight that froze them in their tracks.
Standing inside, a silent and imposing figure cloaked in purple, was their president. The triumphant atmosphere evaporated instantly, replaced by a wave of cold sweat that washed over every single member.
Raiden Mei heard their approach and cast a cool glance in their direction. Sugi Mikado and the others flinched, not daring to utter a single word. They scurried silently to the side of the dojo and began their practice swings with a desperate, feigned focus.
"Where did you all go?" Raiden Mei's gaze settled on Rovel, who stood at the head of the group. Her tone was calm, but it carried an unmistakable edge of interrogation.
"Ahem..." Rovel cleared his throat lightly. "We went to engage in some... 'friendly exchanges' with the other clubs."
"Friendly exchanges?" Mei's brow furrowed, a flicker of displeasure in her violet eyes. "Did I not tell you yesterday that training would continue today? You wasted valuable training time on 'exchanges'?"
"It wasn't a complete waste," Rovel explained, his tone even. "I'd say I gained quite a bit from sparring with them."
Sugi Mikado and the others, who were shamelessly eavesdropping, felt their hearts leap into their throats. 'This is the part where you apologize!'they screamed internally.'Why are you talking back to Raiden Mei?!'
Everyone knew the proud Thunder Queen had a formidable temper. Provoke her, and your life at Chiba Academy would become a living hell.
Yet, the explosion they anticipated never came.
"Sparring? I thought you said it was an exchange," Raiden Mei said, a hint of confusion softening her sharp tone.
"A martial arts exchange is a form of sparring, is it not?" Rovel clarified, finally revealing the true nature of their afternoon activities. "Besides, I've only ever formally learned Kendo. I haven't practiced any other techniques. I figured if I ever find myself without my sword, it might be useful to have learned a move or two from their styles."
Raiden Mei lowered her head, considering his words. His logic wasn't flawed, but she still felt the need to offer a warning.
"You should still maintain your focus on Kendo. Dabble in the others, but do not let them distract you. There is an old Shenzhou saying: 'Master one technique, and you master them all.' If you practice Kendo to its absolute extreme, you can execute its principles even with your bare hands."
"Thank you for the guidance, President," Rovel said, his curiosity piqued. "Have you already reached such a realm?"
"Not yet," Mei admitted, shaking her head slightly. "But it is the realm I am pursuing."
She looked up, her gaze sharp once more. "Alright. Continue your training. I trust you haven't pointlessly exhausted your stamina from all that sparring." Her eyes held a clear challenge.
"Of course not," Rovel replied with a confident smile, stepping onto the central sparring platform.
"Then come!" Raiden Mei retrieved a wooden sword from the rack, her movements fluid and precise, and took her stance opposite him.
The moment their blades met, a cascade of notifications flooded Rovel's vision.
[You have sparred with Raiden Mei. Basic Kendo (White) proficiency +30.]
[Quest BUFF and Identity BUFF bonuses applied! Basic Kendo (White) proficiency +75 extra!]
[Basic Kendo (White) · Mastery (10000/10000). Proficiency is full. Promoting to the next stage.]
[You have achieved Basic Kendo (White) · Minor Accomplishment (58/100000).]
[Basic Kendo (White) · Minor Accomplishment Additional Effect: Sword Intent.]
[Sword Intent: When wielding a sword, you no longer rely on mere muscle memory or rote forms. You can now infuse your very will into the blade. Different forms of Sword Intent will produce different effects.]
[Current Sword Intent: None.]
Rovel stared at the system panel, his mind reeling. An additional effect upon reaching 'Minor Accomplishment'? What... was this?
"You dare to be distracted while sparring with me?"
Raiden Mei's voice, now laced with genuine anger, snapped him back to reality. Her eyebrows shot up, and with a movement too fast to follow, she swung her wooden sword. It sliced through the air with the sharp, terrifying momentum of a thunderclap, aimed directly at Rovel's head.
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