Chapter 581 Dance Of Blades [Pt 2]

Chapter 581 Dance Of Blades [Pt 2]

'She's impressive...'

Rey's thoughts trailed as he looked at Trisha--or more specifically, at her Status Window.

[STATUS WINDOW]

- Name: Trisha Lihua.

- Race: Human (Otherworlder)

- Class: Elite Swordsman (B-Tier)

- Level: 147 (56.99% EXP)

- Life Force: 180 [100]

- Mana Level: 210 (+100) [150]

- Combat Ability: 290 (+145) [300]

- Stat Points: 0

- Skills (Exclusive): [Greater Lightning Magic]. [Greater Combat Application]. [Greater Danger Sense]

- Skills (Non-Exclusive): [Greater Sword Dance]. [Agility Boost]. [Fortitude]. [Aura Sword].

- Alignment: Lawful Good

[Additional Information]

A warrior at heart who believes in honor and strength above all. She is not one to do evil, and she punishes those who enact it. A kind soul with a burning heart, constantly seeking ways to better herself.

She still has feelings for Rey Skylar...

[End Of Information]

'It's clear she has spent her time training to improve her base stats and advance the Skills she already has.' Rey found himself analyzing his opponent.

He surmised that the reason Trisha went to the Adventurers City was due the variety of Monsters she could kill, and the kind of experience--other than EXP--she could gain from their subjugation.

'She even has newer Skills. Her Level isn't bad either. That's good.'

He was glad to see that she had been working incredibly hard, and that her alignment was in no way problematic. In all sense of the word, she was a reliable ally.

Still, one thing bothered him more than anything.

'She still has feelings for me, huh?'

Rey never saw this part of her Status Window before, but with it now displayed he had to mull on what it meant.

He was no fool. Despite his previous efforts to give her the benefit of the doubt back when he listened in to the girls and their unanimous declaration of their interest in him, he could no longer avoid the truth now.

'Trisha likes me. That explains a lot...' He could see the frustration in her eyes, and her unexplainable desire to prove something to him.

Perhaps her interest in him had been platonic at the start, but somewhere down in the line, things began to get a lot more complicated.

'And I tried to pretend like nothing was happening... damnit.'

Rey could feel all of the guilt that accompanied this discovery, though they were all muffled underneath his intense emotional control.

As much as he wanted to drown in the bittersweet moment, he couldn't afford to.

'I can't do anything about it, sadly. Just the same way I can't do anything about these feelings of hers.' Rey took a serious stance and steadied his blade.

'What will you do now? The force is a bit too much for you to handle norma—"

~CLANG!~

Trisha blocked the attack just in time, pushing her own body forward while planting her foot in the ground to create some kind of stoppage.

Rey saw her gritting her teeth as she did so, their blades grinding against each other as he pressed forward.

'Not bad... no bad.'

Trisha impressed him every time, and he was beginning to think of multiple ways to test her.

'Still, this sword...' He nearly sighed. 'She's been chipping at it for a while now. Hers isn't in the best of shape either, but I think mine will break first.'

The two of them disengaged momentarily, eyeing each other with respect.

"Huu..." For a second, she exhaled deeply, releasing a cloud of misty breath.

The sweat on her body began to evaporate as she swiftly took her stance, though this time it seemed different from before.

Rey braced himself for what would come next.

~VWUUUM!~

Trisha switched tactics, launching a series of rapid, precise stabs aimed at his vulnerable points. If he was slower—no, even of the same speed as her—he would have been in serious trouble.

Unfortunately for her, he was just much faster.

Rey dodged and parried with ease, his agility unmatched. He stepped in close, aiming a series of tight, controlled strikes at her head and torso.

Trisha countered, her sword flashing as she met Rey's attacks with a flurry of blocks and evasive maneuvers. Rey's relentless assault forced Trisha to retreat once more, her footing unsure on the slick cobblestones. Rey seized the opportunity, pressing forward with a rapid series of lunges and slashes.

Then—

~CRACK!~

—His blade finally shattered.

'Ahh... the opening she's been looking for.'

Trisha's sword burst out with brilliant light, revealing the [Aura Sword] she had been hiding for her final move.

With a downward slash that contained all of her power, she sent the blade crashing down.

"HAAAAAAAA!!!"

Her scream was filled with so much passion, and the weapon was filled with so much energy that it seemed like she had poured all of her energy into it.

The brilliant sparks of lightning were mixed in with the reddish aura that flowed through the weapon, creating purple dances of power that coalesced at the point of impact.

This, truly, was her ultimate move.

If the target had been any Monster or human opponent, they were sure to take severe damage—if not die on the spot.

Unfortunately for her, and her impeccable attack, she was up against Rey Skylar.

~CLANG!~

Her blade met a hard stop as he blocked it with a black blade, easily disrupting all of her powerful energy and movement.

The sword materialized from Rey's body on command—the product of Emil's properties that easily produced a more durable weapon faster than Trisha could hit.

"I'll end this now." He mumbled under his lips as he stepped forward, faster than the shocked Trisha could even react.

'You did well, Trisha. You are strong.'