So fast!
Faced with a barrage of blade light as dense as a fine rain, Phryne instinctively took a step back.
For a moment, she thought that some enemy Level 5 had appeared before her and launched a surprise attack.
"How did he become so strong?"
Phryne's eyes widened.
She had only been locked up in solitary confinement for a month, and she had even been out a few times during that period. How was it that after just a month, this beautiful young man seemed like a completely different person?
Wasn't he just Level 1?
Facing the incoming blade light, Phryne kicked out, sending a nearby iron door crashing forward, blocking the continuous slashes.
Although she was greatly shocked, her reaction as a Level 5 was still nothing to scoff at.
But—
"Tch, no weapon!"
Phryne clicked her tongue in frustration.
Her weapon was in her room; she hadn't brought it with her. She hadn't expected to have to fight while she was in confinement.
She glanced at an open space not far away. Taking advantage of the iron door blocking Eiji's vision, she launched herself like a human cannonball, kicking up a gust of wind.
By the time Eiji sent the iron door flying, he saw Phryne picking up a poleaxe from the ground.
It was the weapon of one of the Amazoness guards of the dungeon. The guard was now lying unconscious on the floor, completely unaware of what had happened.
"I don't know how you got so strong, and I don't care what you're thinking."
Phryne tossed the poleaxe in her hand. It was a bit light, but it would have to do.
She looked at Eiji, her mouth gradually stretching into a grin, her eyes curving upward in a sinister manner.
She smiled like some exaggerated cartoon villain.
"Anyway, I just want to have some fun with you. Knocking you out first and then doing the deed works just as well!"
"In your dreams, you ugly freak!"
Eiji once again assumed his sword-drawing stance.
Even though his opponent's weapon had a longer reach than his own, he showed no fear, proactively swinging his blade as he charged forward.
He held his Bling Blade upright in front of him, his eyes locked onto Phryne's right side. His feet stepped forward rapidly, closing the distance between them.
"So fast!"
Phryne was secretly shocked.
It was unbelievable.
His speed wasn't even slightly inferior to hers—in fact, he seemed to be even faster. It made no sense at all.
But as a Level 5, she was no pushover either.
As Eiji lunged forward, she gripped her poleaxe tightly with her right hand and, seizing the opportunity, swung it horizontally in a sweeping strike, aiming the back of the axe at his waist.
Clang!
A sharp clash of steel rang out.
Eiji's arms trembled violently; he almost lost his grip on his sword.
Phryne was a strength-type adventurer. Judging by her physique, she had definitely focused more on strength than agility each time she leveled up. Trying to go head-to-head with her was an unwise decision.
However, for a short weapon to suppress a long weapon, closing the distance was essential.
Even if that meant putting himself at a disadvantage and clashing head-on, he had no choice but to do it.
If he allowed his opponent to dictate the pace of the fight, it would heavily suppress him as a short weapon user, making it nearly impossible to turn the tables.
As their weapons clashed, Eiji lowered his body as much as possible.
The height difference between them was significant. What was a horizontal sweep for Phryne was actually aimed at Eiji's chest.
By lowering his stance, he prevented a direct collision between the weapons. The axe's impact point was near the upper half of his blade, closer to the tip, causing it to glance off.
Thanks to this, Eiji wasn't sent flying by Phryne's strike.
At the same time, he adjusted his posture, quickly bending backward, slipping under the poleaxe, and slashing diagonally at Phryne's front.
Phryne's poleaxe relied on wide, sweeping attacks—its long reach was both its advantage and its limitation, making it difficult to retract quickly. It was far less maneuverable than a short weapon.
She had swung the poleaxe to her right with great force and couldn't immediately pull it back. She could only shift the weapon's shaft and raise the handle to block Eiji's incoming slash.
In the blink of an eye—
Countless flashes of blade light flickered, accompanied by the repeated bling-bling sounds of clashing metal.
Eiji launched a relentless flurry of strikes, seizing the advantage. Slash after slash, he mercilessly targeted Phryne's vital points.
His speed was astonishing!
Not only that, but each strike was more powerful than the last, as if gaining momentum like an escalating tidal wave!
He was approaching Level 5 in every aspect!
Phryne was utterly shaken. Under his relentless assault, she didn't even have time to retract her poleaxe. She could only move the shaft up and down, desperately blocking Eiji's slashes.
But while his slashes were manageable to defend against, he occasionally mixed in thrusts.
Her slim weapon shaft was completely inadequate for blocking piercing attacks. She had no choice but to keep retreating, trying to create space to dodge the thrusts while also attempting to retrieve her poleaxe.
But Eiji gave her no such chance. Every step she took back, he stepped forward, relentlessly closing the distance.
Long weapons only held an advantage when there was space to maneuver.
Once a short weapon got in close, the long weapon user was instantly at a disadvantage.
"This can't be happening..."
"Did I just get completely suppressed in a single exchange?"
Phryne's round eyes widened, filled with disbelief.
Bling—!
"So annoying!"
The narrow confines of the dungeon didn't allow for much movement. Phryne quickly found herself backed into a corner.
The ear-piercing sound of clashing weapons rang like a death knell, fueling her growing irritation.
A vicious glint flashed in her eyes. She used her left arm as a shield while stretching out her right.
Sssht!
A blade light flashed.
The sound of flesh being sliced echoed sharply as a searing pain shot through Phryne's left arm.
Looking down, she saw that her left arm was gone. Blood gushed from the severed stump, draining the color from her face.
"AAAAHHH!"
Her scream was laced with both pain and fury.
She wildly swung her right arm, her poleaxe slashing through the air in a desperate counterattack.
Eiji, having just severed her arm, should have theoretically been unable to dodge—it was a situation where he should have had to tank the hit.
Yet, with a slight shift of his foot, his body seemed to glide impossibly sideways, moving just a fraction faster than her swing.
She hit nothing but air.
But she had at least forced Eiji back.
The cost, however, was severe.
Her left arm was severed at the elbow, leaving her with only one usable arm.
"…Why is this happening?"
Phryne panted, her eyes filled with horror and confusion.
"Did you somehow reach Level 5 in just one month?"
Otherwise, how was she being suppressed so completely?
Even if she wasn't using her preferred weapon, her raw power was the real deal—no one below Level 5 should have been able to defeat her.
"Hah… Don't talk to me, you ugly freak. You'll lower my classiness!"
Eiji was also panting.
His relentless offensive had drained his stamina, but now that he had reached Level 4, his endurance was leagues above what it used to be—this level of exertion was well within his limits.
"Next round, I'm finishing you off."
A dangerous smile spread across Eiji's face.
***
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