NOVPUBChapter 536: Masks and Mastery ( 536 )
CLANG!
Steel met steel again. Felicia’s blade striking from the right in a high arc.
Javier tilted his katana, letting the blow glance off with perfect control.
He didn’t move much.
The impact echoed lightly, and he let out a faint smirk behind the mask.
Whoa…
This girl’s fast.
His eyes tracked her every movement.
And she’s still holding back.
Another clean step. Another lazy deflection.
Alright then…
He ducked under the next strike and let his blade rise in a narrow parry, guiding her sword away.
Let’s see how strong she really is.
Felicia’s left hand lifted gently.
Three magic circles formed midair.
One over her shoulder.
One under her feet.
One behind her blade.
Mana surged, glowing blue, white, and silver.
Without warning, she launched all three spells toward him at once.
And at the same time.
She dashed forward, blade lowered, body gliding with elegance and terrifying speed.
Her footwork was flawless.
But Javier… was already moving.
Javier stepped sideways just as a white streak cut down from above, splintering the dirt where he had stood.
The ground under his right foot erupted, sending shards of stone and dust into the air.
He turned with the blast, rotating into a pivot that carried him through a narrow window in the chaos.
Something heavy pulled on the air behind him.
But his boots slid with perfect control.
Felicia came at him again.
Her sword sliced in a horizontal flash, one-handed, fluid and controlled, like water spilling across glass.
Javier met her at the angle.
His katana snapped upward just enough to redirect her strike.
She stepped in again.
Their arms brushed.
Their blades flashed.
Then she twisted and brought her foot around, aiming for his flank with a low sweep kick.
Javier hopped back half a meter, his boots skidding against loose gravel.
She’s not talking.
She’s not smiling.
She’s fighting like I don’t even deserve to be asked who I am.
He steadied his breath.
Then cracked his neck once and took a deeper stance.
The wind passed between them.
Javier smirked.
His feet shifted just slightly, sliding back into a perfect stance, spine straight, knees bent, one hand resting on the sheath, the other on the hilt.
The wind caught the edge of his coat.
Felicia’s eyes narrowed.
She adjusted her grip and moved again, her sword danced with sharp elegance, feet gliding across the dirt without disturbing balance.
Inside her mind.
This is my first time fighting someone like this.
He doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t backstep. Doesn’t overextend.
Every one of my strikes is being caught, like he knows the rhythm before I even move.
His technique… it’s not from any school I know.
She pressed in, her body glowing faintly as soft pulses shimmered down her arms and legs.
Light wrapped around her blade.
Wind curved at her heels.
And strength surged in her strikes.
She buffed mid-charge—no chant, no delay.
Then she came again.
Faster. Harder.
Strikes in sets of three, each one cleaner than the last.
Javier didn’t move from his spot.
He let the power of each blow come to him.
His katana intercepted every strike with exact precision.
Angle. Edge. Timing.
Each motion required no more than an inch.
Inside his mind.
Wow…
This one’s talented.
She can buff mid-swing.
She’s launching spells, three of them. While attacking and enhancing herself. All without stopping.
He let her final blow clash once more, holding firm.
She’s good.
Too good.
He let out a faint chuckle.
But still…
I don’t think it’s worth being serious yet.
This is good.
He stepped slightly forward.
Really good…
For exercise.
Meanwhile, a different kind of chaos unfolded a few meters behind the army lines.
Commander Raikus stood with his arms crossed, watching the duel unfold with careful eyes.
He barely noticed until.
Snatch.
“…Huh?”
He looked down.
His food bag was gone.
“CUQUAWKED!!”
Buddy was sprinting away.He ran straight through the soldiers’ legs, still squawking, food bag swinging from his beak like a prize trophy.
One soldier nearly tripped.
Another stood frozen.
Raikus blinked.
“…What is that thing?”
A nearby soldier whispered, “Sir, I think that’s the Armand noble’s Pekko…”
Raikus sighed.
“…Of course it is.”
One of the younger officers stepped up beside Commander Raikus, concern flickering in his eyes.
“Sir… are you sure we shouldn’t assist the Princess in her fight?”
Raikus didn’t look away from the duel. His arms remained crossed.
“No.”
He spoke quietly, with full confidence.
The officer hesitated. “But… who is that man behind the mask?”
Raikus exhaled slowly.
“…That’s Count Garius’s youngest son.”
The officer blinked. “What?! How can you tell?”
Raikus raised a gloved hand and pointed forward.
“Look at his helmet crest. And the flag flying just behind the main building.”
The officer squinted.
A golden emblem, similar to Armand’s official crest, but stylized. Sharper. More personal.
“…Ah… the new Armand insignia.”
Raikus gave a small nod.
“We were briefed before deployment, remember?”
“Yes, Commander…”
Raikus turned his eyes back to the fight, still in full swing, still perfectly matched.
She’s fighting him seriously… but she hasn’t drawn her second blade yet.
Then, he heard another ruckus behind him.
He turned slightly.
The oversized orange Pekko, had now snatched another soldier’s food pouch, his beak stuffed and wings flapping wildly.
“CUQUAWKED~!!”
Buddy galloped across the camp line, zigzagging between stunned warriors, squawking like a victorious pirate seagull on a sugar high.
Raikus stared at the scene.
His tone was flat.
“…And that is definitely his bird.”
Commander Raikus raised his voice, steady and firm.
“Alright, soldiers. Rest.”
The formation shifted slightly as troops relaxed from alert status, some sitting, others kneeling near their gear.
“We wait until they finish their battle.”
He glanced toward the spinning blur of orange feathers and dust.
“…And someone feed that big, cheeky bird before it starts stealing from the supply crates.”
“Yes, sir!!” several soldiers shouted in unison.
A few quickly moved to distract the Pekko with leftover rations.
Buddy squawked again and proudly stomped around like he had won a war of his own.
Raikus exhaled.
Still watching the duel unfold across the field, still silent, still respectful.
Let’s see how far this goes…
( End Of Chapter )
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