NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 131: Strange Experience V (2)
As he gauged Ophelia’s strength in real time, Andersen parried the strike as she tried to attack him.
“Tsk…”
Ophelia clicked her tongue, observing Andersen who effortlessly blocked her surprise attack. She too seemed to recognize that she had encountered a stronger opponent than anticipated.
“I see… Quite strong. You’re still young, but you’ve already reached this level. It’s impressive.”
“…”
Ophelia readied her sword again, ignoring Andersen’s praise.
In response, Andersen hardened his expression and corrected his stance.
And…
Shrrring! Shrrring! Shrrring!
The two faced each other.Sparks flew from their swords, charged with intense, condensed mana.
And…
Traang!
Simultaneously, they pushed against each other’s swords, both being momentarily forced back. However, Ophelia instantly reversed the recoil and swung her sword directly at Andersen.
Visrrrrr!
Andersen swiftly changed his posture, deflecting Ophelia’s strike.
What seemed like mere sword exchanges were, in reality, attacks and defenses of an extremely high speed that defied the physical laws of inertia. These maneuvers were impossible without perfect mastery of mana, the force that could distort the natural order.
Their battle resumed, moving at a pace too fast for the naked eye to follow.
At some point, the notion of sparring had vanished from their minds.
They wielded their swords, parrying and countering in fluid motions. Each attack aimed to defeat the other without hesitation, only to be blocked by the opponent’s immediate defense, losing its momentum midway.
‘Strong… Really… Strong…’
Ophelia’s attacks flowed as naturally as water, and Andersen countered with movements ingrained in his muscle memory.
Yet, even amidst this intense battle, Andersen found himself surprised by one more thing.
Visrrrrr!
A slightly deflected attack—Ophelia’s invisible sword—continuously tried to sneak in from various angles. It was a strike that could pierce his defenses if he ever forgot to account for it.
This strategy exposed gaps in Andersen’s defense while thwarting his attempts to break through Ophelia’s.
‘Initially, I thought it was just a simple trick, but I never imagined it would hold me back this much… Maintaining this type of attack must consume a significant amount of mental strength and mana, yet she manages it to this extent?’
Each strike, though not overwhelmingly powerful, was a relentless assault that couldn’t be ignored, distracting his focus. It was an annoying tactic, but it also demonstrated Ophelia’s immense mental fortitude.
‘If it comes to this… Hmm… I don’t really want to, but should I use it?’
Andersen began to contemplate using his trump card. However, even if he considered it, deploying such a technique in a sparring match—especially one that wasn’t a real battle—seemed excessive. It would be overkill in the current situation and could potentially cause unnecessary problems.
Crucially, despite being pushed back at times, Andersen wasn’t at a distinct disadvantage.
Chijijijik!
“Kuh…”
Andersen, subjected to considerable attacks, remained steadfast, as immovable as a mountain. This unwavering defense began to make Ophelia feel a bit anxious, something Andersen did not overlook.
And…
Chaeeng!-
“…!”
In the next moment, Andersen revealed a slight gap.
Ophelia seized the opportunity without hesitation, closing in swiftly. A slight smile formed on Andersen’s lips as she aimed for the opening.
As she attacked from the side, Andersen conjured a mana-imbued sword.
‘Perfect. With this…!’
The attack struck when Ophelia’s attention was entirely focused on her target, exploiting the moment when a beast is most vulnerable while hunting its prey.
But…
Trrring!-
“….!”
“Damn…”
Contrary to Andersen’s expectations, Ophelia twisted her body at the last moment, deflecting the blow. Yet, her expression betrayed a hint of regret.
The reason was clear…
“….”
‘…It didn’t go as well as I thought… No.’
Andersen noticed a wound on Ophelia’s forearm, a trickle of red blood flowing from it. Though she successfully defended, a slight delay in timing had cost her. In this type of confrontation, being injured to such an extent signified defeat.
“…I lost.”
“Hmm…”
It was a disappointing conclusion in many ways.
Andersen strongly felt that the outcome was more about luck than a true difference in skill. Despite his victory, he felt a sense of discomfort and accepted Ophelia’s defeat with a nod.
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