City of Witches Chapter 219

Plate armor made of shadow.

At first glance, it seemed impractical for actual combat, perhaps because Siwoo had visualized armor from RPG games when he first conceived it.

Even excluding the unnecessarily attached decorations, its structure clung so tightly to the body that it could hardly disperse any impact.

However, precisely because of that structure, Siwoo had received much help from the Black Armor.

It allowed him to move as one with his body without any cumbersome hindrance and also served as a powered suit that augmented his physical strength.

The armor's fundamental role of absorbing impact was taken over by the laws of shadow—a new material found nowhere else in the world.

It had been the primary contributor that had saved Siwoo from death's door multiple times and enabled his feats.

Siwoo knew his own strength well.

He knew that, given time, he could demolish a large building barehanded while wearing this armor.

He also knew that, while clad in the armor, his sword was ferocious enough to cleave a cargo truck in half.

Thus, a question instinctively arose: Was it okay to wield this weapon against Tiferet, who appeared so delicate?

Her appearance, holding a sword as long as her own body, seemed so slender that it made one forget Tiferet was actually a duke of the 23rd hierarchy.

But.

The moment Tiferet gripped her sword and took her stance.

Siwoo realized all his worries were nothing but laughable anxieties.

Her unshakable center of gravity.

Muscles throughout her body, relaxed yet tense enough to react at any moment.

Steady eyes that unwaveringly sought to perceive his movements.

"Come."

Even after hearing Tiferet's low declaration, Siwoo couldn't easily move his body.

He had thought he had somewhat mastered 'swordsmanship' after wildly swinging his weapon around until now.

The ability to reflexively spot an opponent's opening, the ability to freely wield sword and shield as if they were his own limbs.

He had believed he wouldn't be considered lacking anywhere.

But there were no openings visible at all.

Though she merely held her sword with one hand and placed it diagonally, there was no room for attack whatsoever.

As Siwoo stood dumbfounded, Eloa urged him on.

"She won't hurt you. Show everything you can do."

"...Understood."

Testing the distance, he lightly stepped forward and swung his sword.

Eloa's response to that was extremely simple.

Before Siwoo could fully swing his sword.

A blade that seemed to intrude into its trajectory completely nullified the swinging momentum.

"Ugh...!"

His attack was halted even before it began.

It wasn't a difference in strength.

As far as Siwoo could observe, Tiferet wasn't using immense magic power.

Calculating backward, it was about a quarter of the strength Siwoo could muster.

She had simply blocked the attack by adding skill to a mere quarter of her power.

"Again."

-Clang!

As Tiferet swung her sword, the clashing blades separated, and Siwoo carefully measured the distance again.

Discarding superficial showiness, this time he created a shield.

Covering half his body, he cautiously searched for an opening again.

"Hoo... Hoo..."

He began to sweat even though he had hardly moved.

A pressure as if being pressed down by thick cotton.

Even though he knew he wouldn't actually get hurt, the oppressive feeling made Tiferet's presence loom larger.

"Hap!"

Faster than the sound, Siwoo's foot stamped the ground.

This time, to prevent being haphazardly blocked midway, he swung his sword with full force from the start.

His target was the midsection.

With the intent to bisect the waist, he swung his sword with all his might.

-Thud!

The sound that followed made Siwoo bewildered.

He had clearly swung with all his strength, and Tiferet had raised her sword to block it.

Normally, when blades clashed with this much force, there should be explosive sounds like 'Kwang!' or 'Bang!'.

But what actually reached his ears was a small sound, like plucking a string on a stringed instrument.

Moreover, the recoil transmitted to his hand was almost zero.

But he had no intention of backing down.

Even amid the bewildering result, Siwoo's body and mind were already searching for the answer.

From the same slashing posture, this time a rising slash in the completely opposite direction.

Though it was an unreasonable movement that seemed to ignore inertia, the Black Armor's assistance made it easily possible.

This time, it was a complete miss.

Tiferet didn't even raise her sword, merely tilting her head to dodge the tip.

-Whoosh!

That was what Siwoo had aimed for.

What Siwoo wielded was a sword of shadow.

Its length, thickness, and weight could be instantly altered as desired.

It was possible to adjust the distance without the cumbersome method of regripping the hilt.

The slightly elongated blade came down on Eloa again.

If she tried to block it carelessly this time, it could inflict a fatal wound.

-Twang!

The same phenomenon occurred.

Eloa's sword, rising slowly upward, deflected the slash without any recoil.

"Hahp!"

He had anticipated this far.

The moment Siwoo judged his sword was blocked, he immediately dispersed the shadow sword.

And promptly thrust the shield forward to obscure Eloa's view.

From the blind spot created by the shield, he transformed the shadow into a spear and executed three consecutive thrusts.

Not only had the distance changed, but the weapon itself had switched.

Using only slashes until now had been preparation for these thrusts.

A technique he had learned by watching while fighting the White Knight.

The moment the spear was thrust, he utilized wrist snap and waist rotation.

Thus, the spear, with its unique rotational movement added, created an illusion as if its tip was bending.

-Clang! Clang! Clang!

And Tiferet's response was enough to leave Siwoo astonished.

Three deadly thrusts, created using at least three layers of preparation and deception, were unleashed.

Moreover, the bending spear tip was a tricky attack that had troubled Siwoo multiple times.

But...

"...Isn't that too much?"

Eloa had precisely blocked all three thrusts.

Moreover, she had exactly matched the tip of her sword to the tip of the spearhead, stopping it mid-air.

When the last thrust ended, their weapons were suspended in mid-air, tips touching.

In a situation where it would be difficult for one person to align the tips of two chopsticks held in both hands, let alone perform the same action with a weapon wielded by another.

It felt like watching an acrobatic performance.

Though the one who had performed such a feat merely lowered her sword with an indifferent expression.

Tiferet had not counterattacked even once.

After all, this sparring was to gauge his level.

When the series of exchanges ended, Tiferet could feel it.

An immense, overwhelming disappointment.Raphi was a genius.

Not only in Magic, but also well-versed in martial arts, she had attained combat prowess sufficient to hunt Homunculi after inheriting just one Contract of the King of All Maladies.

That's why I had held some expectations.

I thought the man who inherited the Vessel of the genius Raphi might show some decent skill.

But perhaps my expectations were too high?

No, even thinking about it coldly and objectively, it was pathetic.

His body's movements were being dragged along by the armament.

While he managed to produce a superficially decent appearance by borrowing the power of the Contract, there was no principle, no subtlety, no enlightenment in it.

I thought I might at least see a fragment of Raphi's brilliant Sword Dance again...

Eloa watched him without showing her deep disappointment.

"I understand you're still not accustomed to it. You'll need a bit more training."

"I figured as much. Honestly, it hasn't been long since I started using it consciously like this..."

"Take off the armor."

Eloa dismissed her Contract Sword.

Siwoo also released his shadow armor.

From within, Siwoo emerged, drenched in sweat.

Though the sparring was brief, it seemed to prove he had given his all during this introductory training.

"You'll need to practice how to handle your body first. After all, an armament is, in any case, an extension of one's limbs."

"You mean we'll spar unarmed?"

"That's right."

If even a tiny sprout of talent had been visible.

If he had handled the 'Contract' with even a little dexterity.

Tiferet wouldn't have bothered to teach him the basics from the start.

But Tiferet, having lived for many years and encountered numerous martial artists, could tell immediately.

His talent, at least concerning martial arts, was utterly ambiguous.

Even if he inherited a Contract, and even if he received Tiferet's instruction, it likely wouldn't be of much use.

The wall of talent was that heavy and thick.

Since he was said to have exceptional talent magically, perhaps focusing and specializing in that would be more helpful for becoming stronger.

Even if it meant providing the promised 'compensation for the accident arising from the misunderstanding' in some other form.

But a promise had already been made.

Even if he were to give up midway, she would polish him to the highest level possible.

"I don't know any method of teaching kindly, step by step. The way to use one's body must be learned with the body."

Eloa clenched her fist and took a stance.

Siwoo awkwardly mimicked her.

"With half-hearted resolve, you probably won't be able to keep up."

"My resolve is firm."

"We'll see about that."

A soft push-off from the ground.

Eloa closed the distance between them in an instant, driving into Siwoo's side.

Even without a weapon, the 'Contract' reacted.

Siwoo instinctively threw a punch at Eloa surging inward to utilize their respective reach.

The moment Eloa deflected the blow with her elbow and grabbed Siwoo's wrist...

"Ugh!"

Siwoo's body flipped.

His body, lifted into the air, crashed roughly onto the rooftop surface back-first.

There was no time to discern what had happened.

Looking up, he saw Tiferet looking down at him with stern magenta eyes.

"Using your body as you will, as you wish. If that foundation isn't there, no matter how profound the technique or tactical play, it's meaningless."

"I understand what you mean."

"Your attacks have far too many openings."

Siwoo brushed himself off and stood up.

Unable to strengthen his Spirit Body with magic power, Siwoo could only exert the strength of a healthy male.

Without the armor's assistance, even being thrown down delivered a significant impact.

But if he were to be laid out by just this, he wouldn't have requested training in the first place.

This time, Siwoo charged first.

His extended fist was intercepted mid-air by a knife-hand, and Eloa's palm lightly touched his stomach.

A counter that felt like a push to the abdomen.

"Ghk!"

Utilizing the very force of his charge, Siwoo's body hopped into the air.

It wasn't on the level of the horrific pain he'd occasionally experienced, but it was pain sufficient to induce stress and tension.

"Prepare for when your attack is blocked. Think of your next move as well."

"Ugh, yes. It hurts a bit."

"Pain is an excellent catalyst. If you remember it with your body, won't you try to avoid the same mistake next time?"

After that, Siwoo rushed at Eloa several more times.

"If the timing of your kicks is constant, your spacing becomes easy to read."

"Don't stare too intently at where you intend to attack."

"Break the habit of just pushing in with brute force. How do you plan to handle someone stronger than you?"

"Always keep your center of gravity in the middle. Your center is unstable, so even a simple trip can make you fall."

Tiferet offered advice with each and every exchange.

By the time about two hours had passed, there was hardly an unscathed part on Siwoo's body.

After all, Tiferet had ceaselessly thrown, pushed, and lightly struck Siwoo's body to repel him.

To conclude, Siwoo didn't manage to touch even the hem of Eloa's garment from start to finish.

Siwoo lay sprawled on the rooftop floor, panting heavily.

The profuse sweat had already soaked not only his top but likely his underwear as well.

"We should stop here for today."

Feeling no particular disappointment anew, Tiferet announced the end of the training.

She had controlled her strength.

She had no intention of inflicting serious injury.

But if his lacking talent was coupled with insufficient determination and tenacity, Siwoo would likely be the first to drop out.

Perhaps that would be the better path for him.

"Yes, thank you... for today."

Siwoo, struggling to get up, plopped the back of his head onto the floor and closed his eyes.

Author's Note (Afterword)

I'll be adjusting the pace for a while.