A Dragon's Curiosity

“Out of the basic styles contained in the [Imperial Swordplay], we have now covered the offense and defense, the last remaining style is the movement.

As the previous two, there are four different distinct movements for each style.

Now, a fight is hardly just waving swords around and hoping to hit the enemy or block at every incoming attack.

Movement makes up around half or more of a fight. Especially if you want to face some beasts, nine times out of ten they need to run around and look for an opening, with only the occasional attack in between. Such fights can drag out for several candles, otherwise their regeneration or defenses will simply never fail.

Hence, movement styles are as important as attacking or defending.”

Knife Leader Tanya circled around the elf with her sword in hand. Her gradual and measured steps all had the same distance, with an odd rhythm to them.

Nisha continued to memorize all details as closely as possible. Maybe it was only the military life that instilled these particular habits in the pretty lady or maybe they’re a hidden manifestation of the [Imperial Swordplay] that she was teaching.

“The first movement style: [Advance].

Don’t get confused by the wording. You can either [Advance] forward or backward, depending on the situation. The same style can carry you into attack range for an attack or bring you back just enough to escape the sharp and deadly claws of a monster.

Attack me and I’ll show you.”

Nisha obliged and raised her training weapon once again—her movement already much smoother than it was at the beginning.

When she used [Cleave] to attack the woman, the Knife Leader gathered a pulse of aura beneath the ball of her right foot.

As it was the leading foot facing the attacking elf, Tanya exploded into a backward motion right away and dodged the incoming wooden blade.

“This is an application of [Advance], I moved backward and dodged your attack.

Since it cancels an attack, that particular action is also called a [Void] movement—it cancels out an attack without relying on a defensive style.

Other movements can do the same and achieve a [Void], keep that in mind.”

Tanya suddenly exploded into motion again, this time utilizing the arch of her foot to rocket forward, straight at the dragon, who in return readied her weapon to perform a [Block].

While Nisha did not have the same cultivation as the Knife Leader, she was pretty confident that the instructor did not put her full strength in the sudden [Stab] either.

Hence, she had a good chance to block the sword attack.

Just before the two women collided, the soldier transformed the straight forward motion into another direction and brushed beside the hastily erected defense. Her wooden sword tapped the dragon at her left shoulder and hip.

Behind Nisha, the honeyed voice demanded her attention.

“This is the forward [Advance], as well as the second style: [Sidestep].

As you might have noticed, the sideways motion is intended to supplement the attack and defense styles and can be combined freely.

If a monster is charging at you in a straight line, a [Sidestep] and a [Slash] at your original location can turn the attacking monster’s strength against itself and might even decide the fight on the spot.

Similarly, you can also [Void] attacks by evading them with this style.”

Nisha pondered the attack that had just hit her and had to agree with the Knife Leader.

Even with her [Spirit Sight] and vastly enhanced field of vision, the sudden change in direction caught her off guard and allowed the officer to hit her twice in a single charge.

She also had some questions about the application of aura to change direction or power [Advance], but the instructor gave off a vibe that she would not answer any queries right now, at least until she introduced all of the different styles.

Meanwhile, Tanya faced the elf again after she returned to her original position. Her eyes flickered with light as she glanced at the two points where she struck the elf.

Nisha shuddered on the inside when she suddenly got scanned in a completely different manner from the professional officer; yet the feeling ceased when the Knife Leader continued with the movement styles.

“The third style is used to chain movements together and prolong a chain of attacks, instead of backing off and restarting after every single charge: [Turn].

Let’s repeat the previous attack and after I pass you, pay attention to my actions and follow my figure since you already know what will happen.”

True to her word, Knife Leader Tanya charged as soon as her words faded. Thankfully, the elf expected as much after the rough introduction and changed her defense from a [Block] to a [Parry], which presented a more appropriate style to defend against the rapid [Slashes].

Tanya smirked—a detail that did not pass unnoticed by the dragon—but did not change her actions.

The two blows were parried by Nisha, and she turned her head to follow the officer, who once again passed her by with the use of [Sidestep].

Right as she was behind her back, Tanya suddenly stopped all motion forward, rapidly turned around, pivoting on the ball of her right foot, and faced the unprotected back of her student.

Two lines turned into four and the Knife Leader hit both of the elf’s shoulder blades and hips pretty hard with the wooden sword and then let the building energy explode right after.

She [Advanced] backwards and away from her struck target, the training weapon settling back into the standard stance when Nisha turned around to look at her.

“Commendable. Most new recruits can’t follow the demonstration and drop their swords from the impact.

Which is always a nice excuse to send them back into physical training and drill them until they remember an important lesson: Never drop your weapon. Never.

Whether you are on a battlefield charging against another host of troops, going on an extermination expedition or diving into a Dungeon: the sword is the life of a soldier. If you drop it, you are dead.”

Even Nisha experienced a growing sense of annoyance when she heard the chipper comments.

If professional soldiers that went through rigorous physical training failed to hold their weapons in such a situation, why was she still getting hit and praised at the same time by an all too cheerful Knife Leader?

This was supposed to be an introduction to the [Imperial Swordplay], hence she had no chance at all to block the unfamiliar attacks.

Why did officer Tanya look so gleeful then?

“With sufficient speed, not only can [Turn] allow you to reposition your body in combat, but also chain together different attacks.

Similar to my attacks right now, I can follow up with another [Advance], [Sidestep] and more [Turns].

Some monsters have massive vitality and defense, but lack in attack—think of an armored giant.

If you can move faster than such monsters turn and throw attacks your way, a confrontation of entirely different physiques and monstrous strength can completely swing in your favor without a need to directly clash against such behemoths.

In a similar vein, heavy armor warriors such as mounted knights suffer from similar disabilities, the key concept for this style is mobility.”

Tanya’s happy explanation rang out throughout the empty lot as she returned to her original position and faced the elf again.

For all the misgivings Nisha had, she had to admit that the pretty woman indeed had the strength to back up her words.

Especially her attributes, both her impressive aura level and minor mana cultivation belonged to the [Light] attribute, which was known for its speed and relentless attacks for warriors and mages alike.

Only about two out of ten people born in the world of Ator had either the [Dark] or [Light] attribute while the rest overwhelmingly had one of the four elements as their alignment.

Not even one out of ten, however, belonged to the [Life and Death] element, showing just how rare that seventh attribute was.

To the dragon, it made sense why the Knife Leader emphasized the importance of speed in a battle.

Each attribute generally had an image associated with it. Fire was explosive and overwhelming, water smooth and flowing, wind twisting and swift, and earth sturdy and strong.

Apart from the four basic elements, darkness was seen as twisted and corrosive, while light generally emphasized piercing might and unparalleled speed.

As for the life and death attribute, it was rare and hardly heard of or seen, hence its general image with the common populace was stuck at just life and death individually.

Contrary to the previous instructions, Tanya let the sword just hang next to her waist and beamed at the cute little student of hers.

“The twelfth style is also regarded as a movement; its name is slightly strange, all things considered: [Free Flow].

Contrary to the other eleven styles, there is no demonstration or even useful advice aside from the one recorded in the original [Imperial Swordplay].

Each of the other eleven styles is called as such since there is not really a set motion for these attacks, defenses and movements.

You can only practice them and improve the overall form and learn more varieties that contain the essence of the style.

[Free Flow] on the other hand is the final style because it contains all the actions that tie them together.

When there’s an obstacle on the battlefield, the twelfth style focuses on the most efficient way to either jump over the obstructions or incorporate them into the attacks that come from the other styles.

A prime example would be the historic fight of Great Sword General Maximilian Decimus, who fought an evil spirit beast that instigated a monster wave, unsurpassed to date, in the central plains of the continent to a standstill before cleverly using a total of one hundred and fifteen gladii scattered on the ground from dead legionaries to construct a sword forest.

After slaying this evil spirit beast king, the monster tide finally dispersed and the disaster for the continent was averted.

This historic battle was included in the empire’s volumes on the [Imperial Swordplay]. Many instructors back home at the military academies study the sword forest formation left behind from that time to further students’ understanding of [Free Flow] and how to use this style with the eleven others.

I can only tell you through words, since we lack a proper terrain to set up a sword formation here, and [Free Flow] lacks a proper demonstration, to give you an idea.

When practicing the styles later on, remember to look for ways to move around, include the terrain in your attacks, or take advantage of the peculiarities of where you are fighting.

And with that I conclude the introduction to the [Basic Styles]. If you have any questions, ask them now.”

The last sentence caused Knife Leader Tanya to break out in a dazzling smile, slightly charming the elf in front of her.

At the same time, Nisha felt a weight drop off her back, one she did not even know was there.

From the moment she stepped into the capital of Leandar until the present time, the dragon had never experienced the guidance of a capable master this closely.

All her skills were more or less self-taught with the occasional pointer from an instructor at the [Royal Academy] or an acquaintance.

The pretty officer, looking at her with delight on her face, came from a professional army and was adept at teaching new recruits.

Twelfth styles formed a complete set of moves in her mind and Nisha did her best to remember each detail and nuance displayed by Tanya in her demonstrations.

Wait a moment … why do I suddenly have a bad feeling about something?

Stinging sparks appeared on the spots on her hips and shoulder blades as the premonition deepened into a black and ominous looking thing when the giddy lady raised her sword again.

“Since we have completed the introduction, we can finally start in earnest. Don’t worry, I will try my hardest since Lance Corporal Hale entrusted the task to me.

Raise your head and shoulders, straighten that back. You can leave it all to me, I’ll whip you in proper shape before the day is over!”

Nisha glanced at the wooden sword in Tanya’s hand and her jubilant mood vanished as the black and ominous presentiment were no longer under any doubt about their nature.