Five minutes passed quickly.
Lorevil stood up from the ground and stretched her limbs. The bloodline energy within her body had already reached its optimal state.
“Then let’s begin,” Villody said, brandishing her wooden sword and settling into an offensive stance.
A faint red glow shimmered across her body as she lunged toward Lorevil. It was a sign of highly condensed bloodline energy. Clearly, she had no intention of holding back from the start.
Lorevil did not dodge. Instead, she met the attack head-on, holding her wooden sword horizontally across her chest to block.
*Clang!*
The two wooden swords collided violently.
A massive force instantly traveled from the point of contact to Lorevil’s arms, forcing her to take half a step back.
Lorevil was shocked. Though both were at Tier 2, Villody’s strength was more than double that of Fini.
She quickly regained her composure. Her powerful spiritual sense made her perceptions sharper, and her movements gradually became more coordinated.
Villody was not faring much better; her arms felt numb from the impact. She had not expected Lorevil’s strength to be this formidable.
*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!*
The two quickly exchanged over ten rounds, the crisp sound of wooden swords clashing echoing through the air.
“Watch out, Lorevil,” Villody warned.
She shifted her footwork, her body blurring like a shadow as she sidestepped. Her wooden sword struck Lorevil’s protective gear.
“Ugh!”
Although the gear absorbed much of the force, the impact still caused Lorevil to let out a muffled groan of pain. She was forced back several steps.
From there, Villody’s offensive grew even more fierce. Her wooden sword moved so fast it left afterimages. She utilized the Blood Shadow Step with perfect mastery, forcing Lorevil into a steady retreat. Lorevil could do nothing but defend passively.
“Did you see the technique Villody is using?” Catherine asked the observing Vampire students, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
“It should be the Blood Shadow Step. I didn’t expect Villody to use it so effortlessly,” one student replied.
“Correct. It is a Tier 2 evasion technique. It requires channeling a portion of one’s bloodline energy into the feet, combining it with an anticipation of the opponent’s moves to achieve rapid movement and surprise attacks,” Catherine explained.
“The most critical part is the coordination of the footwork and the distribution of internal bloodline energy. Any slight mistake can result in a loss of control.”
As Catherine spoke, she observed the situation on the field. In her heart, she felt that Lorevil would likely be defeated soon. After all, Villody’s strength was undeniable, and Lorevil had only just begun learning these techniques. It was already impressive that she had lasted this long.
‘So that’s how it works.’
Having been pushed back again, Lorevil focused her attention on Villody’s feet after hearing Catherine’s explanation.
Lorevil noticed that when Villody’s left foot touched the ground, her center of gravity shifted. When her right foot exerted force, energy condensed within it. Combined with the rotation of her body, this allowed for instantaneous movement.
Learning while observing, Lorevil seemed to enter a state of total combat immersion. She achieved a state where her mind and body moved as one.
In her previous practice sessions with Fini and Catherine, Lorevil had only channeled bloodline energy into her arms, rarely using it elsewhere. Now, she began attempting to move that energy to her feet.
“The bloodline energy of a Tier 2 Vampire is unstable. Lorevil is actually trying to channel it to her feet during a fight,” a student noted in admiration.
“That’s incredibly bold. If she loses control even slightly, it will cause an energy disorder. At best, she’ll cough up blood; at worst, she won’t be able to use bloodline energy for one week.”
Catherine also watched Lorevil with concern, ready to step in at any moment to stop the fight.
Guided by Lorevil’s will, the bloodline energy flowed toward her feet. It was sluggish at first and even flickered with brief instability, nearly causing her to be hit by Villody’s sword.
However, Lorevil adjusted quickly. She began imitating Villody’s steps, attempting to counterattack.
Risk and opportunity went hand in hand, and Lorevil was clearly lucky. As the battle reached a fever pitch, Lorevil’s dodging became increasingly fluid. She was no longer as disheveled or strained as before, though that was the extent of her progress.
“I lose. You are very strong,” Lorevil said, stepping back and stopping after parrying another strike.
She knew there was still a gap between her current strength and Villody’s. Continuing would only result in unnecessary exhaustion. It was better to admit defeat gracefully and maintain some dignity.
Villody did not pursue her. Her golden curls fluttered in the wind.
She had originally been quite angry. But as they fought, she realized that Lorevil was not only skilled but also calm and composed. She bore none of the arrogance or brashness the rumors suggested. Villody’s anger gradually faded.
In its place, a sense of mutual respect began to grow.
‘She’s actually quite decent.’
“You’re not bad yourself. You improve very quickly. No wonder Sister Catherine is personally guiding you,” Villody said, stowing her wooden sword.
“As everyone saw, the flexible use of bloodline energy is extremely practical in combat,” Catherine addressed the gathered Vampire students. “Villody’s advantage lies in her solid foundation and mastered techniques, while Lorevil’s advantage lies in her learning ability and steady mindset. These are areas you all should learn from. However, I do not advocate for Lorevil’s risky experimentation. I suggest that none of you attempt it lightly.”
Lorevil smiled.
If an ordinary person were attacked, they would have been paralyzed with fear long ago, let alone face such a sharp offensive. Entering that mysterious state of realization and closing the gap between herself and the upper-mid-tier students was the greatest harvest of this spar.
“That’s all for today’s practical class. Dismissed. Lorevil, don’t leave yet. Come with me,” Catherine said, her gaze lingering helplessly on Lorevil and Villody.
The students began to leave the training grounds.
Lorevil followed behind Catherine, reflecting on her shortcomings during the match. Villody followed silently behind Lorevil as the three of them walked toward the resting area in the corner of the training grounds.
Once they reached the area, Catherine turned around. “Villody, is there something else?”
Catherine knew Villody must have something to say.
“Sister, do you really not plan on returning to the family?” Villody looked up at Catherine, her golden eyes filled with a hint of pleading. “Father and Mother miss you very much. Those people in the family… they are becoming more and more out of line.”
The reason Catherine had left the family to become a teacher at Holy Blood Academy was her dissatisfaction with the internal power struggles and the marriage her elders had arranged for her.
If Catherine could rise to a higher position within the academy, perhaps things would change—but that seemed impossible.
“…Wait a little longer,” Catherine said after a moment of silence, a complex emotion flashing in her ice-blue eyes.
She was not yet ready to go back.
And…
Thinking of Lorevil’s focused expression during the spar and the soft, unforgettable kiss the girl had given her in the garden, Catherine couldn’t help but steal a glance at Lorevil.
Lorevil was pretending she hadn’t heard anything. Catherine looked away, her cheeks gradually heating up.
‘It seems Catherine’s family is quite complicated,’ Lorevil thought, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.
As far as Lorevil knew, the family factions in Holy Blood City were intricate and deeply rooted. Catherine’s family was very ancient, with a history stretching back hundreds of years. However, they had declined in recent years, unable to compete with several rising families.