I'm Turning Into Gacha Characters?!

Lefiya could hardly believe what she was witnessing.

Ais was undeniably one of the absolute elite among Level 5 adventurers, yet here and now, in a direct exchange of swordsmanship, she had been forced onto the defensive in such a short span of time?

Who exactly was this strangely dressed girl, anyway?

The elf girl couldn't help but think of the Tales of Heroes. In those ancient legends, long before the era of the gods' blessings, heroes had struck down monsters using only their own strength.

Even without the benefit of Falna, they were often more powerful than many of the adventurers she knew.

To possess the strength to contend with a Level 5 while being merely a Level 1—it forced Lefiya to wonder if the girl before her was truly like one of those heroes from the epics.

"Hmm... if I'm understanding you correctly, you're hoping for some advice on your swordplay?"

Sushang pondered for a moment. "At the end of the day, footwork and swordsmanship are mutually reinforcing. Once I teach you the footwork, the way you deliver your strikes will naturally change as well. I'll reserve my advice for when we reach that point."

Ais, of course, understood this logic. It was impossible for her footwork to change without her hands following suit; that simply defied common sense.

Beyond just shifts in posture, even in the same stance, how one exerts force from the lower body directly impacts the comfort and efficiency of the upper body's strikes.

She had always trained by following the hazy memories of her childhood. Yet, even that level of memory and mimicry had brought her to a point where there was no one left to guide her.

Furthermore, the rigid boundaries between the factions in Orario meant that even if someone capable of discussing these arts with her existed, they likely wouldn't be willing to share.

Because of this, she had always been learning in isolation.

Now, with someone actually willing to systematically teach her, Ais was quite eager to listen.

Seeing Ais nod, Sushang raised her blade once more. "Again."

The golden-haired girl's figure vanished from her spot, her longsword tracing a path through the air. As the edge of her blade collided with Sushang's, Ais braced herself for a brute-force clash.

To her surprise, Sushang suddenly pulled her sword back, shedding most of the force, and with a sharp twist of her wrist, her blade coiled around like a nimble serpent, pinning Ais's longsword firmly in place.

"You see?" Sushang's voice was right by her ear.

Ais felt a gentle yet irresistible force travel through her blade. Her wrist was pulled along involuntarily, and the sword that was meant to strike at Sushang was diverted to her own side.

Meanwhile, Sushang's other hand landed lightly on her shoulder. It looked effortless, yet it instantly threw Ais off balance.

The girl stumbled back a few steps before barely managing to steady herself.

She looked down at her own longsword, then back up at Sushang, her eyes filled with contemplation.

Lefiya had been watching in a daze, her staff drooping in her hands. "Wh-what is this technique? She didn't use extreme force or speed, yet she neutralized Miss Ais's attack completely..." she muttered.

"This... this doesn't look like a style for fighting monsters."

Ais had reached the same conclusion. Sushang had previously said her sword was too 'straight,' but because of the context, Ais had assumed she just meant she was inflexible.

But this exchange made her realize what the other girl actually meant by 'straight.'

"The sword can face more than just monsters. And don't keep all your focus on the blade—don't forget what you're supposed to be learning."

Sushang decided to demonstrate the impact of footwork on combat herself. "Let me show you."

Ais did not refuse. She understood the value of grasping the bigger picture from a small detail.

Even if the girl's techniques didn't look like they were meant for monsters, who was to say they couldn't be used that way? If they couldn't deal with monsters, how had the girl even made it here?

The girl was clearly stronger than her; what Ais saw was merely limited by her own perspective.

Seeing her ready, Sushang slid her feet back lightly, her blue-and-white sword hanging by her side.

Her entire aura shifted; she no longer held the relaxed defensive posture from before, but instead radiated a lightness that seemed to blend with the surrounding grass and trees.

"The Edge of Taixuan emphasizes the harmony of the five elements and unity with nature."

"Watch closely." Before the words faded, her figure moved.

It wasn't the explosive dash Ais was accustomed to; it was like the wind weaving through a forest. The moment her toes touched the ground, she shifted three feet to the side.

Her speed didn't appear fast, yet it was dizzying for Lefiya to watch—it was as if the girl wasn't moving, but gliding across the ground.

Compared to the outsider Lefiya, Ais had a much more intuitive sense of what was happening. It felt as if she were back in the 17th Floor situation.

It was 'Reduced Earth.' While it lacked the staggering, hundred-meter leaps, this subtle 'sidestepping' made the practical effect of this move in combat all the more clear to Ais!

If Sushang hadn't warned her beforehand, she might not have even reacted until she was already upon her.

"Your footwork is steady and fast," Sushang's voice drifted over as she moved. "But it's too heavy. Every dash, every change of direction—it's like you're fighting the ground itself. You exert too much force, and that leaves you half a beat slow when you need to recover."

As she finished, Sushang's figure suddenly stopped beside Ais, her wrist flicking upward so that the spine of her blade lightly tapped Ais's knee.

"Look at this." Sushang bent her own knee slightly. "Keep this arc. Every step you take shouldn't be a 'stomp,' but a 'flow.' Let your center of gravity follow your feet, don't make your feet chase after your center of gravity."

"I can resolve that point with my magic," Ais explained. "This way of exerting force allows my attacks to have more penetrating power."

This was the clash of different philosophies from different schools of thought; it was natural. Different styles had different priorities.

There was no point in arguing which was better, but since the girl considered her a teacher, Sushang decided to help her break this habit of using raw brute force.

That wasn't the right way to use one's strength.

It was fair to say that Orario's exploration of technique was still too shallow, racing headlong toward raw destructive power, focusing only on high numbers and overwhelming force.

But true strength lay in the combination of power and mechanics.

"Alright, that's decided for our first lesson today."

Sushang knew that just talking wouldn't change someone's mindset; sometimes you just have to let a person learn through experience.

Ais didn't know what Sushang was thinking, but seeing the prompt to continue the attack, she honestly resumed her assault.

The glow from the ceiling dimmed as time passed. Lefiya had transitioned from rapt attention to a vacant, glazed expression. Her thoughts had drifted, and she sat blankly on the grass until someone calling her name snapped her back to reality.

"Eh!?"

The elf girl finally focused on the scene before her and widened her eyes.

Ais was now covered in dust and dirt, sweat clinging to her cheeks and hair. Despite her expression remaining cold and composed, she wore a vaguely stunned look.

"That's all for today's lesson."

The brown-haired girl standing behind Ais stretched lazily. "It's getting late. Let's head back and get something to eat."

Ais nodded, though she hadn't fully emerged from the frustration of the training.

She hadn't landed a single blow... she had been led around in circles just like a Minotaur...

It was a first... she was full of power, yet completely unable to use it...

--+--

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