Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 103 (Part 1):
‘Did he use Vis?’
Jeffrey doubted. Helmut’s wooden sword was fast, but it didn’t contain tremendous power. He didn’t think it had the force to crush flesh and break bones.
However, the impact he received was beyond imagination. It left his entire body numb and powerless. It didn’t end with just one strike.
After stabbing his shoulder, he seemed to retreat, then suddenly he kept stabbing at the abdomen. There was no chance to defend with a paralyzed body.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
It felt like being hit at the end of a stick. No, it felt like being torn.
“Ugh! Ah!”
In the shock that brought tears to Jeffrey’s eyes, he unintentionally cried out. The wooden sword he was tightly gripping slipped through his fingers.
Thud! The final strike hit his right thigh.
Jeffrey knelt forward as if collapsing. His whole body ached to the extent that his soul seemed halfway out.
Helmut, holding the wooden sword above his shoulder, raised one eyebrow as if surprised.
“You’re not bad.”
Despite being hit, Jeffrey had subtly twisted his body, avoiding only the vital points. It was an instinctive movement. But the result didn’t change.
“Are you kidding me now?”
An irritated Jeffrey raised his voice.
“Did you use Vis? H-how is this possible!”
It was an incomprehensible situation. He’s a senior, but only a year older. He was beaten so badly by a boy of almost the same age!
“Vis? No need for that. You’re just weak.”
Helmut replied indifferently.
“Strength is good, but… it’s meaningless if you can’t succeed in an attack.”
If he clumsily blocked it, the wooden sword had enough power to split his in two. That’s why Helmut chose to avoid and then switch to an offensive strategy.
Jeffrey wasn’t dull like a bear. If it were an ordinary opponent, he would have fiercely retaliated, allowing a defeat the moment he allowed an attack.
The reason he perfectly avoided that was because Helmut was much superior in skill.
“Shall we continue?”
If he can stand up, that is.
“Of course!”
Jeffrey reached out towards the wooden sword. But before he could touch it, he crouched down.
The intense pain surged from his right shoulder, which was hit first.
“Your muscles might have torn. Trying to move would be useless.”
Even in perfect condition, he was not a significant opponent, but in this state, he can’t even practice.
Jeffrey gritted his teeth in humiliation. Helmut glanced at him briefly and turned his gaze away.
‘Asuka and Charlotte, was it?’
He suddenly thought of them and ended it quickly.
That girl named Charlotte, she’s a bit on his mind. Is it because he heard that they look alike?
There was an inexplicable feeling. It’s too early to be sure, but if this is instinct, this feeling might mean something.
In the place where his gaze turned, Asuka and Charlotte were facing each other.
The match was not over yet. Helmut quietly watched.
Asuka was panicking again. As soon as the match started, he confidently thrust his wooden sword.
He thought he was going to finish it overwhelmingly and take a break.
But Charlotte was not the typical male student he used to face, large and muscular, with many areas to hit.
Asuka’s usual advantage was turned completely upside down.
‘Why is this girl so fast?’
Moreover, her movements were flexible, light, and fast, like a hornet. Even when trying to overpower her, she couldn’t be caught.
Although Asuka maintained the upper hand, he couldn’t find an opportunity to deliver a decisive blow. She was carefully avoiding the subtle movements like hiding a neck from a wild beast.
Charlotte was cautious, realizing that she was facing a stronger opponent. Her strategy involved not overcommitting and maintaining the duel while keeping the opponent on edge.
There was a feeling of dragging on for Asuka, and he made a displeased expression.
‘She’s defensive. Is she just learning the purpose of the duel?’
There are such guys. The opponent is Asuka. If she knows she can’t beat the opponent, she chooses to be faithful to the essence of the duel.
But Asuka looked into her eyes. The gaze was not discouraged. Charlotte’s eyes were subtly different from the others. There was some intention behind them.
Asuka suddenly realized. How much time has passed? It’s been a while since he had a duel for so long.
‘Is she aiming for a draw?’
He got goosebumps. Asuka gritted his teeth.
‘Draw? Don’t be ridiculous!’
Even if he lost to Helmut, the crazy dog Asuka of the swordsmanship department couldn’t settle for a draw against a first-year student. That was absolutely unacceptable.
Asuka’s eyes became fierce. The momentum emanating from his whole body changed. Tension rose in Charlotte’s eyes facing him.
‘If I defend well, I can win.’
If it’s impossible to win, she chooses a strategy that doesn’t lose. But even so, if there is an opportunity to win, she modifies her strategy.
Asuka was the type of person who, rather than firing off a flawless attack, made sure that his opponent wouldn’t dare take advantage of it. Most of them can’t even react.
But Charlotte could. She believed she could.
It was an excessive self-confidence.
The moment Asuka rushed in, Charlotte lowered her body by a hair’s breadth.
Naturally, she aimed to plunge into the lower body, intending to target the legs or thighs.
But Asuka’s reaction was different from what Charlotte expected. He skillfully rolled his foot, rolled forcefully, and leaped into the air.
Losing sight of the target, Charlotte quickly withdrew her body.
Asuka did the same. Spinning in the air, he landed on Charlotte, from head to heels.
Thud! From head to heels, her body collided with the floor.
Charlotte didn’t lose her wooden sword. But she sensed defeat.
‘Damn it.’