Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 236 (Part 1):
Instinct?
The trajectory of the sword was swift like a beam of light. Charlotte clearly saw the sword flying towards her.
Her heightened concentration, which seemed to let her even feel the flow of air, made it possible. It was an odd occurrence.
Charlotte herself never thought she could read Helmut’s sword movements, even while preparing for this competition.
It was a realistic assessment.
But, unrealistically, she avoided Helmut’s first strike.
It was an unblockable sword. Helmut raised his eyebrows as he watched her perfectly react and evade the sword’s range.
“This tournament has helped you grow.”
Helmut muttered as if surprised. He didn’t particularly go easy on her. He knew that would be humiliating for Charlotte.
He believed no one except Asuka could evade even his single strike.
He didn’t overestimate his sister. While sparring with Charlotte, he never once thought she could achieve such a feat.
‘She knows how to create variables.’
That was Charlotte’s strength.
However, he couldn’t allow any more variables.
Helmut lowered his body and dug in. From Charlotte’s perspective, it must have felt like a beast was descending upon her.
Clang! The swords clashed. Charlotte gritted her teeth. She lost sensation in both hands due to the impact.
The enormous pressure felt like it was going to crush her wrists. That was the power of Vis.
Charlotte summoned Vis to resist. But it was like trying to block a waterfall with a stream. The Vis was rapidly being drained.
Rather than shaping Vis, it was purely a manifestation of physical strength.
However, when a stronger opponent clashed with such force, there was no other way to resist.
Helmut was overwhelming Charlotte with sheer force. If she relaxed even for a moment, her sword would slip from her grasp.
Although she wouldn’t get hurt as Helmut had declared, defeat would immediately follow.
The moment this balance of power broke, she needed to create an instant gap to counterattack. It was Charlotte’s only option.
But the balance mustn’t crumble completely. Otherwise, she would collapse instantly.
There was a subtle moment. A moment where she wasn’t sure if she could do it. But Charlotte was adept at seizing opportunities.
Her sword, completely drained of power, pointed downwards, and Helmut’s sword swiftly and fiercely dug in.
It aimed at her neck and pointed at it.
But Charlotte perfectly read Helmut’s intent.
At that moment, she shifted the balance and twisted her arm.
She explosively released the Vis that had been consumed merely to receive the blow, targeting the center of his body.
Just as Helmut aimed at her neck, her chest would be exposed. This sudden flexibility was her forte.
At that moment, the corner of Helmut’s mouth lifted slightly.
It seemed like a flash had just grazed by.
Clang, clang, clang!
The sword slipped from her grip and rolled on the ground.
Charlotte fell to the floor from the shock that seemed to paralyze her body.
Thud! Her knees ached as they struck the ground.
‘How…?’
Only questions lingered in her mind. Charlotte didn’t see how Helmut moved this time.
She merely followed her calculations, failed, and lost.
Waaaaaaah!
Fierce cheers hit the stage. It might have ended quickly for a final, but another factor was exciting the audience.
The appearance of the absolute strong, Helmut! Even on the final stage, he proved himself.
‘Is this the difference in skill?’
Charlotte looked at her empty hands.
She didn’t feel bitterness or regret. She had done her best, but her opponent was simply too strong.
Helmut calmly looked at her. He sheathed his sword, not a speck of dust on him.
Before and after the match, Helmut felt no change.
It was certainly a much easier competition compared to the Basor tournament.
‘I wonder if learning the Empire’s common swordsmanship was useful..’
He didn’t even have a proper chance to fully display his swordsmanship. He simply swung his sword.
That was enough.
Since leaving the Forest of Roots, the one thing he longed for was meeting an opponent he could fight with all his might.
Opponents like Darien or Elaga.
In the Forest of Roots, Helmut experienced frequent and numerous defeats.
Helmut suddenly pondered.
‘Can I still not defeat Elaga?’
If Elaga had devoured Naho, he would have become stronger, so probably not.
Elaga was not only a magical beast with immense magical power but also knew how to fight.
Elaga probably wouldn’t fear the temple even after leaving the Forest of Roots.
A somewhat unpleasant conclusion that he still had a long way to go.
Now Charlotte had something to say.
After gathering her thoughts, Charlotte spoke calmly after a moment.
“Senior, congratulations on your victory.”
Helmut extended his hand towards her.
“You did well too.”
Charlotte took Helmut’s hand and stood up, dusting off her hips.
She was in better condition than any other match before the finals.
The shock Helmut gave was temporary. Since she didn’t sustain any internal injuries, she would probably recover in a day or so.
Charlotte didn’t forget that she avoided Helmut’s first strike.
And that was something she hadn’t foreseen. She narrowed her eyes.
“Did you perhaps go easy on me?”
“If you call making sure you didn’t get hurt going easy, then yes. I’d win anyway, and you’re my junior after all.”
Helmut spoke as if it wasn’t for her sake.
But knowing it was a rare consideration from him, Charlotte suddenly harbored suspicion.
That suspicion immediately turned into words.
“Senior, you don’t happen to like me, do you?”
If he had been drinking water, he might have spat it out.