Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 395 (Part 1):

**Clang!**

Asuka’s eyes trembled as he parried his opponent’s sword. A sharp pain spread throughout his entire body.

‘Damn it.’

His muttered curse never made it past his lips. The opponent had struck first.

The sword that came flying at him carried an overwhelming force. It was a heavy, orthodox strike, yet one that couldn’t be brushed aside with mere tricks—a level of swordsmanship of a highly skilled swordsman.

Asuka instinctively blocked the incoming blade.

**Clang! Clang!** His senses were on edge. A single mistake would instantly lead to defeat.

“Hmm.”

After unleashing a flurry of strikes, the golden-eyed man paused briefly, tilting his head as he murmured. His composure was infuriatingly relaxed.

“You’re quite good at parrying. That’s the swordsmanship of the well-trained Imperial Knights.”

“Because that’s exactly who taught me,” Asuka retorted brusquely, barely catching his breath. Cold sweat trickled down his back.

The brief respite he had was painfully precious. He didn’t even have enough room left for the kind of arrogance that could fuel his fighting spirit.

‘He’s not even going all out.’

Bitterly, Asuka assessed the situation. The man was strong enough to toy with him.

What had happened to Sian wasn’t a coincidence. Asuka’s brow furrowed deeply.

‘Arrogant bastard. He thinks I’m easy pickings. I’m still the top swordsman of Greta Academy.’

The man didn’t seem much older—three or four years at most. A young man, arrogant enough to openly display his immaturity.

Yet, his strength was different from Helmut’s. Crossing swords with Helmut felt like facing a monstrous entity rather than a swordsman.

A beast-like wildness perfectly contained within human form.

This man, however, was clearly human. And yet, every casual swing of his sword carried overwhelming pressure, capable of splitting Asuka in two.

A remarkably skilled swordsman—a refined and perfected example.

The man stood easily, without a single drop of sweat, clearly demonstrating the gap between their abilities. His gaze sharpened further.

“Your words and actions are as crude as a street thug’s, but your swordsmanship is different. Your name was Asuka, right?”

“Who the hell are you calling crude…!”

Ignoring Asuka’s anger, the man continued expressionlessly.

“I’ve heard rumors. The heir of Grand Duke Farnese appeared, someone from the academy. Yes, that royal’s name was…”

The man’s speech slowed.

“Asuka.”

His eyes locked confidently onto Asuka. Those shining golden eyes made Asuka feel like prey before a predator.

Concealing his shaken confidence, Asuka raised a finger defiantly.

“That’s right, bastard. I’m royalty. Who do you think you are, speaking so casually? Show some respect and use honorifics when addressing a royal!”

“I am dueling a swordsman named ‘Sian’, not the heir of Grand Duke Farnese.”

The man coldly dismissed Asuka’s words and turned his gaze to his sword.

He was also a follower of the divine. Bearing a holy sword, he had been granted a status equivalent to that of a High Priest.

Yet among fellow followers of Lumen, he was humbler than anyone.

“Though my own status is high enough not to be disrespected, even by royalty…”

With stern eyes filled with a clear warning, the man spoke decisively.

“Now is not the time to discuss such matters. Here, I’m merely a swordsman in this tournament. Isn’t it the same for you?”

His words rendered Asuka’s earlier remarks meaningless.

‘Arrogant jerk.’

Asuka knew. The man’s confidence was backed by skill. Sword fights were full of variables.

Yet those variables seemed unlikely to help now.

Just a few clashes had vividly conveyed an unfamiliar sensation of defeat.

“Please resume the match!”

One of the organizers shouted loudly. Matches often paused briefly as opponents sized each other up.

Yet this looked more like a leisurely conversation.

The corners of the man’s lips curled slightly upward.

“Do you need more time?”

His tone was almost patronizing.

“No.”

Gritting his teeth, Asuka raised his sword again. Just one chance—he would surely get one chance.

Charlotte had said fighting your hardest and losing wasn’t shameful.

But Asuka wanted victory. At the moment, there was only one way he knew to achieve it.

‘I’ll give it my all.’

In the next instant, Asuka’s body shot forward explosively. Vis surged within him.

Every muscle in his body strained to its limit, releasing a strike like an arrow shot from a bow drawn to its breaking point.

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