Chapter 464: Spar with the Jungle Lord? [1]
While everyone trained, running through the countless traps the Captain had spread throughout the jungle, even going as far as going outside the perimeter of the Heart of the Jungle to battle monsters.
If Lillian remembered correctly, the only person left in their group without a Shard was Viesta.
’And yet...’
When an opportunity arose for her to acquire a Shard under the comforting and safe presence of the Captain... She instead stayed behind to watch Lillian’s inevitable spar with the Jungle Lord.
Lillian looked back at the woman, who had chosen to sit far away from their location. When she had heard that she had chosen to stay behind, Lillian was obviously baffled.
Why was she going to waste time rather than getting stronger?
Earlier, when she had asked something similar to this, she was met with a rather... Unexpected yet adorable response.
"If ya don’t mind, partner... I would actually prefer if you would help me out instead, a little catch up, ya know?"
Lillian couldn’t help but let out a smile as she recalled the embarrassed and shy look the Cowgirl had on her face as she asked her. Although such a request would dig into her time for training, that wasn’t a good enough reason to reject such a reasonable request.
In fact, she was also rather excited to help Viesta, especially with the reaction the woman may give out.
’If I remember correctly, the only reason why Viesta isn’t as mad about being pulled into a Trial is because she could now have a chance at unlocking the crucial features of the system... The Shards and the Mana Realm...’
While, in time, you would be able to peer inside your Mana Realm, it would take an unbearably long time and focus—something the Jester was kind enough to bestow upon you once clearing one of its Trials.
’Although, the Shard is a whole different matter, considering its only exclusive to the system.’
Seeing that she was getting off topic and leaving the Jungle Lord in front of her waiting, Lillian shook her head and vanished these unimportant thoughts from her mind.
Lillian took a step forward and flashed her hand out, allowing it to hover for a split moment as she summoned a dull-looking cutlass into her hand before tightly gripping it.
This was the Regular Cutlass, a factor in the upcoming battle she was sure was going to come in handy.
And because of it, she needed to awaken it first; otherwise, it would be more of a negative factor rather than a positive one.
She felt a shock run through her hand, coming from the cutlass, and felt a strange sort of attachment to the sword. This was the restriction; she wasn’t allowed to use any other items besides it.
Even accessories and armour like her earring, chestplate, gauntlets, and boots weren’t allowed. Within the player base, this restriction made it a horrible pick compared to the others.
While restrictions that caused you to be in a constant state of tunnel vision, having to use your hands to awaken it, or needing to kill enemies in a single strike were difficult, they weren’t on the level of the cutlass.
The other restrictions were far safer!
However.
If Lillian wanted to truly confirm her suspicions about her theory of rapid growth under intense and life-threatening situations, she believed this sort of restriction would be perfect for her.
’And it’s not like I’m the only one restricted as well...’
Looking across from her, the Jungle lord—who was still waiting—was holding a large and equally dull greatsword compared to her cutlass over his shoulder.
That’s the Regular Greatsword with the only restriction on it being that it grows in psychological weight with each connected attack or parry.
’Well, then...’
"Time to begin..."
After making a gesture with her cutlass, the Jungle Lord nodded and charged towards her with blurring speed, appearing right in front of her in no time.
CLANG!
The two of them clashed, causing a thunderous sound to ring out akin to a bell as they disengaged. Lillian’s arms shook as she looked towards the Jungle Lord and watched as he went in for another attack.
She had ordered him to attack her with killing intent, but to hold back enough so that she wouldn’t actually die.
’And yet...’
CLANG.
’I am severely struggling!’
Guarding against a swift strike, Lillian watched as the Jungle Lord leapt away, using the trees to bounce around her.
Despite requesting the Jungle Lord to hold back, Lillian was struggling under the might of its speed.
Lillian looked around, finding herself to be met with a heavy swing from the Jungle Lord’s greatsword, no matter what direction she was looking apart from down.
It was as if she were caught in the eye of a storm of sharp metal debris coming at her from all sides!
Lillian watched as the Jungle Lord continued to bounce off the trees like a speedy grasshopper. And if she had to be honest, she had long lost track of where he was.
Through the use of her earring, she had been able to double the rate at which she processed things—the reason why she had been able to barely keep track of the Jungle Lord’s movements in their first battle.
But now that she was without it, due to the cutlass...
She was now reminded why he was considered the guardian of the jungle.
By now, her entire body was riddled with shallow cuts—except for her more vulnerable parts like her neck, eyes, and head. Anywhere that could prove fatal was avoided by the Jungle Lord as he continued his speedy assault.
Depending on her instincts to get her through this storm, Lillian twisted her body around and swung her cutlass, luckily coming face-to-face with the Jungle Lord.
Unfortunately, she was also face-to-face with a horrific illusory wave that crashed into her sword and sent her flying back towards the trunk of a tree.
She was just hit with a Tidebreaker Slash!
Lillian felt the mana from the blow crash into her body like a harsh gust of wind, throwing her back to crash into a tree.
The tree shook terribly from Lillian’s landing and listened as a pained groan escaped her lips.
Her arms trembled erratically from the swing, still feeling the vibration caused by the metal of her sword; techniques truly were terrifying!
That slash was perhaps double the power of the Jungle Lord’s previous swings!
’It’s a good thing he can’t call out the technique’s name...’
As Lillian was about to push herself out from the crater of splintered wood, she quickly raised her sword in defence.
The Jungle Lord, who had sent her flying back, felt a noticeable increase in weight; a dramatic increase. It was now more than double his weight!
Ignoring the greatsword’s incline in weight, he bent forward and immediately pounced in Lillian’s direction for another follow-up attack; yet another Tidebreaker Slash!
The sight of a flying illusory wave reflected in Lillian’s eyes caused them to tremble.
She braced for impact and managed to catch a glimpse of the Jungle Lord’s horizontal swing.