CHAPTER 790: ALICE VS SYRION

"I believe that’s one point to me." Syrion smiled, pulling back his blade.

Gwen stood rooted in her place while Alice was in disbelief.

She knew full well how powerful Vision was yet Syrion bypassed it- no, rather than bypass, he forced a gap then outpaced Gwen.

No matter how clear she sees it, she couldn’t react.

If Alice was in Gwen’s shoes and this was a serious battle, all she could do would be to hope that her regeneration would hold.

Either that or kill Syrion before he could kill her, not a very concrete plan.

"Again." Gwen demanded as Syrion hoisted his blade onto his shoulders.

"Of course, as much as you want young lady."

*CLANG!!!

Syrion’s blade was aimed at Gwen’s neck once more.

"Again!"

*CLANG!!!

"AGAIN!!!"

*BANG!!!

Crashing against the ground, Gwen tried to sit up but Syrion’s finger pointed at her forehead.

"You’re in too much of a rush young lady. You’re relying on those eyes of yours a bit too much. You’re too addicted to ’seeing’ what’s going to happen rather than acting." Syrion cut her off.

Unless she understood this point, she was going to be stuck at this bottleneck forever.

"Take a break for now. Mead girl, it’s your turn." Syrion patted Gwen on the shoulder before looking over at Alice.

"Huh? Me? And also what’s with that nickname." Alice sighed, placing down her glass of mead.

"Of course you. You’re also here to help her fight are you not? If she’s planning on taking on Solaris, don’t tell me you plan on just watching? And I can tell you like that nickname so stop being so cheeky and get over here."

Rolling her eyes, Alice shrugged and made her way over.

Summoning her bow, she prepared to take aim.

"First of all, stop that. I can tell you’re not an archer." Syrion stopped her head in her tracks.

Gwen glanced over.

"How many years do you think I spent on the battlefield? I’ve cut down archers up close and personal. I’ve seen how they move their body, how they prepare. And you, you are not one of them.

"You don’t move that way. You don’t posture like them. You don’t even BREATHE like them.

"You, oh~ you’re a different one alright. The way you move, the way you prepare, you’re someone who gets up close and personal." Syrion analysed.

’F*ck.’

[He’s got you there.] Cayla was impressed.

’He even called out the way you breathe twinnie, he’s a tough one.’ Alyss nodded.

Alice scratched her hair.

"Tsk, you just gotta go spoil things don’t you? And here I was keeping it a secret too."

Since the cats out of the bag, Alice wasn’t going to hold back.

"You’re right. I get up close and personal. But it’s not as though I’m not an archer, I simply adapt to the weapon I need in that moment of time. I’m someone who changes based on the environment."

Dismissing her bow, Alice clenched her fist and activated Void Fang.

Spear, bow, axe, halberd. It kept shifting through forms before landing on a longsword.

"Sorry Gwen, don’t take it personally. It’s not something I can just show to people." Alice glanced back before turning to Syrion.

Taking an offensive stance, Alice expanded her zone, knowing full well how dangerous Syrion is.

"That’s a little better." Syrion nodded. If she wanted to get actual feedback, she needed to be fighting the way she usually fought. Not some imitation that she wasn’t fully used to yet.

Gwen stared at Alice with conflicting emotions but she’ll clear them later. For now, she raised her hand and detonated a mote of fire to signal the start of this battle.

*BANG!

Alice was the first to attack.

Energy converged into Void Fang and sent out an arc of energy.

’An artifact!’ Gwen immediately recognised it to be a strong artifact weapon.

Alice could see several shadows flickering around Syrion. All of his possible moves.

’Eliminate the unlikely, don’t get greedy.’

*CLANG!!!

Parrying the energy arc, Syrion was pleasantly surprised by how strong it was, enough to make him take half a step back.

It didn’t seem like it but this little girl carried more power than most!

Since that was the case, he’ll reply in kind!

*BANG!!!

Once again, Syrion disappeared using the same move he used on Gwen.

His blade ripped through the air anwas d about to reach Alice’s neck.

But unlike Gwen, Alice’s eyes were securely locked onto Syrion’s blade.

As the blade was about to reach Alice, Void Fang intercepted!

Her body may not react in time but her weapon could! She simply had to command it the moment she spots the danger!

Alice ducked into his range.

*BANG!!!

Punching up with her fist, a hollow echo sounded out.

"Tch!"

"You’re punching armour young lady, expect your hand to be hurt." Syrion laughed, lunging forward with a shoulder charge.

Alice stepped to the side before transforming Void Fang into a spear. Twirling around her body, she tried to attack Syrion from below but he caught it with his blades!

He tried to sweep Alice’s legs but she jumped.

Turning Void Fang into a pair of gauntlets, Alice held her breath and punched!

This time, Syrion had to block with his weapon.

As their weapons collided, the impact sent him sliding back but he quickly recovered.

Through the dust, Alice took aim with her bow!

Consecutive shots!

*KRR!!!

However, despite not deploying a Zone or Vision, Syrion cut apart her arrows with deadly precision.

’No go huh?’

Alice narrowed her eyes.

Since that was the case, she’ll use the martial arts that she learned in the east! She might not be a martial artist like Alyss but she could still use it to some extent!

Closing the gap in an instant, Alice slammed her palms into Syrion’s chest, breaking his guard.

He tried to grab her but she took advantage of her small body, ducking down and weaving his grab while launching a counter towards his back.

Kicking the back of his knees, she tried to make him kneel but his stance was firm.

Regardless, she couldn’t stand still otherwise Syrion would grab her!

Creating a hammer, Alice was about to strike down when her body froze.

Syrion’s blade was aimed right at her eye and she wouldn’t have been able to move out of the way in time.

"You’re an experienced one. Your movements and proficiency with your weapon is a testament of how many times you fought battles.

"However, you’re too used to taking charge of the momentum. Once you begin a combo, you rarely get it broken. Not saying it’s bad but there’s a pause. That pause is dangerous, a habit you should get rid of as soon as possible." Syrion smiled before pulling back his weapon.

"That and you seem to be thinking a bit too much. You work better with trusting your instincts. Not saying you shouldn’t think but perhaps you can try to lean into that instinct."

Syrion had seen her type of fighter before.

Ones that would strategize despite having a ferocious instinct.

There were moments in that exchange where he felt like a feral animal was preparing to rip out his jugular, but at the last moment, reason and logic would take over.

If she wanted to continue her combo, trusting that feral instinct would’ve been better than strategizing and attacking from behind.

After all, it was that same thinking that allowed him to set a tempo trap for her. To make her think everything was in control before flipping the battle.

Alice was silent. She contemplated his words and found merit in them.

In order to be more effective in battle, there needs to be a balance. She has to find the line between instinct and reason.

Sometimes, it may lean to one side but never completely.

"I see..." Alice started to walk away, surprising Syrion.

"Don’t you want to try again?"

He thought she would be like Gwen, asking for another battle in order to correct herself but Alice shook her head.

"Not much would be changed if I kept fighting. I need to figure out what kind of balance I need to strike." Alice admitted but Syrion waved his finger.

"Before that, let’s take a look at your instincts." He wanted to see what Alice was like instinctually.

And to bring that out, he needed to overwhelm her!

*BANG!!!

Rushing forward, his blade had already reached Alice’s head.

Her pupils constricted.

He wasn’t stopping.

Relaxing her entire body in an instant, she dropped to the ground, narrowly avoiding the blade edge when a foot came into view.

Gritting her teeth, she entered a handstand on his leg, avoiding the kick before countering with her own attack.

However, Syrion grabbed her ankles in an attempt to slam her into the ground.

Alice wanted to defend but her mind screamed to attack.

Flicking her finger, Void Fang transformed into a dagger and pierced towards Syrion’s face! He leaned back to dodge but Alice then transformed it into a hammer in an attempt to hit him from behind.

Yet all it hit was the face of Syrion’s blade. He blocked!

"Don’t tell me you’re still holding back?" Syrion looked down at Alice.

"I can see if now. You are a cas-"

"Stop spoiling my secrets!" Alice twisted her body, covering her leg with Void Fang before kicking towards his arm, threatening to slice it off.

Syrion quickly let go, allowing Alice to create some distance between them.

"Don’t you know it’s rude to dig into a lady’s secrets?" Alice narrowed her eyes.

"Well, I only had a son and not a daughter. Can’t say I’m familiar." Syrion laughed.

Alice was a dangerous one.

Before choosing to use Void Fang, Syrion could see it. Alice’s intent on simply twisting her leg off in order to create some distance.

’It must be regeneration.’ Syrion narrowed his eyes.

This kind of fighting style that didn’t care about the damage done to oneself...

"A berserker."