Chapter 361: Sparring Match

Exiting the room, Orion walked down the hallway before he approached the guards stationed outside. He nodded, inquiring casually, “Do you know where Uncle Edgar and Brother Lucan are right now?”

The guards straightened respectfully, replying promptly, “Sir Edgar and Sir Lucan are currently overseeing training exercises at the training grounds behind the mansion, Young Master.”

Orion nodded, offering a quick word of thanks before proceeding swiftly to the training grounds.

***

The spacious training area was bustling with activity, filled with the rhythmic sounds of weapons clashing, feet shifting, and occasional shouted instructions.

At the center stood Edgar and Lucan, both closely watching a group of guards practicing their sword techniques.

Seeing Orion approaching, Edgar’s expression immediately warmed with a smile. Lucan, as always, tried to make a cool pose as if he was some hidden master.

“Young Master Orion,” Edgar greeted warmly, motioning the guards to pause their training. “Good to see you up and about.”

Lucan also smiled and greeted him, “You are finally here, Young Master. And here I was wondering when you’d show up.”

Orion smiled lightly, greeting them both, “Good morning, Uncle Edgar, Grandpa Lucan.”

Lucan’s lips twitched at the way Orion addressed him. Edgar gently chuckled before he turned toward the guards, “You’re dismissed for now. Continue your practice later.”

The guards bowed respectfully and dispersed, leaving the three of them alone on the training grounds.

Orion chatted casually with Edgar and Lucan for a few moments, discussing mundane topics briefly. However, soon his gaze shifted toward Lucan, eyes glinting playfully as he asked, “Brother Lucan, how about sparring with me for a bit?”

Lucan raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, tilting his head curiously. “Only me, Young Master? Not Sir Edgar as well?”

Orion shook his head firmly, his eyes gleaming with excitement and anticipation. “No, I specifically want to test something new against you today.”

Lucan’s interest was visibly piqued. Without another word, he smoothly drew his sword, stepping into the training ring with quiet confidence. “Very well, Young Master. It’ll be my honor.”

Orion followed suit immediately, smoothly unsheathing both of his swords as he entered the ring opposite Lucan. A confident smile curved his lips, excitement dancing in his eyes as he readied himself.

Edgar folded his arms, smiling approvingly from the side. “Well then, this should be interesting. Don’t go too easy on him, Lucan.”

Lucan chuckled softly, steadying his stance. “Of course not, Sir Edgar. The Young Master wouldn’t appreciate it if I did.”

Orion laughed lightly, his body radiating anticipation and eagerness. “Indeed. Brother Lucan, let’s see how much you can handle.”

Lucan raised an eyebrow, “Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”

Flexing his sword, Orion’s lips curled into a smile, “You’ll soon see.”

Orion shifted into a balanced stance, gripping both of his swords loosely but firmly. Lucan stood opposite, a composed look on his face as he held his sword in front, its blade glinting in the morning sun.

“Ready, Brother Lucan?” Orion asked playfully, his eyes twinkling with hidden excitement.

Lucan smirked, nodding slightly. “Always ready, Young Master. Let’s see what new tricks you’ve learned.”

Without further hesitation, Orion moved first. His swords flashed forward with practiced ease, a seamless combination of speed and control.

Lucan responded fluidly, matching Orion’s strikes blow-for-blow. Their swords clashed, ringing sharply through the air, drawing Edgar’s approving nod from the sidelines.

However, as their spar continued, Lucan’s expression subtly shifted. At first, he maintained a relaxed confidence, blocking each of Orion’s strikes comfortably, but as the rhythm accelerated, Lucan began noticing subtle changes.

Orion’s swordsmanship had significantly improved. Each strike was crisp, purposeful, and precise. His movement was more fluid and elegant, his footwork perfectly synchronized with every attack. Lucan found himself genuinely pressed, his eyes widening in admiration.

With a spin, Orion deflected Lucan’s sword, smoothly transitioning into another series of attacks.

Lucan, forced to retreat a step, praised with genuine astonishment, “You’ve improved drastically, Young Master. Just how much did you experience in that small world to improve this much?”

Orion laughed softly, maintaining his offensive without missing a beat. “I had to improve to face off those bastards.”

Edgar chuckled from the sidelines, clearly enjoying the match, impressed by Orion’s rapid growth. Lucan smiled in response, adjusting his stance as he intensified his defense. “Then, I won’t underestimate you further!”

The spar escalated rapidly, both participants deeply immersed in their clash. However, Orion’s eyes suddenly sparkled mischievously. Seeing an opening, he leaped back, briefly breaking the engagement.

Lucan paused in confusion, tilting his head curiously. “Is something wrong, Young Master?”

“Nothing,” Orion smirked lightly, infusing mana into the newly formed pocket space within his Sea of Consciousness. He mentally summoned the Sassy Salmon Familiar, feeling the connection activate instantly.

Suddenly, a small flash of bright pink light appeared just above Orion’s shoulder, revealing a floating salmon, its bright scales shimmering absurdly under the sun.

Lucan’s eyes immediately widened in surprise, utterly speechless at the strange spectacle before him.

Edgar, standing nearby, blinked in disbelief. “What in the…?”

The salmon wasted no time. It opened its mouth wide, immediately unleashing a torrent of verbal abuse upon Lucan.

“Wow, look at you!” the salmon exclaimed mockingly, its tone sharp and sarcastic. “Swinging your sword like you’re swatting flies! Did your mother never teach you how to handle a blade properly, or were you simply dropped as a baby?”

Lucan froze briefly, eyebrows twitching slightly, momentarily stunned by the unexpected insult.

He quickly composed himself, forcing his expression into neutrality as he returned his attention to Orion. “Interesting familiar, Young Master,” Lucan said dryly, resuming his stance. “But you’ll need more than mere words to distract me.”

Orion merely chuckled lightly, re-engaging Lucan in combat. Meanwhile, the salmon continued floating effortlessly above Orion’s shoulder, unfazed by the intensity of their fight.

With every clash of blades, the salmon unleashed a fresh barrage of insults.

“Your stance is pitiful!” it mocked viciously. “A blind goblin with a stick could do better than that!”

Lucan clenched his jaw tightly, doing his best to ignore the incessant barrage, focusing solely on Orion’s attacks. But each insult seemed intentionally tailored to chip away at his composure, distracting him even further.

“Oh dear, is that sweat? Are you really struggling against someone dozens of years younger than you? Maybe retirement is overdue, old man!” the salmon teased relentlessly, wagging its fins in exaggerated mockery.

Lucan’s calm demeanor began visibly cracking, irritation flashing clearly in his eyes. Finally losing his patience, he pivoted sharply, breaking away from Orion and swung his sword angrily toward the salmon, shouting, “Enough of your nonsense!”

The blade passed harmlessly through the salmon’s incorporeal form. Completely unaffected, the salmon gasped dramatically before bursting into mocking laughter.

“Did you really think you could hit a majestic dragon with brute force? Oh, how adorable!” it crowed triumphantly, clearly amused.

Lucan stood frozen in shock for a second, frustration evident on his face as Orion burst into genuine laughter, unable to maintain seriousness any longer. “Brother Lucan, getting angry at a salmon won’t help you win this match!”

Lucan groaned audibly, shaking his head with resignation as he smiled bitterly. “Young Master, that familiar is infuriating.”

Orion grinned cheekily, resuming their spar. “That’s the point!”

They exchanged several more blows, Lucan forced to constantly divert his focus between Orion’s aggressive strikes and the salmon’s relentless verbal harassment. Soon enough, Lucan felt his concentration beginning to falter.

Realizing the strain, Orion slowed down his attacks and gradually ended their match, stepping back with a satisfied nod. “Alright, that’s enough.”

The salmon, sensing the sparring had ended, yawned exaggeratedly while looking at Lucan as if he was a useless piece of trash, then vanished back into Orion’s Sea of Consciousness.

Lucan sheathed his sword, exhaling deeply as he relaxed his posture. He glanced at Orion, smiling ruefully. “I’ve experienced many tactics, Young Master, but never once did I think insults from a fish could break my focus.”

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