Xu Xiaoyou: "?"
"I want a hug too. You hugged her, but you won't hug me," the Substitute said calmly, though her words were laced with grievance.
Xu Xiaoyou covered her face. Her substitute was like some gloomy elementary schooler who, after being rejected by a girl, would secretly snap her eraser in half as revenge!
"I..." Xu Xiaoyou wanted to refuse, but seeing the Substitute's serious gaze, she reconsidered. It was just a hug, after all. If it made her work harder, she wasn't losing anything.
"Sigh." With a soft sigh, Xu Xiaoyou held up a finger. "Just once."
"Okay." The Substitute nodded and stepped closer.
As the other girl approached, the scent drifting off her made Xu Xiaoyou feel a bit awkward. She looked away, but the Substitute just stared at her, motionless.
"Hug me already," Xu Xiaoyou closed her eyes and urged, biting her lip slightly.
"You hug me."
Xu Xiaoyou took a deep breath, her face heating up. Suppressing the urge to throttle this girl, she stepped forward and gave her a quick hug, wanting to get it over with.
A sense of daze washed over her from the softness. She felt the body heat transferring to her and the warm breath lingering near her ear. 'So my body is this soft? It's actually quite comfortable to hold,' the thought popped into Xu Xiaoyou's head.
"That's enough, right?"
Xu Xiaoyou spoke as she tried to push the Substitute away, only for the other girl to suddenly wrap her arms around Xu Xiaoyou's shoulders, holding her tight.
"I'm not an elementary schooler," the Substitute said out of the blue.
Xu Xiaoyou's eyes widened, and she shoved the Substitute far back. "You know what I'm thinking?"
"I guessed."
Xu Xiaoyou: "?"
Looking at that face that never showed any expression, Xu Xiaoyou felt a wave of frustration. This girl was just her substitute, so why did it feel like she had no control over the situation?
"Swing the sword. Now," Xu Xiaoyou ordered with a stern face.
This time, the Substitute obeyed. She gripped the wooden training sword with both hands and swung it down with a fierce strike.
It was a textbook slash, utilizing the full power of her body. The whistling sound of the wind splitting revealed its sheer force.
【Sword Maiden Resonance: Mind's Eye proficiency increased. 2/1000.】
When the Substitute swung the sword, her original body actually gained talent proficiency!
Another swing!
【Sword Maiden Resonance: Mind's Eye proficiency increased. 3/1000.】
...
【Sword Maiden Resonance: Mind's Eye proficiency increased. 15/1000.】
Watching the Substitute swing again and again, leaving afterimages with every strike, Xu Xiaoyou became thoughtful.
She also picked up a wooden training sword and stood beside the Substitute, swinging in unison.
This time, two notifications for the Mind's Eye proficiency increase popped up simultaneously.
She was overjoyed.
This thing actually allowed her to double her talent points if she joined in!
At this rate, she might hit one thousand proficiency points tonight!
With her heart full of motivation, Xu Xiaoyou got to work. She slid forward, raised the sword above her head, and struck down with all her might, landing like a heavy boulder...
Three hours later.
Amidst the sword shadows, the girl's form became increasingly agile. Every strike resonated with a soft hum in the air, the wind from her blade swift and powerful. It was as if every swing propelled her forward, causing her to evolve and drift further along the path of the sword, resonating with the Way of the Sword!
Each strike was stronger, more precise, and more lethal than the last! Swift as thunder!
Every move was filled with beauty, like an art form of the blade, sketching out her comprehension of the sword.
Of course, this was the Substitute.
Xu Xiaoyou had collapsed on the floor like a tired dog after only fifty swings. Her body felt like it was falling apart, and her arms were too sore to even lift.
It wasn't that she wanted to slack off, but it seemed that if the quality of the swing didn't meet the standard, the proficiency wouldn't increase. Her movements had long since become deformed from exhaustion, so she couldn't gain a single point.
If not for the Substitute, she probably wouldn't have reached 1,000 proficiency even if she used two Sword Arts Training cards.
So what if she had to act a little coy? It was her own substitute anyway; she wasn't losing out.
【Sword Maiden Resonance: Mind's Eye proficiency increased. 997/1000.】
【Sword Maiden Resonance: Mind's Eye proficiency increased. 998/1000.】
【Sword Maiden Resonance: Mind's Eye proficiency increased. 999/1000.】
【Sword Maiden Resonance: Mind's Eye (Basic) Unlocked!】
【Your comprehension of the sword has deepened.】
【Obtained strength +3.】
【Obtained agility +7.】
The Substitute finally lowered the sword, wiped the sweat from her face, and rubbed her shoulders.
Xu Xiaoyou hurriedly opened her status panel.
【Name: Xu Xiaoyou.】
【Rank: Unregistered fixer.】
【Class: card maker.】
【strength: 10.】
【agility: 15.】
【constitution: 8.】
【intelligence: 40.】
【Sword Maiden Resonance: Mind's Eye (Basic) 0/10000】
Xu Xiaoyou found what she was looking for in the last talent column. Pressing down her excitement, she clicked on the resonance description.
【Mind's Eye (Basic): Your comprehension of the sword has deepened, breaking limitations to resonate with the 'sword maiden' class. Permanently gain the effects of 'Killing Intent Blade' and 'Mind's Eye Blade'.】
【Killing Intent Blade: Every strike you land will include a true attack equal to 1% of the target's vitality.】
【Mind's Eye Blade: You can see through the enemy's weaknesses. Every 16 seconds during combat, a flaw will appear on the enemy; hitting the weakness will deal heavy damage.】
She really had obtained the talent of another class!
Xu Xiaoyou felt lightheaded. She rubbed her eyes and checked several times before she could believe it.
She suddenly remembered the feeling she had when using Fireball Bombardment.
Sensing the fire elements cheering and dancing in her ears...
That wasn't an illusion. Perhaps if that sense of resonance grew stronger, the fire elements really could be used by her!
Xu Xiaoyou gradually calmed down, refusing to let joy cloud her judgment.
The Mind's Eye she unlocked was likely a weakened version of the sword maiden talent. The effect of Killing Intent Blade was actually quite average on its own.
Who would stand still and let her hit them a hundred times? After a hundred hits, they'd be minced meat anyway.
As for the effect of Mind's Eye Blade, she couldn't be sure of its effectiveness until she tested it in actual combat.
There were still three hours left on the Sword Arts Training. The night was still long, and she didn't intend to let it go to waste.
With a snap of her fingers, a Character EXP Bonus Card appeared in her hand.
【Confirm use of Character EXP Bonus Card on character Anya?】
Xu Xiaoyou selected confirm, and the card in her hand gradually dissolved into light.
【Character Anya's EXP gain efficiency increased by 120%! Duration: 3h.】
She glanced at the Substitute standing nearby.
The Substitute: "..."
...
Late at night, the shadows of the curtains swayed in the moonlight.
Curled up in her blankets, a young girl slept soundly, snoring softly. A breeze blew over her thin frame, making her face twitch slightly as she murmured unconsciously:
"Home..."
A figure appeared before her, blocking the moonlight. The shadow stretched out until it completely covered her body.
Rate on N.U.
