Extra's Descent

"Pseudo Swordsmanship."

It's what Evelyn decided to call this new technique she had developed.

"Come."

Swoosh—!

Immediately, at her call, Brandon rushed towards her and thrusted the wooden sword forward.

Twisting her body, Evelyn easily dodged his attack.

"Do it in bursts. You're still fully tempering your body with mana normally."

Because of that, Evelyn could calculate the speed and force of his attack.

The purpose of Pseudo Swordsmanship was for its unpredictability. With unpredictability, mages could bridge the gap between duelists when it came to close–combat.

Especially when it came to sword clashes.

Although there were hybrids. People who were born with both the abundance of mana, and a tempered body, could opt for either of the two paths.

Or, they could choose to become hybrids.

Such examples were Lucian Frost, and Claire Victoria.

Swoosh—!

Brandon began his attacks once again. Thack! Thack—! Evelyn continued repelling his wooden sword with her own.

"...."

He was talented. Evelyn knew that.

But clearly, he was having a hard time.

"Okay stop. Let me give you a better example. Though I'll warn you beforehand."

At her words, Brandon clutched his sternum, then his abdomen.

"It's okay. I have a rough idea of what's about to happen….."

"Mhm."

Brandon took a step back and Evelyn fixed a stance.

"Watch my sword closely."

Raising the sword up, Evelyn kept a calm expression.

"First, I'll give you a demonstration from the side."

Meeting his gaze for a brief second, it seemed like Brandon was watching intently.

Nodding her head, Evelyn swung the sword down.

Swoo—!

"...."

"Did you see that?"

"Yes."

Brandon nodded and continued his assessment.

"Right in the middle of your swing, the speed of the swing abruptly changed. It looked as if time had stopped for everything but the sword. And as if time resumed, the next second, the sword had been fully swung down."

"Oh? That's quite an evaluation."

"I think I understand now, Evelyn."

"It's Miss."

Then, Evelyn turned around and looked at him seriously.

"Now, for an upfront demonstration."

"...."

Evelyn raised the sword up and spoke.

"Try to block or dodge if you can. But only move through sheer reaction time."

"Uh…. okay."

"3… 2… 1…"

Evelyn swung her sword down at that moment.

Thwack!

"Ukh!"

Unable to react in time, the sword bluntly struck Brandon's head.

Tilting her head, Evelyn asked.

"You didn't dodge?"

Rubbing his head, Brandon responded.

"I tried to focus on any variance, any traces of mana being used. But I couldn't sense a thing. Since I used that as some sort of alarm…. Yeah."

"That's the point."

"I get it now."

"Now try it on me."

Brandon nodded his head at her words and neared her.

Scanning his expression, Evelyn braced herself. Brandon was closing his eyes. Most probably, focusing on his mana control.

At the moment, just like before, the main focus was mana control.

Swordsmanship came after.

"I'll keep my eyes closed."

Brandon stated, raising his sword up.

"That's fine."

If it'd help him control his mana more by closing his sense of sight, then it was fine.

'There's no point in me standing here then.'

Discreetly walking to her side, Evelyn crouched down, resting her head on her hand, and scanned Brandon—who's eyes were closed.

"I'm ready, Evelyn. 3… 2… 1…"

His sword swung down.

Swoo—!

It wasn't perfect. And Evelyn had still sensed a trace of mana.

However, his efforts were commendable. Just the fact that he had seen her demonstration, was already enough for him to nearly accomplish the task.

"....So it's a failure, huh? You were able to dodge it in the en—"

Brandon peered his eyes open. Realizing, Evelyn wasn't in front of him, he looked to the side.

"Oh. You cheated."

"No?"

Evelyn shook her head.

"I dodged and sat here at the same time."

"...."

Their training continued from there.

***

For the entire day, Brandon focused on controlling his mana temperament in bursts.

It was the first assignment Evelyn had given him.

He was given three days to perfect the technique.

Gazing ahead, the sun was about to set.

From time to time, the other guards returned and trained by themselves.

There were occasional comments.

—Huh? Why is Evangel paying attention to that newbie?

—Damn. Lucky.

—Should we go teach him a lesson?

Comments like those.

Brandon could only sigh after overhearing it.

Even when Evelyn was under a disguise, she couldn't hide her well endowed body.

For that reason, the guards must've been eyeing her out.

'A lesson, huh?'

He was looking forward to it.

"I hope you're not thinking what I'm thinking."

Evelyn suddenly spoke.

Wiping his sweat with a towel, Brandon brushed his hair back. His face glistened with sweat.

He pursed his lips.

"What do you mean….?"

"Don't do it. It'll raise suspicion, and they'll replace the guards. It's not worth it. We already have information on what they can do. If they were to be replaced, we'd have to start from scratch."

"Hmm… you have a point."

She did.

However, a little scare wouldn't hurt.

Eventually, Brandon and Evelyn parted ways. The message had been passed to her. But still, she remained under no contact for the time being.

Brandon was acting as the middleman.

For reasons unknown, Evelyn refused to return to the surface.

But Brandon didn't question her. She must've been planning something. He was well aware of that fact.

Guards and syndicate staff had access to different kinds of portals that led to the blackmarket.

After becoming a guard, he was instantly promoted to White.

For that reason, he had access to his own personal portal.

It was a ring.

'Haha.'

Brandon could tell.

The technology behind the ring was way too advanced.

Shiftporters could only mimic a percentage of what the ring could do.

And shiftporters already needed a significant budget.

Brandon walked ahead.

"...."

It was night, and intentionally, Brandon walked towards a more secluded part of the city.

'Three people.'

Three people were following him. Most likely, the other guards. However, Brandon could tell they were concealing their identities.

It was an idiotic reason. If they were out to kill him, then it was betrayal to the syndicate.

He was a guard assigned to a Twilight head, Kael.

Killing him was treason.

Regardless, Brandon's lips pulled up.

"Come."

He whispered.

Reaching a dead end, Brandon turned around. There, he could see three silhouettes wearing masks.

One of the figures suddenly spoke.

"You've purposefully led us here, correct?"

"Guess you aren't that dumb."

"Then you probably know of our identities."

"Maybe."

Brandon shrugged his shoulders.

"Guess we don't have to explain ourselves.

The figures walked forward in different directions.

The man in the middle opened his mouth.

"You seem to be getting along with Evangel."

"What about it?"

Brandon provoked him.

"You jealous?"

"Hah! Not at all. We're tired of that bitch."

"Hmm…"

Now that was new.

He had thought they were after him for some idiotic reasons. Ones similar to Adrien's previous behavior in regards to beautiful women.

However, it seemed like that wasn't the case at all.

"Wait."

The man's tone suddenly changed. As if he had realized something, he spouted.

"Why don't you join us, Moriarty?"