Roland rushed forward, grabbing Kenley by the collar. Standing so close, Roland's breath carried a subtle floral scent, and Kenley could nearly feel her gentle exhale against his skin.

  "Actually, I just wanted to take you as my master back then!" Kenley hurriedly raised both hands, wearing an expression of surrender.

  "Oh? I don't know where you secretly learned my swordsmanship, but I'm getting more and more curious about you. Not only do you know so much about me, but you're also so familiar with my techniques. Be honest—can you use my second-stage sword art as well?"

  "W-Well… just a tiny bit…" Kenley's eyes darted around, avoiding her gaze.

  "Show me!" With a swift motion, Roland unsheathed【Floral Whisper· Aether】.

  "You must be kidding! Lord Roland, are you serious?" Kenley broke into a cold sweat. Damn it. He had really shot himself in the foot this time.

  He only remembered events from half a year ago and beyond, but in reality, he had no idea which stages of swordsmanship Roland had used.

  Now, things had taken a turn for the worse. Roland was already suspicious. If he failed to impress her, she would definitely get angry.

  "I'm very sure." Roland had already taken her stance."Don't worry. I'll only defend. Just go all out with your attack!"

  Kenley let out a sigh. Fine.

  His gaze sharpened as he immediately shed his earlier playful demeanor."Then I can't afford to disappoint Lord Roland."

  Straightening his posture, Kenley lifted his sword with one hand, assuming an offensive stance.

  Roland's eyes lit up. There was no mistaking it—this was【Roland· Floral Whisper】, second stage: White Blooming Phase, Bud Awakening stance.

  Compared to the first stage, the second stage—White Blooming Phase—was more refined and condensed. It consisted of only three moves, but each one carried immense force.

  While the first stage focused on agility and finesse, the second prioritized sheer destructive power.

  The first move,"Bud Awakening," aimed at destabilizing the opponent while dealing high damage.

  The second move,"Slumbering Blossom," focused on stunning, with slightly lower damage but extended control duration.

  The third move,"Flourishing Bloom," was an explosive finishing strike that inflicted severe wounds.

  "Bud Awakening—!"

  Kenley's eyes gleamed with resolve. In an instant, his figure vanished, leaving behind an afterimage as his blade shot toward Roland's face.

  "Impressive!" Roland praised sincerely. This mysterious young man continued to amaze her. She never imagined that someone could grasp the intricacies of her swordsmanship so completely.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  And he was so young. In an era dominated by the Black Iron folk, possessing such insight was nothing short of extraordinary. His future achievements were easy to predict.

  But just then, Kenley's blade shifted, its tip tracing a graceful"Y" in the air—a movement that mirrored a sprouting bud's rapid growth, true to its name.

  "Clang! Clang! Clang!"

  Each slash landed like a triple impact in midair, each carrying the force to unbalance its target.

  However, a Silver Sword Saint was still a Silver Sword Saint. With her overwhelming skill and reaction speed, Roland flawlessly blocked each strike.

  Golden sparks flew as their swords clashed, and Kenley swiftly altered his stance.

  Pivoting on his heel, he abruptly retracted his blade, as if a cascading waterfall had been suddenly dammed—disrupting the natural flow and throwing off his opponent's rhythm.

  However, Roland, well-versed in the second-stage White Blooming Phase, immediately recognized this maneuver.

  A variation of"Slumbering Blossom."

  As expected, this young man never ceased to amaze her. At his age, he had already grasped such depth.

  Was he truly a once-in-a-century prodigy?

  Had he really memorized her swordsmanship after witnessing it only once?

  Roland's admiration for Kenley deepened. At the very least, his talent was undeniable.

  "Slumbering Blossom—!"

  Kenley shifted his blade once more, unleashing three simultaneous strikes.

  The silver sword light bloomed like drowsy flower buds, poised to unfurl at any moment.

  This was an advanced variation of Blossoming Petals. Stronger in impact and speed, but unlike its predecessor, these three strikes were not simple thrusts. Instead, they formed three sweeping half-moon arcs.

  The sound of the blade cutting through the air resembled a gentle breeze passing through a flower field—pleasant yet harboring deadly intent.

  "Interesting!" Roland murmured.

  Something was different.

  His Slumbering Blossom wasn't exactly the same as hers. A mistake? No. He had improved it.

  Roland was stunned.

  Someone had refined her technique.

  And that someone was a swordsman weaker than herself.

  Her smile deepened.

  The more she looked at Kenley, the more she liked him.

  A young man brimming with talent.

  A youth of limitless potential.

  A swordsman who grasped the true essence of her techniques.

  "Clang!"

  Roland was confident that she could deflect every one of Kenley's strikes.

  But in the next moment—something unexpected happened.

  What?!

  Impossible!

  Her pupils dilated in shock.

  She barely managed to dodge the blade poised to slice into her body, her lightning-fast reflexes saving her at the last moment.

  Had her reaction been even a fraction slower, Kenley's sword would have hit its mark.

  What just happened?!

  Roland's breath hitched.

  It was his modified Slumbering Blossom!

  She had wondered why he altered the move—now she understood.

  This young man… was terrifying.

  Roland swallowed hard.

  She could already see it—

  A rising star in the Cain Empire.

  If not for her superior base reflexes, Kenley would have undoubtedly landed that hit.

  But from Kenley's perspective, things were different.

  Sigh. The accuracy still isn't high enough…

  If he were level 50, his hit rate would have increased. Even against a level 65 Roland, that last strike would have landed for sure.

  His base stats weren't high enough.

  No matter how brilliant his techniques and awareness were, he couldn't escape the fundamental mechanics of Aude Continent.

  Nothing to be done.

  He'd just have to challenge her again once he leveled up.

  Kenley adjusted his stance, preparing the third move—"Flourishing Bloom." He was about to unleash the final strike when he suddenly hesitated.

  Then, as if reconsidering, he lowered his blade.

  "Lord Roland, let's stop here. I… can't seem to remember the next move."

  "Hah—?!"

  Roland was caught completely off guard.

  Just when she was getting into it?!

  She stared at Kenley in frustration.

  No way. He was just about to execute the third technique! And now he says he forgot?!

  It was like a gamer about to win a raid, only for the power to go out at the last moment.

  Roland glared at him, fuming."You better not be lying to me."

  Kenley let out an awkward chuckle."I really can't remember…"

  "Fine! I'll teach you the third move myself!" Roland declared, still unsatisfied.