The dummy reached Derek in the blink of an eye, its blade slicing horizontally through the air like a crescent moon.
Derek reacted instantly. He bent his waist and dropped his upper body just in time. The blade whooshed past, missing him by barely an inch.
'It's fast,' Derek thought, narrowing his eyes. In the same motion, he unsheathed his sword, its edge gleaming under the light of the room. 'Let's see if this sword's combat performance matches its ability to shrink and extend.'
The dummy, having missed its mark, spun fluidly and slashed again. But this time, Derek didn't dodge. Instead, he twisted his body slightly, raising his sword behind him and blocking the incoming strike with effortless precision and without even glancing back.
From outside, Eva, who had been watching the entire scene unfold, gasped in shock. Her hands flew up to cover her mouth.
"He… he blocked it! And so easily?!" she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.
