In the Loki Familia's training grounds, two figures moved at blinding speed, their forms reduced to little more than blurs as small shockwaves erupted in their wake.
The sharp sound of steel clashing against steel rang through the air.
Judas slipped past Ais' sword and retaliated with a swift kick, striking her squarely in the stomach.
The impact sent her flying back dozens of meters, her feet carving deep trails into the ground before she managed to halt her momentum.
'This is much easier now.'
He thought as he immediately charged forward.
After Tiona had insisted on having Urga enchanted and headed off into the dungeon, the meeting had concluded.
Not long after, Ais approached him and requested a sparring match.
Naturally, Judas didn't object.
Having just reached Level 3, he wanted to test his newfound strength... to see how he would fare against a combat prodigy like Ais.
'As a Level 2, I could already somewhat compete against Level 5s... now that I'm a Level 3, just how much stronger have I become?'
The thought filled him with anticipation as he calmly parried Ais' sword strikes one after another, his expression far more relaxed compared to their previous fight.
In contrast, Ais grit her teeth as she struggled to land even a single hit.
Though she had yet to activate her magic or skill, she could no longer deny the harsh truth unfolding right in front of her.
'Judas... he's surpassed me.'
She had unleashed hundreds of slashes, strikes, and thrusts...
Yet, not a single one of them connected, as Judas either blocked, deflected, dodged, or parried every attack with almost casual precision.
Steel rang out again and again, there was no desperation in his movements... only efficiency.
'I think I've already adjusted to my new Level 3 strength. The dissonance between my mind and body has disappeared.'
He had remained on the defensive for most of the fight, adapting to his newfound strength.
Now it was time for him to strike.
Judas slipped inside her guard, his palm brushing past the flat of her blade before striking her shoulder with a short, controlled blow.
Ais was forced back, her boots skidding across the ground as she barely managed to keep her balance.
'She's fast... but I can see it all.'
As a result of his presence... and her training with Alfia... Ais had definitely grown stronger.
With most of her stats now reaching, or at least approaching, S-rank and her combat ability far more refined, there was no doubt that if she were to face her former self from before she met Judas, she would have won eight out of ten times.
As someone who possessed the bloodline of a spirit and an innate talent considered among the very best in the world of Danmachi, her growth was already remarkable when compared to her peers.
However, Judas was something else entirely.
Even more of a cheat than Belle, his rate of growth was something she could never hope to compete with in the first place.
There was simply no comparison.
But even so, the fire in her eyes... the determination to become stronger... had never waned.
'I refuse to be defeated so easily!'
Ais leapt back and immediately rushed forward again, her sword glowing faintly as she poured more strength into her strikes.
The air howled as her blade cut through it, each slash faster and heavier than the last.
Judas met them head-on.
He twisted his wrist, redirecting the sword just enough for it to miss his neck by a hair's breadth, then stepped forward and struck the side of her blade with a sharp flick of his fingers.
Clang.
The impact numbed Ais' arm.
Before she could recover, Judas swept her legs out from under her.
She flipped backward on instinct, barely landing on her feet as she slid several meters away.
'Fighting the current Judas... it's like I am fighting against Finn, Riveria, or Gareth.'
Ais thought as her grip tightened around her sword.
Now that Judas was a Level 3, with his stats from his previous levels fully maxed out, the pressure he exuded was overwhelming.
On top of that, there was his strengthening magic, which further boosted his overall combat ability.
It was no wonder she had begun comparing him to the Loki Familia's top trio.
There were very few adventurers in the city who could push her back like this.
Now, Judas had become one of them.
'He had reached the realm of Level 6.'
After fighting him for several minutes, she was confident in that assessment.
She took a slow breath and lowered her stance.
"...I'm not done yet."
At those words, a familiar pressure began to rise around her.
"Tempest!"
Wind stirred at her feet, swirling in erratic currents as her magic responded to her will.
Judas' eyes sharpened.
"So you're bringing it out."
He said quietly.
Ais stepped forward, and the wind exploded around her as she activated her magic.
In an instant, she vanished... reappearing right in front of him, her sword descending in a strike fast enough to split the air itself.
BOOM.
The ground cracked beneath them as Judas blocked the blow with his forearm, magic reinforcing his body at the moment of impact.
The shockwave rippled outward, kicking up dust and forcing the spectators at the edge of the training ground to shield their eyes.
Using the momentum she had built up, Ais swung her sword relentlessly.
Judas met her head-on, fighting back with his metal gauntlets as the two exchanged rapid blows.
Each clash sent shockwaves rippling outward, dust erupting into the air and obscuring half the battlefield.
Judas' expression tightened. Because of the sword's superior reach, he realized he was being pushed back... if only slightly.
With Ais' wind acting as both shield and weapon, landing a clean hit on her was far more difficult than he had anticipated.
Its offensive power and defensive capabilities were simply top-notch.
Even among magic users, her wind was abnormal... something every first-class adventurer who had witnessed her fight readily acknowledged.
It granted her a boost great enough to temporarily place her on par with a Level 6.
'Should I try to take control of her wind like last time?'
The thought crossed his mind before he shook his head.
'No... that would defeat the purpose of testing the strength I gained as a Level 3.'
Which was why he made his decision.
'I guess it's time to go all out.'
With that thought, Judas exhaled slowly.
"Good! This is exactly the kind of pressure I wanted."
He said, a faint smile forming.
[Body Reinforcement].
Full Power.
In the next heartbeat, he vanished from her sight.
Before Ais could react, a hand struck her sword arm, knocking her weapon aside, while a second blow... stopped just short of her chest... froze her in place.
The wind around her dissipated.
The match was over.
Ais stood there, sword trembling in her grip, staring at Judas who had already withdrawn his hand.
"...I lost."
She said quietly.
Judas lowered his stance and nodded.
"But you're strong."
He replied honestly.
"Stronger than you were last time."
Judas didn't say these words out of consolation, he truly did think she had gotten stronger.
'He's improving at such a rapid pace... can I even...'
Ais felt her chest tighten even more as she stared back at him... realizing just how far ahead he had gone.
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