Published: July 3, 2025
"That's Chiron."
"I'm Nils."
After exchanging a handshake, the two take a small step back.
The centaur has the lower body of a horse and the upper body of a human.
As a result, his upper body is at a very high position.
However, it seems he can bend down quite a bit, making it easy for him to shake hands with Nils, who is fully human.
Chiron holds a spear in one hand and has a large sword hanging at his waist.
Nils stands ready with a great sword that easily exceeds one meter in length, equipped with bracers on his arms.
Previously, he had a small shield on his left arm, but now it’s absent; if needed, he seems to prefer deflecting attacks with his bracers.
While a completed swordsman like Abel would have a well-established fighting style, both Nils and Amon are still in the midst of their growth...
It seems the referee for this match will be the splendidly armed centaur.
"I will not allow a finishing blow. The match will end if I determine that one side can no longer continue or if either side surrenders. Are both parties ready?"
"Yeah."
"Anytime."
Both Nils and Chiron respond.
"Then, let’s begin!"
Nils firmly spreads his legs and positions the great sword prominently in front of him.
After all, the centaur has its head and heart at nearly the same height as a mounted human. In normal circumstances, it would be challenging to deliver a fatal blow.
Of course, since this is a mock battle, killing is not allowed... However, considering the possibility of pointing a sword at the throat, that height cannot be overlooked.
Therefore, Nils does not have the option to charge in from the start.
Chiron's arms are positioned higher than Nils's head, which is 190 centimeters tall.
From there, a spear about three meters long is thrust towards him.
This is a battle between cavalry and infantry.
Attacks from a high position are advantageous in many respects, whether in individual combat or group battles.
From the very beginning, it was a disadvantageous fight for Nils.
That said, Nils does not sulk or become despondent.
He raised his hand and asked for this fight.
He is well aware of his disadvantage.
"Fast..."
This was muttered by Gowan, the dual-wielder.
Next to him, Priest Zeek nodded in agreement.
Chiron's spear was indeed fast.
Thrusts, sweeps, and strikes showcased the spear's characteristics, closing in on Nils's body from every direction.
However...
Nils skillfully deflected each and every attack.
Since it was a great sword, swinging it widely against a faster opponent was unwise.
Instead, he moved it precisely, redirecting thrusts, dodging sweeps, and absorbing strikes.
It was a perfect demonstration of a swordsman defending against a spear warrior's attacks.
This performance garnered admiration even from the centaur's side.
The ferocity of the offense was evident even to amateurs.
But the brilliance of the defense could be recognized by the discerning eye.
Nils's swordplay was undoubtedly that of a b-rank swordsman.
Yet... despite perfectly defending against every attack, Chiron remained completely unfazed.
He wore an expression that suggested this level of skill was to be expected.
Having assessed Nils's ability to some extent the moment they faced each other.
Just as Nils is an excellent swordsman as a b-rank adventurer, Chiron is also a highly respected warrior among the centaur race.
With rich combat experience and a sharp mind.
(I see that he is timing my spear's movements. Despite appearances, he is a wise and calm man.)
Chiron thought to himself and tightened his focus even more.
The 'Battle Festival' between the two had reached a stalemate.
Ten minutes passed.
To the untrained eye, it seemed they were still at a standstill.
However, there were subtle differences compared to the start of the 'fight.'
The structure of Chiron's spear attacks and Nils's sword defenses had not changed.
But Nils's method of handling the spear was gradually evolving.
He flowed with Chiron's thrusts, dodged sweeps, and began to block strikes with his left bracers.
Moreover, he started to close the distance.