Chapter 1012 – Fencing Newbie
The opponent was also a Paladin of the Dawn Church. Judging by his well-balanced muscles, his stance, and the way he looked at his opponent, it was clear that he was a master swordsman.
Older Brother Jayad, on the other hand, didn’t look as strong. He was quite thin and still young. The Paladin, who was in his thirties, seemed much more experienced and stronger than him.
“Both sides, take your positions! The rules only allow the use of estocs. Any other weapons, Divine Spells, or buffs are forbidden. I hope everyone will engage in a glorious and fair duel under the witness of the gods and saints,” the referee shouted loudly.
“Both sides, salute!” Following the referee’s command, Jayad and the Paladin raised their swords in front of them, nodded to each other, and then the referee waved his hand: “Begin!”
“Clang!” As soon as he finished speaking, their estocs clashed in mid-air, sparks flying, followed by a continuous series of “ding, ding, ding!” sounds.
In this first exchange, both sides displayed dazzling swordsmanship. Sword lights collided in mid-air, filling the arena with glints and shadows. Neither side gave way, engaging in a fierce battle.
At first glance, it seemed like a tie, but I knew it was actually disadvantageous for Older Brother Jayad because this was his first time using an estoc.
Previously, Older Brother Jayad used a silver sword, which was a standard one-handed sword, or a straight sword as it could also be called. It was an excellent weapon for both slashing and thrusting, most suitable for a newbie just starting to learn swordsmanship.
After the silver sword was destroyed, Older Brother Jayad had recently started trying out the greatsword I bought him. Greatswords possessed immense destructive power and an unstoppable momentum, and could also be used as a shield for defense.
However, greatswords were also very difficult to wield. Older Brother Jayad indeed had enough strength to swing a greatsword, but he lacked the ability to control its center of gravity and rhythm, rendering him unable to use it effectively.
The estoc, on the other hand, was the opposite extreme. Completely contrary to a greatsword, the estoc was a weapon that relied purely on skill. It had no powerful slashes, no unparalleled momentum; all its power was concentrated on a single point, breaking through defenses with precision.
It was very difficult to use, but also very elegant and beautiful, which is why it was highly recommended as the weapon that best demonstrated the demeanor and status of noble gentlemen, and was also the preferred choice for duels and entertainment.
Jayad would certainly not be able to use such a weapon well on his first try. Even a layman like me could see that his grip on the sword was wrong, and his footwork was also incorrect, forming a stark contrast with the Paladin.
He was using the estoc like a straight sword, with many large slashing movements, which were far inferior to the Paladin’s graceful, swift, and precise attacks.
But why were they still evenly matched? The reason was Jayad’s immense strength. Every time their swords collided, the Paladin’s estoc would be shaken aside, his movements deviating from plan. Even when Jayad exposed an opening, he couldn’t follow up.
Furthermore, Jayad’s swordspeed was very fast and his judgment was very accurate. Every time he wanted to attack, Jayad would intercept him in advance or initiate a trade of blows.
The Paladin could easily conclude that with Jayad’s swordswinging strength, he would inevitably be more severely injured and would have to retreat.
However, the Paladin was also intelligent. He soon realized that he couldn’t win by going head-to-head with Jayad. He began to avoid Jayad’s锋芒 and started to engage him in evasive combat.
The two began to circle each other on the field, with the Paladin actively moving around, looking for an opening in Jayad’s attacks.
Moreover, he no longer clashed directly with Jayad. Once Jayad attacked, the Paladin would immediately retreat, maintaining a good sense of distance, precisely at the limit where Jayad’s attack would miss and he himself could counter.
Then, every time Jayad attempted an attack, he would dodge and counter-attack, timing it perfectly. Jayad would always be exploited by the Paladin during his post-attack recovery stumbles, leaving him on the defensive and in a rather desperate situation.
Here, it was also evident that Older Brother Jayad’s habits, accustomed to straight swords and greatswords, had not been corrected in time. He liked to hold his sword horizontally in front of him for defense.
However, estocs had a small surface area and were very light, making them difficult to use as a shield for blocking. Generally, estocs adopted a strategy of deflecting the opponent’s attack as a form of offense, and holding the sword horizontally actively reduced one’s attack radius, which was a foolish move in fencing.
However, due to Jayad’s advantage in strength and speed, he could still hold his own for a while. The two continued to engage in evasive combat on the field, making for an intense and exciting match.
The audience cheered loudly, but more people supported the Paladin to win. Even a layman could see that Jayad didn’t know how to use an estoc, and compared to Jayad’s wild and unorganized swordsmanship, the Paladin appeared much more graceful and consistent in his movements.
Ultimately, Older Brother Jayad had never systematically learned swordsmanship. Lorna also didn’t know how to wield a sword. His swordsmanship was something he had figured out through actual combat.
Older Brother Jayad’s real combat experience was mostly against monsters, Demigods, and Kin – creatures that were large, regenerative, and extremely difficult to kill. This had shaped his fighting style of wide, sweeping attacks, aiming to inflict large wounds on giant enemies.
Therefore, some audience members frowned as they watched Jayad fight. Fencing emphasized grace, agility, and precision, like dancing. Jayad, on the other hand, looked like he was chopping wood with an estoc. Yet, he could still fight evenly with his opponent using such a messy and unorganized swordsmanship.
However, some of the participating Adventurers felt that Jayad’s movements were very intimate and familiar, possessing a wild beauty. They believed this was the kind of swordsmanship a man should use, unlike the effeminate fencing styles of noble lords who never engaged in actual combat.
The Dawn Church’s rules only stipulated the use of Standard Weaponry and prohibited any means other than estocs, but the choice of swordsmanship was naturally free. Thus, the referee only frowned slightly and did not call a halt.
Speaking of which, Older Brother Jayad was strong, but the Paladin was not to be trifled with either. His strength was also very considerable. Every time their swords clashed, sparks would erupt between the two blades, and sometimes when they moved too fast, the sparks would form a continuous stream.
If these were not high-quality Standard Weaponry from the Dawn Church, but ordinary court estocs, these two swords would have broken long ago. This was probably within the church’s expectations.
I noticed that as the combat progressed, Older Brother Jayad gradually became more proficient in using the estoc. His movements became smaller, and he paid more attention to his opponent’s actions, imitating the Paladin’s footwork and sword-holding posture.
The Paladin, as Jayad’s opponent, naturally noticed Jayad’s changes. But a cold smile crept onto his face. How could swordsmanship be learned and imitated just by watching?
He had seen and even taught many such fencing newbies before. He knew how to deceive them and make them expose their own weaknesses.
