Chapter 177: Where Steel Meets Will
Lyra continued.
"You must maintain the layer while your mind is focused on other things. Movement. Attacks. Threats."
She lifted her chin slightly.
"Most people lose the technique the moment pressure appears."
Arthur looked at her calmly.
"So you’re going to test it."
"Yes."
She raised her fist again.
Arthur simply grinned.
"Alright."
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
"That confident?"
Arthur shrugged.
"You told me to trust you earlier."
Lyra nodded slowly.
"And?"
Arthur’s grin widened.
"Now you should trust me."
Lyra chuckled softly.
"Bold."
Arthur spread his arms slightly.
"Come on then."
Lyra’s smirk returned as she tightened her fist.
"Let’s see if you really got it."
Arthur stood ready, the thin layer of mana still flowing across his skin like a quiet current.
The air in the training hall felt tense again.
Lyra rolled her shoulders once.
Then she stepped forward.
Arthur didn’t move.
His eyes stayed calm. And his smile didn’t fade.
"Go ahead," he said.
"I’m ready."
With that, Lyra moved first.
There was no warning.
One moment she stood a few steps away, the next the air around her shifted. Mana wrapped around her body just like before, that thin dense layer hugging her skin.
Arthur felt the change instantly.
Intent Skin.
Then she stepped forward.
No, stepped wasn’t the right word.
She vanished.
Arthur’s eyes widened.
The distance between them disappeared in an instant and the pressure from her movement alone hit him like a wave.
Fast!
Before he could fully process it, her fist was already coming toward him.
Arthur’s heart skipped.
He knew she was holding back. She had to be. But even then the power behind that simple punch felt terrifying.
That will kill me if it lands clean.
But panic only lasted a fraction of a second.
Arthur moved.
His focus snapped into place and the skill responded immediately.
Mana flowed.
Intent Skin formed again around his body.
This time the feeling was clearer than before. He understood it now. The flow, the density, the way it clung to his muscles.
Arthur lifted his hand.
Not to block.
To guide.
Her fist closed the last inch.
Arthur shifted slightly and let the mana move with him.
The moment her punch connected with his palm the layer reacted.
Thump.
The sound echoed through the training hall.
Her fist stopped.
Arthur’s arm trembled slightly but the force didn’t crush through him like he expected.
The mana layer absorbed the impact and spread it across his arm and shoulder.
Arthur slid half a step back but he was still standing.
Lyra froze.
For a brief second surprise flashed across her face.
Arthur blinked.
"...Oh."
He looked at his hand.
"That worked."
Lyra stepped back slowly.
Her eyes stayed locked on him.
She didn’t say anything for a moment.
Arthur scratched his cheek.
"Was that okay or did I mess it up?"
Lyra didn’t answer immediately.
She was studying him.
Then her focus sharpened again.
Without warning she moved once more.
This time the attack came from the side.
Arthur reacted almost on instinct.
The mana layer shifted along his ribs as he twisted his body.
Her fist brushed his side and the impact spread across the layer again.
Arthur stumbled a step but recovered quickly.
Lyra followed immediately.
Another strike.
Arthur raised his arm and the mana gathered there naturally.
Thump.
Another impact.
Arthur slid back again.
Lyra stopped.
She stared at him for a second.
Arthur exhaled.
"...Okay that one hurt a bit."
But he was smiling.
Not nervous.
Excited.
Lyra noticed it.
"You’re enjoying this."
Arthur rolled his shoulder.
"A little."
Lyra’s lips curved slightly.
"Good."
Then she moved again.
This time faster.
Arthur barely saw the strike coming.
He reacted late and the punch clipped his shoulder.
The mana layer thickened there instantly and softened the blow but the force still pushed him sideways.
Arthur regained his footing.
"Alright," he said while shaking his arm. "You’re starting to mean it now."
Lyra didn’t deny it.
Her eyes were sharp.
"Focus."
Arthur grinned.
"I am focusing."
They moved again.
This time Arthur stepped forward first.
Lyra’s brow lifted slightly.
Arthur threw a quick jab.
Not powerful but fast.
Lyra deflected it easily but Arthur followed with another movement.
He was testing.
Feeling the reinforcement from the skill.
And it felt different.
His body responded quicker.
His balance felt sharper.
Every step felt grounded.
Arthur laughed softly.
"Oh I like this."
Lyra blocked another strike.
"Stop talking."
Arthur shrugged.
"Can’t help it."
She attacked again.
Arthur raised his arm and the mana layer gathered there instinctively.
The punch landed.
Thud.
The impact spread along the layer and Arthur absorbed most of it.
Lyra noticed something then.
The mana where she struck became thicker.
Not by much.
But enough.
Her next punch landed on Arthur’s forearm.
The same thing happened.
The layer around that point compressed further.
Arthur himself hadn’t even noticed.
But Lyra had.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Adaptive density.
She tested again.
A quick low kick.
Arthur reacted slower this time and the kick landed against his calf.
The mana layer thickened there instantly.
The damage was reduced.
Lyra stepped back again.
Arthur looked down at his leg.
"...That one definitely landed."
He flexed his leg.
"Still standing though."
Lyra was impressed.
But she kept her expression calm.
"Again."
Arthur smiled.
"Gladly."
They moved faster now.
Punch.
Block.
Step.
Strike.
Arthur started moving more confidently as the exchanges continued.
The skill supported his movements and reinforced his body with every step.
His punches felt stronger.
His reactions felt sharper.
Even his footing felt more stable.
Arthur laughed mid exchange.
"This feels amazing."
Lyra blocked his strike and answered with a quick elbow.
Arthur barely dodged.
"You’re getting carried away."
Arthur stepped back.
"Maybe."
Then he rushed forward again.
The spar continued.
Back and forth.
Lyra kept increasing the pressure little by little.
Arthur struggled to keep up but he refused to slow down.
Every exchange taught him something new.
Every hit helped him understand the skill better.