Chapter 70 - 69 - Stone and Steel
Rocky narrowed his eyes. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, not from exertion, but from the growing confusion that had been gnawing at him ever since their first clash.
It had only been a few minutes ago.
His opening strike had been hard, fast, and full of force—more than enough to take down any untrained opponent. Especially this man standing before him, who looked like nothing more than a stable hand. Messy hair. Simple clothes. No armor, no cloak, no family crest. No indication of class. No trace of a mana aura surrounding his body.
And yet, the man had not only withstood the strike but evaded it with startling precision. His blade had parried at just the right angle, draining the momentum cleanly. His movements weren’t refined; in fact, they were clumsy, like someone who had only recently learned proper form.
But there was something else.
Sensitivity. Reflexes. Instinct.
Three traits found only in those truly gifted with the sword.
Rocky gritted his teeth. He launched strike after strike, trying to overwhelm the man’s defense through sheer power. But the longer they fought, the stranger it felt.
Riven wasn’t retaliating with brute force. He wasn’t trying to overpower him in a single blow. But he also wasn’t being driven back helplessly. His footwork was light but purposeful. He adapted as they fought, syncing with the rhythm, eyes analyzing every crack in Rocky’s technique. Even his swings now held a growing confidence, as if his body were remembering something long buried.
And what unsettled Rocky the most—
The man started to smile.
A small, subtle smile—but unmistakable. The smile of someone not only gaining control of the fight... but enjoying it.