Chapter 42: Palace
Meanwhile, before the girls ventured into their second dungeon, Luna skipped toward the training ground, eager for her first sparring match since receiving Hiro.
As she arrived, she noticed not only her instructor but also the Prime Minister and her father standing there.
"Pa... Father, are you here to watch my training?"
"Ah. This is not a formal occasion, so ’Papa’ is fine. Yes, I came here to watch you spar with Luke." King Angus nodded. Malus, his symbiote, emerged slightly from his neck and gave a small nod as well.
"Well, I’m excited! Please go easy on me. I heard Hiro is a new symbiote, so I thought his levels and skills might not mean much. But you’re his partner now. I expect great things from you!" Luke smiled as he drew his longsword.
"Hehehe... I am going to bust your ass today." Luna smirked as she readied her sword. She had never beaten Luke in a sword fight before. If she used claws, she might win one in ten matches. But Luke was the Commander of the Royal Knights—the best swordsman in the kingdom among those without a symbiote.
"Please! Let’s see how well you can manage."
The battle began. Hiro immediately activated Amphetamine and Adrenaline on Luna. With her boosted stats, she dashed toward Luke and thrust her sword. He managed to parry, but the sudden speed was like a flash, forcing him to step back instead of counterattacking as he normally would.
Luna seized the opportunity, capitalizing on his blunder. She leaped to the left, seemingly teleporting behind him. Using his experience, Luke barely deflected her sword, but once again, he failed to counter. The impact of the blow nearly knocked his weapon from his grip.
With another strike, he lost his balance, and in an instant, Luna’s sword was at his neck.
A round of applause followed from the Prime Minister and King Angus.