-148- [Swordsmanship: Mastery]

"Weak, too weak."

"You can't keep up with my speed."

"Your speed is too slow!"

"Your form is really poor!"

Listening to Fiora's continuous commentary, Vi's frustration ignited. 

She stopped her movements, stared at Fiora, and loudly exclaimed, "Enough! All this chatter is so annoying. Are you here to fight me or argue with me?"

"If you want to argue, find my sister. I don't believe you can out-argue her!"

Damn, she never stopped talking from start to finish. Why does she talk so much?

As Vi paused to speak, Fiora, who had previously been dodging Vi's attacks while verbally sparring, suddenly stepped forward. She raised her hand and swiftly thrust her short staff against Vi's chest.

Fiora, now calm, looked at Vi and said, "Never let the enemy's words cloud your judgment."

Vi blinked, raising her hands in a somewhat helpless gesture. She surrendered in an instant.

Mainly because, even with a wooden staff, Vi felt the threat.

Vi sensed that if Fiora wanted to, even with a wooden staff, she could have pierced Vi's heart.

This was an instinct.

Vi didn't know that she was facing Fiora, the most formidable duelist in Demacia.

And Fiora's sudden behavior, coupled with her sharp mind, contributed to her reputation. Fiora was impulsive, but in a duel, regardless of the situation, she could calm down, always finding the opponent's weakness in the best state.

And this was the true reason she was known as the Grand Duelist.

Skill, mindset, talent—

These factors forged this powerful swordswoman.

"Surrender, Enforcer. You have no chance left."

Lowering her head, Fiora looked silently at the short staff in front of her chest, pinned between two small mounds. Vi could only nod helplessly.

"I lost, you won."

Fiora retracted her sword upon hearing this, not showing any joy for winning the duel. 

Instead, she shook her head at Vi and said, "I won, yes, but this was an unfair duel."

"You gave up using Hextech weapons; that's unfair to you."

Vi also shook her head. "What's unfair about it? I don't need excuses. I gave up using Hextech weapons, but you also gave up using your sword, right?"

"Hm..."

Fiora chuckled and asked Vi, "May I know your name?"

Vi also smiled. After Linwin, this was the first time she encountered someone so powerful.

Facing Fiora, Vi always felt like the other could see through her. This feeling, Vi had only felt before with Linwin.

This was someone she couldn't defeat even if she wore Hextech equipment.

Although she felt a bit resentful, Vi still admitted it and said, "Vi."

Fiora was taken aback and raised the short staff in her hands, performed a family salute, and said, "I am Fiora Laurent."

//// So I skipped something here, Fiora was taken abacked because "Vi" in Chinese sounds like "Hey" in Chinese, and Fiora misunderstood thinking that Vi wanted to know her name first then Linwin came flying down explaining that it's Vi's actual name.... It's very hard to translate and it's won't make much sense in English so I decided to skip it entirely.. ////

Vi looked at Linwin and asked, "So you can still appear in front of me huh, big bro?"

Facing Lux and Ekko's strange gazes, Linwin frowned and said, "What are you talking about?"

"Heh, since you came back, I only saw you like five times in total. Even with Powder, during the day, I can't find her, and at night, she just sleeps soundly when she gets home. Linwin, what exactly are you and Powder doing now?"

Vi's tone carried a hint of complaint.

Unlike Powder, even though Vander spoiled her, there were some places Vi really couldn't go.

It was a rule!

During important meetings, there was the Lord, the Deputy Lord, the Sheriff, the Minister...

And Vi?

An Enforcer!

Even Ekko could attend meetings as a scientist, but Vi couldn't unless she was called in to provide some explanations. 

So Vander wouldn't let her into the meeting room.

Because of this, Vi felt a bit neglected recently.

"He's your brother?" Fiora, on the other side, asked in surprise.

She truly hadn't expected that the opponent she encountered, worthy of a battle, would turn out to be Linwin Lorant's sister.

How coincidental!

Vi shrugged, imitating Linwin's posture from before. "Yeah, he's my brother."

Fiora's eyes lit up, and she quickly walked a few steps closer to Vi. Looking at Vi, Fiora said, "Vi, I want to duel with Councilor Linwin. Can you help me persuade him?"

"Fiora!"

Hearing Fiora's words, Lux quickly shouted disapprovingly.

Here she go again!

Lux stomped her foot, looking at Fiora, who remained unaffected on the stage. In the end, Lux could only sigh helplessly.

Since the Laurent family had encountered trouble, Fiora had become even more eager to become stronger.

In Aunt Tianna's words, Fiora was undergoing a transformation. She was working hard to grow stronger, seizing every opportunity to do so. She wanted to revive the glory of the Laurent family.

But it was difficult.

Therefore, this process might make Fiora stronger, but at the same time, it might also make Fiora weaker.

Now, with Jarvan and Garen's help, the rumors about the Laurent family were suppressed, but with the passage of time, some unfavorable words might still spread.

And due to Fiora being the cause of all this, she would either fall into self-blame or continue growing while carrying the burden of her mistakes.

The Laurent family and the Crownsguard family would also face different situations due to Fiora's decisions.

The king claimed the issue was resolved, and there should be no hostility between the Crownguard and Laurent.

But is that really possible?

In fact, Lux had sensed it long ago; after that incident, Fiora's relationship with her had deteriorated significantly.

Or rather, Fiora seemed to intentionally avoid Lux.

However, during this trip, they had talked a lot, melting away some of the estrangement.

It wasn't the Crownguard family that did something wrong; Fiora broke off the engagement first, and then Fiora's father played tricks and made mistakes.

"Fiora..."

Lux whispered again, then she looked helplessly at Linwin, expressing her apologies, "Sorry, Councilor Linwin."

Lux was apologizing.

Linwin understood the meaning behind Lux's words.

"It's okay, Lux."

On the stage, Vi, hearing Fiora's request, burst into laughter while holding her stomach.

"Ha, are you sure?"

"Fiora, are you sure you want a duel with my brother?"

Looking at Vi suddenly laughing, Fiora couldn't understand.

Vi continued, "Then you're bound to lose."

"Lose? I've won over forty matches in the dueling arena." Fiora shook her head confidently. "In swordsmanship, following the rules, I can't possibly lose."

Vi was taken aback.

On the platform, Linwin was also surprised.

Swordsmanship?

Vi turned to look at Linwin.

Of course, she believed Linwin wouldn't lose to Fiora.

But swordsmanship, rules?

It was like a boxing match where you couldn't use your feet.

So, within these fixed rules, could Linwin win?

"What kind of look is that?"

Seeing Vi's gaze, Linwin glared at her and then raised his hand, making a gesture that only the two of them could understand on the stage.

It was a reassuring gesture.

Vi saw it and clicked her tongue. Placing her hands on her mouth, she said, "Linwin, just have a duel with her, okay?"

Standing next to Linwin, Lux continued, "Sorry, Councilor Linwin, but if you don't have a duel with Fiora, she might keep bothering you."

"Uh."

Having a duel with Fiora might increase some favorability?

Linwin was a bit conflicted.

It's not that it would be troublesome; after all, he enjoyed fighting.

And looking at Vi's gaze...

This girl isn't expecting me to help her seek revenge, right?

If she can't win, she wants her big brother's help?

Thinking about this, Linwin looked up at Fiora on the stage, showing a smile.

"I got it."

"A swordsmanship competition, right?"

Linwin raised his hand, and then, a broom flew over. With a wave of his hand, he cut off the bristle at the top. Linwin said to Fiora, "Then let's have a fencing match."

Linwin

- Age: 21

- Level: 43

- Strength: 728

- Agility: 683 (Activated five-star +30, Obtained five-star card main attribute +150)

- Intelligence: 678

- Psi: 0

- Skills: [Advanced Repair], [Swordsmanship: Mastery], [Relentless Force: Proficient], [Zephyr], [Physical Enlightenment], [Second Wind], [Wind Magic: Proficient], [Elemental Control].

Hero Cards:

- [Piltover Enforcer ★★★]

- [Demolition Diva ★★★]

- [Time Tinkerer ★★★★]

- [Defender of Tomorrow ★★★★]

- [Machine Herald ★★★★]

- [The Revered Inventor ★★★★]

- [The Mad Alchemist ★★★★]

- [Daughter of the Void ★★★★★]

- [The Storm's Fury ★★★★★★]

Items:

- [Chrono Ring (Ten Meters)]

- [Doran's Blade ★]

- [Damaged Unknown Rune Shard x3]

- [Serrated Dirk ★★]

- [Berserker's Greaves ★★★].

---

[ Swordsmanship: Mastery ]

- Quality: ★★★★★

- Effect: When using sword-type weapons:

 - Increases strength by 30%

 - Increases agility by 30%

 - Increases destructiveness by 20%.

Linwin effortlessly swung a makeshift sword, comparing it to a longsword. In that moment, the aura around him changed. Like a poised blade, Linwin's eyes also subtly transformed.

Upon witnessing this, Fiora's pupils contracted, and deep within her, a resonating roar echoed. 

She became excited.

"Come, Fiora."

Linwin smiled, raised his hand, and Vi was swept away by a gust of wind, flying off the stage.

Linwin stepped onto the platform, facing Fiora.

She gradually calmed down, staring at Linwin with a cold gaze.

Raising her hand, wind entwined around the wooden stick.

From Kaisa's lottery, his Advanced Swordsmanship had upgraded to Swordsmanship: Mastery.

Original Swordsmanship Different Level Effects:

[Basic Swordsmanship]

- Quality: ★

- Effect: Increases strength by 5%, agility by 5%.

[Advanced Swordsmanship]

- Quality: ★★★

- Effect: Increases strength by 15%, agility by 15%.

---