Sparring with the Battalion Commanders (3)

After ten minutes, Blanc went back to the sparring grounds. He drank one lesser stamina potion to partially recover his stamina.

Leif didn't have any issues with him drinking a lesser stamina potion because he knew that Blanc had just finished fighting eight opponents.

After a few more moments, the two fighters were ready to spar.

"Mayor, I didn't think that the day would come when I would have a serious match with you like this. I'm looking forward to our match."

"Same here! Come! Show me the prowess of the top two battalion commander!"

"Top two…"

Blanc didn't know that Leif was sensitive to the words "number two" so he was surprised when Leif suddenly charged at him with a fierce expression.

*PAH* *PAH* *PAH*

Unfortunately for Leif, a sudden fierce charge is not enough to take out Blanc as he perfectly blocks each attack.

"Hmmm… So you're still sticking to textbook attack patterns huh? Then how about this"

*PAH* *PAH* *DODGE*

Blanc successfully blocked the first two attacks but the third one was an unexpected blow from a tricky angle so Blanc wasn't able to block that one.

Fortunately, Blanc has fast reflexes and he was able to step back in time to dodge that one.

"As I thought, the mayor is quite lacking in combat experience so it is quite difficult for you to react to sudden tricky attacks."

Blanc didn't have any reaction at all though even though he almost got hit which made Leif a bit annoyed.

It seems like Blanc's poker face has a natural affinity for pissing people off.

"Watch out! Mayor!"

Leif exclaimed as he started his onslaught of attacks again.

Blanc is able to block at least sixty percent of Leif's attacks but the remaining forty percent which comes from weird angles in unexpected timing is giving Blanc a hard time.

"Ohh! I knew it! Commander Leif is still better!"

"Hahahaha! Say goodbye to your fifteen silver coins!"

"Looks like even General Helena will lose ten silver coins this time!"

The soldiers commented. Not only are they enjoying the sparring sessions, they are learning a lot as well from the exchange of blows.

"How is the mayor so good at everything?! He's so good at aggressive attacks and he's even better in defense?!"

"Pfft!"

"Shit! I need to train harder!"

Helena couldn't help but laugh at Greyson's comment.

"W-Why are you laughing general? and why are you guys so pissed off?"

"Hahahahaha how stupid can you be? they're obviously pissed off because Blanc didn't even consider you guys worthy of him using his true fighting style."

"T-True fighting style? Then you mean…"

"Hahahahaha yes, Blanc always does things in the most efficient way. So his aggressive fighting style earlier means that it's more efficient for him to just beat the crap out of you instead of thinking!"

"W-What?..."

The defeated battalion commanders realized that they weren't even on the same level as their mayor. They were a bit heartbroken so they vowed to work even harder in the future.

The battalion commanders didn't stay depressed for a long time and they focused on watching the fight again. This time, with the intention of learning everything that Blanc is doing.

At the sparring grounds, Leif is still attacking but he is slowly getting tired.

"Don't doubt yourself! The mayor should also be getting tired by now!" Leif muttered to himself.

However, reality is cruel. As time passed, Blanc was starting to successfully block almost all of Leif's attack patterns.

"This is why I'm always bugging him to train with me but he just won't believe me!"

Helena couldn't help but comment after seeing that Blanc had already adapted to Leif's attack patterns.

She already knows that Blanc has potential when it comes to combat. His combat IQ is really high and he registers each attack pattern on his brain after seeing it once or twice.

This includes the small habits of his opponents. For example, when Leif is about to do a chop-slash-and-spinning slice combo, his left foot is positioned farther at the back compared to his original stance.

Blanc can remember subtle habits like those after seeing an attack pattern once or twice. This makes him a monster at adapting to his opponents.

The longer you fight him, the less chance that you have of beating him because in addition to his sharp observation skills, he has a high combat IQ, and he is exceptionally calm when fighting.

Leif repeatedly tells himself to stay calm and not lose patience however, it is easier said than done. 

After seeing Blanc slowly adapting to his unique attack patterns, Leif felt that he was slowly being suffocated even though he was the one attacking.

Looking at Blanc's indifferent eyes and expressionless face increases his anxiety even further.

"I have to finish him off soon!"

"I'm slowly running out of stamina! I have to finish it soon or I will lose! I can't lose!"

Negative thoughts started flooding Leif's thoughts which made him slowly lose his composure. Thus, he was unable to think clearly.

In addition to this, his mental fortitude is slowly being whittled down by Blanc's seemingly impregnable defenses.

"Calm down Leif! Don't doubt yourself! Slow down! You're overexerting yourself right now…"

Alexander muttered to himself. He knew that Leif wasn't actually behind him in terms of abilities. 

It's just that he has a calmer mind and a stronger mentality than Leif which lets him defeat Leif in their past sparring sessions.

Unfortunately, Leif has to learn this the hard way as Blanc starts to counter attack in the middle of Leif's attack patterns.

Although he is only hitting Leif with small strikes, Blanc knows that these small strikes will accumulate and give him a chance to finish off Leif.

After a few more exchanges, Leif finally made a mistake and Blanc immediately charged in to finish the fight.

*PAH*

Blanc has successfully struck Leif on his wrist which made him let go of his sword.

"Enough! Blanc wins!"

"OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! The mayor actually won!!!"

"Mayor!!!! You're so cool!!!"

"I'M FUCKING RICH!!!"

Cheers reverberated across the sparring grounds as Blanc finally defeated Leif. In their eyes, Blanc miraculously came back from the brink of defeat and won.

Only the true experts know that it was Leif who was slowly being suffocated by Blanc's fighting style.

"Leif…"

Alexander walked to the training grounds and tried to console Leif. He knew that things had been hard for Leif during the past few months and he couldn't help but feel a little pity for him.

Leif didn't say anything and just left the training grounds.

Helena looked at Leif and she didn't stop him. She knew that Leif already had inner demons and if he can't get rid of it, he will never be a Swordmaster.

She stopped paying attention to Leif and slowly looked at Alexander.

Alexander met Helena's eye and Helena was surprised seeing such a rare fighting spirit in Alexander's eyes.

Alexander is usually like everyone's big brother and he rarely shows his fighting spirit during their past sparring sessions.

This time, however, Leif's pitiful back left a strong impression on him which triggered his fighting spirit.

He knew how strong Leif was and apart from Helena and him, no one had been able to defeat Leif, not even Sabre.

Alexander gave Blanc thirty minutes to rest while he himself started to warm up.

After thirty minutes, both combatants entered the sparring grounds.

Alexander gave Blanc a fierce look as he assumed his fighting stance.

"I hope you don't disappoint me, Mayor Blanc."

Blanc also got into his fighting stance and he was raring to fight Alexander.

Seeing the burning atmosphere between the two of them, Helena smiled. She loved watching intense sparring matches like these ever since she was a child.

No one dared to bet this time and everyone just focused on the upcoming match.

Helena didn't waste any time either and immediately announced the start of the match.

"Begin!"