27 Chapter: 26 Spar against Najenda

[TRAINING FACILITY]

As Najenda strode confidently through the training hall, Leo followed behind, observing the reverent gazes of the soldiers as they passed. 

It was clear that Najenda's presence commanded respect and admiration, her charisma undeniable to all who crossed her path. Leo couldn't help but feel a twinge of apprehension as they made their way to the sparring arena. 

Upon reaching the centre of the training grounds, Leo was struck by the palpable excitement radiating from the gathered onlookers, many of whom had been training in the facility earlier. Leo's inclination for night time training sessions stemmed largely from situations like these.

Despite the eager anticipation of the spectators, Leo remained focused as he prepared for the spar with Najenda. 

Opting to keep his Teigu safely stored within his spatial artifact, he instead selected a metallic gauntlet from the assortment of weapons available nearby. With practised efficiency, he secured the gauntlets onto his arms, mentally preparing himself for the upcoming bout.

Najenda's observant nature led her to question Leo's choice of weapon. With a hint of curiosity, she inquired, "I've heard reports of you favouring daggers as your main weapons. Why switch to a gauntlet for our spar?"

After Leo finished donning the gauntlets, he turned his gaze towards Najenda and spoke calmly. "It's not that I particularly chose gauntlets for this duel," he began, "as I have been using a similar weapon like this for some years now."

"The reason for that would be," Leo continued, his voice steady, "during my years serving under the special forces before acquiring my Teigu, I encountered enemies that were far from human, much like me.

They would continue to move even after being seemingly killed, making it imperative to adapt a different fighting style to deal with such adversaries."

"In one particular incident, most of my squad mates perished, and I barely survived due to my unique physique. It was then that I realised the necessity of developing a combat approach capable of overcoming opponents with such hidden abilities," Leo explained.

Najenda listened attentively, impressed by the composure of the teenager in front of her. Even while recounting a terrible incident, Leo's voice remained steady, showcasing his resolve.

Her curiosity piqued, Najenda remarked, "They sound like adversaries associated with the Imperial Fist Temple, but there are also some other people who are capable of the feat that you are telling me," acknowledging Leo's encounter.

"And it seems you have another reason for not wielding a dagger?" she inquired further knowing there was definitely a reason for Leo to choose gauntlets as his next choice of weapon.

Leo was not surprised at Najenda's assumption of him having another reason for choosing gauntlets because he had come to know by now that she is a keen individual just like Geralt.

Leo responded as he assumed a fighting stance. "Because of my Teigu and its other abilities, it has a similar weapon like these gauntlets, albeit a much deadlier version," he explained.

"Hmm, okay, the spar will only be for 10 minutes as I underwent an operation for my new mechanical arm yesterday," Najenda explained, her tone matter-of-fact.

"You don't have to worry; I'll only test your basic skills to measure whether you're suitable for my unit or not." Leo nodded in understanding as Najenda drew her sword and gestured for him to begin the match.

At the signal, Leo swiftly moved toward Najenda, aiming to close the distance and launch an attack. However, Najenda calmly slashed her sword toward him, unfazed by his sudden approach.

Leo knew that despite his experience in numerous missions and battles, he stood little chance against Najenda. As an experienced general and battle-hardened veteran, Najenda's combat prowess surpassed anything Leo had faced before. While he had fought against normal soldiers countless times, none could compare to Najenda's mastery of combat arts.

Renowned for her level-headed strategic prowess, Najenda was also highly skilled in combat, demonstrating deadly proficiency with a range of weapons, including rifles and other firearms.

Being aware of Najenda's capabilities by the rumors, Leo didn't dare underestimate her, knowing that any mistake could be instantly exploited, resulting in severe consequences.

As Leo deftly evaded Najenda's sword slashes, she transitioned into a more offensive stance, launching a relentless assault of attacks. Drawing from his past battle experiences, Leo managed to dodge some of her strikes while deflecting others with his gauntlets.

Despite his efforts, Leo couldn't match Najenda's reach the advantage afforded by her sword. She capitalised on this, delivering ferocious and calculated attacks while maintaining a safe distance from Leo.

Each strike from Najenda was executed with precision and intent, testing Leo's defences and pushing him to his limits.

Sounds of metal clashing against metal reverberated across the hall as Leo and Najenda engaged in their intense spar. The confrontation happening before the spectators was so fast and intense that it gave them goosebumps and held them in a trance-like state.

Despite the cuts accumulating on his body from Najenda's relentless attacks, Leo pressed on, determined to close the distance and end the match. Ignoring the the cuts, he focused solely on reaching Najenda.

As Leo neared Najenda, he launched a fast punch towards her, hoping to catch her off guard. However, Najenda's meticulous footwork allowed her to effortlessly dodge his incoming strike.

Realizing the necessity to regroup and recover, Leo promptly withdrew to a safer distance, remaining cautious of Najenda's potential counterattacks. He knew that timing and strategy would be crucial if he hoped to overcome such a formidable opponent.

As wounds began to heal beneath Leo's clothes, a sizzling sound emanated from him, indicating the activation of his regenerative factor. Leo quickly realised that fighting tactically against someone as experienced as Najenda, a former general, would be futile. She was far too skilled to let her guard down during a spar, making it nearly impossible to land a decisive blow.

Aware of Leo's past and his regenerative abilities gained from the danger beast's blood infusion process, Najenda remained unfazed by his rapid recovery. She anticipated his moves with calculated precision, ready to counter any attempt to gain the upper hand.

Leo knew he had to change tactics if he hoped to gain the advantage. He needed to create a situation where Najenda would be unable to dodge his attacks, catching her off guard and seizing the opportunity to turn the tide of the spar in his favour.

NAJENDA! NAJENDA! NAJENDA!

IMMORTAL WRAITH! IMMORTAL WRAITH!

As Leo pondered his next move, the training hall erupted with excited shouts and cheers from surrounding soldiers and staff members.

The deafening cacophony echoed throughout the hall, causing the floor to vibrate beneath their feet.

Even the new recruits couldn't contain their excitement, shouting fervently despite their superiors being within earshot.

For many of them, witnessing such an intense and exhilarating fight was a first in their time with the revolutionary army. This particular battle held special significance, as it was their first opportunity to see their Legendary Leader in action.

Amidst the overwhelming noise, Leo couldn't help but wonder why the crowd was cheering for him as well.

Although he couldn't remember engaging with any of them, their enthusiastic support was unmistakable.

'I can see why they're rooting for Najenda, but I don't understand why they're cheering for me.' Leo thought, his confusion growing in the uproar.

But Unbeknownst to Leo, his isolation had shielded him from the knowledge that he had garnered a lot of admirers within the Revolutionary army.

Immortal Wraith's stellar record in completing missions, coupled with her reputation as a beautiful yet deadly force, had garnered her admirers among the revolutionary army recruits and her mysterious masked persona only added to the intrigue surrounding her, further fueling the fascination of those who had come to admire her.