"Take that!" The thing about Kazumi's fighting style is that it's very rough.
"Woah!" It isn't that he's inexperienced. The fact he, so far, has avoided all of Centia's swings speaks against that.
"The way he dodges, it's like instinct. Yet his form..." She swings again, and once again he moves out of the way. "He seems to be unfamiliar with that style, yet there is clearly a form he's subconsciously slipping into. It's just one with a longer reach." She thrusts, and he attempts to roll towards her.
Attempts is the keyword, though, as he screws it up halfway and she moves back anyways.
"Who exactly were you before the amnesia, Kazumi Strive?" He shoots up in an instant, and his sword just barely misses her.
"Damn it all, I'm not used to how short this stupid thing is." And that is really the core of the issue: Kazumi isn't used to everything. The shortsword, because before this he has exclusively used longer weapons. The power required, for both the lighter sword and his now-weaker body. And his timing, because there is a rather large disconnect between how fast his mind is moving and how fast his body can move. "Did this really have to happen so close to my last adventure!?" He strikes again, but this time the overswing is a lot more punishing. An "oh no" slips out.
"Now you're open!" And Centia isn't one to leave an advantage like that untaken. She winds back, and slashes with all her might.
"In your dreams!" And considering that she's visibly fairly muscular, that might is quite a bit. And even as Kazumi narrowly dodges, he can feel the breeze the attack kicked up.
"This is..." Among the spectators, a certain mage starts.
"An embarrassment?" A certain priestess standing next to him finishes.
"No, no. I was going to say a riot. Lio scratches his chin and laughs. "Our new-" Taila growls- "person of interest," he turns to see her calm again, "seems trained to some extent. He has muscle memory." The girl snorts as said otherworlder stumbles out of the way of yet another attack.
"You really think that's a sign of training?" She gestures to Kazumi as he charges Centia with a yell. And an attack she casually leans out of the way of. "Centia's just toying with him. Trying to see if there's anything worthwhile there to train." She swings, and he blocks. His arms shake as he has to hold back the raw strength she possesses, and he is knocked down and back after a minute of struggle.
"In fact, I do." Kazumi jumps over a swing, and manages to roll back into a standing position.
"...You're really not lying, huh?" However, he isn't quick enough to catch the kick to his shins, nor his disarmament soon after. And with her sword to his throat...
"I yield." On the sidelines, Lio smirks, eyes watching Kazumi like a hawk.
"I'm not." He finally turns to face Taila. "In fact, I think it proves our friend's little story." She glares at him, but he meets it with an unflinching smile. "He clearly has combat experience ingrained into his body. He just can't quite keep up with it. If that doesn't at least prove part of it..." He trails off, and shrugs. "Either way, I kind of want to study him regardless." Taila huffs and turns, eyes going back to Centia helping Kazumi back up.
YOU ARE READING
Isekai Complex
FantastikKazumi Strive is a teen like any other. He goes to school, spends time with his friend, helps his mother around the house, and everything else an average high schooler does. And in his dreams, he is a hero... A story about dreams, reality, and the e...
