Arthur could feel the pressure emitting from Ashley's body. Although Arthur said he wouldn't help Novis. Novis was still considered his student and Arthur had his own pride on the line as a teacher.
"Novis this will be your toughest battle yet, so far you have only fought hooligans who have no experience fighting but this girl right in front of you has been training with the sword every day for the last 10 years."
Novis didn't need Arthur to say anything, just from looking at Ashley he could tell she was different from the others.
One of the students was currently looking after Ben. His helmet was now off and his face regained colour slightly. Another student took Ashley's place and was currently holding the white flag between the two contestants.
"Show him the strength of our family's kendo style!" Daiki shouted.
Ashley thought what would happen if she purposely lost, it might give Novis a greater chance for him to convince her father. But their two reasons why she couldn't. Her father was skilled and had the eyes of an eagle. If she performed anything during the match that was slightly off, he would be able to tell. The second reason though, was she could tell from the last fight that Novis was strong. The warrior inside her didn't want to lose.
"ReadyandGO!"
The student dropped down the flag and Ashley came dashing in. With a jump in her step, she attacked quickly. The attack was fast so Novis knew he wouldn't be able to dodge. He blocked the strike then swung back at Ashley but as he did Ashley jumped backwards.
As soon as Ashleys's feet touched the ground she jumped back in again for an attack. If Novis hadn't practised so much with Arthur, he would have been a goner by now. Ashley continued to jump in for an attack and jump backwards. Novis would swing in between but would always miss.
Novis currently whished he was in VSW right now. He wasn't as skilled as Arthur with the sword but what Novis did have was the use of other weapons. If it was in the game Novis could attack Ashley from a distance using the chain sword and then come at her with his dual sword's.
But that wasn't an option right now, so he needed to think of something else.
So far in the match, neither of the two had scored a point on each other. Daiki was impressed. He didn't think Novis would be this skilful at blocking. Daiki predicted that Novis must have had at least the same amount of training as his daughter.
This was simply not true. The reason for Novis amazing growth was the dream world and the game. In both of these scenarios, Novis was able to fight with a simulation of his life on the line. Humans, when pushed to the edge with their life at risk, learnt the quickest. It had activated something in Novis's brain.
The problem with the kendo dojo, they were always safe behind the gear. Even if they were hit, they knew major damage wouldn't come to them. There was no risk apart from the fear of losing.
Ashley's arms were starting to get tired. Her frame was smaller than Novis's and she didn't have as much strength. After seeing what happened to Ben, she knew she couldn't take a strike head-on. That left her with the only option of dashing in and out. This had worked in the past but not on Novis.
"Dam it! She's so fast, I can't hit her." Novis said in his mind.
"Calm down Novis, think about your strengths and her weaknesses," Arthur said.
Novis now stopped attacking back and focused only on blocking. As he did this he would breathe in slowly, calming him down. Novis started to look at Ashley's body, to see if there was anything wrong. They had been fighting for a while now and neither of them was getting tired.
Then he spotted something.
"Her hands, they're shaking, Is she nervous? No that can't be she's probably thought hundreds of battles so what could it be?"
Then it hit him. Her hands were hurt. The repeated strikes against Novis bamboo blade was starting to hurt her hands. Her muscles had tensed up and were currently filled with lactic acid. The only reason she was still currently holding the blade right now was because of her determination to win.
Ashley dashed in forward again but this time instead of blocking, Novis went to attack the bamboo sword.
*Whack
The impact was hard and it swung Ashley hand out to the side. Her face twitched in pain but she knew she had to hold on. She jumped back again avoiding Novis's strike. She was in pain but if she didn't go back in it would give Novis the momentum.
She dashed in again for another Strike and again Novis whacked the bamboo blade again. This time her hands could no longer take it and were forced to let go off the bamboo sword. With no sword in Ashley's hand, Novis was declared the winner.
Daiki didn't say anything, he went over to his daughter and looked at her hands. They currently raw red with rip marks from holding onto the blade.
"You did, well," Daiki said as he took of Ashley's helmet.
She was currently covered in sweat and her eyes were slightly teary. This was the first time she had lost to an opponent that wasn't her dad.
Daiki then stood up and started walking over towards the direction that Novis was in.
"I'm impressed boy, clearly you have fought before. No one would be able to stay that calm and be able to perform at a level you had today if they hadn't."
Novis was nervous, he had beaten Ashley because he relied on the strength of his attacks. in terms of skill with the sword, Ashley might have even been better, but in the end, her female body and the fact that she was a year younger and still growing, just couldn't handle the constant attacks and Novis's strength.
But if he was to face Daiki, there was no way he could use his strength to win.
Daiki picked up his daughter's sword off the ground and went into a fighting position.