It had been almost three months since Seneca and the others enrolled.

  Every week, they trained with Attalos, engaging in mock battles where three students faced him at a time. Seneca had fought twice so far.

  In the first battle, Seneca had suppressed her skills as much as possible, fighting with only her swordsmanship. In the second, she used her skills partially, testing her growth by cshing with Attalos.

  For the next mock battle, Seneca had decided to go all out. Her quick temper had led to significant growth, but this patience had its limits.

  If she fought with all her strength, the likelihood of Attalos noticing that she was at level 3 was high. However, she had started to believe there was little reason to hide it.

  In fact, she began to think that showing her true strength might be beneficial, as it could earn her protection and aid in investigating Lucius.

  Recently, Seneca had become increasingly concerned about something. It was the fact that, ultimately, she was not a combat specialist.

  Her physical abilities had improved, and she could now utilise her skills with greater effectiveness. Her swordsmanship was sharpening, growing more precise day by day. Yet, when she looked at her cssmates, those with combat skills, she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread at their remarkable progress.

  The growth of Pulker's spear skills, especially with his [Thunder Spear Technique], was highly impressive. Simirly, Fabius's swordpy, enhanced by his rare [Longsword Technique], had reached a level that, based purely on swordsmanship, made it clear that Seneca could not match him.

  Seneca no longer believed her skill was a failure, nor did she doubt its potential to lead her down the path of a hero. However, she was beginning to lose confidence in herself as a swordswoman.

  For that reason, she knew she needed to face Attalos with everything she had.

  What could she do against a truly overwhelming opponent? What was cking in her abilities? Seneca was desperate to answer these questions.

  Thus, she resolved to give everything she had in her upcoming battle with Attalos.

  ...

  That day, Seneca's aura was clearly different from usual.

  Normally, she was id-back, almost absent-minded at times, but today she exuded a tense atmosphere, her sharpness fully evident.

  Even Nina, who usually spoke to Seneca casually, refrained from saying a word today, clearly aware of Seneca’s focused energy.

  The atmosphere in Css S was unlike any other, and the students silently watched as Attalos began his practical lesson.

  ...

  There had been much debate within the css about their combat abilities.

  The consensus was that Seneca was the strongest in close-quarters combat. Pulker was considered the best at medium range, while Stroh held dominance at long range.

  Seneca had never lost to Pulker in mock battles. Due to Pulker’s wide reach, it was believed that he could strike before Stroh could even prepare his magic.

  It was thought that if Stroh were to seriously cast a spell, Seneca would have no means of defence and would be easily defeated.

  Thus, the students had come to the conclusion that there was a sort of triangle in their abilities: Seneca was strong against Pulker, Pulker was strong against Stroh, and Stroh was strong against Seneca.

  Incidentally, Nina was considered the second-best in close-range combat, and her mock battles with Seneca were known for their otherworldly aerial duels.

  ...

  The time had come for Seneca and Attalos to face off in a mock battle.

  Even the other members of Css S, who usually focused on their own training, paused to watch the confrontation.

  Both Seneca and Attalos were brimming with fighting spirit.

  From the moment he saw Seneca that morning, Attalos had sensed that she would be fighting with all her might. Though he had no intention of losing, and did not think he would, there was an unpredictable element to Seneca's actions.

  He had to remain vigint, lest he be caught off guard and overreact during a counterattack.

  "Let’s begin," Seneca said, her voice unusually clear and decisive.

  Attalos drew his sword.

  "Come at me," he replied.

  The eyes of the two swordsmen locked firmly.

  ...

  Seneca saw herself as a needle.

  A glimmering thread dangled near her waist.

  While there was little change in her power when she didn't regard herself as a needle for non-material objects, it was essential for material ones, so she mentally prepared for the task.

  Attalos, too, prepared his sword, enveloping it in magical energy.

  Seneca took her stance, and with a swift motion, ran towards him.

  She fired a [Magical Needle] to keep him at bay, weaving through the air to close the distance, using her magic to "sew" the space around her as she advanced.

  Attalos dodged the [Magical Needle] with minimal movement and braced himself for Seneca’s sword strike.

  At that moment, Seneca unleashed ten [Pins] in quick succession, targeting Attalos. Simultaneously, she turned herself into a needle and aimed to "sew" at Attalos's legs with her bde.

  "Interesting!" Attalos excimed, a moment of contemption fshing across his mind before he decided to crush everything in his path.

  "[Instant Speed]"

  Attalos moved with the same speed as Seneca, sshing through all of the [Pins] in one motion. He evaded her incoming strike with ease, and as they passed each other, he unleashed a sword imbued with ice magic towards her.

  Seneca expertly avoided the bde, making sure not to touch it, while kicking Attalos in the process.

  Attalos effortlessly absorbed the blow and countered by casting a fire magic spell to force Seneca back.

  Seneca continued to "sew" the air around her to maintain her high-speed movement. She avoided Attalos's fire spell by "sewing" the air diagonally upwards, feeling her magical energy deplete steadily.

  Knowing that this would give Attalos an opening, Seneca fired three [Magical Needles] to halt his movements.

  "[Starfall Bde]"

  Attalos's bde glowed brilliantly, effortlessly cutting through the three needles in a single strike. Stepping forward, he closed the distance between them.

  At this moment, Seneca felt a surge of satisfaction, realising that Attalos was truly treating her seriously.

  Although she knew her actions would only buy her a brief moment of time, Seneca gathered all ten [Pins] and shot them at Attalos, rushing in to attack as she nded.

  Feeling the weight of the moment, Seneca doubled the magical energy she was using to "sew" the air, speeding up even further. The glowing sword of Attalos now exuded a deadly aura.

  Attalos easily swatted the [Pins] away and watched Seneca’s movements intently.

  Without hesitation, Seneca struck at Attalos’s neck, only for him to predict her move and evade it. She pressed forward, sshing again, and simultaneously fired a [Pin] at close range.

  "So, that’s what you can do," Attalos remarked, dodging the strike. In an instant, he released fire magic from his arm, destroying the [Pins] in his path.

  ...

  The students of Css S watched in awe, holding their breath as they witnessed the csh between Seneca and Attalos.

  Some were astonished by Seneca’s full power, and others began to question the validity of the triangur power dynamics they had assumed.

  Until now, they had only seen Seneca excel in close combat, but it seemed she had mastery over both mid-range and long-range tactics as well.

  In every way, she appeared to surpass all eleven students present, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

  Meanwhile, Maiol activated her [Detection] skill to the fullest, desperately trying to keep up with the battle unfolding before her.