As Siena looked at me, it felt like a hunter staring at its prey.
Normally, this would have been the point where I became nervous.
But today—
something felt different.
Instead of tension, I felt excitement.
A faint smile appeared on my face.
And judging by the brightness in my eyes—
the excitement was obvious.
Siena noticed immediately.
She glanced toward Duracal.
"Is the kid alright?"
She pointed at me.
"Normally when I ask for a spar, he looks like a dead fish waiting for execution."
Duracal shrugged.
"I think he gained a little power and wants to show it off."
"Oh?"
Siena's eyebrow rose.
Then a grin spread across her face.
"Getting cocky, brat?"
She cracked her knuckles.
"Good."
"Bring the spar spears."
For safety, we used long wooden sparring spears.
Mine had a wooden axe blade attached to replicate my usual weapon as closely as possible.
Siena used a standard wooden spear.
After preparing our weapons, we walked some distance apart.
Siena stood casually.
One end of her spear rested on the ground while the tip pointed toward the sky.
Neither a defensive stance.
Nor an offensive one.
Just standing there.
Waiting.
I held my spear with both hands across my body.
Then—
I breathed out.
I closed my eyes briefly.
One breath.
No sound.
The world seemed to grow quieter.
Every hair on my body stood on end.
Instinct screamed at me.
Attack.
I opened my eyes.
And rushed forward.
Using Beast Footwork, I launched myself with my toes.
No zigzags.
No feints.
No illusions.
Just a straight charge.
Like an arrow flying toward its target.
Siena remained motionless.
But her eyes followed every movement.
Calculating.
Analyzing.
Waiting.
Mid-charge, I shifted my grip.
My left hand released the spear.
My right hand drove it forward.
A powerful one-handed thrust aimed directly at her abdomen.
At the last moment—
Siena twisted her body.
The thrust missed by inches.
At the same time, she lifted her spear to intercept mine.
But I immediately rotated my weapon.
The axe blade attached to the side caught her spear before it could redirect my attack.
The impact traveled through my arms.
My spear trembled.
Yet it held.
Siena's eyes widened slightly.
"Oh?"
She didn't hesitate.
The instant her upward movement ended, she converted it into a horizontal slash aimed at my ribs.
I blocked.
At the same time, I stepped back with my left foot and planted my right firmly into the ground.
Adding my second hand back onto the shaft, I forced my spear downward to counter her attack.
Crack!
Wood struck wood.
Siena immediately sensed my intention.
She halted the slash midway and instead hooked her spear against my axe blade.
Then she shoved forward.
Trying to break my footing.
I answered by thrusting straight at her chest.
Once again, she reacted instantly.
A vertical strike descended to intercept my spear.
This time—
it succeeded.
Both our weapons were knocked upward.
Their tips pointed toward the sky.
But neither of us stopped.
The moment my spear rose, I brought it crashing downward with all my strength.
Siena blocked.
Her knees bent slightly as she redirected the force.
But I had expected that.
The redirection itself was my target.
The instant my spear reached the edge of hers, I stepped to the right.
Then I twisted my weapon and applied force toward the outer edge of her spear.
My goal was simple.
Either disarm her—
or force my way through.
As the pressure increased, I was certain one of those outcomes would happen.
Instead—
Siena did something completely unexpected.
Holding her spear above her head, she suddenly rushed forward.
The two weapons slid against each other as she closed the distance.
At the same time, she kicked toward my right knee.
I lifted my leg and blocked the kick.
But that had never been her real attack.
She used the momentum from the collision to drive her shoulder directly into my stomach.
The impact knocked the air from my lungs.
My footing disappeared.
And before I could recover—
I was already falling.
I hit the ground flat on my back.
Looking up—
I found Siena standing over me with a grin.