As Frank looked up to meet Silverbell's eyes, he said quietly, "No, Lady Silverbell. It's our first encounter, just as this is my first time hearing about the Martial Alliance."
"The Martial Alliance." Silverbell spaced out for a moment and started explaining for some reason, "The South Sea Four founded the alliance, and only notable sects or factions in Draconia are offered a place…"
It was only at the end that she came to her senses, frowning as she wondered why she would explain the Martial Alliance to some punk she did not know.
Swish!
She whipped her sword, speaking quietly, "Less talking. Since you're representing Sage Lake Sect for their trial, you must be prepared. Show me what you have and whether the Sage Lake Sect is worth the alliance's time!"
"Go, go, Frankie!" Maron cheered for Frank with fake enthusiasm, waving his phone at Frank at the same time to warn him against pulling anything funny.
Frank was not actually going to do it—if he were to be honest, he would like to see how much Silverbell had improved, as he had not met the brat for a decade.
Turning toward one of the Sage Lake Sect apprentices nearby, he held out his hand. "Lend me your sword."
"Sir…?" The apprentice was taken aback and turned toward Maron.
Maron nodded—he certainly wanted Frank to win.
Frank caught the sword thrown at him and calmly walked up to Silverbell without assuming any stance.
"You're testing your skill with a sword against mine?" Silverbell frowned.
Her specialty was the sword, and Frank was challenging her with what she was best at?!
"Come at me," Frank said and stopped talking.
As he strode up, he slowly remembered the footwork and strokes of the strongest sword style of Mystic Sky Sect: the Wandering Nephrite.
Clang!
Lifting one leg and standing on the other, she lightly swung her sword and parried Frank's ethereal blow.
But even before she could switch to the attack, Frank slid his pure vigor along her sword while he leapt past her flank.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
In a brief instant, Frank unleashed over a dozen strokes, leaving the Sage Lake Sect apprentices dumbstruck.
While Silverbell had every reason to be appointed Chief of the Martial Alliance, Frank's swordcraft was just too unpredictable and volatile that she kept being caught by surprise.
Still, she kept parrying Frank's blows thanks to her years of experience and even switched to attack.
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