Reborn As Noble

Felicia’s expression didn’t change.

Her breathing remained steady.

Eyes locked on her opponent. Cold, unreadable.

She slid her left hand across her waist and drew her second blade.

Twin swords, both perfectly balanced.

The glint of the steel caught the ight of the sunset.

Across from her, the oni-masked swordsman.

Inside Javier’s mind.

Hmm…

Twin sword user, huh?

He watched her step forward. Smooth. Controlled.

Alright then…

Let’s see how strong she really is.

She moved.

A blur of silver and motion.

The first strike came high, Javier’s katana intercepted it perfectly.

The second came low.

He stepped back.

Clean retreat. Sword still raised. Just enough space created.

Another burst of pressure erupted near his feet.

Javier twisted his stance, boots skimming the edge of the impact zone as a spike of compressed force cracked the ground where he’d been.

He didn’t frown.

He just narrowed his eyes.

Damn.

This girl’s fighting like Mimi.

Except she’s not rushing.

Her form was elegant. Her rhythm—tight. No wild swings.

She doesn’t jump around like a cat throwing lightning.

She wasn’t shouting, or grinning, or saying “Nya~” every move.

Her silver hair flowed cleanly with every movement.

Precise. Controlled.

But the same layered assault is there.

Blade first. Then magic underneath.

The way she fights…

Javier’s eyes tracked her footwork, the way her twin blades flowed like mirrored lines.

If I had to compare her to someone…

A sharp sidestep. Parry. Deflected spell beneath a sword swing.

Liana?

He narrowed his eyes.

No way.

Liana would’ve overwhelmed her.This girl, this twin-sword catgirl is fast, but still a bit behind.

Her movements were practiced. Elegant.

But not yet terrifying.

Maybe she’s close to what Liana used to be… minus the instant kill precision.

Gloria?

He blocked another dual strike, one blade catching, the other barely grazing his shoulder plate.

…No. Gloria’s faster. Colder.

This one’s still testing me.

But who knows…

He smirked under the mask.

Let’s find out.

Suddenly.

Silently.

One blink. Javier Vanished.

And then—

CLANG—!!

Javier’s katana came in from behind.

A flawless slash angled at her back shoulder.

Without turning, Felicia raised her left blade behind her, parried the strike cleanly.

And then.

She was gone.

Javier’s eyes shifted.

A moment later, the sound of her boots landed two meters away, blades raised, posture perfectly steady.

At the southern edge of Gilikan.

Commander Raikus’s expression didn’t change. But his brows lifted slightly.

A gust of wind blew across the open field.

Several soldiers dropped their rations. One muttered, “Did he just—?”

Raikus exhaled once.

“…They both vanished mid-strike.”

Even the dwarves inside the town, now climbing onto the walls and towers, stood in awe.

They couldn’t keep up.

To them, it looked like flickers of light and wind bursts, nothing but blurs darting across the ground.

To the average soldier…

To the dwarves standing atop the walls…

The duel looked like sparks flickering midair, brief flashes of light, steel grinding steel, and bursts of raw energy erupting from nowhere.

The ground trembled in thin pulses.

Short streaks of dust kicked up, then vanished.

Magic surged in straight lines and curved arcs, flying from what seemed like empty air.

But no one could see the swords swing.

No one could track the footwork.

No one knew who was winning.

All they could do.

Was watch.

Near the rear, Commander Raikus narrowed his eyes, following the afterimages and the pressure shifts.

He could track most of it.

Not all of it.

Just enough to know.

Inside his mind.

Damn these two.

Another blast of air ripped across the field as both fighters vanished again.

At least fight with something everyone can actually see.

Another crash of sparks lit up in the center, and Felicia reappeared on one knee, liding, blades crossed, parrying a downward slash.

Javier followed, blade tip grazing the ground, adjusting into another silent advance.

Sparks flew.

Stone cracked.

Dust danced.

The field had become a battlefield only they could understand.

And neither seemed close to stopping.

Both figures landed, dust settling beneath their boots, blades lowered but still ready.

The sun was nearly gone now.

Only gold and ember streaked the sky behind them.

Felicia adjusted her stance, never lowering her guard.

She exhaled softly, barely out of breath.

In a calm, low voice, she spoke without emotion.

“Just surrender, weird person.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“Are you that human lord’s escort?”

“Or are you the lord himself?”

The question hung in the air, sharp but polite.

Javier didn’t answer immediately.

Behind the crimson oni mask, he grinned.

Then responded in a deep, steady tone.”You’ll have to find out yourself…

Little catgirl.”

Felicia stood perfectly still.

Her eyes locked on the man in front of her.

Then she spoke softly.

“This means… no more time for testing.”

The words came calm. Controlled.

But in the next moment.

A sudden aura burst surged from her.

Her clothes shimmered, in a blink, her outfit transformed into a tight, fitted battle gear, elegant but reinforced. Armor wrapped seamlessly over her limbs, waist, and shoulders, laced with glowing enchantment lines.

It fit perfectly.

The silent pressure it gave off made the surrounding soldiers stiffen.

Even Commander Raikus adjusted his footing.

Inside Javier’s mind—

Whoa…

She’s serious now.

And what’s with the dress suddenly switching to battle armor?

He narrowed his eyes behind the mask.

Is she using magic storage too?

That’s rare.

His grin spread slightly beneath the oni mask.

Damn, this is fun.

He adjusted his stance, holding the katana in both hands.

Then—his voice dropped lower, deeper behind the mask.

“Very well… catgirl.”

He lifted the blade slowly.

“Let’s get serious.”

Without a chant, he released the trigger.

Gravity rippled outward.

The field trembled.

A triple-layered compression field activated, crashing downward in silent pressure.

THOOM.

Dust flattened.

Felicia’s eyes widened, her feet buckled.

The soldiers near the edge of the field staggered and fell to one knee.

Even Raikus had to grit his teeth as the force pulled at him.

Felicia dropped to one knee, unable to breathe for a moment, her swords stuck to the ground from sheer weight.

Javier walked forward—slowly, each step echoing.

His voice was calm. Cold.

“Farewell… catgirl.”

He raised his katana.

Wind stopped.

He swung—blade cutting down with finality, aimed straight for her exposed neck.

Felicia’s eyes widened.

She couldn’t move.

She closed her eyes.

…I lost—?

But—

The blade stopped.

Inches from her skin.

No impact.

Just stillness.

Her eyes opened slowly.

Standing over her.

The oni mask was gone.

In its place.

A cheeky grin.

Javier tilted his head.

“…Got you.”

( End Of Chapter )

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