Chapter 93: Sparring Match

Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Sparring Match

Yet Ragnar was not simply being pushed around.

His improved physical abilities allowed him to recover from mistakes more quickly, and his greater strength made it dangerous for Kaelira to underestimate the force behind his swings.

On one occasion, he used the broad reach of his greatsword to restrict her escape route, then followed with a sudden Tempest Slash that forced her to abandon her preferred approach and retreat farther than she had intended.

On another, he managed to turn aside her counterattack and bring his blade close enough that she had to redirect his weapon rather than evade it outright.

Neither exchange gave Ragnar the upper hand for long, but they were enough to demonstrate that his new skills had made a genuine difference.

After several more minutes, Kaelira stepped back and raised one hand.

"My lord, I believe we have tested your new strength sufficiently."

Ragnar stopped his next swing before the blade could complete its arc. He stood motionless for a moment, then lowered his greatsword and released a satisfied breath.

His body was still in good condition, although the prolonged spar had made him more aware of the effort required to keep up with an opponent of Kaelira’s caliber.

He had not been seriously injured, but the exchanges had forced him to concentrate on every movement rather than relying on brute strength alone.

"All right. Let’s stop here."

He rested the greatsword against his shoulder and looked toward Kaelira. She appeared considerably less affected by the spar than he was, which was hardly surprising.

She had spent most of the fight controlling her strength and avoiding unnecessary risks, while Ragnar had been the one testing the limits of his newly acquired abilities.

Nevertheless, he was satisfied with the result.

"So, what do you think?" Ragnar asked. "Be honest. How much stronger am I now?"

Kaelira considered her answer carefully before speaking. "Your physical abilities have improved considerably, especially your strength and ability to control your weapon. You are also more resistant to magical attacks, although that does not mean you can ignore every spell an enemy casts. Your new ranged attack gives you another way to pressure opponents, which is particularly valuable for someone who primarily fights with a greatsword."

Kaelira paused briefly before continuing, explaining the weaknesses Ragnar still needed to address. She pointed out that he sometimes committed too much force to a single attack, leaving openings that an experienced opponent could exploit, and that he still needed to become more familiar with the timing of Tempest Slash.

Ragnar listened carefully, accepting her advice without complaint. He knew that purchasing skills could improve his physical abilities, but it would take actual combat experience to turn those improvements into genuine fighting strength.

Just as Ragnar was about to return to his throne, a familiar voice suddenly came from the entrance to the chamber.

"Oh my, you two finally done with your sparring date?"

Ragnar turned his head toward the voice and saw Veyra approaching with a playful smile on her face. She walked into the throne room with her usual graceful steps, her eyes moving between Ragnar and Kaelira as though she had just discovered something particularly amusing.

Judging by the expression she wore, she had clearly found an opportunity to tease them and had no intention of letting it go to waste.

Kaelira immediately stiffened.

For someone who could remain composed while facing dangerous opponents, the simple phrase sparring date proved unexpectedly effective. A faint blush crept across her cheeks, and she quickly averted her gaze, suddenly finding the stone floor much more interesting than the two people standing in front of her.

Unfortunately for her, Veyra noticed everything.

The smile on her face widened, and she looked as though she was about to make another comment. Kaelira, who had no idea how to respond to such teasing, could only remain silent, her usual confidence nowhere to be seen.

Ragnar, however, failed to notice her embarrassment entirely.

Perhaps he was still thinking about the sparring session, or perhaps he simply had no interest in entertaining Veyra’s teasing. Either way, he paid little attention to her remark and looked directly at her instead.

"Veyra, did you enjoy your fight with that human?"

Veyra blinked, momentarily surprised that Ragnar had ignored her attempt to tease him. She quickly recovered, though, and her playful smile softened into a more thoughtful expression as she recalled her recent battle.

"Yes, my lord. It was quite enjoyable, actually." Veyra folded her arms beneath her chest, her eyes glinting with amusement.

She tilted her head, recalling the details of their confrontation.

"Of course, he was still no match for me in the end. Once I stopped holding back quite so much, the fight was decided. Still, I have to admit that it was refreshing to face an opponent who could actually put up a fight. Most of the adventurers who enter our dungeon are too weak to provide any meaningful entertainment."

Ragnar nodded thoughtfully. He had already known that Suldun was no ordinary adventurer, considering how far the man had progressed through the dungeon.

However, hearing Veyra describe the battle in greater detail reinforced his understanding of how dangerous a skilled human could be.

Even with the improvements from his newly purchased skills, he couldn’t afford to underestimate an opponent simply because he possessed a higher level or better equipment.

"That’s good to hear. I was wondering whether the adventurers who came here would become stronger as the dungeon’s reputation spread. A Level 35 adventurer managed to reach the second floor, then I suppose we should expect more capable people to show up eventually." Ragnar rested one hand against the hilt of his greatsword and looked toward Veyra. "Still, you did well. As long as you can deal with people like him, I don’t have to worry too much about the second floor for now."

Veyra’s expression brightened at the praise. She stepped closer to Ragnar, looking up at his towering figure with an affectionate smile.

"Since I performed so well, shouldn’t my lord reward me?"

Ragnar raised an eyebrow. "A reward? What kind of reward?"

Veyra leaned slightly toward him, her smile growing more mischievous. "What about you accompany me to the bathhouse. We could relax together after all the fighting and training you’ve been doing. I’m sure my lord would enjoy spending some time with me without having to worry about dungeon management or troublesome adventurers."