Clad closed the gap between the two at an unimaginable speed, which took Theo by surprise.
!?
"He's gotten faster!?" Theo thought as Clad swung his blade full of white energy.
CLANG!
"His strikes have gotten much heavier, too." He noticed as his shield shattered
!?
"Seems like my shield couldn't handle his attack and shattered."
"Well, not that it matters, I rarely ever actually used a shield in my battles." Theo thought as he blocked Clad's attack with his blade before speaking a few words.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Clad, member of the flower sword clan"
!
"The flower sword clan?"
"No wonder the sword art seemed familiar."
?
"Familiar?"
"You've met other members of my clan?" Clad asks, surprised after hearing what Theo said.
"Yes, although decades ago, I've fought against one; he was strong, but he was quite young..."
"And arrogant.."
"I think his name was Sahad, perhaps?" Theo said, unsure if he got his name right, as it was too long ago for him to actually remember.
!?
"This guy knew Sahad!?" He said as a surprised yet somewhat shocked expression appeared on his face.
"Knew him is a stretch, I barely talked to him," Theo said, looking at Clad.
"How did you..."
"It was written all over your face." He hinted at.
"But I expect him to come back for his rematch against me. Please do tell him about it." Theo tells Clad.
"Well, it won't be possible because he's..." Clad says as he makes a sad face, remembering what happened during his childhood.
"...Ah, my condolences."
"No, it's alright, it's been almost 14 years since he died."
...
Silence between the two stayed for a few seconds before Theo asked him a question.
"Well, shall we continue our duel?" he said as he positioned his sword in front of him, firm and ready for combat.
The two leaped forward as their blades clashed, one swift and smooth, like water, the other fast and strong like an experienced swordsman, sending them both backwards. Clad held his sword tightly before rushing in. He swung with a curved motion, creating a flow of pink flowers and a combination of quick, successive strikes that link together seamlessly, much like a chain of daisies.
[FLOWER SWORD ART: DAISY CHAIN]!
!!?
CLANG!
Theo, however, parried every swing flawlessly with barely any sweat, took Clad's open side as an opportunity to go in for a counterattack, and struck his shoulder.
"Ugh!" Clad let out as he swung his blade back at him, cutting him as well.
The two took calm breaths for a second before continuing their fight, swinging and parrying each other's attacks, with each swing becoming quicker and quicker, as they kept trading blows. Something caught his attention.
?
"White eyes?"
"He has awakened divinity?" He thought to himself as he looked at the young swordsman facing him.