GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation

Chapter 13: New Instance

"If your movement's that easy to read, make sure it holds power," Graham's voice carried across the courtyard. "A kid would easily dodge that."

Heat crept up Vel's neck. The critique stung, but Graham was right. His test strike might as well have announced its intentions with trumpets and banners. Even if he'd moved faster, Graham would have effortlessly blocked or countered. The man's experience rendered basic attacks useless.

Vel retreated two steps, mind racing for a new approach. Direct strikes wouldn't work. Neither would standard combinations Von had taught him. Graham had likely seen them all countless times before, performed by warriors far more skilled than Vel.

His grip shifted on the practice sword as frustration mounted. Speed alone wouldn't be enough. Power wouldn't suffice either. He needed something unexpected, something that would force Graham to react rather than control the flow of combat. But what?

A flash of inspiration struck Vel as he studied Graham's stance. Deception might work where direct force couldn't. Graham's experience meant he'd recognize standard attacks instantly - but what about a carefully crafted feint?

Vel stepped forward, angling his practice sword for what appeared to be a straightforward thrust at Graham's midsection. His muscles tensed, selling the deception as he gathered his weight on his back foot.

"Hyaah!" Vel's shout echoed across the courtyard as he committed to the apparent thrust. Graham's eyes tracked the incoming blade, exactly as planned.

Vel's heart hammered against his ribs as he abruptly changed direction, swinging the practice sword up toward Graham's shoulder instead. The wooden blade cut through air as Graham moved to block the obvious attack.

But one layer of deception wouldn't be enough against someone of Graham's caliber. As Graham's practice sword rose to intercept the downward strike, Vel pulled back at the last instant. The momentum of his swing transformed into a lightning-fast thrust aimed at Graham's now-exposed guard.

Graham's footwork shifted subtly, his stance adjusting before Vel's thrust was even complete. Those experienced eyes had already read through both layers of deception.

"Clever," Graham's quiet acknowledgment carried across the space between them.

Sweat trickled down Vel's neck as Graham's taunt rang across the courtyard. "Is that all you've got?"

Vel's muscles burned, but he refused to let exhaustion show. He darted forward, unleashing a combination. His wooden sword whirled in tight arcs, each strike flowing into the next as he pressed his attack.

Graham's casual stance vanished. The Vice Headmaster glided backward, his movements so smooth he seemed to float across the stones. Vel's carefully planned sequence might as well have been slashing at smoke.

A subtle shift in Graham's weight sent warning signals screaming through Vel's mind. The man's center dropped lower, his practice sword rising as he pivoted on his front foot.

"Watch your stance!"

The warning came too late. Graham's wooden blade whistled downward, faster than Vel's eyes could track. Pure instinct drove his arms up, catching the strike on his raised guard.

Impact rattled through Vel's bones. His knees buckled under Graham's overwhelming strength. Only desperate determination kept him from collapsing completely as he fought to maintain his footing.

A knowing smirk crossed Graham's face. "You've got spirit," he acknowledged, never breaking rhythm as his assault continued.

Vel backpedaled, his arms trembling as he pushed against Graham's overwhelming pressure. The wooden sword felt heavier with each passing second. He needed space - time to think, to breathe, to reassess.