Stella saw what happened to Hemil as she held the wooden sword tightly.

"Uncle! I'm coming!"

​​

Instead of running towards her uncle, she actually grabs something in her backpack. It was a vial that contains an unknown liquid.

This was one of the valuable things she possesses. Although Reiji couldn't appraise the yellow liquid since he hadn't touched it yet, he was sure that it was something incredible as it was extremely hidden within the girl's room.

She then quickly opened the vial and drank the liquid!

Gulp!

She didn't bother tasting it at all as she finished drinking the content in one gulp!

"—Mr. Sword! Please! Save my uncle!" Stella quickly called for the sentient Arcana as she sees her uncle suffering.

Reiji noticed the changes in her body… An enormous amount of Spiritual Energy was leaking out on her and it might be difficult to control.

Her energy now was probably five times higher than her previous state…

He didn't bother asking about the vial at the moment as he upgraded the Take Over skill again to refresh the cooldown before using it on her…

Interestingly, instead of increasing the duration by 5 seconds, it increased by 10 seconds.

'Is this because it's now level six? Anyway, this is a good thing…'

From level 2 to 5 the increase was only 5 seconds for each upgrade. However, now that it increased by 10 seconds at level 6, he was inwardly hoping that it would continue until level 10 or maybe even more.

Although the Take Over was still short, he believed that if he could use the skill for a little more than a minute, he'll be able to do something more for his wielder.

"Very well, let's finish this…"

Reiji felt that abundant Energy gushing through Stella's body and he realized that it wasn't good for her as well.

'I should use or spend this power as quickly as possible.'

The only way to lessen the burden on her body was to control the Energy itself or just remove it completely on her body by spending them all.

Bam!

Stella stomped her feet on the ground as she dashed forward to save Hemil…

Splat!

The wooden sword pierced through the cultist's neck! It happened so fast that the enemy could only look at the perpetrator in disbelief…

Hemil was then bathed by the blood gushing out of the enemy's throat after Stella pulled out the wooden sword.

This time, she looked at the two leaders as she left the other mobs for the villagers to handle. She ran towards them and instead of changing her stance to Enkyoku or Enso to fight them head-on, Stella didn't raise the swords and only left the tip of the swords pointing to the ground!

It was the Nitouryuu's Mu No Kamae!

Although it is basically having no stance, it was also the best form to surprise an enemy. After all, with this form, the enemy wouldn't easily predict where the next strike would come from.

No, the enemy might even be thinking that he can't strike properly with that kind of stance.

However, in truth, the trajectory of the sword coming from this stance is completely unpredictable.

Unfortunately, this stance couldn't be easily used without having a high-level skill in swordsmanship.

If it was used without having enough experience, the stance would only be filled with flaws and the swordsman would easily get defeated even by those who have low-level skill in swordsmanship but follows the proper stance.

Boom!

As expected, the two leaders were different. As soon as the two cultists were in range, Stella started her attack but was blocked by the cultist's staff.

Unlike the other members of the cult that uses blades as their main weapon, the leaders were using a staff engraved with an eerie-looking design.

"Kuku! You'll be a very good sacrifice… Nar, don't kill her…"

"Kehehe… I have the same thought… We'll use her for the main ritual."

Unlike the other cultists that seemed like they were drugged, these two individuals have clear thoughts and even communication was possible.

Anyway, Reiji didn't bother talking to them as he was sure that it wouldn't lead to anything good.

He then shifted his weight on his foot as he started his assault. The two leaders were always together so he can only try to deal with them at the same time.

He first tried to attack the one who was called Nar, it wasn't to kill him off but to understand how would they respond.

However, instead of dodging or parrying the sword, Reiji noticed that their staff was emitting powerful energy…

'Not good…'

He needed to avoid the incoming attack…

Thud! Thud!

Boom!

The two staff struck the ground and created a huge explosion scattering the surrounding rocks and soil.

'What kind of Magic Weapon is that? Is it an Arcana?! Tsk…'

He already somewhat expected that they have a powerful skill being kept. But he didn't know that they can be this destructive at the start.

Reiji couldn't dodge all the rocks flying around as Stella's body got wounded… Luckily, she still has the abundant Energy around her that helped her to avoid any critical wounds.

"Hmph!"

Of course, the master swordsman didn't get afraid because of this as he controlled Stella's body to move in the direction where the two leaders backed away.

"You can't hide from me!" Stella shouted as she used her two swords to slice the air.

"Kuh! How can you find us?!"

Nar was surprised after Stella unhesitatingly struck their position.

After they used Arcane Magic to create a small explosion, they quickly retreated and used a barrier-type Arcane Magic. They expected that the swordswoman could survive that attack so they were planning to cast another skill that would allow them to capture this crazy swordswoman alive.

However, before they finished casting, she already found their spot and interrupted them.

"There's no other way, just kill her!"

Their staff suddenly radiated a black aura as they tried smashing it on Stella's head.

Reiji didn't feel right parrying their strikes and instead made a counter!

The strike came from below and it was headed for a Tsuki!

"What?!"

"You!"

Two wooden swords were headed for two throats at the same time. The two leaders were surprised since they were sure that their attack on the girl would land at the same time!

They couldn't imagine that this young girl would want to die with them!

Urgh! They might be able to dodge the attack if they backed away now…

'Right! My life is more precious than yours, I won't die with you!'

'Tsk… Are you serious?! I still need to summon our god, the Three-Eyed Imp, I can't die here…'

The two leaders jump back as they don't want to exchange their life for a single girl's life. They still have their dreams and mission in their minds.

That's right, they didn't dare to belittle that girl's strike since they saw her killing one of them already.

Unfortunately, they were still too naïve…

Stella remained silent as she continued her assault!

The swords moved like it was a living snake and following their throat even as they backed away!

It was the terror of Mu No Kamae of Nitouryuu! It really has an unpredictable trajectory! Combined with the fact that the sword's movement was like flashes, they ended up being unable to respond and finally made a huge mistake.

They tried parrying the wooden swords since they can't avoid them continuously. However, they ended up parrying nothing but the air as they were struck by Reiji's favorite method of getting a point in kendo, Tsuki.

It was such a deadly strike that Reiji could understand why it was being banned in younger or lower-grade kendo competitions.

As soon as the two cultists dropped dead on the ground, the [ Take Over ] Skill also ended as Stella ended up crouching in pain.

"Umph!"

"Eh? Is it painful? Sorry about that…"

"I… I can endure it… Thank you, Mr. Sword."

"You're welcome. I also learned a lot in that battle." Reiji replied honestly. As he was about to ask her about the vial she drunk, he suddenly noticed an approaching group of people.

Stella then felt the ground shaking as noise can be heard from afar… It was the returning Subjugation Party! They seemed to be hurrying as they noticed that the fight was still ongoing…

However, Stella didn't look happy and only looked at the party with blank eyes as she glanced at the wooden sword beside her…

"Uhmm… Mr. Sword Arcana… Can you teach me how to use the sword?"

Reiji looked at the girl interestingly and smiled with his non-existing mouth.

"Why do you want to learn the sword? I thought that you want to be a blacksmith?"

"I… I want to be strong… I couldn't protect my family and loved ones back then or even now… It was all because I was weak! I thought that following my parent's wish to live peacefully in the village is the right way of living… But… This time, I want to at least protect myself and those that I love… Please!"

Stella almost begged for him to teach her...

After seeing this, Reiji no longer hesitated as he replied.

"Alright… Then you can start by calling me Master Reiji!"