Having realized that her opponent’s physical specs far surpassed her own, Maki changed her approach.
She would avoid direct clashes as much as possible, relying instead on technique and footwork to probe for openings.
If she could just find a gap, then whether she used it to strike directly at her opponent or to slip past and make a beeline for Ritsuka, the tide of battle could be reversed in an instant.
However, ideals were plump, but reality was bone-thin.
By the third exchange, Maki found herself systematically suppressed.
Jeanne Alter was, admittedly, not a Servant renowned for martial mastery.
In fact, in the earliest days, her fighting style had been derided as infantile—devoid of any meaningful technique, little more than raw, rampaging instinct given vent.
But years of constant sparring and training alongside all manner of Servants in Chaldea—including no small number of peerless warriors—had changed that.
The Jeanne Alter of today was worlds apart from the one first summoned to Chaldea.
She had made tremendous strides in martial skill.
While she still couldn’t compare to Servants famed for their combat arts, she was far beyond what any ordinary person could hope to match.
And so, to her mounting shock, Maki discovered in the midst of battle that not only was her opponent’s protection of Ritsuka flawlessly watertight, but the woman herself revealed almost no openings whatsoever.
Maki couldn’t find a single opportunity.
At the same time, the gap in their physical capabilities quickly made itself apparent in the fight.
Jeanne Alter handled Maki’s attacks with effortless ease, her expression one of complete composure.
But when it came to the reverse, Maki was forced to pour every ounce of her concentration into simply staying alive.
Dodge or block?
Feint or real strike?
Left or right?…
One wrong step, and the fight could be over for good.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang…!
Maki no longer had any mental bandwidth to spare for her earlier strategy.
She could only fend off the onslaught before her with single-minded focus, as if the entire world had shrunk down to just the two of them.
The sound of their fierce exchanges echoed across the training grounds.
But this was nothing more than a slow death.
From the perspective of those watching on the sidelines, after that initial clash, Maki had been thoroughly suppressed.
She could do nothing but desperately defend, with no sign whatsoever of mounting a counterattack.
And as time wore on, Maki’s movements grew more and more sluggish, the force behind them weaker and weaker—clear signs of flagging stamina.
Yet Jeanne Alter, standing across from her, looked as unruffled as ever, as though completely unaffected.
With this kind of monstrous endurance…
was she even human?!
Well…
actually, no, she really wasn’t.
Never mind, then.
Finally, with one last exchange, the final dregs of Maki’s strength were utterly spent.
The weapon in her hands was effortlessly sent flying by Jeanne Alter’s banner-spear, landing at the feet of Panda, who was watching from the sidelines and now sweating a nonexistent drop of cold sweat.
“I yield, I yield.”
Maki didn’t bother putting up a stubborn front.
After promptly conceding, she flopped straight onto her back on the ground, gasping for breath.
Though it had only been a spar, it was the most all-out effort she had ever given. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
The intense exertion had even left her head slightly spinning.
And thus, the spar between Jeanne Alter and Maki concluded with Jeanne Alter’s complete and total victory.
“In the end, that’s about all you amounted to,” Jeanne Alter remarked with utter boredom, turning and making her way back to Ritsuka’s side.
“That was amazing, Jalter!”
Ritsuka lavished her with unreserved praise.
A flicker of smug satisfaction tugged at the corner of Jeanne Alter’s mouth, though she made a show of scoffing.
“Hmph.
Isn’t that only natural?”
The onlookers’ minds were still replaying the duel they had just witnessed.
That fierce, intense exchange—scarcely like a battle between humans at all—had been an eye-opening experience.
At the same time, Megumi and Nobara exchanged a furtive glance.
If they remembered correctly, the student ID they had seen for Ritsuka had listed her sorcerer grade as…
Grade 3?
What part of this was Grade 3?!
Who were they trying to fool?!
True, Maki’s registered sorcerer grade was only the lowest, Grade 4.
But that was because the Zen’in clan suppressed her, deliberately blocking her from advancing.
In terms of actual combat ability, Maki had long since approached the level of a Grade 1 sorcerer.
And Jeanne Alter had effortlessly suppressed Maki in their spar, achieving total victory—and by all appearances, she hadn’t even been remotely serious.
In other words, Jeanne Alter’s true strength was very likely Special Grade shikigami!
And Ritsuka, who possessed a Special Grade shikigami—Servant—had been registered as a mere Grade 3 sorcerer?
Definitely something fishy going on.
“Maki-senpai, are you alright?”
“Here’s some sports drink.
Want a sip?”
“Thanks.
I’ll just rest here for a bit.”
Everyone gathered around Maki to check on her.
She sat up from the ground, took a small sip of the drink, and took stock of her body’s condition.
She had lost.
But she felt exhilarated.
Because from just this one sparring session, she could already clearly feel her abilities improving.
That was what mattered most to her.
This kind of high-intensity clash—one that let her go all out, completely absorbed and undistracted—was leagues more efficient than her usual training.
So she looked toward Ritsuka and made a request.
“For the next while, whenever you’re free…
could I come and spar with you often?”
Hearing this, the others caught on as well and eagerly raised their hands. This story is hosted at novelping.com.
“Me too!”
“Same here.”
“Please spar with me as well!”
“Salmon roe mayonnaise!”
Their thoughts mirrored Maki’s.
Everyone had witnessed the ability Jeanne Alter had displayed in that fight.
She was, without question, a powerhouse.
To train against such a mighty opponent—the experience and improvement one could gain from it would be immense.
Seeing everyone eagerly signing up, Jeanne Alter didn’t even wait for Ritsuka to answer.
She made a face of undisguised disgust and refused flatly.
“I refuse!
Have you all got the wrong idea?
I’m not some training partner.
I don’t do troublesome things like that.
Don’t come asking me.”
“Uh…”
Everyone was caught off guard, only then remembering that Jeanne Alter wasn’t a conventional shikigami—she had her own will.
“That’s what she says, so…
sorry about that.”
Ritsuka scratched her head apologetically, but she had no intention of going against Jeanne Alter’s wishes.
“However, if what everyone needs is a training partner…
I do have other Servants who are better suited for it.”
“There’s more?!” xN
Everyone’s heads whipped toward Ritsuka in unison, their faces full of anticipation, looking for all the world like a pack of eager puppies.
Ritsuka said nothing more.
She simply extended her right hand.
Shadow Servant, summon!
The summoning technique activated, the Command Seals on her hand flaring with red light.
In the next instant, three dark, black-mist-shrouded figures materialized before the group.
“These are Spirit Origin Shadows—they can only exist for a short time, essentially weakened, non-sentient versions of Servants.
But I guarantee you, they are absolutely the best teachers!”
Ritsuka smiled as she made this assurance, though there was a hint of mischievous delight lurking in that smile.
Despite being cloaked in thick, impenetrable black mist, Ritsuka could still recognize these three—the ones who had taught her so very much.
Scáthach, Old Li Shuwen, and Leonidas I.
Come now, everyone.
Savor to your hearts’ content the hellish training regimen of Chaldea!