If that was the case, the man had only executed a practice
swing? A display of form, no different from what the students
performed during the Sword Mastery Academy’s examinations.

—Is he making a fool out of me?

—Or perhaps he thought he could scare off some kid who’s
still attending school with just a single practice swing?

The core of his head burned up the instant he felt that.

He was slow to notice, as a result.

There was something directly in front of the man who just
swung his sword, in Eugeo’s path as he rushed forward while
leaving behind a line of light from the secret move. A
transparent fluctuation horizontally cut through the air. Much
like the heat haze that enveloped the man’s sword right before
he began that slash.

—That spot’s… where his practice swing cut through earlier…
A profound chill ran down his back. Although he instinctively
attempted to interrupt his charge, a secret move couldn’t be
stopped that easily once activated. He drew back his sword and
scrapped his right foot against the floor, but his speed merely
fell slightly and—

Eugeo’s body immediately came into contact with the heat
haze that remained in midair.

A scorching hot impact surged through his left breast to his
right armpit. Eugeo was blown away like an old rag flapping in a
squall, swung around several times as he fluttered in the air. A
large quantity of blood drew a spiral as they flowed out from the
deep injury carved in his chest.

(Alicization Dividing, 98)