The SSS-rank Guide Doesn't Need Saving

Aisha sensed Sabel’s psychic energy rising. It was only a faint frequency that grazed her skin, yet she could feel the difference between the energies of a sentinel and a guide.

A sentinel’s psychic energy was volatile and powerful, containing the intent of their users. And by nature, sentinels are ruthless and more direct when dealing with their enemies. Because of this, they end up getting sensory overload, and their energy gets polluted the more they use it. Think of a campfire fueled by pure gasoline, but only one spark away from burning down an entire forest.

Sabel had trained herself to the extent of being able to control her psychic energy, so that it wouldn’t just leak from her vessel and overload herself.

The moment she tapped into her powers, Sabel shot it toward Aisha like a whip.

Kane stood in alarm and called out, ”Sabel, what are you doing?!”

Sabel answered without looking at him, ”This is the best way to train her. Our opponents are all sentinels; do you think they’ll be merciful once Aisha steps into the ring?”

Upon hearing this, Kane hesitated. Although he felt that it was too soon for Aisha to face a sentinel in a battle and she might have never come across one that had targeted her like this, he had to acknowledge that what Sabel just said was right.

”But... why didn’t you tell us beforehand?”

Sabel replied, ”I asked her if she was ready.”

Kane was stumped for words.

At this time, the whip-like bundle of energy coming from Sabel was coming straight at Aisha so fast that, with ordinary eyes, they’d see it coming. If Aisha were an ordinary person, her body would end up freezing and allow it to strike her.

But Sabel must have also considered her status as a guide, as she didn’t put enough force into it. So, even if Aisha were struck, it wouldn’t hurt as much as a slap on her wrist. Though this took a lot more effort than anyone would have thought.

Beads of sweat were already forming on the tip of Sabel’s nose and the vein on her forehead appeared, suggesting how much control she was using to not hurt her.

Sending an approving look at how she was working hard, Aisha also did not want to take it easy.

Facing the unstoppable whip-like attack of Sabel’s psychic energy, Aisha finally moved.

With a calm twist of her torso, she evaded being struck on her shoulder. The energy moved so fast and cracked in the air.

Sabel’s heart froze. Shock surged through her as she hastily drew back her energy. She tried to launch an attack after attack, yet every movement she made was anticipated by Aisha, effortlessly evading each attack by mere inches.

Before she could even withdraw her attack, Aisha finally made her move. A chill raked across her scalp as Aisha dropped low to the ground. Pressing her palms flat against the floor, she crouched almost like a feline.

Then, suddenly, she disappeared.

Where?

Sabel’s eyes shook, unable to believe it.

But that split second of distraction was what Aisha needed to pierce through the defense Sabel had put up around herself while attacking.

Using her hands to stabilize her first acceleration, she sprang forward quickly! Every muscle in her legs worked together to keep up with her speed, and in just a few steps, or in a second, she reached Sabel, and she struck her palm out on her stomach.

Sabel could barely react to Aisha’s sudden counterattack. She felt an immense pain coming from her stomach and bounced back, forcing her to take several steps backward. She stared at Aisha in astonishment.

Aisha’s eyes remained calm as she sensed the shift in the air. But she wasn’t satisfied with just making Sabel step back after her strike. In an instant, the ferocity in her eyes intensified.

Before Sabel could recover, Aisha moved with such swift footwork that she appeared behind her like a shadow. With another forceful punch, Sabel was forced to block it with her arms, and her feet took a couple more steps backward.

”I—” Sabel tried to speak, but Aisha’s relentless attack grew. Blow after blow pressed her back. Though Aisha used no power to back up her strikes, the force behind them even surprised Kane and Vesper, who were watching them.

”Fuck! Where did she learn to move like that?” Vesper cursed excitedly, already on his feet.

Kane held his breath and shook his head in response. ”No clue. She did say she learned some defensive skills. But... I didn’t think it would be to this extent.”

Guides naturally didn’t need to fight. They only needed to support the sentinels they were paired and assigned with to stabilize them, and in return, they would receive protection from the sentinels. But there are classes where guides can learn some method to protect themselves. And Imperial Star Academy had one of those classes!

Though only a couple of guides took that class. Even Kane didn’t think it was necessary for him to learn.

But looking at how fluidly Aisha was moving with not even a trace of exhaustion on her face, he suddenly felt a surge of desire to learn some defensive skills as well!

”Sabel!” Vesper abruptly shouted. ”Can you win or not? If you’re done, can I get my turn next and fight Aisha?!”

Sabel’s eyes burned red with embarrassment and helplessness. Nobody told her Aisha could fight so well like this. Had she known before, she would have prepared ahead of time.

No... it was her mistake.

Sabel had asked Aisha if she was ready because she underestimated her. She thought that a guide like Aisha and Kane might not even be able to stand a chance of winning a spar with her, but she was dead wrong.

”Hurry up!” Vesper’s urging also angered her.

”Shut up! I’ll beat you up later!” Sabel gritted her teeth and evaded the attacks Aisha threw at her body.

Vesper cocked his chin up smugly and retorted, ”Try beating a guide first!”

In her head, she was cursing Vesper for being such an idiot. It would have been easy if it were as simple as that. But Sabel could sense that Aisha was not an easy opponent. She was far from being easy at all, with how her movements were all thoughtfully planned and struck at her. Most of them were even aimed at her vitals, so Sabel found it difficult to relax, or else she’d pay dearly!

Sabel frowned with silent agony.

”Still need time to get ready?” A small smile tugged at Aisha’s lips as she struck her once more.

A smile also appeared on Sabel’s lips while blocking Aisha’s punch, and she replied, ”Why don’t you check again?”

The two of them smiled at each other. Just as they were about to start sparring again, a buzzing noise suddenly cut through the scene.

Aisha lowered her gaze to her terminal, frowning at the sight of Theon’s name on the screen.

She was going to ignore it at first and continue the exciting sparring with Sabel, but her pupils constricted at the message that appeared before her eyes.

Her movements stopped altogether when Sabel was about to counterattack. Seeing Aisha stop so suddenly, Sabel was already too late to withdraw the pack of energy she put into her hands.

Sabel only intended to graze Aisha and was already expecting her to evade. But once Aisha stopped moving, there was no time to stop it!

”Avoid it!”

”Aisha--!”

”Shit!”

Kane and Vesper also noticed the strangeness of the situation and jumped forward. Vesper was already reaching their side, but even if he stopped Sabel, the residual energy would still have hit Aisha. In the end, she would suffer from the attack and possibly get injured!

Time seemed to move so fast yet so still.

Then, a loud noise was heard.

’Pa!’