Using mana to put distance between them. Cassie could only watch without a change in an expression. Even she knew she would be expecting too much if Jessica had experience fighting this style of attacks.

While she wasn’t using any methods intending to kill. That opened up an inefficient move set. Not singular in nature, using daggers in a fight was generally not a normal method of attack.

Because of the small range, speed was the favorite. That didn’t mean that was all there was, in fact, daggers were just most often seen as small and agile weapons. In reality, the very essence Cassie had found was efficiency.

To each their own, however, daggers were generally a method associated with murder. Not killing but murder. An underhanded method of dispatching someone in a way that gives you the advantage from the beginning to end.

Moving in once more, Jessica was showing signs she wasn’t going to sit passively. Which was good, as what Cassie was going to do was show Jessica one of the methods that she found best. While it could be said she was pulling her punches, by not using mana.

What that meant, was for a normal person to fight a graded being. She was not pulling her punches, but punching much harder. To clear the gap, she was planning to eliminate any ability to engage meaningfully.

At the moment, Jessica still had hesitations about attacking someone that couldn’t use mana. Capitalizing on that fact, Cassie moved with an increased pace as the distance created was soon lost.

Gripping the dagger from the hilt, with the handle firmly in her hand. The blade extended a short distance below her fist. Uniquely, the blade and thumb ring were the only two visible aspects of the dagger.

Once she was in striking distance, Cassie pounced forward. A straight jab to the face, as if by instinct Jessica tilted to the side, going to slip by before striking back. Only halfway through, Jessica had to abort.

Because of the surprise, Jessica backpedaled. Clearly finding it troublesome. The punch itself wasn’t scary, what was, was the dagger’s edge that came with it.

Not willing to give Jessica time to grow accustom to these daggers of her. Cassie didn’t allow her any time to think. Tilting back, she spun slightly as she followed Jessica backwards.

Not realizing the back of the blade was the next attack. Cassie was given another opportunity to attack as Jessica was still in the awkward retreat. Without coming to a stop, she used a large hook with full momentum.

Her feet physically left the ground as she lunged forward. Jessica, being physically aware of what she could and couldn’t get away with, was able to jump backwards using mana at an uncomfortable angle.

A smile tickled Cassie’s lips. She was not disappointed that her attack failed. In retrospect, she was longing for that physical adapt nature of hers.

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In terms of talent, her ability to absorb mana was second to none. With resources, she was able to reach Grade B at an extremely young age. She had considerable experience. From the knowledge she got from the background check.

She would go so far as to say that her experience was that above Jessica’s. Jessica had been in more fights, though Cassie only fought with those stronger than her. Always to the death. On the occasion, she was not fighting to the death. It was with her mother or one of her people.

Knowing that her survival depended on their ferocity. They never once went easy on her. As depressing as those times were, she had a mentality to push through the difficulties. With her top grade talent, she knew that she could overcome her shortcomings with superior mana.

Therefore, seeing how far she had come with that experience. What would happen if she taught someone that had talent in areas she didn’t. She wanted to know what Jessica could do if she started to learn from her.

It wasn’t like she was a selfless person. What she wanted from Jessica was not just a friend. Jessica had physical talent that she did not. Therefore, if she learned her techniques and adapted them to herself. Cassie was sure she could bring it to a whole new level.

By that time, Cassie had no shame in stealing from her student. By teaching Jessica, Cassie was planning to use her talent to further her own abilities.

After getting used to her attacks, Jessica started to have opportunities to attack. Meaning she wasn’t so passive, however, she was not in a better position. Cassie was a bit too cutthroat.

Every time she would go in for an attack, she was forced back as Cassie was willing to trade blows. Always finding a strange angle, Jessica couldn’t fathom to trade up.

Contrary to her pretty looks, she was even willing to allow Jessica to slice her face. If Jessica was willing to lose an arm.

Jessica didn’t believe Cassie used a weapon weaker than her own. Even though the blade wasn’t reinforced with mana. Jessica was sure it would have no problems slicing an eighth of her arm, bone included.

In the end, Jessica came out in a draw. It wasn’t even a close fight. She simply survived long enough to use up all of Cassie’s stamina. Jessica herself was breathing laboriously. Partially because she was winded, and because she had small cuts all over her arms.

The way Cassie fought, was in the way she described it. Like a fight to the death, using every opportunity she had to fuel her ultimate victory. Similar to an underdog, she used every single attack to push herself into a better position to inevitably kill her opponent.

Never allowing her to breath, Jessica had to use mana to retreat. Cassie stuck to her like a wet blanket. Neither did she want to wait for a change in the surroundings. Every action she took was deliberate, pushing for her victory.

Cassie’s mentality was as if she planned to end the fight with the next attack. From beginning to end, Jessica could feel that Cassie had been moving coherently without any clash in movements. Something she failed horribly at.

Jessica’s style was overly flashy, without enough subsidence to make up for the useless movements. When forced off her game, she found her unpredictable movements to be worthless. She struggled a lot because she wasn’t fluid with these movements.

Before this, Jessica had begun to feel stuck. She could feel that the way she was now was not good enough. She had started to revert to more of the nameless elven technique basics. While still using the wire, she didn’t use it the way she once did.

Stronger she became, the stronger the people and things she fought. Like an incline, her abilities were lackluster. Constantly needing to battle uphill. While moving back to what the old man had once taught her, she found her battles becoming easier.

Only she had not remembered everything. Plus, what she learned was just the beginning. So, she was seriously stuck. Now a hint of a possibility had appeared. She was just unsure if she should take it.