There is no Input delay in the traditional sense. Attack and defend are automates states. You hold attack for the game to switch to attack state and automatically combo until you let go, and you hold defend to automatically dodge until you let go. It's not supposed to be pixel perfect precision like a character action game:
You need to embrace this automation as much as your mind might be telling you not to. Timing the switch between these states is the core of the combat.
You can then work in directional combos unique to each weapon, warps and warp strikes, manual dodge rolls, spells, techs, links as required.
The combat /looks/ faced paced but you should be playing it slowly and methodically on your end. It's essentially a hybrid of turn based and real time action. It doesn't explain itself at all so it's not a surprise many find it awkward.
Of course, this may not fix anything for you. Opinions differ.
