Kazuya sat silently on his bed, crossed-leg with closed eyes. His breathing resounded the whole room, it's as if he was doing yoga. His eyes then opened as he felt warmness sweeping through his body.
< Congratulations Host! You've successfully mastered the essence of the First Foundation Breathing Technique. You can now proceed to practice the Beginner Sword Art. >
Kazuya just hummed in agreement. This Breathing Technique is the foundation of every swordsman. There's a total of 12 Foundation Breathing Techniques. Each technique has, of course, its different difficulties and requirements.
However, you can't practice the twelfth without practicing the eleventh and so on. Breathing techniques are a must for every swordsman. A swordsman needs to be calm and collected, he must move when numb, he must stand tired. Breathing Techniques make it possible.
It soothes your muscle and every bit of your body. It also cures the numbness and soreness of your body. However, executing the first foundation breathing before practicing a high-quality sword art won't help at all. In short, Breathing Techniques one must use is dependent on the tier of the sword art you're practicing.
...
30 minutes later, Kazuya mastered the Beginner Sword Art. This is the easiest of all. It's composed of normal strokes, like a normal slash, thrust, or parry. As well as basic stances, it is also a good sword art for building a solid foundation in swordsmanship.
Then he unsheathed his sword, after just that he heard the system announce a notification.
< Congratulations on the host! You've mastered the Beginner Sword Art. You can now set on a journey to finding your first student. >
"Hmm, before that I think I first need to have something like a superior sword art right? Cause you know, to 'defend' myself if something happens."
< You do not have to hide your intentions host. I can read your thoughts you know. You just want to have a flashy move, for you to have 'premium bragging rights'. Fortunately, the first 'dance' of your technique is already finished. It is called 'Soothing Air Dance', mastering it requires the host to also master the Essence of Air. However, you can still practice it as some 'flashy move'. But to fully master the technique you have the master the Essence of Air. Would you like me to transfer the information now? >
"Damn, you don't have to spoil my fun you know. That's just harsh, and also, don't read my thoughts, it's creepy. Yeah, do it!"
At that moment, he felt a sudden spark of an idea. Like when the moment you realize something significant in your research. Or when you guess how the plot would develop, and it turns out your right. However, it was the doing of the system, not his.
With that, he has every move of the first dance in his mind. Thus, he decided to master it immediately. Taking it into practice.
< It's not appropriate to practice the first dance in this room. You may break some things, especially with that sword of yours. I suggest you find a training sword instead. >
"Hmmm, you're right.", then he looked at the clock. Seeing that it was still as early as 6: 30 in the night he said to himself, " I would go to the training hall then. And I don't think this world has any sword, much more a training sword. They don't even use that weapon anymore, they keep it for display. As if ancient relics."
That is quite unbelievable, but that is the truth. Sword isn't a weapon anymore, it's an ancient relic. Yes, they have those lightsabers. But they don't have the metal swords. Since lightsabers, or Energy Saber as they call it in this world, can cut through metal then, what use would a metal sword when it faces an Energy Saber?
That also led to the decrease of the swordsman in this world, now only Kazuya is a swordsman. Once, you have a light sword, pierces to almost everything, rechargeable, cool-looking, and portable then you would not carry a sword.
At first, it was alright even the known swordsman acknowledge the Energy Sabers. However, the benefits of using it don't end in just that. It could also be used without techniques. As long as you slash it down to your enemy - boom the guy is dead.
Thus sword masters slowly decreased and dissipate. People also have thick armor that normal swords can't pierce, and now they even have an armor that ignores Energy Saber completely.
< Oh, right. Then use your sword's old form since it's dull enough. Or use those hanging sword from your Lil' brother's collection. >
"Oh! I forgot I can do that. And I won't touch my Lil' brother's collection. I remember him crying all night because his fave sword got scratched.", he said. Then immediately, he touched the tip of the handle of his sword and it glowed and turned to its old self.
A dull, samurai-like sword. The scabbard also turned into one that matches the sword and now Kazuya could only tie it on his waist. Then he bolted out of his room and ran excitedly to the training room. He made a loud banging-sound, thanks to him pushing the door open.
This attracted someone's attention, and when she saw Kazuya she secretly followed him.
...
Panting slightly, Kazuya arrived in a huge room. It has a lot of different types of work out machines, in the middle is a boxing ring of sorts. Kazuya went to the side, where there is plenty of space.
It's the place where you do Zumba-things where there's a mirror at your front. There Kazuya stood in the middle, he took his shirt off and sheathed the sword before placing the scabbard to the side.
Then he started to do the routine with his eyes closed and his ears deaf from distraction. Each move seems to be relaxing, it didn't counter the world. It's not like a wall that will stop the wind, instead, its moves were like a bird, treading the path of no obstruction.
It was not slow, it was not fast. It was forceful, yet the purpose is not to hurt. With each slash, Kazuya felt that his body is getting lighter and lighter. Minutes then passed, and without him realizing an hour has passed.
< You have grasped the basics of the First Dance. The host truly is someone incredible, in terms of the sword. >
'Thank you, but what makes this move flashy?' he asked the system. Though practicing it is very relaxing, it was not what he expected. Not flashy enough!
< Of course, you haven't realized it yet. The 'flashy' thing you want is when you comprehend the meaning of the dance. Now host, what do you think is the meaning of the first dance? >
Kazuya went to his deep thought. He pondered, 'Soothing Air Dance, the requirement is to grasp the Essence of Air to master it. Then the meaning should also involve Air itself. Hmmm, how can air associate with a sword? Aha! That's how!'
Then he immediately started the dance again, however this time it was smoother and clearer. Then slowly, a light blue aura engulfed Kazuya. Ten minutes, he finished the first dance.
< Seems like the host has grasped the meaning. Well, let me elaborate. The Soothing Air Dance is a technique that uses wind as its core. Just like the wind, it would flow through anything that has space. Just like the wind, it can bend, it can stretch, and flow through anything. The meaning of the first dance is 'malleability'. To be able to point the opponent's flaw and exploiting it to victory. >
"True, it is indeed a good skill. But! That's not flashy at all! I want those techniques where you blast the enemy with one strike!" he blurted out as he sat down. Suddenly, someone passes him water. But thanks to his frustrations he accepted it and even thanked without looking who pass it to him.
"Well, you glow, it's like an aura. If I fight you while you're using it, I feel that I won't be able to hit you before you defeat me, close combat that is. It's cool though, never thought sword techniques could be that awesome.", said a girl with a melodic voice.
"Well, thanks that truly calmed my fragile hea- Wait!?", shocked he dropped the water bottle and look at the person seating next to him.
It was a girl, probably 5.3 tall. Slim waist, flawless legs, good size in terms of melons. Black wavy hair, snow-white skin, blue eyes, pointy nose, pink kissable lips. Kazuya looked at her for a good minute, it made her blush but she didn't back away and just stared at him. The blush made her even cuter, Kazuya unconsciously touched his nose, checking if there's blood.
"Why? Why you here?", he said as if scared of something. It's been a while since he talked to someone as beautiful. He's quite scared actually.
"Why wouldn't I be here? I'm your fiancee, come on! I live here, duh?", she said, quite annoyed by the stupid question.
Then he suddenly remembered. 'Right, this guy is engaged'. He thought.
It was back then before his parents died. He was 12 years old, and so is she. Both parents agreed to let the two marry each other, to fuse the two small-time businesses. And when this girl, which is named Scarlett, turned 18 a few months ago, she decided to live with him. Well in his house, her room is just next to him though.
" I mean, how long have you been watching?", he nervously replied, clearly not used to talking yet.
"Since your start. By the way, you seemed to change you know. You even stared at my eyes, checked me out, and even talked nicely to me. What happened? Do you want something? Sex maybe?", she said, teasing.
Unable to glance at her because of embarrassment, he could only look away while saying," N-no! Are you even serious!?"
"Yeah! Like if you want it, I wouldn't mind. Since we'll do it in the future, anyway.", she shrugged, but surely embarrassed as well. Her head is in a deep shade of red, she's even surprised how she's able to say all of that without stuttering.
" N-no! I was just... Ugh! Just shut up! I have no other motives, I was just nice for a moment and you started to speculate such things. I'm no pervert you know!", he said, blushing.
" Haha, come on. I'm just teasing you. Anyway, that's cool right there. You seem to be untouchable.", she said, an attempt to change the topic.
" Hmmm, now that you've said it...", he said before pondering. "Yeah! So that's how the Essence of Air works! You're a genius, babe!", he said excitedly. He even forgot that his predecessor doesn't even call her babe.
Blushing, she said, " B-babe?".
Still smiling widely, "Yeah?".
" N-no! Nothing, anyway I-I should go now. Since you h-have a breakthrough on your technique, I-I wouldn't disturb you.", she said before standing up, leaving the ecstatic Kazuya alone.
Kazuya just nodded and also stood up, preparing to do one more round. But before he could start he heard the melodic voice again, "B-babe?"
Still ignorant from what happened he happily replied, "Yeah?"
"Uh- Let's talk again tomorrow. And maybe you could teach me a move or two?", she said, still blushing.
" Oh! Don't worry I would surely teach you! Tomorrow, after breakfast."
She nodded and thought, 'I didn't know I could be this shy talking to him, I even blushed! But he's nice to me though, back then he wouldn't even talk to me if not necessary. He even called me BABE! Ahhh! Am dying!'
...
'Wait! What have I done! Why did I call her babe! Damn, she must have been embarrassed.', Kazuya thought as he continues his dance.