They couldn't take their eyes off him.
While he said he would only use normal arts, they still couldn't assess his strength.
Cayn smiled at them, "Again. Sebun, no ashioto!(Seven steps)" He spoke as he widened he stumped the ground.
He was fast. Each step he took made him close a lot of distance faster. As if his speed gradually increased.
Six steps, he was in front of their front lines.
As fast as he was, they could still react when he appeared.
They raised their weapons aiming at him. He stepped again, disappearing. Making the ground next to them explode.
Seven, he was in their back line in front of Ella and Yuki.
A figure appeared by his side already swinging towards him. It was Diana, who predicted his movement.
He grinned, and swiftly moved the scabbard on his left, making contact with her raging aura. He tilted it once again, making the force trajectory move a bit. He took his feet off the ground. Using her strength to make himself fly.
His eyes darkened while his muscles flexed. Clutching his legs. Precise split kick to Ella and Yuki's jaws. Luckily they put a magic armor. But they still flew away.
Diana who was thrown off broke the ground with her swords.
She couldn't react. He was still in the air on top of her. He used her head to fly. Evading a spear slash that came from his side.
The white wolf was in the air, opening his mouth wide.
Cayn spun in the air. He held his sharp teeth. Took a deep breath. With a fast turn, threw him over his shoulders. Sending him directly towards Rin who was in the air coming. His eyes widened as his wolf's weight slammed him to the ground.
Cayn was falling.
Sakura with her armor and spear swiftly appeared in front of where he would land.
Her eyes were furious.
A hundred aura spear appeared. She screamed and slashed.
Diana was on the side. Slashed the air madly at an astonishing speed. hundred slash auras appeared.
Cayn's tiptoe hit the ground.
The aura flew towards him.
He grinned like a villain. He was having.
"Tsuki, no dansu. (Moon dance)" His body was suddenly breathing a beautiful white ray of light, with a little blue. as if he was the moon itself.
He didn't use any Ki, but the way he moved at a fast or slow speed. Just enough for their eyes to be confused. Just enough so that the light reflected from the moon, leaving after image trail behind him.
This was inhuman. Their eyes widened as they were panting, running out of mana.
The scene in front of them was like a beautiful sword dance. That was also reflecting a calm light.
Their aura kept charging toward him. He evaded with his eyes closed. Immersed in his dance.
As if it was a natural thing to do. As if it was as easy as breathing.
Calm and beautiful.
They were charmed by this scene.
The auras disappeared.
Sakura and Diana held their weapons as they saw him grin.
He didn't stop the dance.
His feet didn't make a sound when they touched the ground. Suddenly he rushed towards them.
Leaving the gorgeous ray of light.
Sakura stood in front of Diana. Slashing downwards.
Cayn's beautiful sword, like a snake. No, just like water, changed the flow of her slash with its edge.
She couldn't react. His was already dancing to her neck. He tilted his sword. Only scratching her. Used the tip of his scabbard to hit the back of her head. all with a swift movement not halting his dance. Rather using the strength and weight he picked up as he kept twisting his body dancing.
Diana slashed towards his neck.
He bent down, with a smooth movement sweeping her off her feet with his leg.
She flew. Before she fell on her side. Cayn's ax leg was on its apex.
It descended. She held her swords in front of her to guard.
She was slammed to the ground.
Silence.
Cayn was smiling as he started walking.
The others slowly stood up.
"Normal arts, simply using your body efficiently. If you would move like this even with mana. Sharpen your body with no powers. Simple martial arts. What do you think would happen if you add your prowess on top of it?" He asked.
They were trying to catch their breaths, listening.
"While going on with your plans, I hope you can train the right way, and build strong roots. I am only doing this as you are key figures in the plan."
They nodded.
They saw it themselves. He was merely using his body. for their whole life, they trained with martial arts that bring out their mana and use it better. This was a first for them. Use your body efficiently first, before implying mana to multiply its prowess rather than directly using your body by implying mana to strengthen it. It was like they already made limits to their bodies and used mana to go beyond. Cayn showed them that their martial arts were not proper for a normal human body to begin with, and sufficient on mana. The human body's limits were well beyond what they thought. They had to train their bodies more.
Cayn raised his sword, with one hand.
They all stared at him. He never slashed for the whole time in his spare. They wanted to see it.
"Martial arts' basics, simple. Use your body perfectly to kill your opponent. In the case of the sword. use your body to perfectly strike down your opponent. Before jumping to insane techniques. The basics, a normal downward slash." He struck the ground with his feet, taking a good stand, unwavering. "Firm feet to the ground." His lower body's muscles clenched. "From the tip of your feet to your hand holding the swords, what muscles will help you, to cut down your enemy in a single strike? The resolve and will you should build to not need to swing a second time. The concentration you need amid battle is to always stay calm, to always be able to use your body efficiently, and put strength in each move. A normal, perfect, downward slash."
He breathed out.
He slashed.
The wind hissed, blinding them.
They opened their eyes. The terrain was cut in half.
He raised his sword once again.
"Now, with your level of mana filling my body, focus on the motion you will use in mind. Pouring it into those same muscles needed." His mana roared, and a dark aura appeared. But it slowly shut and went back to his body. It was as if it was only a little layer on top of his skin rather. Then entirely poured into his body disappearing. His muscles screamed.
He slashed.
Their eyes widened, sweating.
It was silent. yet their eyes couldn't run as far as the cut he made. If estimated properly, it was as long as the capital itself. They shivered in fright. Luckily he slashed the other way. luckily the field they were in was at the end of the city. No, it wasn't lucky. He planned it. Monster.
Diana also had her eyes terrified. Cayn these days only asked her to meditate. To feel the breath of her body and muscles rather than mana. To walk and breathe while being conscious of them. This was the first time he would show her what her training was meant for.
But she also looked at Cayn in astonishment. The show he did, before putting mana in his body. That also wasn't his body's limit. She giggled at the thought he could do much more than a simple big city with a mere swing of his monstrous body.