*In another place in the Black Forest moments before
"Shockwave Slash." Elio attacked the Green Glowing Parrot with his sword skill from a few meters behind a tree.
One of the three Green Glowing Parrots died with Elio's sudden attack. Now only two birds were left, one of which was the Mutated Green Glowing Parrot.
"Kaakkk..." Seeing a fellow Green Glowing Parrot dead, the other Green Glowing Parrot began to scream angrily.
With a crest on its head, the Mutated Green Glowing Parrot attacked Elio with the wind from the top of the tree. This bird monster flapped its wings vigorously, producing a strong wind wave toward Elio.
"Keukkhh... Aahhhh..." Elio blocked the wind wave with his sword and bounced it against the tree beside him.
"Phew... the power of an Exotic Monster cannot be underestimated," Elio sighed.
Another Green Glowing Parrot then flew towards Elio. Once it was close, the bird attacked Elio with its beak. Elio swiftly held the bird's beak using the tip of his sword.
Elio and the bird exchanged attacks several times. The sound of the sword clashing with the beak echoed around.
"What the... this bird's beak is not normal; it's strong enough to clash with a blade." Elio was somewhat surprised at the hardness of the Green Glowing Parrot's beak.
[The size of this bird's body is already abnormal; of course, other things are also strange about this bird]
[This forest is not an ordinary forest, after all]
System suddenly appeared and was slightly sarcastic towards Elio.
"Damn you, system, why did you show up now?" Elio became a little irritated. "Instead of you showing up out of the blue, perhaps you should help me figure out how to defeat this bird monster!"
"And what did you say about this forest?" While dividing his attention a little from the Green Glowing Parrot, Elio asked his system again. "I didn't hear it very clearly earlier."
[...]
[Host, you can just use the One Heart Flame skill, and those monster birds will become ashes in a moment]
"No way; I want to get used to using other ways of fighting, especially when it comes to close combat." Elio remained insisting that he would not use One Heart Flame
[Alright then. Host, you can just focus your mind on the Swordsmanship skill]
Elio immediately resumed holding the beak of the Green Glowing Parrot, then knocked it away and attacked it with Shockwave Slash.
Then Elio closed his eyes and listened to the explanation from his system.
[A blade requires proper concentration along with emotional control]
[Now, Host, try to imagine that you are in a valley, and in front of you is a hill filled with various swords stuck in the ground]
[Through the Swordsmanship skill, you can explore and discover "The Way of Blade" from the Swordsmanship skill]
[That way you will get a depiction of yourself in a path of "The Way of Blade" to get to the hill of swords in front of you]
[And to start the first step on that path, you need a stance as a base and the first step to take]
[It's called Reverse Mist Stance]
[Start with your feet spaced evenly apart and turned slightly outward to get into this stance. Holding the blade with both hands above your eyes and in line with your eyebrows]
[One hand on your blade handle near the guard and the other at the bottom of the blade with the blade pointing diagonally upwards and slightly to the left]
[Host, do you feel it?]
Elio still closed his eyes and followed the instructions of the system.
On the other hand, the Green Glowing Parrot that was knocked down by Elio started to wake up again. This bird looked at Elio with a very annoyed look and looked like it wanted to swallow Elio.
This bird monster was also preparing to take a step to attack Elio again. Meanwhile, the other Green Glowing Parrot, with a crest, is still on top of the tree, watching the situation below.
He looked like a king who watched his men work. This bird monster seemed to be underestimating Elio by leaving it to the Green Glowing Parrot below to handle it.
"Yeah, I'm starting to feel it." Elio opened his eyes, and his body entered Reverse Mist Stance. "I think I can do it."
The Green Glowing Parrot, blown away earlier, ran towards Elio, seemingly wanting to attack him.
Elio was still in place in Reverse Mist Stance and did not move. He looked ready to receive an attack from the Green Glowing Parrot.
Green Glowing Parrot attacked, but Elio, who had prepared with his stance, fought back by attacking.
The fight was high-speed. This time it only took one attack, and Elio was able to knock out this bird monster. The Green Glowing Parrot's body fell behind Elio.
"System, what was that?" Elio asked his system because he felt a change when he held his sword. He felt much lighter in swinging his sword.
[Host, it's because you have certified into "The Way of Blade," the first step of becoming a True Swordsman through the Swordsmanship skill]
[And of course, also because of the Reverse Mist Stance you are using]
[It is one of the basic sword stances that can be used to deflect incoming attacks or to launch quick strikes]
"Huh... it's a sword stance, not a blade stance?" Elio asked the system to confirm.
[Host, your Swordsmanship skill can still be used on all types of swords]
[Whether it is a Sword or Blade, as long as it is a sword, you will still be able to use it directly with the Swordsmanship skill]
Elio then turned his attention to the crested Green Glowing Parrot that seemed still on the tree.
"Alright, are you ready, you ugly bird? Elio shouted, seemingly mocking the bird.
"Kaakkk... Kaakkk..." The remaining Green Glowing Parrot let out a sound that looked like a human screaming angrily.
Finally, for the first time, it flew from its perch toward Elio in an attempt to attack him.
"Hoo... since you're an Exotic Monster, which means you're different and probably stronger than those birds, then I guess you're worthy." Elio began to move from where he stood and walked towards the approaching Green Glowing Parrot.
"You are worthy for me to test this technique, the technique I learned when I first set foot in my "The Way of Blade."" Elio stared intently ahead at the Green Glowing Parrot.
He re-entered the Reverse Mist Stance. As soon as the Green Glowing Parrot got closer, he quickly shifted to the right side of the body, with the blade pointing diagonally downwards and slightly to the left.
Then he steps forward and slashes upwards and to the right in a sweeping motion, followed by a swift downward and to the left slash in reverse, forming a horizontal X-shaped pattern.
"Swordsmanship First Move: Shadow Mist."