A few minutes later, Leon and Gladius could be seen meditating, but after a while, Gladius opened his eyes, his eyes were unblinking and wide open as if unaffected by the water splashing all over the place.
"Leon, What do you think is the essence of Combat, why do you think combat exists?" his voice was manly, sage, and calm but at the same time it was still imposing, carrying a hint of authority with it.
Gulping, Leon fell into deep thought,
He thought about all the fights he fought and the people he killed ever since he became a gangster, all these pointed at one thing...Survival.
He killed to survive the slum, he killed because he needed to, and because if he let them go they will come back for him.
Sometimes he was forced to kill just so that he would cover up another murder and keep the murder a secret, but still, all this pointed at one thing, Survival.
With a resolute expression on his face, he muttered one word, "Survival."
It was unknown whether he was saying this as an answer to Gladius' question or whether he was comforting himself as to the vicious sins he committed.
Nevertheless, this is the reason for all his actions, Survival!
As for the very reason why he struggled to survive, it's his pure anger and hatred for the Maxwell family.
He knew he doesn't have the strength to go for payback, but even without strength, he has hope that he would be able to gain strength in the future.
That hope is what carried him on, that hope is what made him think that the kill and fight was worth it.
Even though he had to become a murderer to seek revenge on those bastards, then so be it for he does not care.
As long as he lives on, he knew that one day, just one day in the future, he would gain the strength that he very much seeks.
Still sitting crossed, Leo clenched his fist. Just the thought of that family drives him crazy every single time.
Nevertheless, he felt calm that all those people he killed, everything he had done, did not go to waste, as here he is now with a path to power, although he does not have strength now, he now has an assurance that as long as he works hard enough he would gain more strength in the nearby future.
And this believe is true, because just yesterday, when he got the System, discovering a shocking secret that he is the God Of Souls Reincarnation! This alone assured him that his future is very bright, while now at the present time, he is now having a meeting with the Sword God, Gladius himself! This made his belief even more solid!
The fact this God right here is going to be his tutor in the sword path assured him that soon, His sword skills would be unparalleled.
As he was deep into thought and emotion, Gladius heard his almost inaudible voice and nodded with a slight smile on his face, after this he said in a sage tone. "When I was alive, I had lived for millions of years, made countless allies, made countless enemies, fought countless battles, killed most of my enemies, discovered shocking secrets, and gained knowledge and experience that a mortals like you cannot fathom."
Letting Leon bear the weight of his word, he continued. "I found out, that people have millions of different reasons for fighting, survival being one of the most popular reasons."
"Everybody wants to survive, everybody knows that survival is the key to long life. But was that really the essence of combat, the answer is no, Survival is just an excuse not the real essence of combat, it's an excuse as to why they fight, it's an excuse to gratify their conscience, But the real thing is... Murder."
Leo flinched a little as he was not expecting this answer.
'The essence of combat is murder? How? '
"The Sword path is a path of Combat, it is a path of murder, If you don't have the heart of killer, and hesitate to slay your enemies, then the Sword path is not for you. The Sword path is a path of constant combat and growth, constant practice, constant battle, and constant bloodshed... Are you willing to take on this path?" Gladius said in a solemn voice.
Leo nodded in agreement, he'd be a fool if he refuses to learn from the Sword God, Gladius himself. He had killed before so it won't matter if he has to kill more. So he didn't think much about it.
Meanwhile, Gladius glanced at Leon, and observed him for a bit, "You must have already been told that you are the reincarnation of Deus, right?"
Leo nodded in response.
"I see him in you, and you must have also been told that I was once his enemy?"
"Yes," Leo replied.
His heart was beating rapidly and he was starting to get nervous, nevertheless, he was still able to keep calm on the outside.
"So tell me, have you wondered why I was willing to teach you even though you are the reincarnation of my enemy?"
Leo remained silent. He had indeed thought of this, he knew Gladius must have a hidden agenda as to why he decided to teach him the sword path.
Taking his silent nod as a yes, Gladius continued in a sage tone, his eyes looking up as if he was reminiscing a past event. "I was never Deus's enemy, deep inside me, I knew that am not his match."
This revelation made Leo raise his eyebrow in confusion.
Ignoring Leon's Surprised look, Gladius continued. "... But I had this obsession within me, an obsession which I was so close to its fulfillment, the problem was that the only person who could finally fulfill that obsession of mine was Zeus
That obsession was what made me the Sword God, even in this era, I doubt anyone would be able to reach my level of mastery over Sword.
My obsession was everything to me, it was what kept me alive, was what made life not as boring to me as it is to other Gods, it's my obsession that gave me strength... At the end of it all, I failed. It was that same obsession that brought about my downfall... "
Leo was dying with curiosity by now, he did not know why Gladius was hesitating to say his obsession, but he did not want to ask as he might end up forcing his way into sensitive matters and that wouldn't be helpful in any way.
"My obsession was my goal, it was everything to me, but Zeus ended it in the most brutal way possible, My obsession, though might sound childish, is very hard to come to pass as far as Zeus is still the Lord of Laws"
After saying this, he turned and gave Leo a gaze that made Leon feel nervous...
He did not know why, but he was starting to feel very fearful, all the hairs on his body stood at their end, beads of sweat dripping on his face...
Gladius's next words made him feel more fearful...
"The reason why I agreed to teach you the Sword path after my death is also because of my obsession..."