"Damn it!" Cried Sino, once again being bested by Bell. She was better than he would ever be, even back at the academy she was showered with praise for her natural talent...
Sino never got that, no matter how hard we worked for that top spot it would be stolen from him by a girl who had never had to work hard.
"It's impossible! I'm sure my sword skills were a higher level before we started," he complained, it was true, using a one time item he had looked at her status...
Her [Imperial Knight Sword Play] was only level 6 when the fight had started, two whole stages behind him. So how had she won?
"...you're right, my skill was only level 6," responded the albino girl, "but that wasn't enough to beat you so I leveled it up?"
She asked inquizingly, as though she was confused on what he meant. As if it made plenty of sense for her skill to just double itself in the span of a few minutes.
Fueled by a newfound determination, Sino clenched his fists, his resolve hardening like tempered steel. He vowed then and there that he would never again allow those with natural talent to overshadow his own efforts.
"I will surpass them all," he muttered under his breath, his words echoing with an unwavering determination. "I will become the greatest swordsman this academy has ever seen, through sheer willpower and dedication."
With his mind set on his goal, Sino threw himself into his training with an intensity unlike anything he had ever known. Every spare moment was dedicated to honing his skills, pushing himself to the limit and beyond.
But Sino knew that sheer determination alone would not be enough to achieve his ambitions. He needed a weapon that would match his unwavering resolve, a blade that would be an extension of his own strength and will.
Drawing inspiration from legends of old and the stories of great heroes, Sino began to forge his own destiny. He sought out the finest materials, pouring his heart and soul into the creation of his masterpiece.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, but Sino never wavered in his pursuit. With each strike of the hammer and each stroke of the blade, he poured his passion and determination into the creation of his weapon.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of toil and dedication, the Mentor's Hand was born. A blade of unparalleled craftsmanship, imbued with the spirit of its creator and forged with the fires of his ambition.
"Bell," Sino declared one day, his voice laced with determination. "I challenge you to a duel, a test of our skills and our resolve. Let us settle once and for all who is truly worthy of the title of the academy's greatest swordsman."
But Bell, ever humble and wise beyond her years, shook her head in refusal. "Sino, I have no desire to engage in pointless battles. We are not enemies; we are comrades on the same journey,"
But Sino would not be dissuaded. His pride wounded and his ego bruised, he saw Bell's refusal as nothing short of a challenge to his authority. Determined to prove himself, he sought out a different means of motivation.
Turning his gaze towards Bell's family, Sino devised a plan to strike at the heart of his rival's resolve. He knew that her older brother held a special place in her heart, a source of strength and inspiration for her.
In the dead of night, Sino crept into Bell's family home, his heart hardened with determination. He found her brother sleeping soundly, unaware of the danger that lurked in the shadows.
With a swift and decisive strike, Sino ended the young man's life, extinguishing the flame of his potential in an instant. As the life drained from Bell's brother, Sino knew that he had achieved his goal.