"Your shoulder's stiff! Why are you holding the sword like that?! Don't assume like it's the same as using daggers!"
"Oy, oy. Your stance is a bit sluggish! Sluggish! I showed you how it is done. The way you used that big axe is by forming your lower body the same weight as your upper body. If your lower body breaks, you will not be able to utilize the full force that axe can bring!"
"Ahhhh! That sickle… That fucking sickle! Are you trying to hurt yourself with it!! You just suck at everything! Your daggers aren't even as good as mine, and you're telling me you're going back with this set of skills?!"
The cloaked figure was clutching his robe as if he were trying to tear it apart, watching how clumsily and subpar performance Gin was doing.
A week had passed since he confidently declared that he would learn it all, but in the end, no progress was made whatsoever.
'Am I just not sufficient enough to teach this kid or this guy's crazy adaptability is not just working in here?'
The figure couldn't shake off their worry, realizing that even with years of dedicated effort, Gin would still struggle to master the intricate Formless Special Arts.
Not even one form of weapon. Even with daggers.
Watching Gin's serious expression thrust the sword at the front with such a frail stance and weak force would make someone laugh, but the figure found it worrying.
Swoosh—!
As Gin transferred from one weapon to another, his performance grew uglier that even an elite child could topple him down in a fight.
'I need to think of something. His efforts will be just in vain,' Deciding something inwardly, the figure stood up from his seat.
"Gin, stop it for now."
Gin wiped the bead of sweat on his forehead as he answered resolutely, "I may be lacking at everything now, but with a little more practice, I'll be able to produce more results."
The figure shook his head, "No, it's not your fault. It's my sense of judgment that is pulling you down. For now, do what you want. Cultivate your soul or whatever, we can resume this once I have taken the right measures."
The figure is a prideful person, but he also understands that sometimes he can fail. He wasn't even a teacher to begin with but he had to give everything to Gin he had to know, to entrust everything he had on him.
Even the Horrors he knew would not be able to do it in one sitting.
Though his ancestor pulled it off as if it was nothing.
'But he is not him.'
Leaving the field with a heavy sigh, the cloaked figure returned to his hut to think things through on his own.
Why would he even think in the first place that Gin can do it? He's not undermining him but more like making him do the impossible when even he is unable to do it.
Even if he did, it took centuries.
"…"
Wearing an inexplicable expression, Gin clicked his tongue and lightly thumped his foot on the ground as he observed the cloaked figure departing.
"Hahh…"
Taking a ragged breath, Gin stretched both his hands before settling into meditation. His chest moved up and down, synchronizing the motion with his breath.
He does this when he is really in serious trouble.
The practice refreshed his mind, prompting deep contemplation. Gin maintained a composed heart, ensuring that his emotions did not overpower him during this serious introspection.
He also had a lot of things to do when he was in trouble but this meditation is what keeps him on the tracks.
'A week with no progress at really anything. When did I feel so low in life?'
Formless, as the name suggests, involves unstructured stances and incorporating ideas into one's body. There is no clear foundation, and it keeps evolving.
Like the figure said, it judges the performance of the user.
Gin can see now how bad he is.
'Maybe if I'm a little better, I might be able to save—'
Gin paused, realizing that dwelling on regret would only drown him further. Instead, he redirected his focus to the field once more, his gaze settling on the weapon he favored above all others.
'Daggers.'
Moving towards the side of the field, Gin picked up the daggers and tightly clenched them in his hands. With precision, he executed the techniques he had learned on the figure, practicing solely on it.
'Flow with nothingness. Shift with swiftness. Enable your skill. And do it with an intent to kill.'
Gin executed the figure's dagger formless arts, seamlessly integrating his insights gleaned from diverse instructors, along with the lessons learned through personal experiences.
Slash—!
With his eyes closed, Gin flawlessly executed the precise movements, guided by his thoughts as if foreseeing the future.
Sweat drenched Gin's back as his movements intensified, growing more vigorous. In his mind, he envisioned various opponents attacking from different angles, adapting his techniques accordingly.
Even without any other weapons, Gin was able to visualize the situation clearly while his attacks became deadlier.
'More!'
Slash—!
'Not enough, more!'
Whoosh—!
'Be faster!'
Under the night sky, Gin danced with efficiency and fluidity. Every move was purposeful, devoid of any unnecessary actions, and each step embodied lethal intent.
Slash—!
Gin wanted to abide for more time but exhaustion washed over him as he slumped on the ground while breathing raggedly.
'I wonder if I imprinted his movement to the demonstration I just showed just now. If only he was looking—'
Once Gin shifted his gaze to the hut, he could see the cloaked individual staring at him intently.
Then, what came next surprised Gin as the cloaked individual removed his robe, revealing a dashing face, unlike any other Horrors he had seen in his life, nor through textbook images.
Though, his expression could only be described in one word. Fascination.
"I came here to tell you to stop since it's been a week you kept doing this— wait, that's not important! Your form just now…!" His eyes twinkled, as if a sense of enlightenment washed over him, "I see! I know where I'm making the same mistake!"
The figure maintained a steady approach toward Gin, who still wore a stupefied expression. Their eyes locked for a moment before the figure initiated the next move.
"You! Aside from daggers, choose two weapons that you deemed suitable for you."
"Huh? Will that change anything? I'm too weak to wield even the daggers just now…"
The figure had a look of contemplation on his face before nodding, "Thankfully, you can see where you suck."
"Ugh."
"But being weak means there's room for improvement." The figure paused as he looked at Gin's doubtful look before continuing, "So what are the weapons? Choose anything!"
Gin remained visibly confused throughout the entire conversation, but he couldn't shake the feeling that the figure was attempting to convey or accomplish something.
With careful contemplation, Gin answered truthfully, "I can use a short sword and the dagger with chains on them."
"Why?"
"Well, these are something I'm most comfortable to use with. A short sword is like a larger version of a dagger hence there's not much to adjust. On the other hand, using the chained dagger, I can alter the holdings of my grip with chains hence I can better control."
The figure nodded, "In a simple sense, you are comfortable with them since it's related to daggers?"
"I guess so?"
"Then that's good!" The figure energetically replied, "From this week, I want you only to master these three weapons. Don't touch any weapons once you do, all right? And we'll also have the separate training time for these weapons."
"Meaning?"
"It means that when you are training the special arts, we'll divide it only into three so that your other training such as exercise and soul enlightenment won't be disturbed."
'if we start doing that… wouldn't that make the Formless Arts useless? Since it involves using different weapons simultaneously based on the situation, learning three weapons is just…'
Gin felt his pride was hurt, feeling the figure undermining his skills when he just showed something a week ago.
Yet, it was an entirely different matter, as what Gin did previously had a foundation, whereas his current actions demanded raw skills and a profound comprehension of combat expertise.
But Gin wasn't mad.
The figure's unexpected statement led Gin to speculate that it might be contemplating an impromptu strategy, a plan designed to push him towards improvement.
Standing up from the ground, Gin nodded.
"Okay, let's do it just like that."
Nodding fervently, the figure turned around and started to leave right away.
Following the exchange, Gin's immediate response was to tidy up the field, returning the weapons to their designated spots.
Then the next morning training comes.
"…"
It was amazing.
Even Gin was shocked by his performance too.
"Hahahaha! I'm a genius teacher after all!"
In contrast to the stagnant progress of the past week, Gin's actions during the altered training session marked a clear and tangible achievement.
'Holy shit. Am I really this good?'
Gin's demeanor shifted as a disturbingly satisfied smile spread across his face, brimming with self-assurance.
Now he knew he wasn't the problem.