The Path to Sword King*
Kai asked, "What makes someone a Sword King?"
Larry thought for a moment before responding, "It's not just about skill or strength. A Sword King has to have a deep understanding of the sword, and the ability to wield it with precision and power."
Kai nodded, curious. "Aren't you a Sword Master too, Larry?"
Larry nodded, a hint of pride in his voice. "Yeah, I am."
Kai's eyes widened with excitement. "Can you defeat the Sword Kings?"
Larry smirked, a confident glint in his eye. "It won't be easy, but if I give it my best, I can win."
Kai grinned, eager to see Larry in action. "I can't wait to see that!"
Larry chuckled, his expression turning serious. "It's not just about winning or losing, Kai. It's about pushing myself to be the best I can be."
Kai nodded, understanding. "I know. But I still can't wait to see you take on the Sword Kings!"
Larry's expression turned serious. "Kai, I don't want to fight with them, especially Akane Kyoketsu."
Zach frowned. "There's not much info on her like the other Sword Kings. The only information I found was that she was sold as a slave by her parents, until she killed her slave master and earned the title of Kyoketsu after the former one passed away."
Larry nodded. "That's correct. But I'm telling you, it's best if you don't get on her nerves. She's a very violent person, extremely battle-hungry, and loves to fight."
Kai's eyes widened. "Have you met her before?"
Larry's gaze drifted off, lost in thought. "Once, at a bar in the Mercenary Guild... I was still a rookie mercenary..."
Larry, still a rookie mercenary, walked into a bustling bar at the Mercenary Guild. He saw a group of men picking on a young woman, Akane Kyoketsu. Suddenly, one of the men's heads flew off, and the others were shocked. Akane stood up, sword in hand, and killed the rest of the men with one swift swing, ripping them apart. She looked around the bar, bloodied and smiling, "Anybody want to avenge these guys? Now's the time." The bar fell silent, and Akane called them cowards before leaving.
Back to the present
Larry's eyes refocused. "She's a dangerous person, Kai. I don't want you to underestimate her."
Larry's expression turned serious as he finished explaining the risks of encountering Sword King Akane.
"...and that's why you need to be careful, Akane is extremely dangerous," Larry emphasized. "Her skills are unmatched, and her reputation is well-deserved."
Kai nodded gravely. "I'll be careful."
Larry's eyes narrowed. "See that you are. She won't hesitate to strike down anyone she perceives as a threat."
Larry paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "There's another Sword King you should know about - Daniel Lostbell."
Kai's interest piqued. "What about him?"
Larry leaned in. "Daniel was once a member of the prestigious Order of the Golden Sword, but he left to pursue his own path after becoming disillusioned with the order's leadership."
"He's spent years honing his skills and developing his unique sword intent," Larry added.
Kai's curiosity grew. "What's his sword intent?"
Larry's expression turned thoughtful. "Daniel's sword intent is known as 'Echoes.' It allows him to create illusions of his sword strikes, confusing and disorienting his opponents."
Kai's eyes widened. "That's incredible."
Larry nodded. "Yeah, that's why he's a Sword King."
Zach, Kai's brother, spoke up from the side. "Hey, do you know about the Lazy Sword Master?"
Kai shook his head. "No."
Zach's eyes sparkled. "Yeah, I read about him in the library, but there wasn't much info on him. Just rumors and legends."
Larry's expression turned intrigued. "The Lazy Sword Master, huh? That's a name I haven't heard in a while."
Kai's curiosity piqued. "What's his story
Larry's eyes sparkled as he continued Jeremy's story.
"Jeremy's master, Maurice Smith, taught his students a unique philosophy about the sword. He believed that the true power lay not in the weapon itself, but in the wielder's perspective."
Kai and Zach leaned in, intrigued.
"Maurice would pick up a simple stick and cut through objects with ease," Larry said. "He'd tell his students, 'Anything can be a sword; it just depends on how you see it.'"
Zach's eyes widened. "That's amazing."
Larry's expression turned somber.
"But Maurice's unorthodox teachings drew the Holy Kingdom's attention. Archangel Mikeal, then a regular swordsmen, had lost his eyesight in battle protecting innocent lives."
Kai's brow furrowed. "What happened next?"
Larry's voice filled with reverence.
"God of Heaven, Elyon, recognized Mikeal's courage and appointed him an Archangel. Alexander Arkhenius, the legendary craftsman, personally gifted Mikeal the Moon Katana."
Zach's eyes gleamed. "And then Mikeal faced Maurice?"
Larry nodded. "Yes. With the Moon Katana, Mikeal easily defeated Maurice. Despite Maurice's skills, he couldn't land a single strike against Mikeal."
Kai's eyes widened. "That's incredible."
Larry's expression turned thoughtful.
"Jeremy internalized Maurice's philosophy, developing his sword intent: Improvisation. He can adapt and improvise with any object or situation, turning anything into a weapon."
Larry smiled. "And Jeremy acquired the legendary Mischief Katana, suiting his Improvisation style perfectly."
Zach's eyes gleamed. "I see why they call him the Lazy Sword Master. He can turn anything into a sword."
Larry chuckled. "Yes, Jeremy's unorthodox methods often catch opponents off guard. His mastery of Improvisation makes him a formidable opponent."
Kai's determination grew. "I want to learn more about Jeremy's techniques."
Larry's expression turned reflective.
"Mikeal has since retired, passing on his responsibilities to his student, Ariel. His legacy remains, a testament to courage and faith."
As they continued their discussion, the shadows cast by the fading light seemed to grow longer, hinting at the adventures yet