Leonis stood in the training grounds, facing a lone practice dummy that had been set up near the far end of the arena. The air was still, and the weight of the sword in his hand felt natural. His mind, however, was buzzing. He had the knowledge from the novel—a treasure trove of techniques and strategies—but his body had yet to catch up.
Time to change that.
He took a deep breath, getting into a stance he had read about countless times. His feet planted firmly, knees slightly bent, sword raised just above his head. His hands gripped the hilt tightly as he closed his eyes, shutting out the distractions around him.
Focus. Breathe. Gather the mana.
Mana—the life force of this world—was all around him. He had read how difficult it was to gather mana into one's body, but he also knew the shortcuts, the lesser-known methods that could unlock a person's potential without the strain that often crippled unprepared practitioners.
In the quiet, Leonis could sense it—tiny particles of energy swirling in the air, almost invisible to the naked eye. He reached out with his consciousness, guiding the mana toward him, coaxing it to enter his body.
The mana responded.
It flowed into him like water into a basin, gentle at first, then with increasing speed. The familiar pressure of energy began to build within him. Leonis focused his thoughts, directing the mana to form circles—the foundation of any skilled swordsman or martial artist in this world.
The first circle appeared in his forehead, glowing faintly. This was the key to his mind—the circle that would grant him perfect clarity, helping him remember every swordsmanship technique he had ever read about.
Next, the mana flowed into his hands, forming two more circles—one in each palm. These circles were responsible for his grip, ensuring he could hold the sword as an extension of his own body, steady and firm.
Leonis could feel the power coursing through him now. He had formed three mana circles in mere seconds, something that took even seasoned warriors months to achieve.
He opened his eyes. His vision was sharper, his senses heightened. The sword in his hand no longer felt like an ordinary weapon. It felt alive, like it was part of him.
Without hesitation, he took a step forward and swung.
The blade cut cleanly through the air, whistling as it descended in a single, graceful arc. The edge of the sword met the training dummy with a perfect strike, slicing through its center as though it were made of paper.
The dummy fell in two, severed completely down the middle.
For a moment, there was silence. Leonis exhaled, his chest rising and falling with the sudden release of tension. He glanced down at the sword in his hand, but his brief satisfaction was interrupted by a loud crack.
The sword had chipped, the metal unable to handle the power behind his strike.
Leonis frowned slightly. It wasn't his fault. The sword simply wasn't forged to handle the kind of energy he had just channeled. But that wasn't what mattered right now.
What mattered was that he had done it.
Leonis looked down at the chipped sword in his hand. His heart was still racing from the strike, but it wasn't just the thrill of using mana, it was the realization that he had tapped into a power that, until now, had seemed distant and unattainable for the previous owner of this body.
He remembered how mana functioned in this world, there were three types of mana:
Magic Mana – The most commonly associated form of mana. It allowed its user to cast spells, bend elements, summon creatures, and control the forces of nature. Those who wielded Magic Mana could shape reality itself with enough skill.
Martial Arts Mana – This type of mana was for those who trained their bodies to perform superhuman feats of strength, speed, and endurance. With Martial Arts Mana, fighters could channel their energy into devastating strikes or manipulate their physical forms beyond normal limits.
Swordsmanship Mana – The most refined and focused form of mana, meant for those who wielded weapons, especially swords. Swordsmanship Mana enhanced a user's blade, giving them unparalleled control over it. It could harden weapons, increase their cutting power, and imbue the blade with elemental energies. But mastering this mana was incredibly difficult and dangerous—using it recklessly could destroy the body of an untrained wielder.
Leonis now had a full understanding of Swordsmanship Mana. Before he woke up in this world and took over the body of the 1st prince, as Alden Wu could only daydream about these things while reading novels, but now he had to live it. He smiled, thinking of how he had absorbed these concepts so easily thanks to his knowledge from the book.
In this world, every swordsman began their training by learning the basics of mana circulation. It was necessary to gather mana and direct it to the appropriate points in the body. Leonis had instinctively gathered mana particles and created three circles at key points: his mind, his grip, and his feet—all critical in swordsmanship. But this wasn't enough to be considered a true sword master.
What he had just learned was something more—Mana Swordsmanship.
Mana Swordsmanship allowed the user to not just fight with skill but to fight with soul—melding the essence of mana into every strike. The ability to form mana circles at key points in the body was only the beginning. Mastering Mana Swordsmanship meant controlling the flow of mana with pinpoint precision, knowing when to unleash it, and when to restrain it. Each strike had to be powered not just by technique but by raw, flowing energy.
In the back of his mind, he recalled a passage from the novel:
"A true Mana Swordsman does not rely solely on strength, but on the balance of energy within the self. The first circle gives clarity, the second stability, and the third mobility. Beyond this lies the Fourth Circle—the Circle of Intent—where a swordman's thoughts and blade become one."
He had just formed three circles, but there were more to master. Leonis was already far ahead of where he should have been, simply because of his knowledge. But he would need to work on mastering the Fourth Circle—the Circle of Intent.
Looking down at the two halves of the training dummy, he couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. He had successfully formed three mana circles and performed a clean strike, and now the knowledge of Mana Swordsmanship was firmly within his grasp. He knew exactly how to push himself further, how to tap into the secrets of swordsmanship that even this world's greatest warriors hadn't fully realized.
Taking a deep breath, Leonis sheathed the chipped sword and turned toward the armory. This blade was not worthy of what he was about to become.
Leonis made his way toward the armory, still riding the high of his newfound power. His thoughts were racing with possibilities. He could change everything, his reputation, his strength, his future. But as he approached the armory, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching from behind.
"Big brother, what are you doing here?"
Leonis froze for a moment, he turned around to see his youngest brother, the 4th Prince, standing at the edge of the training ground. His face was slightly obscured by the shadow of the setting sun, but Leonis knew him well.
Caelum Perdium, the youngest of the royal siblings, was still a boy by comparison, standing at about 5'9" with the same golden hair and emerald eyes that marked every member of the royal family. Caelum's youthful face and curious gaze made him seem innocent, though Leonis knew that his younger brother had inherited much of their father's cunning. Even at his young age, Caelum was skilled in both swordsmanship and martial arts, possessing a sharp mind that made him a force to be reckoned with.
"I could ask you the same," Leonis replied, his voice more controlled than it had been when he first woke in this body.
Caelum stepped closer, eyes flickering between the two halves of the severed dummy. "Did you do this?" he asked, a note of surprise in his voice. "I've never seen you train this hard before. You hate sword practice."
Leonis held back a sigh. His previous self, the one who had ruined his reputation, had indeed neglected his training. He had been content to coast on his birthright, wasting his talents and living in his own arrogance. But this was different. He had no time to explain how or why, but the Leonis standing before Caelum now was a completely different person.
"Things change," Leonis said, keeping his tone neutral.
Caelum's eyes narrowed. "Did something happen? You seem… different."
Leonis felt the weight of his younger brother's gaze. Caelum was sharp, far too perceptive for his age. He could sense the shift in Leonis's demeanor, even if he didn't fully understand it.
"You could say that," Leonis replied, turning his attention back to the armory. "I realized that I've wasted enough time. It's time for me to start acting like the Crown Prince I'm supposed to be."
Caelum blinked, clearly taken aback by the response. He hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "I've never heard you talk like this before, brother. What's really going on?"
Leonis clenched his fist around the hilt of the chipped sword. "I don't have time to waste anymore, Caelum. I've got a lot to learn, and I plan to surpass everyone—including you."
The younger prince raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Surpass me, huh? You know, you used to say I'd never even come close to your level. Guess the tables are turning."
Leonis couldn't help but smile slightly. In the past, the old Leonis had looked down on Caelum, treating him as nothing more than a child. But now, things had changed. Leonis knew that Caelum was growing stronger every day, and he could be a powerful ally—or a dangerous rival.
"Maybe they are," Leonis said, turning to face his brother fully. "But if you want to test that theory, we can always spar right here."
Caelum's eyes lit up at the challenge, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword. "Are you serious? You've never been interested in sparring before."
Leonis nodded, his smile growing. "I wasn't before. But like I said, things change."
Caelum grinned, drawing his sword. "Alright, let's see if you've really improved. But don't hold back, big brother."
Leonis readied himself, focusing once again on the mana flowing through his body. He could feel the three mana circles he had formed earlier still humming with energy. This would be the perfect opportunity to test his new abilities against a living opponent.
He raised his sword and took a stance. "I won't."
The air between them grew tense as they locked eyes, both waiting for the other to make the first move. Caelum, ever the impatient one, charged forward, his sword aimed straight for Leonis's chest.
But Leonis was ready. He shifted his weight, stepping to the side and parrying Caelum's strike with ease. The force of the blow rattled the chipped sword in his hand, but his grip held firm, thanks to the mana circle in his palms.
Caelum recovered quickly, spinning around to launch a flurry of quick, precise strikes. Leonis dodged and blocked each one, feeling the power in his younger brother's attacks. Caelum was fast, faster than he had expected. But Leonis could feel himself moving with a new sense of clarity and control.
"Not bad," Caelum said, smirking as he pushed forward with another strike. "But you're going to have to do better than that if you want to beat me."
Leonis smirked back. "Who said I was trying?"
In a blur of motion, Leonis spun his sword in a perfect arc, deflecting Caelum's blade and knocking him off balance. For a brief second, Caelum's guard was open, and Leonis saw his chance. He stepped forward, bringing his sword down in a controlled strike aimed at his brother's shoulder.
But just as the blade was about to connect, Leonis stopped himself. The sword hovered inches from Caelum's face.
Caelum froze, wide-eyed and panting. "That... that would've killed me"
Leonis lowered the sword and stepped back. "I told you, I'm not holding back."
Caelum sheathed his sword, his expression a mix of awe and confusion. "You've changed, Leonis. I don't know what happened, but… I like it."
Leonis gave a small nod, tossing the sword on the ground. "Good. You'll need to get used to it."
Caelum grinned. "Guess I'll have to train even harder if I want to keep up with you."
Leonis turned toward the palace, his mind already racing ahead to his next steps. "You'd better."
As they walked back toward the palace together, Leonis couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He was changing. He was growing stronger. And soon, everyone in the Perdium Empire would see the true potential of their Crown Prince.
- Note: Thanks for reading! 😊🙌 - Creator