Ray stepped into the chamber, his sharp senses instantly picking up the faint hum of residual energy that seemed to dance in the air. The hall was unlike anything he had encountered before in the academy. Its grandeur was understated yet unmistakable, designed not to impress with opulence but to command reverence.
Four statues stood in a semi-circle along the walls, with a single, larger statue dominating the center. Each figure bore a striking presence, carved with such precision that they seemed almost alive. In the middle stood Nathan van Dragonborne, his sword unsheathed, its tip pressed against the ground. His posture spoke of unwavering authority and calm, as though he were still watching over the realm he once protected.
To Nathan's right was Sintus Dragonborne, a man whose carved stance radiated the mastery of a sword saint. His expression was serene yet unyielding, capturing the essence of a warrior who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
To Nathan's left stood Pretorius, a warrior with elven features, blindfolded by a simple cloth. His stance was unassuming, his weapon sheathed, yet something about his presence exuded a quiet and formidable power.
In the far-right corner stood Klein Arondale, a towering figure and a former emperor. The statue captured him wielding a greatsword that rested against his shoulder, his posture emanating both dominance and protection.
Lastly, on the far-left, was a woman whose identity was shrouded in mystery. Gracefully posed, her face and much of her body were obscured by a flowing cape, save for her lower face and the exposed section near her navel. A longsword hung at her hip, alongside a bow and dagger. Her name, carved at the base of the statue, was partially erased, reading only "Grace." The missing letters only deepened the air of enigma surrounding her.
Ray's gaze lingered on her longer than he intended. There was something unsettling yet fascinating about her presence, as though the statue held secrets no one had uncovered.
Shifting his attention, Ray approached the massive pillar at the center of the hall. Deep, precise cuts marred its surface, each bearing the unique signature of its maker. After careful observation, Ray deduced its purpose: a training dummy of sorts. Every warrior who had entered this chamber since the academy's inception had left their mark on it, a testament to their skill and a legacy of their dedication.
Beside the pillar, shelves lined the walls, housing books, scrolls, and even ancient weapons. Some still vibrated faintly with mana, a lingering essence of their original wielders. Ray picked up a nearby tome and skimmed through its worn pages.
"These aren't mere copies," he muttered to himself.
"These are the originals."
Luna's voice broke into his thoughts.
[This hall isn't just a training ground—it's a sanctuary. A monument to the greatest warriors who ever lived. You're standing in a place where history and legend converge.]
Ray nodded, absorbing the significance of his surroundings. For a moment, he imagined the heroes these statues represented, standing where he was now, shaping their destinies with every swing of their blades. He felt a surge of resolve.
"This isn't just a place for remembering the past," he said, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"It's a place to prepare for the future."
He picked a scroll that was quite old and started to read through it, the scroll contained a swift blade technique called, Line. It portrayed the technique through figures as well as points on how to utilize the energy needed to complete the technique. It said,
" Line is a single slash technique that utilizes Wind or Space energy. Wind energy users can suction the air in the surroundings, creating a false zone of heaviness and cutting through it, creating a linear slash with range and sharpness. whereas Space energy users have a far more complex and critical advantage since they use spatial essence, cutting the space itself, even the most formidable defense can be cut through."
Ray didn't have space attributes, instead of wind energy he wanted to try this technique with Lightning Mana which also incorporates speed and destructiveness...He sat there cross-legged holding his blade and channeling the mana instead of primal energy, he had been experimenting with combining magic and his swordsman when he started his journey in which he had less success, but he somehow was confident in this particular method and technique would play out as he intended it to.
He started mimicking the exact flow of his dragon energy, completely cutting off connection to his dragon core and letting his mana flow in them...which