The day had come to an end, and the blazing sun had given way to the moon.
In the training ground, Daniel held a wooden sword as he performed peculiar movements. These movements were not combat techniques but resembled a type of dance.
The wooden sword in Daniel's hand became an extension of his being, dancing in the moonlight. Each swing and step was a choreography of power, his movements sketching a unique image within the elements.
With every twist and turn, Daniel felt the rhythm of the world. The wind whistled past his ears, and anyone watching from afar might think he was battling invisible enemies. His senses heightened, his heart beat in harmony with the symphony of existence.
As the moon's glow intensified, Daniel's Dance of the Zephyr reached its peak. He concluded his performance with a flourish of energy and grace.
Breathing deeply, he stared at the moon. These movements were done for two reasons:
First, they helped him attune his body to the flow of the sword. This way, his body would grow accustomed to wielding it.
Second, they calmed his mind and balanced his psyche.
He still remembered the early years after his rebirth, where controlling the madness and bloodlust born from his hatred was nearly impossible.
Though he appeared normal now, the pain of losing all his friends, the betrayal of the woman he loved, and ultimately dying at the hands of the gods had left him with profound despair.
He had tried countless methods to quell his bloodlust and ease his mind. Unfortunately, all of them failed—until he created the Sword Dance.
The Sword Dance, while appearing like a simple dance, was a culmination of psychological techniques for emotion control, mental calmness, and focus.
And it worked. Or rather, it worked to a degree. There were still moments when he couldn't control his hatred and bloodlust.
Like earlier that day—he had barely restrained himself from killing Alex.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Hearing the sound of clapping, Daniel slowly turned his head, his face indifferent, as he gazed at the young girl standing a few meters away.
"That was an amazing dance. Truly, I never thought a dance could be so emotional," she said.
She was a young girl with short, light brown hair and ordinary brown eyes. Her skin was fair, and her height was average.
She hadn't fully matured yet—her chest was somewhat flat, and her hips were non-existent, flatter than a cushion.
"Thanks," Daniel replied, noting how he hadn't sensed her presence. Though he was still a mortal, his senses were at their peak—beyond what a mortal could normally achieve.
Yet, he hadn't detected her approach. This either meant she was skilled or protected by some artifact.
"May I ask your name?" the girl asked with eager curiosity.
"If you want to ask someone's name, you should introduce yourself first," Daniel responded indifferently.
"Oh? My apologies. My name is Olivia, from the Worehelm Refiners."
"I'm Daniel Zephyr, the illegitimate son of the patriarch."
Unlike what many might think, he didn't care much about his identity. Perhaps he had been concerned in the beginning, but not anymore.
Even then, he had been more worried about his future
He took a moment to recall his memories of the Refiner Vorhelms. The Vorhelm family was divided into many branches and subordinate bloodlines.
One such subordinate bloodline was the Refiner Vorhelms—a group known for generations of crafting weapons and magical artifacts.
As for Olivia, if he wasn't mistaken, this girl would become one of the hero's closest friends.
"Ah, so you're the famous one," Olivia said with a smile, her curiosity about this boy growing by the second.
"Famous? I didn't know I was famous."
"Well, you're the only illegitimate son of the patriarch, so you're naturally well-known among the upper circles. Not to mention, a zero compatibility with mana will definitely cause a stir."
"How interesting. It was nice meeting you, goodbye," Daniel said, uninterested in spending more time with her.
He wasn't much of a talker, only speaking when necessary.
Besides, her identity was somewhat special.
Not everyone could become the hero's close friend, yet she did. It wasn't just due to her talent but also her skills in crafting and her abilities in direct combat.
But none of that mattered, he just didn't like the girl's childish personality.
"Wait! How about a duel?" Olivia clenched her fists, determined to regain some of her lost confidence by defeating Daniel.
Daniel glanced at her. For her age, she had some muscle—not overly bulky but still well-defined.
"What's in it for me?" he asked. He didn't care why this girl wanted to fight him, though he could easily guess the reason.
She wanted to gauge his limits and potential, likely at the request of her family. The reasoning was simple: her family had placed their hopes in her. Besides that, she also wanted to regain some of her lost confidence.
"Huh?" Olivia stared at him blankly, completely unprepared for such a question.
"Nothing? Goodbye."
"Wait, wait! How about a tour of my family's controlled territory?" She truly had nothing else to offer.
"Alright." While her proposal might seem foolish, it actually aligned with Daniel's goals. Her family's territory bordered the land of the dwarves, giving him a perfect excuse to visit.
"Great!"
"What are you fighting with?"
"A spear."
Daniel walked over to where the weapons were kept, picked up an iron spear, and tossed it toward Olivia.
"You're fighting with a wooden sword?"
"Yeah."
"But isn't that unfair?"she said
"Ye, but for you."
Though Daniel's tone was indifferent, it carried an air of absolute confidence.
Olivia didn't know whether to laugh or get angry—this guy was practically mocking her.
"Well, I hope you don't cry after getting beaten to a pulp."
This was the first time someone had insulted her like this. Initially, she didn't want to go too hard on Daniel, as she had taken a liking to him in some way.
But now, because of his comment, she felt compelled to teach him a lesson.