Chapter 10
"Since they'll be using real swords in the competition, I don't want to waste time with wooden ones. Come at me."
Saying that, he assumed a dueling stance.
And of course, who wouldn't want to duel with the strongest opponent? I drew my sword and prepared for the challenge.
He stepped forward and aimed a direct strike at my head. I managed to block it with my sword, but the sheer strength behind his attack forced me back a few steps. He leaped away, creating distance between us.
"Always remember," he said calmly, "your opponent won't attack in the way you always expect."
As he said that, he swung his sword through the air with incredible force, creating a pressure so intense I could feel it even from where I stood. Then, he suddenly vanished.
I instinctively thought he would attack from behind. The moment I turned around, he struck me in the belly with the flat side of his sword.
"Ahh!" I let out a gasp and fell to my knees, clutching my stomach.
"Never assume your opponent will stick to a predictable pattern. They can even erase their presence," he said, walking a few steps away with a calm demeanor.
I noticed an opening in his defense and quickly got back on my feet. Focusing my strength in my legs, I propelled myself forward with a sudden burst of speed and attacked him from behind.
"Tsk." He blocked my strike effortlessly, swinging his sword to intercept mine.
But that wasn't my real attack. It was just a decoy.
I used the momentum from my feint to pivot and reappear in front of him, launching an attack from a different angle.
I thought it might work, but—
"Heh? you're trying to fool me, huh? Not bad," he said, turning his body swiftly and blocking my strike with precision.
"You actually have talent for swordsmanship," he added. "But you're still lacking in many areas."
With that, he kicked me, sending me flying backward.
I gritted my teeth. It was my mistake for leaving an opening.
"Let's try the next trick,".
And then, he vanished once more.
Here's the thing: Every human being born into this world possesses mana. Those with sufficient potential can become mages. Others, if they have the physical strength, can become swordsmen. But regardless, all humans carry some amount of mana, and that mana can be sensed by others who possess it. And they can also erase the presence.
Since I don't carry or possess mana, it's hard for me to sense anyone's presence. However, I do have a strong sixth sense.
I closed my eyes, trying to focus on my surroundings. I listened for the sound of his footsteps, the swing of his sword, even the rhythm of his breathing. But there was a problem—I hadn't practiced this method in a long time, so it wasn't easy to use.
As I strained to concentrate, I suddenly felt a burst of heat near my shoulder. Acting on pure instinct, I swung my sword behind me as fast as I could.
I was right.
I successfully blocked his attack.
"What an interesting technique you have," he said with a smirk. "But it won't work against me!"
Saying that, he applied immense pressure with his blade, forcing me to strain against the weight of his strength. His monstrous physical power left me no openings. Unable to hold my ground, I was thrown backward.
Before I could react, he suddenly became so fast that I couldn't feel the presence of his sword or even his breathing. It was as though he had completely vanished from existence.
The next moment, I felt a hard strike on my head, and everything went dark.
"Humph," he muttered as I lay sprawled on the ground. "Without mana, you are at a serious disadvantage."
He stood over me, looking both satisfied and contemplative. "I don't even know how to train a boy who doesn't possess mana…" he trailed off, lost in deep thought.
After a long pause, he pointed at a tree standing on the edge of the training ground.
"Alright," he finally said. "For now, your training will involve counting the leaves that fall from that tree. Sit or stand by here and cut down every single leaf as it descends."
I stared at him in disbelief, my mouth hanging open.
"I guess it will help sharpen your senses," he added nonchalantly, as if it were the simplest task in the world.
His words left me shocked and speechless. Seeing my hesitation, he glared at me.
"Will you do it or not?"
"Sir," I stammered, "I think this is... a bit impossible. I don't think I can do it."
He stepped forward, his face stern, and unsheathed his sword with a sharp, metallic sound. Without a word, he turned toward the tree.
In the span of a single second, I watched in awe as he cut down every falling leaf with unparalleled precision. His blade moved so fast it seemed to blur, slicing through the air with deadly accuracy. When he finished, the ground beneath the tree was littered with severed leaves.
"Still think it's impossible?" he asked, turning to me with a piercing gaze.
I couldn't believe it. Without mana, he could still sense the leaves falling and cut them down effortlessly. When I missed some of his swings, it left me utterly shocked.
"Sir, I don't think I can do this. Hahaha…" I tried to make an excuse, forcing a laugh.
"No, I think you can do it," he said, glancing at me while casually cleaning his sword.
"Well, it's not my problem if you run away," he added with a dry tone. "I don't have high hopes for you anyway."
His words hit like a hammer. Sometimes, looking at his expressionless face, it was impossible to tell what he was truly thinking.
Still, maybe this training wasn't a complete waste. After all, I didn't have much hope of surviving the competition otherwise.
With a head full of thoughts, I positioned myself under the tree. It was a massive tree, its thick trunk stretching high into the sky. The leaves continuously fluttered to the ground, one after another, as if the tree itself was testing my resolve. Cutting all of them seemed like an impossible task.
Taking a deep breath, I unsheathed my sword. Closing my eyes, I tried to push all unnecessary thoughts from my mind and focus entirely on my surroundings.
Let's give it a try.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the training ground, Aris, Norman, and Ravena stood watching from a distance.
"Man, anon is actually a monster," Ravena said, her voice full of admiration. "Did you see how he almost managed to catch Instructor Almir during the last match?"
"Well," Norman replied, wiping sweat from his forehead in the sun's heat, "it's like they say—when someone lacks one skill, they tend to have another extraordinary talent that sets them apart from everyone else."
Aris remained silent, looking slightly upset.
"Hey, what's on your mind now?" Norman noticed and asked.
"It's nothing," Aris replied, brushing it off. "I'm just… amazed at how skilled Anon is, even without mana."
Not wanting to continue the conversation, Aris shifted his focus.
"By the way, where did Instructor Almir go?" Ravena asked, glancing around.
"I just saw him a moment ago," Norman said, scanning the area. "Where could he have gone?"
Suddenly, Norman felt a strange presence behind him. His instincts flared.
When he turned around, Instructor Almir stood there, watching them.
"Good response," Almir said with a faint smirk.
Norman's heart raced as Almir continued, "That was actually a good reaction. But next time, when you sense this type of presence, you should immediately launch your attack."
Almir walked past them and stood before the group, his presence commanding their attention.
Then shall we begin,,, …
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