Chap 9.
James Tanaka stood quietly in the shadows, hidden by a thick patch of trees on the outskirts of the city's training grounds. His eyes were fixed on the knights sparring in the distance, their swords flashing in the sunlight as they moved with practiced precision. It had been four weeks since his promotion to E-rank, and while his Annihilation Creator skill had made it easier to rise through the ranks, James wasn't content with merely relying on his magic. He knew that true strength, especially in this world, would come from more than just his abilities—he needed to develop his physical prowess, too.
'I could pull a Rimuru,' James thought, watching a knight skillfully parry a blow with an elegant sweep of his sword. 'Advance through the ranks as quickly as I want with Annihilation Creator, but I don't want to be relying only on that. I'll have to get good at using a sword if I'm going to make a name for myself in this world.'
He had already learned enough to know that this world wasn't like the games or anime he used to watch. It wasn't about just leveling up or casting powerful spells at will. Survival here was about balance—between magic, physical skill, and wit. His time in the Adventurer's Guild had shown him that much. So, after completing his E-rank quests, he had taken to sneaking into the city's knight training grounds to observe.
Using his Perception skill, James could analyze their movements from a great distance without drawing attention to himself. His eyes tracked each motion as the knights practiced swordplay, his mind absorbing every detail—the way their bodies flowed with the swings of their blades, the precision of their footwork, the timing of their attacks and defenses.
He had learned a lot from watching, though he was careful not to get too close. He wasn't an idiot; he knew he could be caught easily if someone happened to spot him. It was better to keep a low profile for now.
After each observation session, he would return to the sanctuary he had created for himself—his Sovereign's Sanctuary—and enter the Sovereign's Amphitheater. It was here that he practiced, using the memory of the knights' moves as a template to guide his own training. Though his methods were imperfect—he didn't have the benefit of the knights' discipline or their instructor's feedback—it was better than nothing. The sanctuary provided a space where he could simulate and train without fear of being seen or judged, perfecting his sword skills in isolation.
'I need to get used to handling a sword,' he thought as he swung his blade in a wide arc, watching the movement of the blade in the air. It felt awkward in his hand, like he was trying to write with his non-dominant hand. 'But I can make it work. I'll figure it out.'
The time he spent in his Sanctuary was crucial for him to understand his body, to forge the muscle memory necessary to wield a blade effectively. His summoning skill had given him power, but it was his swordsmanship that would round out his abilities.
One morning, as he sat cross-legged on the grass, wiping sweat from his brow, his mind drifted back to the time he had spent in the library. While reading about the geography of the world, he had come across a description of Elvaris—his current city.
Elvaris was one of the hundred cities of the Eastern Empire, a sprawling, heavily fortified region that was known to be the strongest nation in the entire world—at least, before the rise of Tempest. James had read about this in detail. The Eastern Empire, officially known as the Sovereign Alliance of the Nasca Namrium Ulmeria Empire, was a militaristic nation founded by the legendary Rudra Nam Ul Nasca. As the emperor, Rudra was said to have once united the entire continent under his rule, cementing the empire's power and influence.
However, as James remembered a youtube short from his old world, there was something even darker surrounding the history of the Empire. The emperor, Rudra, had been overtaken by the ego of his Ultimate Skill, Michael—one of the Seven Virtue series skills. The consequences of this were terrifying. Michael, which was said to be the strongest of the Virtue series, had effectively consumed the emperor, leaving his body as nothing more than a vessel for the skill's immense power.
But the empire's true terror didn't lie solely in its emperor. According to the information he remembered, the Empire's guardian was none other than the Scorch Dragon Velgrynd. One of the Four True Dragons, Velgrynd was as beautiful as she was terrifying, with a fanatical obsession with protecting the emperor. The short also explained that Velgrynd would kill anyone who so much as looked at the emperor in a disrespectful way, let alone anyone who tried to harm him.
The thought of her, with her burning, molten wings and her terrifying presence, sent a chill down James's spine. He knew he couldn't afford to be too careless around the Eastern Empire, not with that kind of power lurking.
Shaking the thought away, James turned his attention to his plans. 'I need to leave this city. I've learned enough here. It's time to move on.'
The idea of heading to the Kingdom of Dwargon had been in his mind for a while. The Kingdom was home to the Dwarves, who were known for their mastery of forging and craftsmanship. They might be able to help him with a more advanced weapon, or at the very least, provide a suitable place to improve his skills further. But his path wouldn't be as simple as just heading north.
To get there, James would have to pass through the Jura Forest—a place he had read about but never ventured into. He had heard rumors about the creatures that lived within its dense foliage, and he knew it was a dangerous, unpredictable place. But it was also a perfect opportunity for him to continue his training. If he was going to become a competent swordsman, he needed to push his limits.
'Maybe I can even find a few monsters to fight along the way,' James thought, the thrill of a challenge stirring in his chest. 'The Jura Forest should provide some… entertainment.'
As the days passed, James spent more and more time in his Sanctuary, preparing for the journey. His swordplay improved with each passing day, though he still had a long way to go. He was far from the level of the knights he had observed, but he was making progress. Soon, he felt ready to take the next step in his journey—leaving Elvaris behind and heading toward the unknown.
He wasn't sure what the future held, but one thing was certain: he was going to carve his own path in this world. And whether it was through magic, combat, or strategy, he would make sure that path was one he controlled.
With that thought, James packed his things and prepared to leave the city. The Jura Forest awaited, and with it, a new chapter in his journey.
End of chap.