December Double Drop!---In her mana control class, Shizuku Kurogane found herself quite idle.
With her A-rank proficiency in mana manipulation, she could control water at a near-molecular level, even creating water clones that were indistinguishable to the naked eye.
Her talents also extended to healing, as a skilled water mage with exceptional control over mana.
Then, unexpectedly, Okita Souji appeared.
"...Are you telling me you're going to train my brother until he can defeat his first opponent? And you want me to help?"
Shizuku blinked at Souji, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, tilting her head slightly.
"Why?"
"Because, if you're not around... I might end up killing Ikki."
"..."
And that's how Shizuku Kurogane found herself standing at the edge of the training grounds.
Shizuku was a B-rank knight, the runner-up in her first-year class, right after Stella, who was widely known as the world's most powerful A-rank knight. Given Shizuku's rank, the academy would never deny her a training field.
As for why they needed it...
"It's because only in a training ground can we fully summon our spirit weapons to fight."
Souji unsheathed her weapon—a sleek katana known as Kiku-ichimonji Norimune.
Ikki followed suit, calling forth his own Device.
"Come forth, Intetsu!"
With a flash of blue light, Ikki's hand closed around the handle of a long black katana, its blade bearing a gentle curve.
A Device is a Blazer's soul made manifest, and it has had many names throughout history—"Sacred Swords," "Demon Bows," "Cursed Relics," and "Noble Phantasms."
Devices possess a special form known as "Phantom Mode," where injuries inflicted by the Device will only drain the target's mana instead of inflicting physical harm. However, since a Device is the materialized soul of its wielder, any damage sustained by the Device also affects its owner, potentially knocking them unconscious.
It's a double-edged sword, so to speak.
Standing just outside the training ring, Shizuku watched her brother with worried eyes.
"Can't we use Phantom Mode?"
Earlier, Shizuku had asked Souji about this, hoping to avoid her brother getting hurt.
Souji had called Shizuku in because of her healing skills—she could treat anyone seriously injured during their training. But Souji had firmly shaken her head at Shizuku's request.
"It's only through the real threat of life-and-death combat that training will be most effective."
And while Souji sounded very sure of herself, the real reason was more straightforward.
She didn't have "Phantom Mode" to begin with!
Her weapon wasn't even a Device—much less a Noble Phantasm. While it was part of her spiritual foundation and could be materialized, it was fundamentally different from the Blazers' Devices.
"Before we start, I'll explain the technique I intend to teach you, Ikki."
Holding her sword with a natural, one-handed stance, Souji addressed Ikki from a distance.
Ikki's eyes sharpened, his expression attentive.
Souji had described this technique as "an unbeatable move."
He couldn't afford to lose—not after coming so far.
The reason for his nerves was simple: he lacked absolute confidence in victory.
This technique Souji spoke of... he needed to master it.
"There are only a few days left before the tournament, but Ikki, your talent with the sword is frightening. I heard you faced off against Stella and learned her sword style in only a few moves, even improving upon it?"
"Yes. Every sword style follows a structure, and if you can trace that structure, you can grasp its essence, fully understand it, and then surpass it."
Because he had no instructor, Ikki's only option was to "steal."
Every sword technique has its own philosophy, lineage, and logic.
To Ikki, swordsmanship was like a mathematical equation—each component followed a precise order, and by understanding that order, he could deduce the entire formula, allowing him to fully master it.
Moreover, if he could dissect the technique well enough, he could even modify its weaknesses, crafting a superior version of the original style.
That was his ability—Sword Imitation.
Hearing this, Souji's lips curved into a slight smile.
"Well then, I expect you'll learn the technique I'm about to teach you fairly quickly since you've already grasped its basics."
"The basics?"
Ikki raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Calling it a 'technique' isn't quite accurate. To me, it's more of a state of mind. Learning it means you've reached a new level of awareness."
"A truly enlightened saint could attain it, a monk who's renounced the world could realize it, a seasoned warrior deity could understand it. Though each person's approach may differ and the effects vary, we use the same name for this state..."
The term Souji intended to teach him was…
"Mind's Eye."
The moment Souji spoke those words, Ikki felt something resonate deep within him.
"I can't precisely explain what Mind's Eye does. When you learn it, you'll understand on your own. For now, think of it as instinct—a sixth sense, if you will. It allows you to 'see' things your five senses cannot detect. Even if Kirihara were to conceal both himself and his arrows, he wouldn't escape your Mind's Eye."
Souji herself possessed a skill known as Mind's Eye (False), rated at A-, an ability inherited through her Saber class. Originally, it was rated A.
When she'd first seen this skill in her stats, Souji had been puzzled.
She remembered clearly that Mind's Eye (True) was a skill achieved through rigorous training and accumulated experience—like a certain heroic archer who was a hero of justice. By contrast, Mind's Eye (False) was an innate gift.
Knowing that Souji Okita possessed this skill wasn't surprising, but the fact that hers was Mind's Eye (False) had caught her off guard.
Born with such an ability, it was no wonder some said that if Okita Souji hadn't succumbed to illness, she could have become the greatest swordsman of her era.
In her understanding, if people with Instinct, Mind's Eye (True), and Mind's Eye (False) were to approach the same question, the thought process might look something like this:
Instinct: Options A, B, and D are wrong!
Mind's Eye (True): My experience tells me C is correct!
Mind's Eye (False): I feel drawn to C! So, it must be correct!
That's the basic difference between them.
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T/N: That's a cool way of looking at it!
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check! Remember this is a fan translation!
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