Danner stood tall, holding his wooden sword with ease, while I lay sprawled on the ground for what felt like the hundredth time. My body ached from the constant falls, and the katana in my hand felt heavier with each failed attempt.
"Hero, you've got the basics, but you still know nothing about swordsmanship," Danner said, his tone calm but sharp as he twirled the wooden blade. Before I could even catch my breath, he gestured for me to rise. "Stand up and come at me again."
I pushed myself up, gripping the katana tightly, my knuckles turning white. "Are you taking out your anger because I told you to shut up earlier?" I asked, glaring at him.
Danner let out a scoff, his skeletal frame almost vibrating with mock indignation. "Not a chance, Hero. I am a mighty knight and the emperor of the Holy Empire! There's no way I'd be provoked by your childish words."
But his movements told a different story. His strikes were sharper, his dodges quicker, and every time he tripped me, I could feel a hint of satisfaction radiating from him.
"Oh, really?" I muttered, dusting myself off as I readied my stance. "Because it sure seems like you're enjoying this a bit too much."
Danner ignored my comment, raising his sword. "Focus, Hero. Words won't win battles. Now, attack!"
I charged at him, katana raised, trying to anticipate his next move. This time, I feinted to the right before slashing to the left. But just as I thought I might have outmaneuvered him, he sidestepped with ease, his wooden sword tapping the back of my knee and sending me tumbling forward.
"You're too predictable," he said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Your body telegraphs every move you're about to make. You need to be faster, more precise, and less obvious."
Frustration bubbled inside me as I slammed my fist into the ground. "You make it sound so easy!"
Danner leaned over me, his hollow eyes almost glowing. "It's not supposed to be easy, Hero. But you don't have the luxury of giving up ıf you dont want to be changed. Get up."
I clenched my jaw, gripping the katana tighter as I stood once more. This time, I didn't rush in blindly. I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and observed his stance. His guard was flawless, his movements minimal but calculated.
When I finally moved, it was slower, more deliberate. I struck low, then high, and spun to aim for his side. For a moment, I thought I had him, but he parried with a flick of his wrist, countering with a tap to my shoulder that sent me stumbling.
"Better," he said, nodding slightly. "But still not good enough."
I gritted my teeth, refusing to fall again. "One more time," I growled, readying myself.
Danner chuckled, raising his wooden sword once more. "That's the spirit, Hero. Let's see if you can make me break a sweat... metaphorically, of course."
"Ahh, shut up, Danner!" I yelled, forcing myself to my feet. With what little strength I had left, I charged at him, swinging the katana with all my might.
Danner sidestepped effortlessly, his wooden sword meeting mine with a resounding crack before his foot swept under mine, tripping me yet again.
"Hero," he said, shaking his bony head. "You still have a long way to go. Focus."
I lay there for a moment, glaring up at the skeletal figure who loomed over me like an unrelenting storm. His calm composure was infuriating.
Danner finally walked over and crouched beside me, his hollow eyes glowing faintly as he studied me. "Maybe," he mused, "what you need is a real life-and-death experience."
Before I could protest, he began chanting in a language I didn't understand. A faint golden light surrounded his skeletal hand, and suddenly, all the aches and scratches that had been tormenting me disappeared. My body felt refreshed, as though I hadn't just spent hours being mercilessly beaten.
I blinked in shock. "Wait... you can do healing magic?"
Danner straightened up, his skeletal grin almost smug. "Hero, I use holy power. Of course, I know how to heal. What kind of Holy Emperor would I be if I didn't?"
I sat up, still processing what had just happened. "You could've healed me this whole time?!"
Danner ignored my indignation, waving his hand dismissively. "Rest now. You'll need your strength for tomorrow. It'll be much more... funny."
His words sent a shiver down my spine, though I wasn't sure if it was from fear or anticipation. "Funny? What's that supposed to mean?"
Danner chuckled as he walked away, his voice echoing through the training hall. "You'll see, Hero. You'll see."
After getting up and talking with Danner while he showed me to my room. I collapsed onto the bed, my mind racing with everything that had happened. The day had been intense, but there was still something waiting for me The Holy Weapon, now in the form of a simple ring on my finger, glinted faintly in the dim light. I closed my eyes, letting the exhaustion of the day wash over me,I fell into a restless sleep, awaiting the dawn of a new day.
____________________________________
As I woke up to the blaring sound of my alarm clock, frustration surged through me. "Was it all a fucking dream?" I muttered, slamming the clock off. The familiar surroundings of my room, the dull morning light seeping through the curtains, felt so normal. I glanced at the clock, panic rising as I saw the time. I'm late!
I scrambled out of bed, searching frantically for my backpack, but it wasn't where I usually kept it. The familiar, organized chaos of my room felt foreign as I moved through it in a blur, looking for my backpack. Then, on the ground near my feet, I saw it, scattered as if it had been thrown aside carelessly.
I froze. "Why was it here like this? " I thought, confusion clouding my mind. Reaching for my backpack, my hand brushed something cold and smooth. I looked down and saw the familiar glint of the Holy Weapon? It was on my finger, the same as it had been when I last saw it in the other world. Wait... was that not a dream?
The questions hit me like a wave. I concentrated, trying to focus my thoughts on the weapon, and with a thought, the katana appeared in my hand—exactly like it had been before.
But there was something wrong. Something off about the whole situation. As I held the sword, a thought crossed my mind: The only way for an angel to return is either to complete your task, or... die while doing it. I froze, the weight of those words sinking in. Did that mean... did I die?
My mind raced. Danner and Lucifer... did they killed me while I was sleeping? I couldn't believe it, but the pieces started to fit together. Lucifer's frustration, her anger, her desire for death. She must have been disappointed by my power, I thought bitterly. She must have summoned someone else to kill her instead of me To end it all.
I clenched my fists around the katana, trying to calm the turmoil inside me. But it didn't make sense. Why was the weapon still here?