"I will go with the sword," Kian said as he picked up the ordinary weapon, feeling a sense of familiarity from his days when he aspired to become a Holy Knight.
"Wise choice, little one. Spears can be very difficult for beginners to handle," Apotheosis commented, stepping into the open grassy field surrounded by wild plants.
"Though I am not a master of the sword, I can teach you a few things," she added.
Kian nodded respectfully, standing opposite her radiant figure.
Noticing Kian's upright, vigilant posture while holding the sword with one hand, Apotheosis quickly deduced that he was not a complete amateur at least.
"I see you've had some training before.
Your grip is steady, and your posture isn't bad for someone at your level. However, a one-handed hold on a basic sword? That's more suited for duels, not life-or-death combat." Apotheosis advised sharply.
Kian felt embarrassed and then held the sword with both hands.
"Sorry, Mistress. In the past, I wanted to be a Holy Knight with a shield and sword, so it came from an old habit," Kian explained earnestly.
"A Holy Knight? That's certainly intriguing, little one. If you really want to become like a Holy Knight, you have to train hard to get a tough body. I mean a bigger Soul Force than others to overcome your weakness—the lack of a proper Soul Talent."
"I understand," Kian nodded, his mind turning to the effect of his new mysterious Soul Talent. Perhaps he could use it to develop his Soul if possible. He would figure it out later.
As Kian was thinking hard, Apotheosis took a battle-ready stance without any weapon or equipment.
"Okay, now attack me, little one. Let's see what you've got."
Kian hesitated, but seeing her calm demeanor, he took a deep breath and rushed at her, swinging his sword in a horizontal arc.
Apotheosis dodged effortlessly, sidestepping as light as a feather.
"Too slow!" she commented, noticing his weakness.
Kian looked at her, stunned by her quick maneuvering capabilities and reflexes.
"You can do better, little one. You have the highest Soul Force among your batch. Make good use of it. Feel it within you."
"Oh, okay," Kian replied, trying to do as he was told. He began to gather his Soul Force, concentrating it on his legs and hands.
"Whoosh!"
This time, his speed increased along with the power behind his attack.
"Good!"
Apotheosis muttered, finding Kian's adaptability and quick learning impressive—a good quality to have.
"Paah!"
This time, she not only dodged but also slapped Kian hard on his back.
"Ouch!"
Kian winced, feeling a burning pain spread across his back. He could tell it had left a red mark on his skin.
He looked at Apotheosis with a mix of resentment and disbelief.
Apotheosis chuckled lightly. "You need to feel pain to become a powerful Aspirant, little one. That was just a teaser," she remarked slyly.
At the mention of Aspirants, Kian's curiosity was piqued. "Mistress, can you tell me what Aspirants are? I've heard the term many times by now."
"Oh, right. You don't know much yet," Apotheosis said calmly. "Aspirants are those who walk the difficult path of reincarnation through battles and earning Merit Points—not those who laze around in the Twilight Zone."
Kian nodded, having already guessed most of her explanation but wanting confirmation.
"I see... Are there any ranks among Aspirants to be wary of?" he asked cautiously.
From his previous world, he knew that mages and knights were divided by power levels, and he wanted to avoid stepping into a death trap unknowingly.
"Yes," Apotheosis replied. "There are nine simple levels: Level 1, Beginner, to Level 9, Peak Expert. Aspirants are ranked based on the number of missions they've completed or sometimes based purely on strength, proven through duels. There's even a ranking board in the Arena for these duels. You'll gradually learn everything, little one. Don't rush."
"But I am in a rush..." Kian muttered internally.
"Okay, what is your level, Mistress? Are you really as strong as people say?" Kian asked, his eyes burning with curiosity.
Apotheosis smiled lightly at his enthusiasm. "Just as I said, you'll have to figure out things for yourself."
"Okay, enough talk, little one. I have limited time before I leave for a mission, so let's be quick," Apotheosis said, flashing a dangerous smile.
"Gulp!"
Kian gulped nervously and nodded as the practice began. The basics of sword mastery were drilled into him with an intensity that left no room for rest or excuses.
The pain, of course, grew worse with each mistake he made. Kian's endurance was put to the test, and his perseverance impressed Apotheosis once again. Yet, the beating didn't stop.
The sound of Kian's heavy breathing, pained groans, and occasional yelps echoed through the field. Some of her nearby neighbors paused their activities, casting curious glances toward the source of the noise, wondering what their esteemed Lady Apotheosis was up to.
---
"Huff... huff... huff..."
After about an hour, Kian lay sprawled on the ground, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he gasped for air. His body throbbed with pain, every muscle screaming in protest as if he'd been used as a punching bag.
He stretched his arms out on the ground, trying to absorb some of nature's soothing touch to ease his suffering.
Standing over him, Apotheosis looked down with a faint smirk. "Not bad for your first real lesson, little one. Rest for the day—you'll need it."
She transferred him 10 Merit Points, her tone firm but supportive. "Use these wisely. Buy what's necessary to prepare the food. You'll need to regain your strength if you want to survive this world."
Kian watched by titling his head as her golden figure vanished from his sight with a exhausted sigh.