My training session with Ken had officially begun, promising to teach me the art of swordplay and master my techniques, it would rather be a better experience doing it with someone knowledgeable about this.
Though, l still held on the "first generation" book by my side, l needed to acquire knowledge faster, l need to reach my full potential, it may sound childish but I'm determined by my words, I'll turn those words into action.
I arrived by Ken's training room, he seemed to waiting for me, as he caught on my arrival, he went inside the room. As l walked inside, he held out a wooden sword, tossing it towards me. "First lesson," he continued, " battle stance." I guess we starting with the basics of swordplay, didn't my previous stance impress him in the slightest? All that creativity for nothing. But, l was curious why battle stance's important, so l asked.
"That's a good question, Arthur, think of battle stance as being free. We all have a collection stance which allows us to enter in battle, with the stance of our choice, we're able to maintain a better movement on the first attack," he stated.
"I see. Makes sense now." I replied fully understanding the concept of stance, it wasn't difficult to grasp out, l would've have thought about it.
"I'm able to move freely using this stance."
Ken spread out both his hands and legs like he did in our previous dual, he explained that he was more comfortable fighting like that, it allowed him to counter fast attacks and increase his reaction time, that stance made it possible to move at a fast pace. He elaborated saying, when he's using the stance, he moves his sword backwards when approaching an enemy, this made moving around around easy. Battle stance were a primary factor on the world of swords, now I'm more intrigued in exploring more about stance so l could pick one, what were the possibilities.
"That's impressive!" I said out loud in amusement, it was definitely something impressive.
"Indeed. Your battle stance isn't something to use as a newcomer in a world of swords, it's quite difficult to move around like that ya know. Unless you could-"
"No! Let me practice using my own stance, that's something l came up with using hundred percent creativity." Sorry man, that stance really suited me.
"I see, then again, it's your choice."
Ken didn't have a problem allowing me to pick a difficult one, although during the battle, it was hard to move my hand from one point to another, did it have something to do with gravity?
"I have a question, Arthur, where did you learn to fight like that?"
Huh?
That's right, the way l fought was completely random, if l remember correctly, those moves were based off movie series l watched in my past life. Those action sequence were thrilling that l bought my very own sword, it was fake, but everyday after school l would watch the series and pretend I'm in an intense battle against some master swordsman. This movement involved throwing my sword at different directions hoping for a sure-hit, it's a fighting style influenced through gambling. So, l wasn't fighting dirty, just using whatever knowledge l had about flighting styles.
Anyway, l came up with a different answer, couldn't tell him l saw it off a TV series, not like this world has any electronic.
"My father said, the way of fighting means swinging randomly." I let it out feeling confident about my lies, can't let him think I'm some useless piece of scum.
"Your father sounds like he has no knowledge about swordplay, hmm, it made me chuckle a bit."
"Er... yeah..." That was close.
*****
For the next five days, l was training how to properly effectively swing my sword around without breaking the formation, it was intense as Ken would not hold back his swings directly at my face, l also had to simultaneously learn how to block incoming attacks from any direction. I was still getting the grip of holding a sword, everytime both our swords met, it would slip out of my hands due to my lack of physicality, offence and defence were the key elements.
Ken was a different breed, never once has he had to change his sword, it never snapped not even once. He was barely on defence mode when l countered, one swing sent me flying, it was clear the difference between our strength. My hands begun bleeding from the constant battle, it was painfull to grip my sword, even at a fifteen minutes battle l would run out of air.
It was starting to get boring, l wanted to learn techniques, but Ken gave one response. "You aren't ready!" Yeah, like l didn't almost zigzag out of the world.
He advised me to take several laps before entering the training room, this was building stamina and endurance, after that, Fifty swings besides a tree. It hadn't been a week but my body was constantly reaching its limits, that didn't mean l will give up.
"Learn to use your peripheral vision more effectively, this allows you to read the entire room. Sync your body and mind, swinging your sword randomly won't guarantee hundred percent damage unless you fight a mindless freak, otherwise, a genius won't fall for stupid tactics. Before you swing, think!" He advised like a strict father, and it was working.
"I will try my best!" I said sprinting at his direction with my sword aiming for his waist.
"That's more like it."
My attack missed by an inch, then l received a painfull swing.
Two weeks had gone by. I started getting used to the environment, my swings were starting to get better, l wasn't throwing them randomly like before, l planned then attack. It was starting to become muscle memory, my body movement still hadn't perfected as l would constantly fall down trying to move sideways or sprint forward after sustaining an impact.
Ken wasn't holding back, everyday, his swings would progressively get harder making me unable to block.
"I need to find an opening-" l whispered before coming with a strategy, Ken appeared behind me and kicked me across the other side of the room.
With this speed, it was becoming impossible to plan my next move, even before l could stand up, he'd always appear out of nowhere and strike hard.
Ouch.
Come one, what is the missing piece to this impossible puzzle? I can't win against someone who thinks one step ahead of me, can't my brain think of something to counter this madness. Even trying to crack information out of my brain, Ken continued showing interest by swinging his sword at me. I need to adapt the next one.
Ken swung his sword behind me. Before it touched me, l immediately turned behind and countered his attack. I blocked it.
"Are you grasping out the essence of swordplay? Then l like your style!" He stated showing signs of interest.
"Shut up, you freaking genius," l whispered sounding annoyed.
My body and mind need to synchronise, l can't move without thinking about my next strategy, l shouldn't allow a second of Ken's continuous attacks. The plan was simple, by rapidly increasing my focus and strength, l could touch Ken.
Another two weeks went by like a bullet train, l was slowly adapting to Ken's fighting style, understanding his heavy swing and soft swing, calculating the cooldown and watching my surroundings like an eagle. Being a genius as l was, reading the entire room became a book to me, my stance improved in a short period, but not perfected.
Before arriving at Ken's place, l'd follow my father inside the forest watching him cut down trees, taking this opportunity to have a secret of my own, swinging the tree with heavy blows like it owed me rent.
Then the day had arrived, every month end, Ken challenged me on a dual with one exception of landing a single hit, sounds easy... right?
"Are you ready, Arthur?" He asked stretching out both his hands and legs.
"Yes, l am!" I replied raising my sword and touching my lower body.
Ken dashed forward. Watching his arrival, l stepped back. He swung his sword. Barely touching me l could feel the wind. I turned my legs clockwise. Aiming for his head. He immediately stepped back. It wasn't over yet. I turned my body anticlockwise. His eyes widened in shock. I sent a heavy blow at his upper body. Raising his sword blocking the attack. Both swords clashed. I was overwhelming, forcefully releasing myself from the clash.
My heart struck like thunder. I lost sight of Ken. I stood scanning the room. He appeared before me. Raising his sword high while in the air. He struck the ground destroying it. I vanished before the attack landed. Ken's sword seemed to be stuck on the ground. I took the opportunity. I dashed passed him before he could notice. This is my chance, l thought. I sent a heavy swing at his lower body, aiming for a critical hit. Ken immediately picked up. And leaped in the air evading my attack.
What the hell?!
I was sure it was going to hit, l quickly took advantage of his clearing, yet. He's always one step ahead, l did l lose again? After all this training and l failed just to land a single hit.
"... You've improved in a short period, l'm impressed!" He called out, pulling out his sword while in the air and swinging it on my face.
That hit knocked me unconscious, it was so painful l thought he took my head out.
I lost the fight.