My training was coming in clutch, the best way to fight your opponent was to first read their movements, watching their stance gives you the advantage of where they are going to strike first before they even realise, after you've blocked their first strike, counter back with a heavy swing to knock them back.
Swordsman literature was the definition of understanding the arts of wielding a steel blade on your hands, l'm merely using a wooden sword because l can't afford a metal blade. Starting with a wooden sword gives you the opportunity to understand how much you input your strength and energy into it.
I was advised to use a minimum of 2% of divine energy when imbuing at my blade, it allows for better control and movement. Going all out using more than 75% at first could cause immediate exhaustion, with that knowledge, l managed to balance my output and input to allow easy release.
I don't think l managed my energy at the end, funny.
Everyday at home, l would practice swinging my sword using 50% of divine energy to make my sword heavier. I'm trying to keep my body ready for anything, according to what l know, swords in this world are quite heavy, it was like lifting those dumbbells. I'm just messing, swords come in different variations from small to long, heavy to light. Lighter blades are extremely difficult to control, they move as the wind, requiring an advanced control on your eye sight and body movement.
Once l start receiving my allowance, l could go for a lighter sword.
My flowing flower technique still wasn't near completion of mastering, my body needed to adapt to such profound speed. It wasn't just a technique based off speed alone, it was a technique that needed one's mind and body to align.
So yeah.
Focusing more on my vision control was my number one priority. The laws of understanding the sword in this world is different from the books and shows l've seen in my old life, this world needed more facts, understanding, and focus. Something which l was favourable of.
Anyways, l was in the forest swinging with an axe, it belonged to my father. The axe was heavy but l somehow managed to lift it like it was nothing, l used that tool as my weapon to cut down trees, gripping with both my hands pulling back and sending a heavy swing at the tree. I managed to create an impact which cut the tree in half, without any cool down, l went for another blow.
Thud.
The tree fell on the ground, my first successful slash has landed, feeling proud of you ask me. Now, more trees to go!
"Hiyah! Whoosh! Bam!"
Cutting every single tree that dropped like flies, my hands begun bleeding, my body had reached its limits, l started breathing heavily. These were signs of improvement, though l didn't cut an entire forest of trees, rather l took down only eleven.
Don't look disappointed, it's better than nothing, y'all are quick to judge.
After that, l quickly packed up and exited the forest to avoid being caught by anyone around, especially father. I rushed back home with the smell of sweat that filled the air, l saw mother at the door way looking pretty angry. Yikes, l wonder what the hell happened? Could never be me.
"I'm home! Is there something wrong, mother?" I innocently asked while wiping the sweat off my forehead.
"Yes, young man! Come inside." She bolted going inside the house.
That sure sounded like l did something, l wonder what.
As l got inside, l encountered the unexpected, Ken was inside my house siping a cup of tea. How the hell did he locate my house? Does my parents know l'm training with him? I'm getting the shouting of my life, why do l know strangers, that's what l think mother would say.
Then mother stopped mid way and immediately turned my direction with excitement on her face, she then carried me like a little baby. What was the party?
"Arthur dear, you didn't tell me you made friends already."
"Uhm, Er, yes. He's totally my friend."
"So l take it you didn't tell your mother about my existence, that's sad." Ken added lowering his expression.
Nobody asked you to add that Mr obvious, now you'll make me look bad infront of my mother. The only reason l didn't tell her about your existence was because l wanted to surprise her, guess who's fun at parties now!
"I'm sorry Ken, won't happen again. Same applies to you mother, forgive me." I said bowing before them acting all cute and innocent, l was getting annoyed doing that.
"Don't worry about it, as long you've someone by side, it is all l care about." Mother said giving me a weak punch on my head.
"Right."
Well, atleast it wasn't something deep, all well that ends well. Gazing at Ken, l was wondering what brought him to personally see me, unless he had something he wanted to give me.
Ken stood up and approached my mother with a serious expression. "It's been a while since Arthur and l have been training side-by-side, today was a special day for him to showcase what l've taught in the past month, so do you mind if-" Ken paused, my mother had a confused expression on her face, yeah it was over for me. She added, "you both have been training, and did you say month?"
"I take it Arthur never told you about our trained as well, that's a pickle."
"No, he's never told me. Training what exactly?" Mother asked as her eyes twitched, her voice begun sounding angrily.
"Swordsmanship." Ken concluded closing both his eyes while folding his arms.
"I see...!"
At this point, do l even have an excuse to escape this? I can't even tell her l forgot, she might point out the times l come home looking exhausted and having scratches all over my body. Everything was happening all at once, l don't think l can handle this.
Can l even look at her face?
Er....
Yeah, it's a no. She's pissed off, one word uttered from mouth will send me directly to motherland, silence always win against the loud ones.
"... Ken dear, please feel free to do what you like with my dear Arthur," she said sounding sarcastic.
"Are you sure? Alright then. Arthur, let's head outside for your exam."
"O-okay."
Both Ken and l walked outside without saying anything, looking directly at Ken l'm sure he was disappointed, like sorry bro, it won't happen again.
Then again, it was meant to be a surprise, guess who spoiled it?
Anyway, what exam is Ken talking about? Does it consist of us battling? I don't think that's a good idea, mothers are known for worrying even at the slightest situation, imagine her seeing two kids playing with swords which could potentially hurt them. They will go insane.
We walked twenty metres away from home, Ken said it was something that could potentially destroy the house if we don't maintain distance, this would be a strong technique requiring force.
Those months l spent with Ken, we mostly practised short range attacks like sword fighting including block attacks and countering, but we did practise a long range attack which l couldn't muster out, don't tell me...
"Now Arthur, let's see how far your air slash can go. Today's first examination."
"Uhm, hmm, that technique? Don't you think l'm..."
"I don't take excuses for an answer, now take your sword, while l demonstrate then you follow."
"Alright!"
Air slash's a long range attack that requires one swing their sword with intense force, swinging the sword alone isn't a problem, the shape of the slash is created using divine energy, not only is the shape created but also the impact it carries. The slashing wind is created like a razor blade, with the strongest slash can even cut down a mountain.
This was a basic technique any swordsman could use, there wasn't a condition behind it.
I've been practising this technique everyday trying to create a chemical reaction, but l always fail because l still lacked physicality. Unless...
Ken stepped forward, swinging his sword backwards channelling an intense amount of divine energy on his blade, the ground begun rumbling like a violent thunder had struck, he launched his sword forward with a heavy swing. The slashing air air begun cutting down trees in the forest, it was hot, but the cutting never stopped, l could feel the violent wind pulling me back. The forest begun producing smoke for some reason.
As the dust stopped dancing with the air, l rubbed my eyes, looking back at the forest. Impossible, l thought. If l had the correct calculation, l'd say, Ken cut down half of the forest with just his wooden sword.
He didn't seem unfazed after doing that, it was like an inside job to him. He turned his head towards me and said, "that is the essence of swordplay, the basic technique which grows stronger according to how you swing, l went all out to show you how the outside world is like." He continued, " do you fear losing in a competition? If "no" is your answer, demonstrate by doing that same thing l did."
What is this sensation l'm getting, it isn't one out of fear, it isn't one out of regret, it's something greater. My heart was pumping for joy and excitement, it wasn't something l felt when starting my life in this world, it wasn't when l first used divine energy, they're all completely different.
I stepped forward, my cage bursting with divine energy, l was going insane, l just wanted to strike, my body had been coated with energy like lotion. I swinged my sword backwards, putting focus on my target.
"How are you doing that....?"
One, two, fifteen, twenty.
I slid my right foot forward. The ground beneath me crushing. I produced a higher output. My heart struck. It was time. I sent a heavy swing forward creating an impact infront of me. The slash travelled destroying trees, it continued, and continued. Passing through the point Ken's slash stopped. It went beyond.
Before l knew it, the rows of trees in front of me had disappeared completely. My body pulled back due to the impact that it even broke my sword and injured my right hand.
Whoah! I did it, l actually used air slash!
I celebrated too soon. My body lost so much stamina, l couldn't feel my hand anymore. Then after, my vision turned black, l lost consciousness at that moment after landing a perfect strike. I don't think my body adapted such a powerful technique, for a basic technique it sure did pack a punch. I wonder how impressed Ken must be that my attack went further ahead of his, even if l did perform something like that, my sword broke.
I'm not entirely disappointed about that, it's just the fact l still lacked control over divine energy, l mean my body isn't used to being an impact of the sort, if l wasn't careful using divine energy all over my body then limbs would've exploded.
My first step in reaching my goals to...
I didn't finish my sentence till l blacked out.
"Arthur, how did you activate flow?"