813 Training

Inside the core room of the Runic Dome mansion, where runes floated around, and arrays lit up every second, a man sat cross-legged while staring at s.p.a.ce.

[––––––––––– Legacy]

[Level: 47 (0%)]

[Legacy Points: 69]

[Stats Points: 93]

[Strength: 600]

[Agility: 600]

[Stamina: 600]

[Perception: 600]

[Mana: 600/600]

[Abilities: Runesmith (4%), Reality Manipulation]

[Skills: Mana Breathing Skill (E – 98%), Goblins Lord (Unique – 13%)]

[Arts: The Art of Creation –– Part Two, Basic Dagger Art (100%), Dagger Mastery (100%), Art of Creator ­–– Submission.]

[Gathered Essences: 1/12]

Arthur stared at his legacy, thinking about the best ways to increase his strength before the upcoming fight. His last level-up was during the training he gave to Suyin in the Shadow Meadow, but other levels wouldn’t equate to much in terms of stats.

“I could still level up until the limits of the Vetus rank and increase my runic proficiency. At that time, I could use five Runic Lines and four runes in an array.”

It would greatly increase his fighting capabilities, and the increase would not be limited to that either. Each rune will yield more extraordinary power, given the circ.u.mstances.

“The legacy, Lilo and Eragon,” counted Arthur. “These three are the sources of my strength. While Eragon is still unyielding to my will, Lilo and the Legacy could be strengthened further.”

If he wanted to increase his stats, he would have to gather the twelve essences. This has been a big hindrance placed in his path. While it was not difficult to gather, it meant future evolutions would be difficult.

As he kept looking through the legacy for more functions to strengthen himself, Arthur’s eyes fell on the words Art of Creation. This was said to be the strongest art in existence, allowing him to draw strength from the world.

The next part would need one hundred legacy points; Arthur has acc.u.mulated only sixty-nine. Nevertheless, if he could practice his control over existence, it might become a good weapon against the emperor.

Thus, Arthur closed his eyes and started reciting his art. Existence around him grew stronger as it began to merge with Arthur. He could feel his body becoming closer to the world as he practiced his art, and losing himself was a scary feeling.

***

Suyin raised her sword to stop the incoming attack, but the strength backing it sent her hand flying. She staggered back and fell to the ground before a sword rested on her neck. As she squinted her eyes at the knight, he gave her an unnerving smirk.

“While you defeated a calamity, we can’t say your swordsmanship was the reason,” said Ser Alan, who she met inside the runic mansion. Suyin hmphed as Alan retracted his sword and offered her his hand. “You will get better the more you fall.”

“Thank you, Ser Alan,” said Suyin with respect before she got up. “Please, one more time.”

The sparring resumed, and Suyin lost again. She could feel her sister’s worried gaze from the side, but she wanted her to see the progress she had made.

While Suyin was still clumsy, the experience she got from the Shadows Meadow was evident. Although facing a master swordsman like Ser Alan, it took a while for him to disarm her.

“Is this necessary, Suyin? You can use the strength you mentioned instead of learning how to wield swords,” said Lin Xue as she walked toward her sister. “Or you can come back with me and forget about training.”

“I can’t do that, Big Sis,” said Suyin as she grabbed her thin sword and tried standing again. “My powers cannot be used for long. I must make every strike hit its target if I want to win.”

“You are using that sword wrong,” said Ser Alan as he stared at the two sisters. “You wield it as a long sword, but it is as thin as my finger. Swords have different styles.”

“He is right, Suyin,” said Lin Xue beside her as she tried to help her. “You are losing because you want to contend against him in strength.”

Suyin was silent as she nodded, and she tried adjusting her stance. However, it proved difficult since all her experience came from the fight against the clones. As she was about to tell Ser Alan to start again, her heart loudly started beating.

Arthur entered the training yard, his black robes floating behind him. His eyes were calm, unlike the wrath that she had seen before. As Ser Alan saw him, he lowered his sword and nodded in greeting.

“Can I take your place, Alan?” asked Arthur, and the knight had no reason to refuse. But, before she could register what was going on, Alan was replaced with Arthur. “Have you decided to replace me as your teacher?”

The words made Suyin grow fl.u.s.tered, and she tried to string words into a response, but she failed. As for Arthur, he walked toward the weapons rack and started examining them.

“I never saw you wield a blade before,” said Alan with surprise. “Even as a porter, you were still weaponless. A grave mistake, if I can say, Guild Master.”

“I had no money at that time,” Arthur said as he picked up a silver and threatening dagger from the rack. “I met Juan a month ago. He was a mess as he fled from Kera. How did the lot of you survive?”

“We woke up in the nearby mountain range. The mage didn’t survive, and Juan never recovered. Beatrice joined the temple and became a law enforcer.”

“And you kept being Yuran’s knight,” said Arthur while throwing the dagger in the air, manipulating it with such proficiency that it turned into nothing but light. “How much does he pay you?”

“Honor needs no payment,” said Alan. “You seem proficient with that dagger, but it can never replace a real sword.”

panda (nov)el “Oh?” muttered Arthur with surprise before throwing the dagger. His hand disappeared as the dagger flew toward the knight, who was prepared to slash it. As the two weapons were about to collide, the blade turned violet and pa.s.sed through the sword. “A weapon is a tool, and the one who uses it makes all the difference.” It stopped an inch from Alan’s throat before flying back to Arthur.

Suyin watched the undefeated knight with surprise since he was easily defeated. Arthur turned back toward her while the knight stared at him while he rubbed his neck.

“Your sister is right. Don’t slash, pierce. Don’t black, parry,” instructed Arthur as he walked toward her. She raised her sword out of reflex, and Arthur smiled. “Always be prepared for an attack you don’t see. You are the queen of spiritual energy, so make use of that.”

Suyin nodded and rushed toward Arthur instead of waiting for him. She pierced with her sword, but Arthur struck the tip of her blade with his curved dagger, making it slide toward the sky. As Suyin was carried forward by her momentum, Arthur’s hand wrapped around her neck.

“Never lunge. Your feet touching the ground is the source of your strength and stability, not your burst forward. Move when dodging, and hold still when attacking.”

Arthur let go of her neck and retreated three steps as the dagger danced again around his finger. It seemed like the blade had a soul, moving without even needing Arthur to wield it.

Suyin took a deep breath before retracting her arms and shoulder. She stared at the smiling Arthur before stomping to the left, making her body jump right. Then, as her feet touched the ground again, she pierced toward Arthur.

However, without even needing to look at her, Arthur rotated his dagger and caught her strike using the body of his blade. A metallic clinging sound echoed throughout the training ground.

“You learn quickly, but aim for the place I cannot guard. For example, if you keep aiming at my chest, then I would be able to see it coming. You need no more than one strike to win, right?”

“Even if I strike the unguarded place, you would still block it,” said Suyin as she retracted her sword, sulking. “You are not the easiest opponent to win against.”

“The unguarded place that you mentioned, I left unguarded on purpose. It was to lure you into attacking me there, knowing I could block it and counterattack. This is chess, and you need to think ahead.”

Suyin was quiet before nodding, and Arthur gestured for her to attack again. After every failed attempt to strike him, he gave her more instructions. Finally, after the tenth try, Arthur attacked, sending her flying.

Her feet dragged into the ground, causing dust to fly everywhere. The attack came unexpectedly, and it made her mad. She stomped and attacked, but Arthur easily knocked down her sword and held his dagger to her throat.

“Although I am the last one to say this, never give in to anger. It will blind you,” said Arthur with a smile before he retracted his dagger. “There is no need for the killing intent, Bloodflower. I am the last person to hurt her.”

“As far as I know, most of your truths turned out to be lies,” said Lin Xue with a frown. Arthur smiled and threw his dagger for it to land in his place before walking toward her.

“Such distrust harms us since I am here to offer you a deal.”