My heart is unsteady and my mind is wavering, my body drenched in sweat. The grip I hold on my wooden sword is loose. My stance is uneven, almost as if a simple breeze would be enough to knock me down-
Sure enough, it did. I lost my grip as well as footing and tumbled down on the ground. I look back at my adversary, who is relatively fine. Father said he's officially an A Rank Swordsman. He wasn't lying. His strength is unreal.
Even at my current level, I'd be among the strongest youth of the World Murim Alliance. Sure, the Great Conquerer King or the Patriarchs of the Righteous Sects would for sure put me in my place, but not a single youth would outclass me. I'd wager I've gotten close to getting back maybe... half of my strength. But even at full power, Leonard Phillips would be a formidable opponent.
Just goes to show how insignificant I was. The World Murim Alliance was pitifully inferior to the Demonic Cult. Even that young Vice-lord was as strong as a Patriarch. What was his name... Linsheng Hu I believe. I'd say my father is just about equal to what he displayed against me all those years ago.
My father takes a look at my state before expressing his thoughts. He puts his wooden sword on his shoulder and smiles.
- "How about we call it a day for now? You look really tired. I'd half-expect you to crumble to dust at this point, haha!"
As much as that would be preferable, I'm not nearly done. I stand back up.
- "Haah... hah... again."
I flimsily ready a stance. Father sees this, sighs and points his timber edge towards me.
I manage to tighten my grip around the handle and concentrate. I've done this many, many times before. It should be simple.
- Cloud Dance Step
I dart towards him before readying a combination of moves. I can do this.
Sword Techniques are different from unarmed Martial Arts. Instead of timing your strike with the Yin-Yang energy's release, you maintain a constant stream of it around your weapon. This is called Aura Sword. The energy both sharpens your blade, gives it more power and extends its reach as well.
- Brewing Storm Sword Technique: Swirling Zephyr
I try to surround my weapon with the energy, but unfortunately it only shoots off of it backwards, adding extra speed to the attack. Not the worst outcome, but definitely not successful. Nevertheless, I thrust the sword against my father, who deflects it with ease.
Well, onto phase two.
- Brewing Storm Sword Technique: Rising Updraft
I recover my footing before bringing my sword back upwards and leap into the air with its momentum. I tried to use Aura Sword again, but failed once more, so this is just a regular swing.
My father was surprised at my quick recovery, yet evades the slash nonetheless, except this time I took a single strand of hair off of his head. I was close.
He readies to attack back, but he doesn't know of this technique of mine. Linsheng Hu's downfall came about the same way.
This time it will work. It WILL work. IT. WILL. WORK!
I pour the energy to my weapon, surrounding it with an ethereal aura before slamming it down in-motion with my previous attack.
- Brewing Storm Sword Technique: Crashing Thunder
My father recognizes the danger and defends. My blade comes to a crashing halt. A tremendous shockwave is launched off of the point of contact. The grass, the dirt and the pebbles make way for the wind as it barges through everything in a 5 meter radius, setting off a loud boom. As the dust clears, my father can be seen kneeling, his weapon having completely stopped mine. I lose balance and stumble on the ground before being met with a swift and unavoidable strike that knocks my wooden weapon out of my hands, it splintering off a bit before landing on the cold dirt to my north-east, enshrouded and embraced by the grass.
Father relaxes and turns to the side, looking at the sky.
- "I really can't believe you're this young sometimes, y'know. At your age I could barely handle a D Tier Monster like a Bishop Mantis, yet here you are, cracking my mana-infused weapon with a single move."
With him drawing attention to it, I now noticed that his weapon was indeed cracked and barely holding together. I guess even at my level, a properly executed Aura Sword is enough to make up to B Tier Users sweat.
- "...It's not enough. I need to be stronger."
- "There you go again with that. Such drive. I guess you really are Stella's child."
He flashes a warm smile before turning away.
- "That's it for today. Come on, food's probably ready now."
FOODFOODFoodfood.
The word echoed throughout by brain for a good second before my stomach was attempting to voice its dying complaints, unleasing a rumbling the likes of which hadn't been seen in eons. I had been sparring with father for hours it seems. The time slipped by me and I hadn't noticed how empty my stomach had gotten. It doesn't help that using Yang Qi also taps into your nutrient energy reserves, burning through them faster than normal. It may have only been 4 hours, but I've seemingly wasted twice that much in food reserves. Needless to say, I should go refill those reserves.
I try to stand up from the dirt and escape from the grass's embrace, yet my body fails due to a lack of energy and I fall right back into its loving arms, landing in the me-shaped hole I had made in it previously. The dirt was actually pretty warm, now that I had been lying down here for a bit. Maybe I'll... stay like this... for a...
I pass out.
**************
It's been twelve years now. Since I've gotten about half of my strength back at this age, it's likely I'll be able to return to full strength in about ten to twelve or so years. Truly, knowing how to best grow as a child leads to a completely different result.
But... even with my rapid growth, it still won't be enough. I might be able to fight against the best masters of the sword this world has, but I won't ever hold a candle to the overwhelming power of Magic. This god-like strength is not something I can just cut through. If Magic Users can indeed perform miracles like resurrecting a dead forest or cause disasters like summoning oceans or blasting countries to smithereens then no amount of physical strength will let me take them on.
And even if it could, how do I even go beyond what I previously achieved? For decades my strength had stagnated and even started to waver as I was approaching the end of my life. I didn't know how to improve. One cannot climb a mountain if they are at its peak. They don't see a path ahead. If they are the only one at the top of the world, they will stop ascending, maybe even go down to join the others struggling to get up, maybe even help them up. I can see the peak right now, but I can't see anything past it. I know the peak all too well. There's nothing else. No room to climb more...
- "Victor to earth? Hello?"
I snapped out of my daze. My father was concerned, as I had not been responding for a minute or so.
- "Sorry, I'm just tired."
I try to imitate my father's grin.
- "I told you we shoulda ended there. Look at how exhausted you are! You're barely twelve and yet you work harder than the average city guard. It's not good for your health."
- "Here, just eat up and take a breather."
My mother had placed a plate of what appeared to be noodles, basked in a yellowish-orange broth accompanied by some greenery and a weird white thing in the shape of a pronged coin, with a red line whirring around it and into its center. This seemed different from typical noodles. It was also the first time I've been any any wheat products in a while. We get more meat since, wherever father works, he has a large supply of edible wildlife carcasses that he brings back every week or so. Now that I mention it, I do notice some meat in the broth as well. I guess I should try it. The aroma seems pleasant, at least.
I nib at the noodles with the chopsticks. I pull them up from their liquid abode and introduce them to the inside of my mouth.
...Incredible.
They seem to like it here so much, they started showering the inside of my mouth and its tastebuds with gifts, warming my throat. The noodles slide down the well almost instantly, the broth splashing back out onto my tounge. Said broth also left its remnants on the walls, leaving a heavenly aftertaste as a memoir. This was divine. A true master craft of the culinary arts.
I dig in for more.
- "Well I think he likes it, haha!"
- "It's homemade Ramen using grandpa's recipe, of course it'll be good! We really did luck out when we found that box."
- "Uhh, it might be a little too good for her though..."
He points to Sera, who is still eleven years old and has eviscerated the bowl already.
- "Seconds!"
- "Sure! Here yo-"
Before mother could finish her sentence, Sera snatched the second bowl from her hand before digging into it even faster. Mother sees where this is headed and goes to ready another bowl in acceptance.
Not paying mind to the ongoing chaos, I scarf down half of the noodles in less than ten seconds until I come across the spiky coin-like disk with a red swirl. I put it in my mouth, but this one did not seem to appreciate the customer service as it desecrated my tastebuds with a foul presence. It then tried to leave without paying rent, but I stopped it and forced it down my throat, it violating my tastebuds one last time.
- "Blegh, what was that!? Why ruin such perfect art with an unpleasant guest like that?!"
- "Guess he takes after your hate for fish, huh?"
Mother grins at father, who looks embarrassed, but secretly proud of me.
- "Well, Narutomaki is a no-go for Vicky here..."
She checks something off of a checklist. This "Naru Tomaki". I don't like him at all. I shall remember you, vile cretin.
I try the meat, it tastes well. There's also an egg here. I have that too. It's everything BUT the fish-coin thing that is delightful. Whoever added it into the formula, know that I need not take part of belittling and cursing you, for there is a place in hell specially designed and reserved for you.
I quickly finish two bowls, ignoring the second Maki
- "Thank you for the meal"
I display my gratitude before going to my bedroom. Sera was onto her 4th bowl now and showed no signs of fatigue. Guess all that mana does come from somewhere after all.
The inside of my room is quite simple. A bed for one person, a chair next to an ornate table and a window by the bed. The floor is covered by a jade colored carpet. Off of the ceiling hangs a source of light called a "lightbulb". It uses the energy of man-made lightning to illuminate itself, bringing light to its surroundings. I've come to realize this world is incredibly advanced in technology. It also seems like progress is nowhere close to finished, with new inventions and revelations appearing on a day-to-day basis. Even the commoner realm, as it is part of Liebe, has a news system via a scroll delivered by a bird, most often a pelican. This is done by Users who have beast taming skills working in shifts to make the birds fly across all regions of the land (as long as the governors of that region pay a monthly wage) and drop these scrolls around those places. Truly a strange, yet sophisticated system.
I take a look outside. It appears rain shall come about soon, like usual.
I hate the rain. It comes about completely uninvited, spoils the gracious sunlight, ruins your day and leaves after a day or two. Then it's back for more in a few days. It is the unwelcome guest in the banquet of life.
Yet it also earns that right. It supplies us with the elixir of life - water, puts out the messes caused by its younger brother thunder and blesses the wildlife with some long-needed nourishment. It is an essential part to this world, even if I hate it so.
However, I don't care. My entire life I've watched it rain on others. Up in the skies of Treasure Peak, even the clouds were like oceans crashing at its shore. And I could always see that there was a world below that I was fortunate to not be a part of. Just as the ocean cannot drown you if you stay away from the shore, the clouds cannot pour on you once you are above them.
It also means that for those that live along the shore, fleeing is hopeless. For those below the clouds, there is no escape from them. You might be able to put down a roof, but it will weather down eventually. And even besides that, you are completely surrounded. No matter how big a roof you place, the clouds will encompass it. You are trapped until it decides you can go. It is a cruel monarch, even if its intentions are pure.
That is why I honed my sword. To break the people free from its oppression, even if for but a moment. That is why I created the Brewing Storm Sword Technique and its final chapter, Clear Blue Sky. The rain will hold me no longer.
...Or that's what I'd want. Unfortunately, this body has not yet gained the power to cut the clouds. The rain serves as my intimate reminder.
The future is there for those who survive today.
I need not fret about what will I do once I reach the peak of my mountain. After all, I'm still not nearly done climbing it. To do such, I will need to be even more rigorous with my training.
Once I will be seventeen years of age, I shall depart through the Dead End Forest to enroll in a school of learning for three years. It will be a good opportunity to see just how threatening this world truly is. Up until now, I have been living as a commoner, almost in the dead center of a region surrounded by a Dead End for most people. I have thoroughly explored this place, but it seems the only ones of acknowledgeable skill are me, father, mother and Sera. The neighbors were all third rate at best. There were a few retired knights, but no one truly worth their salt in prowess would live in a nowhere zone like this, wasting away as a nobody.
I've only fought father and tried (and failed) to deal with mother's and Sera's spellcasting. Mother puts up barriers that are impossible to break through without an Aura Sword while invoking the roots in the earth to trap me until I resign, or summoning a vicious wave of water to sweep me away, and Sera just damn near burns me alive if I even try to approach. If it wasn't for mother's healing abilities, I'm pretty certain she would be accused of murder. Honestly, she's the scariest thing in this world so far...
Anyway, I have only fought three people and one beast. I don't know how strong this world truly is.
Which is why I need to prepare. Prepare my blade, my edge and my sheath. Prepare my strength, my will and my mind. Prepare my footwork, my sword arcs and my determination. Each of these innumerable rain droplets is a reflection of my inner mind, endlessly bothering me, crashing into me, driving me to do what I must.
I must prepare myself. To survive in this world. A world uncaring to my handicaps or disadvantages. A world where the ones deemed useful survive while the useless rot under the useful ones floorboards.
A cruel and dangerous world.