Vacker says "Yes, what I have shown you so far are the basic moves that everything else is built on."

"Have you ever actually taught this to anyone?"

Vacker says "Nope. Until now I hadn't found anyone I thought would be capable of learning it."

"Wait, was that an actual compliment just now?"

Vacker says "Don't let it go to your head! Even if you have the potential you won't be able to learn what I am trying to teach you without pain and a lot of hard work."

"I'm not afraid of hard work, and I'm getting fairly used to the pain."

Vacker says "Well, then quit complaining and get back to work!"

The rest of the day aside for a break for dinner is spent in trying to learn the basics of this new movement technique. I end up taking more damage from falling while practicing than I did in the fight with the wolf. But I don't give up, I keep trying right until Vacker tells me to stop and get some sleep.

Once again he wakes me up way too early to get back to training. I've already put in four hours of intense training before breakfast even arrives. Vacker has me back to training as soon as I am done eating, he seems determined to make me learn this no matter what.

A few hours after breakfast I am starting to feel like I am getting close to being able to keep my balance. I am falling less and less, but I still don't think I am close to mastering it. I am proven right when Vacker hits me with a training sword while I am balanced.

Vacker says "Your center of gravity is still off center and too high up!"

"Well, I wasn't expecting to get hit, I am still working on my balance."

Vacker says "That's the point, your balance should move as you lean!"

"I am still trying to get the trick down."

Vacker says "No, you don't lean and adjust your balance, your balance should stay set no matter how you move."

"Wait, what do you mean exactly?"

Vacler says "You make your center of balance a solid foundation that you move around."

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"Huh, that's not how you explained it before. That makes a bit more sense."

Vacker says "I explained it the better way the first time, why does your brain work so weird?"

"I don't know!"

Vacker says "Anyway, try it again!"

Obediently, I start over from the beginning and go through the footwork exercises. This time I focus on keeping my center of balance set and stable instead of trying to shift it with me. It doesn't work right away but I do have more luck in not falling.

Vacker then decides part of my problem is that my core muscles aren't developed enough. So he then has me do a bunch of sit ups and other exercises to work my core. He isn't nice about it either, when he has me planking he sits on my back to make it harder.

Due to intense exercise Str +1!

At least I get to see immediate results thanks to the skill system, otherwise I think I would kill Vacker. As it is I feel an intense dislike for his training methods even though they are obviously effective. However I keep my mouth shut about it, I don't want to see how much worse he can make it if I piss him off.

After a couple of hours of doing nothing but core exercises I can barely move. Vacker lets me rest until after lunch then has me back to working on my footwork. I hate to admit it but my core being stronger does make maintaining my center of balance easier.

I hate it when he is right, it makes it that much harder for me to hate him. And after everything he is putting me through I so much want to hate him. But I continue following his instructions, and as I do I feel it click so that I suddenly know how to move.

*DING*

Congratulations! You have acquired the combat skill Evasive Steps!

Evasive Steps

Level: 1

Agi +4

The art of not being where you are.

Finally all my hard work has paid off, I guess I don't hate Vacker after all. Although he is definitely a sadist and I feel sorry for all his future students. Even if I am going to be the one ordering them to be his students, I can still feel sorry for them.

If I am going to be a king I will have to order people to their deaths, a little pain and suffering isn't much compared to that. There are many things about becoming a leader I am not looking forward to but now is not the time for that. I should be exercising not dwelling on what might be an issue in the future.

Once I demonstrate that I have the basics of the footwork down, Vacker has me switch back to the exercises for intermediate swordsmanship. It seems like he will never run out of exercises for me to perform. As I go through the exercises I end up thinking of all the anime and manga I can remember.

I am trying to think of all the main characters that went through harsh training. Of all the ones I can remember only a very few have gone through training worse than this. Although, on the bright side all those characters ended up really powerful.

While I want to be powerful I am not sure all this is really worth it. There must be an easier way to become powerful, even if it takes longer. Then again, I don't exactly have a lot of time to waste, that's why I am going through this in the first place.

Vacker says "Alright, that's enough for tonight. Go get some sleep."

"That sounds like a good idea."

Vacker says "Rest well, we will start again in the morning."

"Actually, I was thinking of fighting another beast in the morning."