Kaiser lashed out as a defiant struggle to his formidable mentor, yet old man Garba didn’t appear the least bit worried. Because his blade was swifter than the untrained young man’s, cutting through the air with effortless grace. Kaiser might have had the strength to make his slashes dangerously fast, but Garba had both speed and accumulated might of years of Leveling, empowering his frail body with energy far surpassed his age.

Above all, the old man’s technique was polished to perfection, refined through relentless practice and wielded with an exceptionally superior sword. Each of his strikes was calm and deliberate, brimming with lethal precision.

Backed by experience, wisdom, and the skill of a swordmaster, in the face of a mere novice. Defeat never crossed Garba’s mind.

Kaiser’s blade approached, yet Garba was hardly concerned. In fact, he even allowed himself to ponder briefly on how to humiliate the boy and settled on a classic near-beheading maneuver to solidify his dominance. The thought of his reckless student’s shocked face as Windslayer, grazed his neck, drawing the faintest bead of blood, filled him with satisfaction. Furthermore, the move would also disrupt the young man’s attack and his spirit in one stroke.

He'll be killing two birds with one stone.

Or so he thought.

Windslayer swung with flowing fluidity, aiming to execute Garba’s desired outcome. But midway through, its transparent tip struck a hard wall, grating, disrupting the trajectory's flow.

Garba’s eyes widened.

Had his ignorant disciple purposely backed himself against the wall to force this outcome? Had he truly baited Garba’s weapon to a disadvantageous length, using the environment to hinder his counter while gaining a momentary advantage?

Garba realized he could recover by pulling his blade back and delivering a precise thrust, but Kaiser’s speed was not to be underestimated. The extra motion to correct his position would give the brat just enough time to strike.

'You despicable brat…'

And whether that strike would be fatal or not was uncertain. Garba could stop his blade in any critical moment, but his immature student? He wasn’t so sure if he had that level of precision.

Even though Garba’s planned outcome failed, Windslayer managed to intercept Kaiser’s sword, halting its path. However, that’s when Garba noticed the timid expression vanish from Kaiser’s face, shifting to that of a treacherous fiend. Kaiser's free hand drew a hidden dagger as if he had prepared before hand, shamelessly breaking the unspoken code of honor in a duel between swordsmen.

The dagger sliced through the air with blinding speed, aiming for Garba’s arm. Almost in an instant, the ominous edge was dangerously near. But he needs a brief second more to wedge out Windslayer's tip. However, Kai gave him no time to free Windslayer from the wall’s constraint. Any hesitation would mean risking his arm.

Left with no choice, Garba reluctantly let go of Windslayer’s handle and back off, narrowly avoiding the dagger’s edge that zipped an instant later, leaving a shallow cut on his wrinkled hand.

With distance between them, the master and student duel turn more into an equal face-off from the one-sided confrontation a moment ago. No, rather, the odds shift to Kaiser.

Seeing the dominating old man acting all tough and mighty a moment ago now stripped of his elegant sword while he wields two was gratifying. Though, their duel had become a battle of schemes rather than an honorable test of swordsmanship. But then again, in life, isn’t winning all that matters?

Kaiser grinned.

“Damn, that actually worked. I thought a swordmaster wouldn’t fall for it. Guess age has blurred your eyes, huh. Why not get that checked? Maybe then you'll finally see my...uh, you know what, forget I said anything."

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He really wanted to throw something cool back at his mentor’s earlier mocking, but all he could come up with sounded cringe worthy.

Besides, time was precious in combat—especially when his unlikely victory against a master was taking shape. That said, he does feel a bit guilty and wronged at beating an elderly master swordsman through trickery. Aren't they supposed to be practicing swordmanship?

'Who cares about the details? I’m winning here.’

With his sword stripped from him, the old man was left to face his unruly student barehanded. The scene looked a lot like a brat bullying an elderly person—but Kaiser didn’t care. Garba was a professional, armed with a superior sword to his student’s mundane blade. The odds had been stacked against Kai; it was only right to savor this moment.

Yet, Garba’s face remained oddly calm as he sighed, glancing at his wrinkled hand, where Kai’s dagger had left a shallow cut. His eyes, albeit wise, were betrayed by age. His vision isn't as sharp as it had been in his prime, causing him to misjudged distance. Furthermore, he had been ignorant.

“Prolonged idleness has dulled my skill, it seems. How long has it been since I was last wounded?” He shook his head, his gaze distant. “I can’t remember anymore.”

Sighing, he clinched his fist and looked at his student, an amused smile curling on his dried lips as Kaiser reached for Windslayer embedded in the wall. Who's staring back at him warily, as if expecting the owner to attempt snatching it back.

Unexpectedly, Garba spoke without a hint of anger or grudge... Just pure humor.

"Brat, ahem, Kaiser. I'm really impressed by your resourcefulness just now. Making use of the environment to shift the odds in your favor take intuition, guts and quick wits. Something the majority of warriors lacked. Honestly, I was beginning to feel disappointed earlier, but you've proven me terribly wrong. Players were truly another breed, no wonder your predecessors were viewed as legends." Garba said, bootlickingly.

“Cut the crap, praise won’t save you, old man.” He snorted in response, Kaiser figured it was only fair to return some of his mentor’s earlier coldness.

Garba scratched the back of his head, trying to appear apologetic. But the twitching vein on his forehead at his student’s defiant tone betrayed his true feeling.

“I’m just being honest here… But really, a little mercy would be appreciated. We might have argued earlier because of your misbehavior, but I know deep down, you’re a considerate young man. How about this: give me my beloved sword back, and I’ll follow your preferred lesson plan as best as I can from now on. Sounds like a good deal?”

Kaiser, who was about to pull Windslayer from the wall, paused. Then he looked back at his mentor with a smirk.

“Yeah, yeah, I totally trust you won’t chase me down the second I hand it over. Dream on, teach.”

Kaiser’s smile deepened as a thought struck him. He changed direction, stepping toward the unarmed Garba.

“But you’re right about one thing. I am a considerate student… tell you what, I won't take Windslayer anymore, I can't keep it to myself, anyway. But I won't hand it over, either. So get it yourself... However, you'll have to defeat me first. Lucky for you, I'll be considerate enough to fight you in equal grounds - Hand to hand. What do you say?"

The poor old man heaved a sigh of relief, having given a chance. But his joy soon faltered as his supposedly considerate opponent approached, still holding a dagger and a sword without intentions of releasing them.

He stepped back, feeling dread for what's about to happen.

"My dear student, I thought we were having a fair fight?"

Kaiser raised an eyebrow.

"Did I?"

Of course, that was a joke. Kai were never kind, especially to those that toyed with him. Be it the elderly, he would pay their deeds in kind if ever he had a chance.

The dread and fright he felt as Garba made him retreat back until his pressed against the wall was still fresh in his mind.

Sure, his ignorance had ignited their conflict, bringing out the slumbering swords master within his mentor. Still, would it hurt him to hold back a bit? From the looks of it, Garba was literally trying to slaughter him. His only saving was his potent reflexes saving him in the nick of time, if not, Kaiser didn't know if his still be breathing right now. What would happen to Ariella and Cia by then?!

'I forgot I can't die.'

True. Although, dying was beneath Kaiser, his immortality being uncovered would be troublesome, to say the least. Many seek for eternal life, some so desperate to cling to any hint of immortality. More so for elderly people, whose impending ends are near. That's why Kaiser tried his best to not die in the presence of others, to avoid unwelcomed attention to his immortal life.

Suddenly, Kaiser stopped. Sensing something odd about the situation. A frown of suspicion appearing on his brows.

Why is Garba steeping back?

His too gratified by his successful stunt and his domineering mentor's dramatic shift in attitude. The once, so frightening old man acting all timid and apologetic when his blade are gone are... Odd. Kai really enjoyed the old man's reaction, but his rationality suggest otherwise.

After all, Garba is older than Alfred, therefore, accumulated greater strength through Leveling in the years. Including experience, coupled with the guidance of his family renowned for their blades, inherited from a Player. He should be really strong, right? With or without a weapon.

So... Why would this ancient relic fall so low without his Windslayer?

Knowing the enthusiastic old man. Kaiser cursed.

"Why did you stop?" His mentor asked. Kai studied Garba's face for a while, his expression becoming complicated with every moment.

Because... The old man wasn't hiding it anymore.

His freaking trolling his student!

As though heaven had personally whispered in Kaiser's ear, his malicious demeanor abruptly changed as he anxiously scratched the back of his head, smiling wryly.

"Nothing, nothing really. Um, you know what, I'm kinda tired for today so how about we call it quits? And forget these entire thing? Man, I'm beat." He laughed dryly before retreating as nonchalantly as he could.

Only to be stopped by a sinister voice behind from his demented mentor.

"Leaving so soon, the day is still young my dear student. There's still lots for you to learn."

It sounds so soft and sincere, as though a real concerned mentor was genuinely speaking. But Kai knew better than anyone of its underlying meaning.

Then, Windslayer embedded the wall shuddered and moved, and was pulled by an invisible force, sending it to zipped back towards Garba's wrinkled hand... Somehow.

Kaiser froze in his tracks.

Beads of sweet forming on his forehead. And yup, his really regretting that reckless stunt.

'I wanna go home.' Kai swallowed hard, pleading the heavens for mercy.

Something tells him that his mentor is done playing with his games.