"Footwork!You're.moving.like.a.chicken."

A boy, no older than 12, fell to his knees and gasped for breath.

"But... Uncle... Cocytus... the katanas... they're... so heavy," the boy replied to the giant blue monster towering over him, still struggling to breathe.

"Excuses.won't.win.battles.young.Alf.But.your.movements.on.the.battlefield.could.change.the course.of.a.fight." Cocytus lifted Alf by his arms and adjusted his stance. "Now.try.again."

Taking a few deep breaths, the boy opened his eyes and focused on the dummy before him. His objective was to slash three areas of the body in a single attack: the legs, torso, and head.

He struggled to cut both the torso and the head, believing it impossible with only two katanas.

Undeterred, he made another attempt but failed once more.

"Not.only.are.you.not.fast.enough.but.you're.also.slashing.with.the.wrong.technique.This.attack is purely offensive. If.you.fail.to.land.the.fatal.cuts.you'll.surely.suffer.great.damage," Cocytus admonished.

"But Uncle Cocytus, I want to be a mage, not a warrior. How will this help me when I'm wielding a staff?" The blue giant approached Alf, knelt down, and grasped his shoulders.

"Ainz-sama. is. a. mage. but. even. he. continues. to. train. his. sword. skills. You. can. never. have. too. many. backup. plans." Cocytus explained, rising and replacing the dummy with an "X" shaped cut mark.

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"Let's. try. again. but. this. time. hold. your. katanas. in. the. shape. of. the. cut. and. try. to. make. a '>' shape." he instructed.

Alf regained his footing, took a sip of water from the side of the training ground, and returned to face the dummy.

Closing his eyes, he took three deep breaths and assumed a different stance, eager to learn from his superiors. With three swift steps, he stood before the dummy and struck with his katanas in the form of an "X." As his attack concluded, he realized he had successfully hit the left side of the throat, right side of the torso, and left leg.

Overflowing with excitement at his achievement, Alf turned to seek acknowledgment from Cocytus, his teacher. However, to his surprise, Cocytus wasn't looking his way. Instead he was kneeling on one knee against a person who was the embodiment of death itself, an undead so powerful that even kings and queens would grovel at its feet. But for Alf, there was no fear in his eyes. He dropped his katanas and sprinted toward the undead. "Ainz-sama, Ainz-sama, you came to watch me train!" With a wide smile, he reached out and embraced him.

The undead extended its bony hand and affectionately patted the boy's head. "Yes, Alf, I came to see how you're progressing with the swords." The boy's grin grew wider upon hearing the words of the Supreme Overlord of Nazarick. "Cocytus, I apologize for intruding on your training session with Alf. I couldn't contain my curiosity."

Cocytus, without lifting his head toward the undead, responded, "You. don't. need. permission. to. go. wherever. you. please. Ainz-sama. I. apologize. for. not. anticipating. your. visit. and. making. the. necessary. preparations."

"No need to worry, Cocytus. This place welcomes sweat&blood and I have neither to spare. Has Alf made progress in his studies during your training sessions?" Ainz inquired.

"Yes. Ainz-sama. He. recently. began. training. to. dual-wield. two. katanas. He. shows. great. strength. for. his. age," Cocytus replied.

Pointing excitedly at the dummy he had just slashed, Alf exclaimed, "Look, Ainz-sama! I finally managed to hit three regions with a single attack!"

Ainz ruffled the boy's red hair and observed the blood-stained bandages on his hands. "It seems you take your training seriously, Alf. Your dedication deserves recognition. Cocytus, would it disrupt your schedule if I borrow Alf for the day?"

"He. has. already. passed. today's. lesson. I. was. planning. to. perfect. that. attack. but. it. can. wait. He. can. take. time. off. Ainz-sama." Cocytus assured.

"Excellent. Then I'll be taking Alf for the day." Overjoyed, Alf jumped and walked over to Cocytus. "Thank you for today's lesson, sensei," he said, bowing respectfully before rushing back to Ainz's side. "We'll be taking our leave. Good day, Cocytus." Activating the Ring of AOG, they disappeared from the training room.

Cocytus stood up and approached the dummy. "He. will. be. a. valuable. asset. to. Nazarick. with. his. potential."