Jim wiped the sweat from his brow as the swirling energy of chaos mana faded, leaving the air thick with tension. His muscles ached, but his mind was sharper than ever. Chaos mana was unlike anything he’d ever encountered, and its power was both intoxicating and terrifying. He had barely scratched the surface of its potential.
Old Man Jenkins stood a few feet away, a crooked smile on his face. “Not bad, kid. You didn’t turn into a pile of ash, so I’d say you’re off to a good start.”
Jim shot him a look. “Yeah, real comforting.”
Jenkins chuckled, clearly amused by Jim’s struggle. “I warned you—chaos isn’t something you just learn. You have to let it in, let it become part of you. Only then can you wield it properly.”
Jim took a deep breath, steadying himself. “What’s next?”
Jenkins tilted his head, considering him for a moment. Then, with a wave of his hand, a sword appeared out of thin air—a long, slender blade with a shimmering edge. The hilt was simple, yet there was an unmistakable aura of power radiating from the weapon.
“This,” Jenkins said, holding the sword up, “is what you need to master next. Chaos is one thing, but controlling it through something as disciplined as a sword? That’s where the real challenge lies.”
Jim eyed the blade warily. “You want me to fight with chaos mana?”
Jenkins nodded. “More than that. I want you to fuse it with your swordsmanship. Chaos isn’t just wild energy. It can be shaped, molded—turned into something precise and deadly.”
Jim frowned. “I’ve never used chaos mana with a weapon before. I don’t even know where to start.”
Jenkins tossed the sword to him. “You start by forgetting everything you think you know. Swordsmanship is about control, balance, precision. Chaos is the opposite. But when you bring the two together… well, that’s where the fun begins.”
Jim caught the sword and felt the weight of it in his hand. It was lighter than he expected, but there was a strange, buzzing sensation that ran up his arm as he held it, like the blade itself was vibrating with chaotic energy.
Jenkins moved to the center of the clearing and gestured for Jim to follow. “I’m going to show you a technique. It’s something I developed a long time ago—a way to channel chaos mana through a sword. But don’t expect it to be easy.”
Jim nodded, his grip tightening on the sword. “I’m ready.”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Jenkins grinned. “We’ll see about that.”
He raised his own hand, and a sword materialized in his grip—a jagged, twisted blade that seemed to shimmer with chaotic light. Jenkins moved with surprising grace for an old man, his body shifting into a stance that radiated confidence and power.
“Watch closely,” Jenkins said. “This is called the Blade of Fractured Paths. It’s a sword technique that uses chaos to disrupt your opponent’s flow, to throw them off balance. But it’s more than just random strikes—it’s about finding the chaos in your opponent and using it against them.”
With a sudden burst of speed, Jenkins moved. His sword slashed through the air, but the movements were unpredictable—sharp, sudden changes in direction that seemed to defy logic. The blade danced between precision and madness, each strike flowing seamlessly into the next, yet carrying an underlying force that was wild and uncontrollable.
Jim watched, mesmerized by the display. Jenkins’ swordplay wasn’t like anything he’d ever seen. It was both graceful and chaotic, a perfect blend of discipline and unpredictability. Each strike seemed to fracture the air itself, as though reality bent around the chaotic energy radiating from his sword.
Jenkins finished his demonstration and lowered his blade, breathing steadily. “That’s the essence of the technique. You have to let chaos guide you, but not control you. It’s about embracing the unpredictability while maintaining just enough focus to direct it.”
Jim swallowed, his heart racing. “That was… incredible.”
Jenkins smirked. “Your turn.”
Jim took a deep breath and stepped forward, gripping the sword tightly. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the chaotic energy of the blade flow through him. He could feel it—wild, untamed power, just waiting to be unleashed.
“Relax,” Jenkins said. “Don’t fight the chaos. Let it in.”
Jim nodded and opened his eyes, focusing on the clearing ahead of him. He raised the sword and began to move, mimicking the unpredictable slashes he had seen Jenkins perform. At first, his movements were clumsy, the chaotic energy slipping out of his control. But as he continued, he began to feel a rhythm—an underlying pattern within the chaos.
His strikes became sharper, more fluid. The chaotic energy flowed through the blade, amplifying each movement. Jim could feel the power coursing through him, and for a brief moment, he felt as though he was on the edge of something greater—something he couldn’t fully comprehend yet.
But then, just as quickly as it came, the energy slipped from his grasp. His movements faltered, and the blade clattered to the ground as the chaotic energy dissipated.
Jim cursed under his breath, frustrated with himself.
Jenkins approached, nodding in approval. “Not bad for a first try. You’re starting to get it.”
Jim looked up at him. “I lost control.”
“Of course you did,” Jenkins said. “Chaos isn’t something you can control outright. It’s a force of nature. But you’re learning to work with it, to guide it. That’s the key.”
Jim picked up the sword, his grip tightening. “I’ll do it again.”
Jenkins grinned. “That’s the spirit. But remember—chaos doesn’t care how hard you try. It’ll break you if you’re too rigid. Loosen up. Let it guide you.”
Jim nodded and took his stance once more, determined to master the technique. The road ahead was long, and chaos was unpredictable, but he wasn’t backing down.
With Jenkins’ guidance, Jim would forge a new path—a path that blended chaos and discipline, a sword technique unlike any other.
And with each step, he knew he was getting closer to unlocking the true potential of chaos mana.