Leon found himself on a familiar beach, a set of caves at his back.

The tide ebbed and flowed, the false sun of the Proving Grounds on the horizon, the barest hint of golden light visible.

Dawn not yet breaking but cracking, on the verge of arrival.

Time during the selection seemed to have kept marching on- he suppressed a yawn. There would be issues to solve before the swordsman could claim the few hours of rest he needed.

The others followed in bursts, their own teleportation staggered, no doubt by design, allowing Leon to arrive first.

Leon waited until all had arrived and converged, letting them converse amongst each other before striding to meet the group.

Plunging his sword into the sand, Leon rested his hands upon the blade’s pommel, raising his voice to carry along the empty beach.

“So? Anyone unconvinced?”

Silence followed his questions, Kong Xia speaking first, hand upon his blade.

“I attest to Leon Knox’s might. To clash with him, like kicking a steel plate. I am convinced. Any who wish to test themselves against him must first overcome my Grand Void Style.”

With that said, the robed swordsman crossed to Leon’s side, taking up a position at his right, standing slightly apart from the strongest amongst them.

The unexpected endorsements continued. William spoke up next, a knife in hand as he sauntered down the beach, claiming Leon’s left side.

“I’d rather fight with the monster than against him. You can’t be worse than my old boss.”

The rest remained in their group.

Fear radiated off them in waves- the power disparity, the threat Leon posed just by existing, making them wary.

Throwing his hands up in exaggerated exasperation, Leon told them exactly what they needed to hear, working his way up the hierarchy of needs.

“I’ll make you all a promise here and now, part of my commitment to be less of a selfish dick- food and water, every day. I’ll guarantee that even if you do nothing for me.”

Murmurs followed, the bait taken, the iron hot. Striking, Leon continued.

“I won’t ask anyone to fight for me. The woods are empty. I killed the boss and the rest of the overgrown geckos went with him. Might still be some corpses here and there, but so long as you stay in the woods, you’ll be safe.”

Bethany spoke up, the woman who’d caught his eye for her sword technique and Common Class, her question exactly the one Leon wanted to hear.

“And if I want to fight?”

Grinning, Leon answered.

He’d got all the fish hanging off his hook and now he would slowly reel them towards the shore.

“I have a month before I clear this Tutorial. I can’t promise you’ll reach my level or my Level in that timeframe, but if you want to fight, I’ll train you and teach you my swordsmanship.”

One last carrot, tied to the stick. The rest might have been manipulation, but this time, Leon brought sincerity to the fore.

“This sounds cheesy, but I’ll say it anyway because I believe it.

I’m going to become the strongest swordsman to ever live. Thought I would walk my path in solitude, but I had a wake-up call, of sorts. Now I don’t want to do it alone. I’m quite greedy, you see. I want more than a story or a reputation- I want a legend and a legend needs more than just its hero.

Follow me into the woods and I will make monsters of men; we’ll carve our names into history, as Earth’s mightiest warriors. No one will ever deem you unviable again.

Or choose to stay on this beach, living out your life in mediocrity, forever wondering what might have been, had you only mustered your courage.

Both choices are valid, both come with only one commandment.

Do not fuck with me.

Mistaking my mercy for weakness will be the last you ever make.”

Plucking his sword from the ground, Leon sheathed it and turned to leave, William and Kong Xia at his side.

All but one followed behind him.

Fred stayed, staring in disbelief as the group abandoned him.

Leon didn’t begrudge the man his choice.

Some people simply didn’t have the will to power or the willpower needed to make something of themselves in this world.

He’d send someone to ensure the man had supplies to last him, nothing more.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

If Fred made a play, breaking the only rule Leon had laid down?

There would be consequences. Permanent consequences.

William slipped back into the pack to speak with the others, Leon making conversation with Kong Xia as they made their way to Leon’s abode.

“The System deemed you unviable Kong Xia. Strange, given your obvious skill.”

The man bowed his head, thinking before offering his thoughts.

“I did not hunt as fiercely as I should have. Another outstripped me. His prowess with the bow was matched only by his arrogance. He courted death too fiercely, his insults against the sword demanded redress.”

Nodding along with his words, Leon understood.

Anyone insulting the sword deserved a beatdown.

“An appropriate answer. Our fight ended too swiftly. Whenever, wherever, issue me a challenge and I will accept.”

The man’s frown vanished as soon as Leon noted it.

“No need. The gulf between us aside, I see no need to sow seeds of enmity. We fought as there could be but a single survivor of the bloodbath, a battle of survival. Now? Cooperation serves both our needs better, two swords greater than one.”

Leon chewed on his words before replying. Did Kong Xia have an aversion to killing, perhaps? The man had taken steps to clean himself of blood in the arena. A mystery he would unravel eventually, should they both survive.

“Then unless you object, we’ll instead spar when time permits. There is much we swordsmen can learn from each other. I offer instruction in my style, though I doubt you would gain much from it.”

Kong Xia’s deep brown eyes expanded, the man’s surprise clear, though none crept into his tone.

“This kindness- I will return it tenfold. My style is not for the likes of a novice, it gladdens me to have tested your skill first-hand. With your attainments in swordplay, grasping my sword should be but a simple matter. Should you desire to learn the Grand Void Style, I will impart it to you. Once your affairs are in order, seek me out.”

Leon felt himself getting a handle on the man. Kong Xia had his own code of honour, one he would uphold even in the face of danger. A devout and principled swordsman, the only slight Leon could level against him was the use of silly mana tricks.

Using a circuit to boost your power, Leon could live with, but once you started using energy waves, could you even call yourself a swordsman?

William re-joined the pair, coming back laden with information.

“Got a feel for them. Most of these people just want to lie down and cry- been a rough day. Give them food, shelter and a day to process before you push them any further.”

Eyeing William up, Leon found himself surprised at how quickly the man had come around to working with him.

Too quickly.

Kong Xia he could buy since they were two of a kind.

William? Not so much.

He’d get an answer to that little question later- the trickster had brought problems to his attention.

“Food and a day I’ll give. We’re flat-out fucked for shelter. I have my house, but it won’t let anyone else in.”

“Lucky for you. Already solved the housing crisis. Pierre, the scruffy guy back there. He’s a High Druid.”

The plant mage- Leon hadn’t thought to examine him.

Sensing William wasn’t done, Leon played along.

“So the guys a tree hugger- how’s that help us?”

“Way he told me, he just asks the trees to shift, pours a little mana in and hey presto- tree house made from a hollowed-out trunk. Thank God these redwoods are thick, eh?”

“What’s the catch?”

Shaking his head, William’s tone faltered.

“Pierre wanted me to ask you a favour- any of the Devil’s lettuce you come across, toss it his way. Poor guy says this is the most sober he’s been in ten years and he is not enjoying it.”

“Done. I’ll make inquiries and see if I can’t get him some herb. Could’ve been worse. At least he isn’t asking for coke or meth.”

The clearing came into view shortly after their conversation.

Leon tensed upon entering the area his house stood in, half expecting a T-Rex to be rifling through the ash.

He instead bore witness to a woman hammering away on an anvil just outside the door to his abode.

Leon halted when his inspection failed, his [Sealed Fiend Eyes] failing to return her information.

Which meant this woman was at least one Grade above him.

Pulling William over, Leon whispered to the man.

“Get that druid on shelter work- now. I’ll deal with whatever this is, then hand out food.”

The edge in his voice had William complying, the collection of weary souls Leon had taken in following his example, leaving Leon to approach alone.

Leon saw the fruits of her labour as he approached, a gleaming steel rapier, elegant and refined. How the hell she’d forged it with only an anvil he’d love to know and suspected he’d find out.

Raising a hand to grab her attention, Leon spoke, staying far back from the sparks that she produced with each swing of her hammer.

“Hey, sorry for making you wait. Zerasos told me you’d be coming, but circumstance conspired against me. You are the person he arranged to teach me, right?”

Her hammer paused mid-swing, the woman pulling off the goggles that shielded her, dark green pupils revealed to dwell within her narrow eyes.

Pretty, in a girl-next-door way, the sort of girl you kicked yourself for not asking out, assuming she’d be your backup option while you aimed for the bitchy blonde who laughed at all your jokes and loved your muscles.

Then, the girl-next-door winds up with your best friend and the bitchy blonde moves on to the next flavour of the month.

Leon ceased his mental flagellation, returning his attention to the present.

Clad in a shiny green apron, one designed to withstand the rigours of the forge, form-fitting in all the best ways, the woman’s ample chest on full display, a pair of belts wrapped around her waist to hold her tools.

It was when she stood, the way the material creased around her thighs, the slight pinch at her hips, short curled hair framing her face. Her eyebrow quirked up as he looked at him.

In the back of his mind, he realised he’d been staring for far too long.

“Take a picture- it’ll last longer.”

“Left my phone at home. Never regretted it more since I got here, but I’ll make do with the mental image.”

Setting her tools aside, the woman offered a dainty hand.

“Layla. The devil and my master struck a deal. I’ll be teaching you to forge.”

Accepting the handshake, Leon felt the innumerable bumps and callouses that lined her palms. Each one told him she was the real deal.

“Leon Knox. The pleasure’s mine.”

Before he could release the handshake, he felt the woman clamp down on his fingers, tightening her grip just enough to keep him in place.

“Leon- how many fights have you won recently?”

One day, Leon thought, he would be numb to attractive women hinting at his bloodline.

Today was not that day.

“All of them. I don’t lose.”

“Ah. Master warned me you’d be like this. Second question- any Insights relating to fire, metal or craftsmanship? Yes or no only, please.”

“No.”

“Shit. Last question- how good are you at fixing up your wounds?”

“Pretty good, got offered a Class related to it.”

Finally dropping his hand, the woman pinched her chin between thumb and finger, contemplating as she spoke.

“You want the good news or the bad news then?”

“Bad news first. Can’t be that bad.”

“Can’t teach you to forge properly with only a month- timeline’s too tight to correct the deficiencies you have.”

Things had been going too smoothly for too long. Leon knew he had a sting coming down the line, but that didn’t make it smart any less now that it was here.

“The good news?”

“Master foresaw this. So we’re allowed to cheat. You’ll have your Job within two weeks”