chapter 02:

One day has passed since the first hidden piece was obtained.

[Mana control] is a skill geared towards the instinctive manipulation of mana. it let's it's user control mana as if it was another part of themselves.

Thus the current situation. as of now my training begins.

When mana is circulating within the body. It follows a specific path made by meridians within the body that guide it with the ultimate destination being the lower abdomen where the Dantian is located.

To accumulate mana in one's Dantian, meditation is in order because it helps to guide the atmospheric mana towards one's body and following the specific path made of meridians.

Now you may ask , Ruben's body though possessing instinctual use of mana thanks to [mana control] is absolutely rubbish when it comes to his internal capacity.

It's so small that even a single use might depletes it completely.

Time passed as I sat in a meditation posture in the dilapidated room of the inn.

Accumulating mana was indispensable for with the quantity I possess now, I couldn't even launch a willow the wisp from it without exhausting it. So I need to focus on amassing reserves of mana to enlarge my Dantian. Fortunately with [mana control], it's manageable.

' the only problem is keeping the absorbed mana from escaping from my body which proves difficult currently due to the limited space within my Dantian.'

It's like I water in a cup. No matter how many liters you pour in, if the cup is full the exceeding water won't have anywhere to go and thus will spill inevitably.

Now then 2 days left before enrollment still I have no way to defend myself. Magic in the game was done with a simple click on the keyboard but in this reality it's a complicated mishmash of math and theory.

' I fucking failed my maths exams damnit.'

So the only possible choice I could fall on was the knight build. The mage build is as they say for intelligent people.

Instead of using mana in it's pure form, knights release it in the form of Aura.

And so my objective 'the 2nd hidden piece'.

In [chronicles of the fallen noble] there was a mad swordsman whose sword was composed of only the basics.

The horizontal slash , the diagonal slash and the stab. There was no other fancy technique or sword art. His sword was the basics of swordsmanship pushed to the limit.

In his words 'the sword need not be fancy , only efficient' he would say to his disciples.

He was given the name of [Versatile sword Ryu shin]. A legend long forgotten in the annals of history.

Now then, such a figure must have been a celebrity right?

Ryu shin was actually a hidden master , a hermit so his name is not very famous. The man was remembered because not a single one of his disciples could master his versatile sword but each and everyone of them grew to become a renowned swordsman taking Ryu shin's swordsmanship as their foundation.

Now you may ask , where are you going to find that hidden piece in the middle of the capital?

Well who says that it's in the capital. You see, Ryu shin was a hermit, even as his old age reduced his vitality, the old man stubbornly refused to moved to the capital.

In his words 'a true warrior has no need for earthly desires, only his martial heart should guide him and drive him only then in his Dao he shall thrive.'

Which now brings me here to the Archmekov mountain range.

6hours of voyage by carriage and 4 hours of mountain trekking and there you have it, the Ryu shin style sword dojo at 2000m altitude.

I had departed at 5am by carriage and had arrived here at around 11am and now just before my eyes was standing a tall mountain. It's summit piercing the clouds apart.

And somewhere at that altitude was standing a Chinese style dojo.

Now then depending on the weather, I can roughly make it to the top in about 4-5 hours , well if my body can hold out of course.

_________

It's been 2hours since I my perilous ascension of mount Everest.

The mountain has taken all my companions and the weather has been unforgiving of me and my rations. The solitude of one's noble goal is something the likes of mortals could never understand. I say farewell dear companions. Let's meet again at the summit of the world.

' wait, wait , wait I don't have any companions, am I going crazy?'

The time passes rather slowly and my tiring physique testifies to my growing weariness.

It is past zenith now , the sun slowly falls over the horizon. The clouds lay afloat on the canvas that is the sky in tranquility as if testifying of my insignificance.

My legs have been screaming for me to take rest but I dare not halt my steps. This treacherous fatigue seducing my limbs, tempting my body to lay down I cannot trust.

I look at the top and ask myself, will I live to gaze down at the mortals from above?

______________

Ouaaahhhhhhhh

In the tranquil flow of nature on the Archmekov mountain range, atop one of it's peaks the howl of a beast sounded.

One would wonder , what kind of monstrosity would utter such an ungodly sound.

Ah yes , it's me.

2 more hours have passed making it a total of 4 and good news, I have made it.

I have conquered the summit of this world.

'' I AM THE KING OF THE WORLD.''

My joy could be felt from the heartfelt sound that came from deep my throat.

My clothes clung to me due to the perspiration and my black hair was wet as if I had just came from a shower.

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'But I have finally made it. I stand above all other creation hahahah.'

I think I might have lost something along the way.

Now then back to my noble goal, the versatile sword.

To learn this forgotten sword art , one needs to find the dojo up on one of the peaks of the Archmekov mountain range.

Fortunately, I had enough information to know which peak to climb but the precise location of the dojo was ambiguous.

As posted on the game's forum, to find the hidden master's sword art. It is necessary to find the Ryu shin style dojo on the 3rd peak of Archmekov and then once you find it. A test is given to you by the phantom of sword master Ryu shin.

' but where the fuck is this dojo.'

I looked around but nothing especially a dojo was visible. Is is different from the game?

Again this is the difference between a game and reality. In the game you could just open the map and the dojo would be marked by a cross but now I have to locate this damned dojo myself.

While looking around , I noticed something peculiar about a certain rock.

It was too out of place to be a natural formation.

' it's like someone put it there as demarcation.'

I approached the rock and attempted to touch. Yes that's right, attempted.

My hand passed through it like it wasn't there.

''...''

' so this is it? ' I once again tried to touch the rock my hand passing through it.

I decisively put my whole arm in there, followed by my torso, and finally my entire body passed through the illusionary wall.

On the other side of the rock wall, an old building stood erect. It's tiles were broken with the roof opened to the glare of the rain.

The windows broken and the floor filled with mold and dried out wood.

The place was worthy of an ancient abode.

Unhesitatingly I walked towards the old dojo. The wood under my feet creaking as if it would break.

I headed towards the main hall where the practice was held. Broken wooden swords were placed on a stall nearby and an old skeleton with nothing but the clothing was present.

' wait a skeleton?' I turned towards the skeleton in a lotus flower position and noticed the eerily glow in it's eye sockets. It was undoubtedly gazing at me.

Falling on one knee, I greeted the phantom of the sword master creator of the Changing sword [Versatile sword Ryu shin].

'' I greet the master.'' I said like in those wuxia novels.

''...''

The skeleton stayed silent and then with a creak , it's head looked down on me.

'' hmm, an intruder. I don't expect someone to visit this dojo of mine.'' the voice that came out was hoarse as if coming from someone who hadn't drank water in a century.

'' what brings you to my humble abode?'' the skeleton asked.

Preparing my act , I focused on my acting and drew a breath in then out.

'' I come bearing the sin of incompetence. I have heard stories of the renowned swordsman living on the peak of the mountain and has thus come with the hope of seeking instruction.''

'' I see what you say and I hear your plea.'' the skeleton touched it's chin with it's boney hands.

'' you have come to the right place but I have to decline as you have no qualifications whatsoever.''

I could understand that. Ruben's body now mine had quite a few shortcomings. The meridians were narrow which made it difficult to circulate mana and the Dantian was small too and above all this body had no other advantage apart from the good vision now made even exceptional by the use of mana.

Here it comes.

'' hmm.'' again with the creaking of the bone joints, the skeleton gazed at me and I looked back at it.

'' your gaze.'' it remarked.'' it isn't the gaze of someone in desperation. It is the gaze of someone determined to survive, the gaze of a warrior.''

''...''

It seems that my eyes had quite the appeal for even a master of Ryu shin's caliber to notice them.

The skeleton moved to stand up. It first struggled to do so but eventually it stood. I had to stifle my laugh as hard as I could as the sight of a skeleton attempting to stand from a lotus position was quite a sight.

Nonetheless it seems as though I have accomplished half my objective. Now only the test I was about to be given remains.

The skeleton or should I call it Master Ryu shin approached me and stood before me. It no he slowly rose a finger and lightly poked my forehead.

'' now that I look at you more closely, your body should be compatible with the changing sword more than my other disciples.'' master Ryu shin said whilst he slowly rose a finger and lightly poked my forehead.

And at that gesture , I lost all light and fell unconscious.

_________________

'' arg.'' I woke up with a groan.

'Where am I?' Was the first thing that came to mind at the unfamiliar surroundings.

My surroundings were pitch black and I couldn't feel anything apart from the solid ground.

'' ahh you've finally woken up.'' master Ryu shin's characteristic hoarse voice sounded from the surroundings.

'' now stand up, your test has began.''

I quickly stood up.

''The test shall be of your resolve.'' master Ryu shin's voice sounded and a wooden sword appeared before me

'' Swing the sword ten thousand times.'' Ryu shin said and the voice ceased.

'' huh, wait a second, 10k? I've never even held a sword before in my life and I'm supposed to swing it ten fucking thousand times.''

''...''

Only silence greeted my complaint.

Reluctantly I held the wooden sword my grip surprisingly firm. It's weight distribution and balance were good as if it was made for me to wield.

My muscles tensed, each time I took a stance like in the movies I felt uncomfortable. I tried until I found a position? I'm comfortable with.

The sword felt right in my hands as if I had reunited with a lost limb.

Unnoticeably my eyes were glowing in a grey hue a little in this pitch black darkness.

Before I could move, I noticed a line before me as if this was the path the sword must follow. I took a step forward and swung my sword for the first time.

' perfect.' I knew it the moment I swung the sword. The first swing following the path laid before me by the illusory line was perfect.

Alas, my joy was short live. The following swings were awkward and clumsy as if the first one was just a fluke. The path was laid before me but I just couldn't follow it properly.

Frustration took hold of me further enhancing the clumsiness of my swings.

' damnit this shit- hwuuu breath.' I calmed my frustration and took a breath. My focus returned and I swang the sword again.

This time I could follow the path properly. A perfect swing. Following that were subpart swings but I no longer felt frustrated. With a calm heart and a focused mind, I continuously swung the sword.

____________

Swinging the sword for who knows how much time. I had grown tired of counting and just let my body swing the sword. Still I followed the line traced before me repeatedly. At first it was hard and my posture broke but slowly but surely the movements became ingrained in my muscles.

Step forward, swing, step back. A continuous repetition and each repetition better than the last.

**

On the other side of the pitch black space where Ruben was training. Sword master Ryu shin was observing him through a blueish screen.

Ryu shin's eyes glowed at Ruben's first swing but immediately grew dissatisfied as the frequency of errors accumulated.

'' That first swing , it was perfect.'' Ryu shin's eyes glowed in excitement and after the thousandth swing, Ryu shin could no longer hold his surprise.

'' he's getting better.'' from the distance of the legs to the firm hold of the sword , the position of the hands. The subtle shift in posture at the swing, and the motion following that. Everything was done almost robotically with the amount of error reducing progressively. It made Ryu shin wonder if this was the boy's first time swinging a sword. It was as if the boy had swung the sword hundreds of thousands of times and his muscles had memorized that.

'' His eyes.'' another detail struck Ryu shin.

'' hahahahaha.'' a laugh burst out of Ryu shin's boney mouth.

The peculiarity of the boy's eyes had surprised Ryu shin as they felt like the eyes of a warrior who has known countless battles but now he understood why he felt that way.

'' I don't know how you got those eyes boy but hahahaha a seems you're not totally unqualified hahahaha.''

Ryu shin continued to observe the boy's training until he reached 10thousand swings.

___________

Time has eluded me.

I have swung the sword I know not how many times. The palms of my hands are bloody and each swing makes the blood squirt on the ground.

Nonetheless I continue. Repeatedly, continuously I swing the sword. The firm grip I once had on the sword was gone, the sword slippery due to the blood on my palms had almost slipped out of my hands but I grit my teeth and held on to it.

Countless times I have been tempted to give up and let go of the sword but I felt that if I let it go now, I would lose the chance I had gotten to acquire master Ryu shin's sword technique.

Though I could still feel the sting on my palms, I refused to register it. It was as if I was in a conscient trance.

Finally after who knows how much longer, I could no longer lift my arms to swing the sword. My legs refused to move. The sword slipped from my grip and fell to the ground. what followed was to say the least fucking painful.

'' Arrrrgggggghhhhhh.'' I dropped to my knees and screamed. The heat coming from the torn skin of my palms shook me and pain spread to my brain.

'' it fucking hurts , fuck, fuck.'' it felt as if the skin of my palms was ripped off and then my bare skin put in fire.

Damn, it hurts like a bitch.

After exhausting my stock of curse words, I finally calmed down. Still my hands hurt really bad.

'' well done boy, you have passed the first test. Now time for your second test. I shall measure the depth of your belief.''Master Ryu shin's voice sounded again.

The surroundings changed to a spacious training ground with wooden dummies spread here and there.

The second test seemed to be tied to my ability to fight judging by the figure materializing infront of me. But I got a question, what's belief got to do with fighting?