Return of the Mythic Bloodline

I fell backward to the ground, my entire body covered in sweat. I couldn't feel any strength in my arms, and I huffed like crazy, trying to catch my breath.

"You did fine for your first time. You can rest for a bit before moving to the spar," Nymeria said as she stood by my head, leaning closer, her hair cascading down and brushing against my face.

"Thanks—huff...hufff—for your consideration," I muttered, closing my eyes to relax.

After resting for a few minutes, I grabbed the sword again and spoke, "I'm ready."

"Alright then, come at me with all you got," she said, stepping forward, drawing her sword.

I sprinted toward her and swung the sword for a diagonal slash.

Clang!

Steel screamed against steel, and a spark occurred at the point our swords met.

I pulled my sword back and, with greater force, came in with a vertical slash.

She raised her hand upward, her sword horizontal, and slightly touched the blade coming at her head, deflecting it to the ground.

The moment my sword began to descend, she swung her sword in a horizontal motion, aimed at my throat.

I instantly pushed my head back, letting the sword cut some hair that fell to my nose.

She didn't slow. She took one step forward in an elegant motion and thrust her sword forward, aimed at my heart.

I parried the attack, swinging my sword upward, and counterattacked with a stab pointed at her neck.

She tilted her head as my blade whistled past her ears.

I began throwing one attack after another—aimed at her neck, ribs, and thighs.

She parried the light strikes and forced me backward, dodged the heavy ones, and counterattacked with just enough speed that I could block them.

But whenever my footwork staggered or the angle of my blade differed from the direction the strength was being applied, her attack would become fierce, landing light cuts on the parts of my body that faltered.

Various nights came and went as this hellish training continued.

My swings became more precise, and I rarely got hit by the stick.

Our spars also became more intense, and she wouldn't stop until I fell unconscious from exhaustion.

At first, I wasn't sure if this fierce routine was even beneficial for me. I was skeptical—what if this training could break my body due to sheer intensity? I only continued it for the sake of the Quest; otherwise, I would have found another way to get stronger.

But all of my doubts faded as I began to see the results of my training.

Under Nymeria's guidance, my growth was clearly visible.

My stats went up like crazy after each sparring session, and on the eighth night, we had our final spar.

This time, unlike the others, Nymeria was holding her sword with both hands, pointing the blade toward the sky.

She was standing still, but there were no openings in her stance.

"How long do you intend to stand there? Why are you not attacking?" she asked.

"You are looking even more scary than usual, Master," I muttered, my voice carrying a hint of fear.

"If you do not move, then I will," she said, and in the blink of an eye, her sword reached my eyes.

I bent my spine backward, creating a semicircle with my body as I placed a hand on the ground. Then, from a one-handed handstand, I moved my leg upward, hitting her sword with my foot, and swung my own sword with the other hand, aiming for her legs.

She jumped, dodging the sword, and I placed my feet on the ground, standing up again.

"Now that's what I expect from my student," she said, a hidden smile appearing on her face as she launched a barrage of sword strikes at me.

I had seen this move before. Not exactly, but it was quite similar to the claw attack Jambavan used against Nymeria.

"So you've already copied his move and made it your own. Then let me surprise you as well," I muttered as I began deflecting her attacks, only touching them slightly to distort their angle. The more fierce her attacks became, the more intensely I deflected them, creating a very subtle opening.

I didn't miss the chance and thrust my sword forward at her belly.

Ding...

"Congratulations! Beginner Sword Skill upgraded to Intermediate Sword Skill"

As the point of my blade was about to pierce her, a loud clang rang through the forest.

A sword, slipping from a hand, went flying into the sky and came down, piercing the ground beside the pond.

It was Vajra.

"Huh? What was that last move?" I gasped in disbelief.

She stood in front of me, holding the endpoint of her sword, its hilt pointing at me.

It had just happened in a flash. My eyes barely followed, but I noticed what she did.

When my blade reached her belly, she twisted the sword between her index finger and thumb, rotating it vertically with intense torque. The hilt of her sword struck my hand, making me drop my weapon, and before her sword could fall, she grabbed it from the other end.

"That last move of yours was totally phenomenal, Master. Let me grab my sword and continue our spar," I said, sprinting towards Vajra.

"There is no need to spar anymore," she said, sitting down and taking a deep breath.

"What! But why? Are you disappointed in me?" I asked, taking the sword out of the ground and continued, "I will try to do better, Master. Please don't abandon me."

"How can you say something so shameless with a straight face? Sigh. And I am not disappointed. It's just that I don't have anything to teach you anymore," she replied in a relaxed voice.

"But-but I haven't beaten you even once in a spar. There is so much left for me to learn from you," I blurted, holding her hands while sitting on my knees in front of her.

"You prick! You're a hundred years early to defeat me in a sword fight," she said in a low voice, flicking my forehead, and spoke further, "But it's true that I can't teach you anymore. The only thing you need to hone your swordsmanship further is experience."

"Congratulations, you have completed the Side Quest 2

All-Devouring Breathing Technique leveled up"

"Awesome," I shouted inside my mind, and in sudden excitement, I looked at Nymeria.

"Well then, I pay my respects to my Master for teaching me," I said, kissing her hand.

"You—you insolent bastard," she shouted, snatching her hand away, her white, moon-like face turning crimson with blushes.