We had been training tirelessly for a week. By now, both Julius and Marius had stopped complaining. They were laser-focused on applying the techniques I had taught them.
Julius had improved remarkably. His attacks were now precise and unpredictable, no longer easy to read. "I’ve really grown this past week," he said confidently. He constantly sparred against Mark and Elan, pushing himself to the limit every single day.
Marius, too, was brimming with enthusiasm. On the first day, he’d been overwheld by Vivin and , ending up battered and bruised. But now? He was parrying our attacks with ease. His defensive skills were steadily becoming formidable.
"Marius, you... you’re really shaping up to be a defender, not an all-out attacker," I said, genuinely impressed as I watched him fend off a flurry of blows without breaking a sweat. His shield moved with a rhythm that felt instinctual, almost effortless. What was once a weak point had beco his greatest strength.
He scratched the back of his head sheepishly, his usual shy smile playing on his lips. "Guess being a tank suits , huh?"
I nodded firmly, my tone serious. "If you keep this up, you’ll beco an indispensable ally in battle. Not many can anchor a team the way you can."
Just as I finished speaking, I felt it—a sudden, powerful presence. It was like a surge of energy brushing against my senses, familiar and unmistakable. My instincts went on high alert. Without a word, I stepped outside to investigate. The others followed, curiosity etched on their faces.
There, standing at the entrance of the training grounds, was the Patriarch himself—Tetsu von Blackmore. His presence was commanding, radiating an aura of authority and power. He had returned to the Blackmore mansion, likely to restock supplies and recover before heading back to the front lines of the war. The re sight of him filled with a mix of respect and apprehension.
I saw Julius and Mark frightened by the sudden arrival of the Patriarch. They were oppressed by the Patriarch’s aura. From afar I could also see Aisha who was frightened by him. This was because it was their first ti eting the Patriarch.
Patriarch’s expression was grim as he addressed us. "The battlefield is in chaos," he began, his deep voice heavy with urgency. "Demons are appearing in waves, and they’re bringing monsters with red crystals embedded in their bodies. Their numbers are growing rapidly."
The words sent a chill down my spine. Red crystals? My thoughts raced. That couldn’t an...
The weight of the revelation lingered in the air long after he finished speaking. Later that afternoon, as I tried to process the news, the Patriarch approached directly. His deanor was calm but carried an undeniable sense of purpose. "Co with ," he said. "We’ll train together."
I raised an eyebrow, surprised by the offer. "Train with you?" I echoed, a note of skepticism in my voice. "Why? I doubt you have much to teach that I can’t handle." My words ca out more confident than I intended, perhaps even a touch cocky.
His piercing gaze didn’t waver. "If high demons descend onto the battlefield, even the kingdom’s most skilled heroes may falter. You need to learn this technique. It’s not a matter of choice."
There was no arguing with him. His tone made it clear—this wasn’t a suggestion.
And so, we found ourselves in the Blackmore mansion’s expansive training grounds. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as Mark, Julius, and Marius stood off to the side, watching intently. Their eyes sparkled with curiosity, eager to see what the legendary Patriarch would teach .
The Patriarch noticed their presence and smirked. "Why don’t all of you join us?" he suggested, his voice carrying both challenge and encouragent. "This is a rare chance to forge the next generation of warriors."
The offer surprised them, but they quickly nodded, stepping forward without hesitation. It wasn’t every day that soone of Tetsu von Blackmore’s caliber extended such an opportunity.
The training began, and it was unlike anything we had experienced before. The Patriarch’s thods were intense, demanding a level of focus and discipline that bordered on superhuman. Every strike, every movent carried purpose. He didn’t just teach us techniques—he instilled a mindset, a way of thinking that transcended re combat.
Julius, with his newfound confidence, thrived under the pressure, absorbing every lesson like a sponge. Marius, ever the defensive wall, adapted his shield work to counter even the Patriarch’s advanced maneuvers. Mark, with his steady and balanced style, found new ways to combine offense and defense. As for , I realized just how much I had yet to learn. The Patriarch’s insights pushed to reexamine my approach, breaking down my techniques and rebuilding them stronger than before.
By the end of the day, we were exhausted but invigorated. The Patriarch’s words echoed in my mind: "This is only the beginning. The battlefield demands more than strength. It demands unity, adaptability, and an unbreakable will."
As we prepared to leave the training grounds, I glanced at my companions. They were tired, bruised, and drenched in sweat, but their eyes burned with determination. The week of training had forged us into sothing greater than we were before. And with the Patriarch’s guidance, we were ready to face whatever awaited us on the battlefield.
The war lood ahead, and the stakes had never been higher. But for the first ti, I felt truly prepared—not just as a warrior, but as a leader among equals. Together, we would stand against the coming storm. Together, we would prevail.
Without hesitation, they jumped at the opportunity. It’s not every day one gets to spar with the legendary Tetsu von Blackmore.
The Patriarch’s first command was simple: "Attack ."
We did—together, all at once. Julius used his skill [Starlight Swordsmanship: Radiant Slash], Marius used his skill [Steel Impact], I used magic [Dark Magic: Phantom Slash].
But not a single strike landed.
We all kept attacking him with our skills. Until I used [Blackmore Katana Style: Tsurugi no Mai] allowing to attack the Patriarch from all directions.
Suddenly, Patriarch used a technique he called Aura Force. By amplifying his inner aura multiple tis over, he increased his strength, speed, and sensory perception to overwhelming levels. He dodged, parried, and countered every attack with minimal effort.
"Aura Force has several stages," he explained, effortlessly sidestepping another strike. "The more skilled you are, the greater the amplification. At its peak, you’ll be nearly untouchable."
We all froze as he demonstrated a surge in power, his aura radiating so fiercely that the very air around us trembled. It was intimidating—even terrifying.
I realized sothing crucial in that mont. "I... I’ve been relying too much on my Dark Magic." The thought struck like lightning. My aura had been neglected, and seeing the Patriarch in action made understand how much I needed to improve.
"So this is the strength of Tetsu von Blackmore," I thought, gripping my weapon tightly. "The hero of legends and head of the Blackmore family."
"Enough talk," the Patriarch declared. "Let’s see if you can handle this. [Kazekiri, Full Burst!]"
A gale-like force surged from his blade as he slashed. It was a devastating attack, one that could easily topple most opponents.
Mark, Julius, and I combined our strength to block it. Even then, we were sent skidding several ters back. The sheer pressure was overwhelming.
But then there was Marius.
He stood firm, his shield braced. Not a single step was taken back. He held his ground as if rooted to the earth itself.
The Patriarch’s eyebrows rose in surprise. "Impressive," he said with genuine admiration. "What’s your na, young man?"
"I’m Marius...Marius Stone." He answered in panic.
"Oh, a commoner. I respect all those who have abilities. Consider working for the Blackmore family after you graduate from the academy. We could use soone with your talents."
Marius’s eyes lit up. "I... I’d be honored! But first, I’ll get even stronger."
The Patriarch also turned to Siap, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Your movents... they remind of soone. Your elder brother, the hero of the Starlight family. You’ve inherited his swordsmanship, haven’t you?"
Julius’s jaw dropped. "You know my brother?"
The Patriarch nodded. "Of course. We fought together on the battlefield. If you continue on this path, you might just surpass him."
Julius’s grip tightened on his sword, determination blazing in his eyes. "I won’t let you down."
We trained relentlessly, our movents becoming sharper and more synchronized. Every command from the Patriarch pushed us harder, faster, and smarter. He had an uncanny ability to spot our weaknesses and drill us on them until they beca strengths. Whether it was Marius’s defensive stances, Julius’s precision strikes, or my control of aura, he tailored his advice to each of us.
"You’re too rigid," he told Marius at one point. "Your defense is incredible, but if you don’t learn to adapt, soone will exploit that."
Marius nodded solemnly, imdiately working on loosening his movents without compromising his solid foundation. Each block and parry of his beca smoother, more fluid.
"And you," he turned to Julius. "Your footwork needs work. Right now, you’re predictable in your positioning."
Julius gritted his teeth but took the criticism to heart. Over the next hour, he practiced tirelessly, weaving and stepping with newfound agility.
When it ca to , the Patriarch didn’t hold back. "Your aura control is sloppy. You’re trying to brute-force it instead of letting it flow naturally."
I clenched my fists, frustrated but determined. He was right. I’d been forcing my Dark Magic into every move, neglecting the finesse required for true mastery. With his guidance, I started focusing on the subtle ebb and flow of my aura, letting it synchronize with my body rather than overpower it.
As the sun dipped lower, the intensity of our training only increased. The Patriarch didn’t let up, pushing us to the brink of exhaustion. And yet, despite the sweat pouring down our faces and the burning ache in our muscles, none of us wanted to stop.
Finally, as twilight painted the sky in shades of orange and purple, the Patriarch called for a halt. We collapsed onto the grass, utterly spent. Sweat drenched our clothes, and our breaths ca in ragged gasps. Yet, as I lay there staring up at the darkening sky, a strange sense of satisfaction washed over .
The Patriarch looked down at us, his gaze firm yet kind. "Good work, all of you."
Marius, still catching his breath, managed a weak smile. "I’ll... keep improving. I promise."
Julius, lying beside him, raised his sword slightly in the air. "We’ll make you proud."
I didn’t say anything, but I made a silent vow. I’d master Aura Force. I’d grow stronger, not just for myself but for the people who depended on . The Patriarch’s strength and wisdom—I wanted to reach that level, to stand as his equal one day.
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