Gareth stared at Ren for a long moment, his sharp gaze seemingly piercing through the boy's thoughts.
But then, instead of continuing the previous topic, he let out a quiet breath, stepped back, and placed a hand on the hilt of his sword.
"That's enough. I'm not here to make you even more confused."
Ren looked up, slightly surprised.
"Raise your sword."
The command carried no forceful pressure, yet it held a weight that could not be refused.
Gareth drew his sword from its sheath.
The sound of metal scraping against metal rang out in the quiet air. A straight blade, its sharp steel reflecting the twilight glow.
Ren saw it and instinctively tightened his grip on his own sword.
"If you want to grow stronger, I will teach you."
He blinked, then slowly adjusted his stance.
He hadn't completely broken free from his previous thoughts, about what Gareth had said regarding NPCs, about leaving without defeating the floor boss.
But the part of him gripping the sword knew this wasn't the time to think too much.
Gareth observed him for a moment before the corner of his mouth curled up slightly.
"Good. Now listen."
He lifted his sword. The tip was angled slightly downward, his body relaxed yet perfectly poised.
Ren immediately recognized it.
This wasn't a defensive stance. Nor was it entirely an offensive one.
Gareth stood in perfect balance, where the slightest shift could unleash a deadly strike.
"Swordsmanship isn't just about slashing and thrusting," Gareth said, his voice steady. "Every movement must have a purpose. Every step must have meaning."
Ren nodded, fully focused.
Gareth stepped forward, slow but deliberate.
"Remember this, your sword isn't the only thing that needs to be strong. Your eyes must be sharper than your blade. Your hands must be steadier than steel. And your will… must be unshakable."
"A true swordsman doesn't just learn how to attack. They must also learn to see through their opponent."
Ren swallowed hard, then nodded.
He could feel Gareth's words etching themselves into his mind.
See through the opponent.
Not just swordplay, but reading movements, predicting the next step, controlling his breath, and seizing even the smallest opening.
Gareth smiled.
"Let's begin."
And his sword came down.
Ren immediately raised his blade to block.
The clash of metal echoed through the air.
The moment Gareth's sword met his, Ren understood the difference.
The strength.
The pressure.
The speed.
Gareth's attack wasn't wasteful. It wasn't a probing strike, nor was it a heavy swing meant to showcase brute force.
It was a frighteningly precise cut.
Ren gritted his teeth, using both hands to hold firm.
Gareth's intent wasn't overwhelming, yet it carried an undeniable authority.
Ren knew.
This wasn't just a training exercise.
This was a real fight.
And if he didn't take it seriously.
Gareth wouldn't hesitate to bring him to his knees.
After a long bout of training, Ren's breath grew ragged. His muscles screamed in protest, yet his eyes never left Gareth's sword.
Another slash.
Another block.
A step back, then a step forward.
Sweat ran down his forehead, mixing with his heavy breaths. His arms trembled, but each strike was sharper than before.
And then...
Ting!
A sound rang in his mind.
Ren stiffened.
A faint notification appeared before him:
[Weapon Mastery: Sword]
Lv1: 90/100 (Beginner)
Just a little more to level up.
He could feel the change in his movements. He could sense the weight of his sword more clearly, anticipate Gareth's strikes faster.
Just a bit more.
But before he could continue, Gareth suddenly lowered his sword.
"That's enough."
Ren panted, dropping to one knee but still biting back his exhaustion.
"I can keep going," he rasped.
Gareth looked at him, then smirked.
"I know you can," he said. "But swordsmanship isn't just about endurance. You need to know when to stop and when to push forward."
Ren remained silent.
Gareth spun his sword effortlessly, then pointed the tip toward Ren.
"Either way, you did well."
He stepped closer, his gaze thoughtful.
"Do you want to learn something else?"
Ren looked up. "A skill?"
Gareth nodded. "Not a system-given skill. A real technique."
Ren held his breath.
The swordsmanship of a commander…
If he could learn it, he would undoubtedly grow stronger.
He nodded immediately. "I want to learn."
Gareth chuckled. "Good."
Then, he raised his sword once more.
And began teaching him an entirely new technique.
Gareth rotated his wrist slightly, the sword in his hand tracing a smooth yet powerful arc.
"Listen, Ren."
His voice was steady, carrying the weight of every word.
"This technique is not something the system will automatically grant you. But if you master it, it will become a true skill, one that appears on your skill tree."
Ren tightened his grip on his sword. His breath was still uneven from the long training session, but his gaze had sharpened.
"A skill?" he asked, his voice lowering.
Gareth didn't answer immediately. He stepped forward, the tip of his sword slightly lowered, before suddenly twisting his body.
Whoosh!
A sharp gust of wind tore through the air as Gareth's sword slashed upward. But what stunned Ren wasn't the speed or power of the strike.
It was the seamless flow.
No pause. No interruption.
The moment one strike ended, the next had already begun.
Gareth moved like flowing water, each motion blending perfectly into the next, leaving no openings.
Ren's eyes widened.
"This is..."
"Continuous Flow." Gareth spoke, his sword still in motion. "A chain of sword strikes without a break. Once you start, your opponent will have no chance to counterattack."
Ren swallowed hard.
He could slash, he could thrust, but every attack had a tiny gap between movements.
But Gareth...
He left no openings.
It felt as if, if Ren stood against that relentless flow of strikes, he would be swept away, forced into a corner until he collapsed.
"The system won't hand this skill to you," Gareth said, his gaze sharp. "But if you truly master it, it will become ingrained in your body...and then, the system will acknowledge it as a real skill."
Ren felt his heartbeat pounding.
A skill not earned from quests. Not granted by the system… but one he could comprehend on his own?
Gareth lowered his sword and met his eyes.
"Now, try it."
Ren took a deep breath, gripping his sword tighter. His fingers trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the surge of potential he could feel waiting to erupt.
"Continuous Flow…" he murmured, eyes gleaming.
A chain of sword strikes without pause. A relentless wave to drown his opponent.
Gareth watched him and gave a slight nod. "Begin."
Ren didn't hesitate.
Whoosh!
His sword carved a sharp arc through the air. But the moment the blade passed, he didn't stop.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
A second slash. A third. A fourth. They followed one another like a raging storm. No gaps between movements.
He twisted his body, allowing momentum to guide him, letting each strike merge seamlessly.
Not separate attacks.
But a cascading torrent of sword strikes, unstoppable.
Gareth observed him, his gaze contemplative. "Good… but not enough."
At that moment…
A surge of information flooded Ren's mind.
The familiar system text appeared before him:
You have comprehended a new skill!
[Flowing Light Slash.]
A continuous sword technique that mimics the rapid currents of a waterfall.
Each successive strike is faster than the last. If executed flawlessly, this chain of slashes can sweep away anything in its path.
Ren's eyes widened. "The system acknowledged it…!"
Not granted by the system.
Not a quest reward.
But something he had forged himself.
Gareth smiled. "Now… use it again."
Ren nodded.
This time, he didn't just swing his sword.
He let himself flow with it.
Whoosh!
The blade sliced through the air, each strike accelerating.
[Flowing Light Slash.]
The glow of his sword streamed like water.
Fluid as a river. Swift as the wind. Yet each slash carried a chilling intent.
The blade glided, skimming the ground, leaving behind shimmering traces of light, like moonlight dissolving into a deep lake. Red pixelated fragments drifted through the air, falling silently like slow snowflakes.
Whoosh! One slash.
Whoosh! Two.
Whoosh! Three.
Whoosh! … Four!
The final wave of light erupted. But just as Ren prepared to continue.
"Stop."
Gareth's voice cut through, calm yet firm.
Ren halted, breath ragged, fingers gripping his sword so tightly they trembled.
Gareth studied him, then nodded.
"Not bad. But you haven't controlled the rhythm yet," he said slowly.
"This technique isn't just about speed. It's a flow. You have to let your sword move like water, natural, effortless, without force."
Ren clenched his teeth, looking down at his hands.
Flowing Light Slash…
He could use it now. But to truly master this technique… he still had a long road ahead.
It took him too long to activate.
It wasn't effective in real combat.
Especially… for someone fighting alone like him.
But that didn't dampen the thrill in his chest, this core skill was now part of his skill tree.