Kyle stood in the middle of the private training hall, the Tachi in his hands feeling both familiar and foreign at the same time.
The massive hall was quiet save for the soft hum of mana-infused lights overhead.
The walls were reinforced designed to withstand attacks up to Gold Rankers, making it the perfect place to practice without holding back.
He was wearing the black combat suit provided by the Academy, a sleek and form-fitting outfit that is both durable and lightweight. The suit was enchanted with defensive magic, offering protection against minor injuries and helping to regulate body temperature during intense training sessions.
Kyle adjusted the collar of the suit, feeling the subtle hum of its enchantments.
'The Academy really doesn't hold back when it comes to equipment.'
The suit's design was practical yet stylish, with padding at the shoulders, elbows and knees to absorb the impact.
The material was breathable allowing for maximum mobility, and the enchantments ensured that it could withstand a fair amount of wear and tear.
It was evening and the first day of classes had ended.
Aurelia had told the students they were free to spend the rest of the day as they wished, whether to rest or train. Kyle had chosen the latter.
He gripped the Tachi tightly, its sleek, curved blade gleaming under the light.
It was longer than a traditional katana, with a black hilt that felt comfortable in his hands.
But despite Eleanora's assurance that it suited him. Kyle was still struggling to get the hang of it.
'It's not like the Jian' he thought, swinging the Tachi in a wide arc. The blade of tachi is much larger than Jian he was used to and it's single-edge blade.
The movement felt awkward and the weight distribution different from what he was used to.
With the Jian, he had to rely on its balance and precision but Tachi required a different approach it requires more fluidity, more adaptability.
Kyle took a deep breath and tried again.
This time, he focused on the flow of his movements letting the blade guide him rather than forcing it.
He swung the Tachi in a diagonal slash then followed up with a quick upward strike. The blade cut through the air with a sharp
'Whoosh'
But it still didn't feel right.
He paused, wiping the sweat from his brow.
'Maybe I'm just overthinking it' he thought. 'I just need to get used to it.'
Kyle decided to start with the basics. He began with simple strikes—horizontal slashes, vertical cuts, and thrusts.
Each movement was deliberate, his focus entirely on the feel of the blade. Slowly, he started to notice small improvements.
The Tachi's longer reach allowed him to maintain distance from an imaginary opponent, and its curved design made it easier to transition between attacks.
But it wasn't perfect. His footwork felt off and he occasionally stumbled as he tried to adjust to the Tachi's weight. Still he kept going.
'Progress is progress' he reminded himself. 'Even if it's slow.'
As he continued practicing, Kyle's movements became more fluid.
He started incorporating spins and pivots, using the Tachi's momentum to his advantage.
The blade felt lighter in his hands now, as if it were slowly becoming an extension of himself.
By the time he finished, Kyle was drenched in sweat but he felt a sense of accomplishment. He wasn't fully comfortable with his blade yet, but he was getting there.
Compared to when he was using the Jian, he felt more in tune with this weapon. As if it had the potential to unlock a new level of skill.
Kyle sheathed the Tachi and took a moment to catch his breath. The training hall was silent again, the only sound the faint hum of the lights overhead.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling the exhaustion in his muscles but also a sense of determination.
Glancing at the blade in his hand. He remembered the Academy's AI system 'Nexus'.
"Nexus!"
Almost instantly, a small sleek robot flew toward him. It was about the size of a bird with a glowing blue core at its center.
The robot hovered in front of Kyle its mechanical voice calm and clear.
"How may I assist you, Student Kyle Valemont" it asked.
"I need a training opponent" Kyle said, his tone firm.
"Set it to weapon training only—no affinities. Beginner level. And make sure it uses a Tachi."
"Understood" Nexus replied. "Setting up training parameters now."
The robot's core flashed, and a moment later, a translucent blue mana puppet materialized in front of Kyle.
It was humanoid in shape with no face it is holding a Tachi identical to Kyle's. The puppet stood motionless, waiting for Kyle's command.
'Alright' Kyle thought, gripping his Tachi tightly.
'Let's see.'
He took a deep breath and lunged forward aiming a quick slash at the puppet. But the puppet moved with surprising speed deflecting his attack effortlessly and countering with a precise strike. Kyle barely managed to dodge, stumbling back as he tried to regain his footing.
'It's fast' Kyle realized, his eyes narrowing. 'And it's still beginner level.'
The puppet didn't give him time to recover. It advanced towards him, its movements fluid and precise it's each strike calculated to test Kyle's reflexes and techniques.
Kyle struggled to keep up his inexperience with the Tachi showing as he fumbled through his attacks and defenses.
But he didn't give up. Instead, he focused on observing the puppet's movements. The way it held the Tachi, the angles of its strikes, the footwork it used to maintain balance.
Kyle tried to absorb every detail.
Slowly, he began to mimic the puppet's techniques. His strikes became sharper, his footwork more deliberate. He started to understand the rhythm of the Tachi a little better.
It wasn't easy. The mana puppet was relentless pushing Kyle to his limits.
But with each passing minute, Kyle felt himself improving. His movements became more confident and his attacks more precise.
Finally, after what felt like hours, Kyle saw an opening. The puppet overextended slightly leaving its side exposed. Kyle seized the opportunity delivering a swift, clean strike that hit its mark.
The puppet froze for a moment, then began to crack like a mirror, its translucent form shattering into countless pieces of light. The pieces dissolved into the air leaving the training hall silent once more.
Kyle stood there, breathing heavily but smiling. He had done it. He had defeated the puppet.
'I'm getting the hang of this' he thought sheathing his Tachi. 'It's not perfect, but it's still a progress.'
As he wiped the sweat from his face, Kyle felt a sense of accomplishment. The training had been grueling, but it was totally worth it.
****