Days passed.
Every morning, like clockwork, Lucien was at the training grounds. Whether the sky was bright or cloudy, whether the guards whispered or the servants stared, he didn't stop.
From the outside, it looked like the prince was just swinging a sword over and over.
But something else was happening beneath the surface.
Every swing was filled with focus.
Every motion refined his form.
Every breath synced deeper with the technique.
What they saw as repetitive training was Lucien mastering his Blood Vein Slash—the first technique of the Blood Sword Style.
He wasn't just training. He was preparing.
"System."
He whispered after finishing his 500th swing that day, sweat dripping down his jaw.
"What's the current mastery?"
Ding!
Blood Vein Slash (Affinity – 64%)
Lucien smiled. That was a huge improvement from just a few days ago. Each strike had more weight, more precision. Sometimes, when the swing was just right, he could feel a slight tremor in the air. A faint pressure. It wasn't just a sword slash anymore—it was something more.
And it showed in his body, too. He felt stronger, more stable on his feet. Less winded. More aware.
"Status window."
Status Window
Name: Lucien Graycliff
Age: 17
Race: Human
Title: [Useless Prince]
Class: Swordsman
Level: 2
Skills: Blood Vein Slash (Affinity – 64%)
Trait: Phantom Edge
Mana: 7/16
Stamina: 10/17
Status: Alive (Tired)
"Nice, level 2, huh... I guess I'm really a swordsman now."
The sun was already dipping, casting long shadows over the stone courtyard. Most of the knights had left. A few remained, sparring in pairs or maintaining their equipment.
Lucien was just reaching for his waterskin when he heard the sound of boots behind him.
He turned.
"Ran?"
His eldest brother, still in training armor, approached. As usual, his steps were calm, deliberate. The way Ran moved always reminded Lucien of a beast with full control over its strength.
"Been watching you."
Ran said simply.
Lucien stood a little straighter.
"Oh... yeah?"
"You've been training seriously. Every day."
"I have, I'm tired of being background character."
Ran raised an eyebrow at the strange phrasing.
Lucien scratched his cheek.
"I mean... I'm tired of being useless."
Ran didn't respond right away. Then, after a moment, he smirked.
"Took you long enough."
"Huh?"
"I said the same thing to Father. That if you're really serious, you should get a chance."
Lucien's eyes widened.
"Wait—what do you mean?"
"If you can take down a D-rank beast... I've recommended you for enrollment at the Pristine Academy."
Ran turned to leave.
"But that's a big if. You've got to defeat it first."
Lucien's jaw dropped.
"Wait, hold on—"
Before he could ask more, a Ding! interrupted him.
New Quest Alert!
Quest: Trial by Hunt
Objective: Hunt and defeat a D-Rank beast
Time Limit: 120 hours
Reward:
Level Up (Skip 4 levels)
Significant boost to Mana and Stamina
Newbie Scroll: Blood Sword Technique – Second Form
Lucien blinked at the blue text hovering in front of his face.
"What the hell... a beast? In five days?! That's less than a week!"
He rubbed his temples, pacing around the training field.
"System, are you trying to kill me?!"
Ding!
Host expressed desire to grow stronger. Host must now prove determination.Hunting a D-Rank beast will push host's limits and provide a leap in strength.This is the path of the sword.
Lucien sat back on the bench, wide-eyed.
"A D-Rank beast… those are real monsters, aren't they?"
He remembered reading about them in the original Lucien's memories. Wild, magical creatures with enhanced senses, strength, and speed. Dangerous even to seasoned knights.
"I've only just learned one slash…"
But then he saw it—the potential reward.
Level 4. Massive stats boost. A second scroll.
And maybe most of all—respect.
If he did this, he'd prove to everyone he wasn't just pretending to try. He would be a swordsman.
Lucien clenched his fist.
"Alright. I'll do it."
He stood back up, eyes gleaming.
"But before that—I'm finishing these swings."
And just like that, he got back to it.
Later That Night
Lucien returned to his room late, exhausted but energized mentally. He had decided he would spend the next two days perfecting his technique even further, increasing stamina, and learning everything he could about D-rank beasts. If he was going to fight one, he needed a plan, not just guts.
He called out.
"System, any suggestions on what kind of D-rank beast I should look for?"
Ding!
Recommended Target: Stoneback Boar – D-Rank. Common in the west forest, two days ride. Known for high defense and charge attacks. Weak spot: exposed underbelly during charge pause.
Lucien nodded.
"Two days ride..."
He opened his window, staring out into the moonlit sky.
For the first time in a long while, he didn't feel like a passenger in his own story. He was moving, slowly, but forward.
He clenched the Blood Sword hilt tighter.