Chapter 113: Chapter 113

Kamus handed a pair of sealing leg rings to Lymus and another to Sokram, along with two bokken.

While Sokram and Lymus were putting the sealing rings on their ankles, Kamus explained, “I want to check your technique, and little Lymus here is the perfect sparring partner for you. The seals are to prevent you from abusing that fancy lightning magic of yours. And to make it fair, he’ll be wearing them too.”

Without giving them any room to refuse, Kamus walked away, taking the others with him.

“Well, please teach this young one, sword uncle.” Sokram nodded to Lymus.

Lymus nodded back, still mirroring Sokram’s tone and politeness, “Let’s learn from each other, sword nephew.”

“Enough pleasantries, fight to kill, just don’t kill each other!” Kamus shouted, flashing them a broad, mocking grin.

In the next second, Lymus’s eyes narrowed, and his killing intent erupted, a cold wave washing over the arena.

Seeing that Sokram was leisurely watching Kamus, Lymus slashed toward him with a simple, but well-aimed downward slash.

But Sokram's feigned distraction was just a bait.

Sokram’s calm gaze seemed distant, his relaxed posture inviting a strike.

Yet, beneath the façade, every muscle in his body was ready to move, his ears twitching almost imperceptibly as he tracked Lymus’s slightest shift.

Once Lymus's momentum became too much for him to stop and counter,

Sokram stepped forward, lowering his stance in a flash-step toward Lymus, swinging the wooden sword’s flat side onto Lymus's stomach with a loud “Tack!”

The strike knocked the air from Lymus’s lungs, doubling him over and leaving him crouched on the floor.

Sokram, looking at him, flashed a grin full of mock sympathy, “Lesson number 59: Killing is more lethal when it comes from a surprise attack or a baited one. Yet, you chose to go for the bait…”

Suddenly, Sokram's voice grew sharp and commanding, surprising everyone. “Stand up, pup!”

“Fucking lizard!” Lymus punched the ground and stood up.

Lymus turned to face Sokram, but Sokram had already used One Step, appearing beside him.

Another merciless blow landed with a dull “Tack!”

The flat side of the wooden sword against Lymus's gut.

This time, Lymus fell face-first to the ground, clutching his stomach as Sokram's voice, packed with mockery, tickled his wolf ears, “Lesson 59 again, this time it was a surprise attack. Also, Lesson number 3: A killer never shows mercy, we fight to kill or we don’t touch the blade!”

Sokram’s voice cracked like a whip.

He didn’t flinch as Lymus glared up at him, fury and pain warring in his eyes.

Lymus punched the floor repetitively before rolling away, taking distance before he stood to face Sokram.

Yet, Sokram, enjoying the little revenge from his past timeline traumas, was already on him, “Lesson 18: if your foe is off balance, go for the head!”

Lymus barely had the time to put his guard up when Sokram hit his forehead, sending him tumbling down.

Karini’s hand flew to her mouth, her breath catching in horror as Lymus crumpled to the ground.

Her eyes were wide, and in her gaze, her maternal instinct and overprotectiveness were unmasked.

She barely took a step forward before Leona’s and Kamus’s stern glares froze her in place.

“Can you still go on, pup? Your Master is watching.”

A cruel smile stretched Sokram’s lips, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes as he watched Lymus struggle.

Then, his grin vanished, his voice dropping to a low, murderous hush, “Are you going to stop looking down on me?”

In his previous timeline, he was the one in Lymus’s shoes.

But different from Sokram, Lymus was way merciless, always hitting Sokram with the sharp side of the wooden katana.

Seeing Lymus still on the ground, buying time to recover, Sokram dashed toward him.

“Lesson 24: Never trust an enemy playing dead. Make sure he…”

Lymus, a blur of motion, rolled to the side, sprang up, and vanished using Swift Wind: One Step, One Stride.

This time, Sokram gave him space to recover.

But as soon as Lymus' guard was up, Sokram would be on him.

He mercilessly demonstrated the superiority of his technique.

Whenever their swords clashed, he would deflect, dodge, or even trip Lymus.

Kamus and Leona’s expressions shifted, first serious, then surprised, and finally, amazed.

While Lymus would hit the floor again and again, each impact jarring his teeth, his cold and aloof mask shattered, replaced by a contorted, raging grimace.

He spat curses, let out guttural growls that rumbled in his chest before each raw scream tore from his throat, echoing the sting of each fresh bruise and all his rage for the humiliation.

Yet Sokram kept his murderous grin plastered on his face while reciting lesson after lesson.

Each strike lifted a knot of past humiliations from his heart.

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“Lesson 55: If an enemy defends the upper too much, go for the legs.”

“Lesson 31: Parrying and deflecting can create lethal openings, use that to your advantage!”

With every echoing “Tack!” of wood against flesh, the arena air grew heavy, charged with the brutal energy of the spar.

Layca, Leia, Kiren, and Kara’s sharp, involuntary inhales cut through, rising louder than Lymus’s ragged growls and pained whines.

He was a trembling mess, barely able to stand.

Suddenly, Lymus saw an opening, and mustering all his remaining strength, he prepared to end this sparing match with his next strike and regain a bit of his dignity.

But once again, once his momentum became unstoppable, Sokram met his gaze with a mocking glint in his eyes that screamed, “Gotcha!”

Sokram easily dodged and countered Lymus’s strike, pushing him off balance.

Lymus saw his defenses fully open, his breath catching in his throat.

He flinched, bracing for the inevitable blow to his body.

But Sokram, a predatory glint in his eyes, didn't strike his flesh; he aimed at Lymus's pride.

“Lesson number 1: A Killing Blade never lets go of his sword, otherwise he is nothing but an apprentice!”

Lymus’s arms trembled as he failed to maintain his grip over his bokken, his breath ragged like a bellows pushed to its limit.

Disarmed by Sokram, his sword hadn’t even touched the ground when Sokram, over-excited by avenging his past-self, used the movement of his Annihilation Slash, with a spinning slash, he sent Lymus flying and skidding through the underground arena.

Seeing that he had gone too far, Sokram was at Lymus’s side in an instant, stripping off the seals with a flick of his fingers.

His hands glowed as healing magic surged into Lymus’s bruised body, who was knocked out cold. ‘Uff, I guess I got too excited.’

Kamus and Leona appeared behind him as Leona’s voice reached his ears, with poorly masked worry for her son, “Is he alright?”

“Yes, just some minor internal bruising in his intestines.” Sokram let out a breath of relief but also used the opportunity to heal Lymus's other bruises.

Seeing Lymus wasn’t seriously hurt, Kamus turned his attention elsewhere.

“That last move is very lethal, but it is still imperfect. Is it your creation?” Kamus's tail wagged lazily, betraying his amusement and curiosity.

“Yes, but it uses too much energy, and without the spin, I can’t generate enough power. I’m still working on it.”

Sokram flashed Kamus a sheepish grin amid spell casting, still healing Lymus’s bruised body.

Kamus walked toward the center of the arena, seemingly in deep thought. Karini and the others rushed to check on Lymus.

“Is big brother Lymus alright?”

Kiren’s tone was sharp, and neither her voice nor the frown on her face hid her hostility as she glared at Sokram.

Kara, too, looked sad after helplessly watching the beating her big brother took, as her gaze went from bruise to bruise on his knocked-out body.

“Yes, he’s fine. Just going to need some rest.”

Sokram stood up, not minding the twins looking at him like that.

Leona, although worried for her son and trying to hide the pride she held for her disciple, cautioned, conflicted, “Next time, hold back a little, kiddo.”

She fought not to smile, then she glanced at Karini, who was also frowning, and added with a wink, “For the sake of my wife, alright?”

“Yes, Master. Sorry for going overboard. I didn’t want to lose and embarrass you, Master.”

Sokram’s tone was honest and sincere, but there was no real regret in it.

“I know.” Leona nodded knowingly, still fighting the urge to congratulate him.

As for Lymus, Leona wouldn’t show sympathy to him, not to insult him.

But the reason she was proud was that, like Sokram, Lymus had started training when he was eight.

But he was now twenty-five, yet utterly beaten by a thirteen-year-old, and as co-mother, she felt complicated.

But as a Master, how could she not be utterly proud of her disciple?

Even Kamus was proud of her choice of disciple and her teachings as a Master.

He went as far as to compliment her while they watched, saying she taught Sokram very well.

And a direct compliment without a following suggestion was rare coming from him.

Once Sokram finished healing Lymus, Kamus called Sokram over to the center of the arena. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novel✦fire.net

“You know what the requirements to be recognized as a Sword-Master in the Northern Continent are?”

“Yes, Grandmaster, to become a Master, one has to create their own Martial Art, A new technique within the martial art they practice, or a whole new form.” Sokram nodded.

“Are you seeking to graduate from being a disciple? Leona confessed she no longer has anything to teach you. And you proved her right, but we can still help you refine it, maybe even help you become the youngest Sword-Master in the history of our continent, maybe even the world.”

Hearing Kamus's words, Sokram pretended to be surprised, but the fact was that he was still holding a lot back.

But receiving such training would give him enough justification to push his Killing Blade Art to the next level, so of course, he promptly agreed.

“Thank you, grandmaster, I’ll count on your guidance.” Sokram thanked sincerely, even if for different reasons.

“Alright, it won’t be easy though.” Kamus grinned murderously at him.

But Sokram, mimicking his grin, replied, “The harder a mountain is to climb, the more satisfying is the view.”

“Spoke like a true Killing Blade of Norwinter!” Leona praised hearing what he said, but then she nodded toward Lymus, who suddenly woke up and realized that he had lost.

Sokram nodded, understanding, and shouted, “Hey, pup. Are you alright? You better be, we have another session scheduled for tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that, until my grandmother returns. Are you sure you can handle it?”

Lymus looked at him with murder in his eyes, but Sokram’s grin widened, “That’s the spirit, sword uncle! Lesson 99: A Killing Blade’s will to fight must be unbreakable!”

“Hah, this kid is talking like a Master already, let’s see if he can keep his spirits up after this training period ends.” Kamus was taking a liking to Sokram more and more; he even started thinking of stealing him away from Leona.

Seeing through her Master, Leona hugged Sokram possessively, and poking her tongue at Kamus, but her eyes were serious, “Mine!”

Kamus’s deep, booming laughter echoed like thunder through the arena, seeing the kitty that never stood up to him acting like that once he was seen through.

After that, it was Sokram’s turn to start guiding Kamus and Lymus.

Kamus, as the elder, went first, but also because he wanted to give Lymus the time to calm his heart after his humiliating defeat by someone so much younger.

Karini’s overprotective actions weren’t helping, especially after she let it slip that she, too, had lost to Sokram.

Sokram wasted no time.

Channeling his mana, he probed Kamus’s Core.

He was amazed to see how well consolidated and compressed it was, so much so that Sokram had to quickly withdraw his mana.

He was about to ask Kamus something when Kamus spoke first, “Don’t worry, Leona explained that I could lose a Tier or two, I’m prepared for that.”

But Sokram surprised him, asking, “No, that’s not it, but can I speak freely?”

Kamus nodded, “We’re among family, I have nothing to hide from them.”

“You’re one step from becoming a Semi-Perfect Existence. I can see you must have been stuck in this bottleneck for some time, but that's because the spirit essence in your core and the mana crystallized on the walls of your heart have become hyper-compressed. So, you’re not stagnating, Grandmaster; you’re paving the way to perfection.”

Sokram paused briefly, letting his words sink in.

Then he suggested, “If you want, we can try to do what I did for Sayuri, but first I’ll have to help you advance to the next level.”

Sokram couldn’t help but muse, ‘That’s why his energy feels so much stronger than those on the same Level of Existence.’

Kamus, hearing Sokram’s words, turned dazed; he had been stuck on the same level for over a century already.

But when Sokram said he was paving his path to perfection, he couldn’t control his excitement.

One thing worried him, though: “Leona told me it would be dangerous to do the conversion. She even told me Sayuri almost died.”

Even if Leona wasn’t there on that day, it wasn’t hard to guess who she found out.

Sokram explained, “She almost died because of her own impatience and recklessness, but the Grandmaster is composed and self-restrained. I’m sure you wouldn’t make the same mistake.”

“Hoh,” Kamus looked back at Sokram with a smirk, “Self-Restrained, hm?”

Sokram trembled slightly, feeling like a little kid in front of an enormous, menacing wolf, ‘Shit, first Great Uncle Licarus, now the Grandmaster, true respect is something unshakable beyond even spacetime, haha’

Meeting Kamus’s gaze with sincerity, Sokram explained, “I mean no offense, Grandmaster. But it was easy to see, when the Grand Arch-Magus Neloph appeared, you wanted to fight him, right? The same goes for those two generals, but with them, you truly wanted to kill them, right?”

Kamus's eyes widened slightly, but then he nodded, “I guess Leona wasn’t bragging, your eyes are truly perceptive, so basically you’re saying that I just have to follow your lead and trust you? Is that it?”

“Yes, grandmaster,” Sokram replied, maintaining the sincerity in his tone.

He truly wanted to help Kamus, not only to have a mightier backer for himself and Norwinter, but because of his own filial duty, which he failed to fulfill in his previous timeline.