Luciel stood in the training field, surrounded by voices of praise and admiration.
"This is the path I want to walk..."
He exhaled softly, his gaze steady.
"The way of the knight, paved by battle and honor."
After announcing the results, Julian dismissed the students. However, Luciel was quickly taken away, leaving no chance for even Anderson, who was burning with curiosity, to approach him.
A Conversation with Julian
Inside Julian's office, the instructor studied Luciel with a complex expression.
"Luciel Lanster," he began, "you've given me a tremendous surprise."
He leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk.
"Your strength, speed, and physique match that of a sixth-level apprentice knight. Your mastery of basic swordsmanship and footwork is already at a perfect level. But what shocked me the most..."
Julian's eyes sharpened.
"...was your subtle-level swordsmanship."
"Micro-level swordsmanship?"
Luciel frowned. It was the first time he had heard this term.
"You don't know?"
Luciel shook his head.
"I only know that the chip categorizes swordsmanship into different realms. I'm currently in the second realm, but I have no idea about the ones above it."
Julian's eyebrows twitched in surprise.
"He reached this level without even knowing what it was?"
His admiration for Luciel deepened.
"This boy is a monster."
"Then let me explain."
The Five Realms of Swordsmanship
Julian picked up a training sword and began his demonstration.
"A knight's strength is not just about raw power. True mastery lies in skill. The sages divided swordsmanship into five levels."
"Five?!"
Luciel's eyes widened.
Julian nodded and executed a flawless basic thrust.
"This is the first level—the Perfect Level."
"A technique is considered perfect when it is executed with absolute precision, fluidity, and efficiency. It's the foundation of all swordsmanship."
Luciel processed the information.
"This aligns with the 100% perfection rating in my chip's system."
Julian then performed a horizontal slash, and Luciel immediately noticed something different.
The tip of the sword trembled, producing a faint humming sound.
"In the second level, known as Micro-Level Swordsmanship, force penetrates the surface of an object and affects its interior, creating a destructive impact."
Julian's sword lightly touched the wooden desk—
Crack!
A glass cup sitting on the table shattered instantly.
Luciel's eyes flickered with recognition.
"This is similar to my ability to attack internal structures. I used this method to break the magic core inside the golem during my previous challenge."
Julian continued, "Achieving Micro-Level swordsmanship as an apprentice knight is a remarkable feat. Almost no one in the fourth-year class has reached this stage, and even among the fifth-years, only a few have approached it."
He gave Luciel a long, appraising look.
"Those who can do this are true geniuses."
Luciel nodded, but his mind was already moving ahead.
"Then what about the third level? That's where I've been stuck."
The Third Level: Weight Manipulation
Luciel couldn't hold back his curiosity.
"And the third level?"
Julian smiled knowingly and set aside the training sword.
Instead, he picked up a two-handed knight's sword, a weapon weighing tens of kilograms.
He held it effortlessly with one hand, swinging it lightly as though it weighed nothing.
Luciel's breath caught.
"This is only the strength of a sixth-level apprentice, yet he's handling it so easily?"
Julian spoke meaningfully, "I am still using the strength of a sixth-level apprentice."
Luciel's eyes widened in realization.
"Impossible... even with the same strength, I would struggle to move a sword like that so fluidly."
His mind raced.
"Chip, analyze Julian's muscle movement pattern!"
["Analyzing and recording..."]
A soft blue glow flickered in Luciel's vision as the chip mapped out Julian's muscle coordination.
Julian, unaware of Luciel's unique ability, continued,
"This is the third level, Weight Manipulation."
He held the knight's sword still for a moment.
"It allows a swordsman to focus their strength into a single point, condensing power without wasting energy. This lets them exert force several times—sometimes even ten times—greater than their actual strength."
Luciel was entranced.
"There are two sub-levels within this realm: Light as Heavy and Heavy as Light."
Julian demonstrated further.
"A true master of this level can wield a sword as if it were weightless, or strike with the force of a mountain using the lightest motion."
Luciel absorbed every word.
"This is the breakthrough I need!"
Julian sighed, his voice tinged with regret.
"I have only reached the Light as Heavy stage. There's a possibility I could attain Heavy as Light, but..."
His expression turned distant.
"As for the fifth level, the Master's Realm, I doubt I will ever reach it in my lifetime."
He shook his head.
"Only true masters of the sword can step into that realm..."
Luciel's Experiment
Luciel suddenly spoke, "Instructor Julian... may I borrow your sword?"
Julian blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
"...Of course."
He handed the knight's sword to Luciel.
Luciel exhaled, tightening his grip.
The weight was immense.
But—
"This isn't impossible."
He focused.
His body recalled Julian's muscle movement patterns from the chip's analysis.
Slowly—
He swung the sword.
At first, the movement was awkward.
But then—
His muscles adjusted.
His grip stabilized.
The blade flowed.
Julian's eyes widened.
"This... How is this possible?!"
His voice trembled.
What he was witnessing—
Was not the clumsy attempt of an apprentice.
It was the birth of a swordsman mastering the third realm.