CHAPTER 29: | THE WORLD OF INTENT
---
Liora's hands moved with practiced, lethal ease, her sword a silver blur sweeping across the first mantis shrimp's limbs.
Shook!
The currents rippled violently, not from struggle, but from the sheer precision as her blade sliced effortlessly through the creature's armored joints.
Crash!
The water churned and roiled as the mantis shrimp retaliated, its powerful fist tearing a concussive path through the liquid.
But Liora's slender figure was already elsewhere, a ghostly flicker as she dodged its jab, then unleashed a swift, unfurling dance of steel.
Her sword flashed left, then downward, arced upward, swept right, then pierced below, and finally, struck true in the center.
Lines, fine as spider silk, appeared across the mantis shrimp's chitinous form.
Liora's feet moved with unearthly grace, as if she were a noble in a masquerade, her blade cutting through the creature's shell with liquid precision.
Slash! Sweep! Swish! Crash!
Liora advanced again and again, overwhelming the mantis shrimp with an effortless, beautiful brutality.
Her footwork was fluid and flawless, a true expression of mastery.
As she dodged their flailing fists, she unleashed a flurry of precise jabs, her sword finally stabbing through the head of one mantis shrimp.
Then, with an elegant leap, she skewered it, cutting off its life force.
Her feet kicked high in a whirlwind roundhouse, striking the heads of others.
Like a fairy, her black dress swayed and spun around her, her sword a deadly tornado ripping through their exoskeletons.
Shing!
Liora's feet landed on the ground with barely a whisper, her sword sliding into its sheath with a soft snick.
Snap!
Her eyes closed, a faint smile on her lips as she murmured.
"Dance of the Golden Maiden."
Splash!
A gruesome symphony of blood exploded from the mantis shrimps' severed heads, their arteries gushing as Liora's blades, with their invisible precision, had killed them all with breathtaking ease.
She beamed, turning to me for compliments, but I merely shook my head.
"Good. You're learning faster than expected. But your mistakes are still there, so try and improve more."
Liora nodded, a flicker of determination in her eyes.
She brandished her sword again, unleashing a new series of attacks, and the water around her shook with her efforts.
"Liora, you're not moving like the water! Feel it, flow with it, become one with it!"
Liora's lips curved into a smile, a spark of understanding igniting in her eyes.
"I see."
This time, the water didn't shake from any of her movements.
Liora now moved as one with the water itself.
Her sword cut through the currents, yet nothing happened, the water didn't even ripple.
Liora had truly become the water.
Her rate of improvement was monstrous, yet I felt it wasn't enough.
She needed my guidance truly reach the realm of intent.
But that would only happen once she gained the enlightenment necessary.
"Good, you're doing well, Liora… but try to ponder more of why you need to move like water, like wind, like earth, like fire, like light, like dark."
Liora nodded, her brow furrowed in deep thought.
Why does she need to move like the elements of the world?
Why understand it when you're just a swordsman, swinging the sword?
Liora sat on the ground, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly, her mind reaching for answers.
She was now in a trance, and my crimson irises gleamed with delight.
My disciple had finally realized it.
The will of the world itself began to converge on her head, manifesting in six distinct colors, one for each element.
They swirled, then flowed into her nostrils and mouth.
Liora had finally reached the World of Worldly Intent.
This was the first true step of a martial artist, to understand the intent of the world and to become accustomed to it.
There were many more realms beyond this, but perhaps that was too far for her to grasp right now.
I simply gazed at her, watching the raw intent seep out from her very being.
"Congratulations on achieving the first steps of a martial artist."
Liora glanced at me, her golden irises glowing intensely with a newfound curiosity, truly thirsty for knowledge.
"Master, how many realms are there in martial arts?"
A smile curved on my lips, Liora was more curious than expected.
I closed my eyes, recalling the path.
"There are fifteen realms one must ascend before attaining the title of Martial God. First, one enters the Worldly Intent, followed by the Solidified World Intent. Next comes the Convergence of Man and World, then the Understanding of Intent, the Solidification of Intent, and the Unification of Intent. From there, one must grasp the Intent of Oneself, then step beyond with the Transcendence of Intent, touching upon the Intent of the Consciousness. This leads to the Understanding of the Intent of Others, followed by the Materialization of Intent. Afterward comes the Grand Unification, then the rise of Martial Will, then the emergence of Martial Projection, and finally, the Martial State."
Liora's gaze gleamed with pure joy at the discovery, and she began to dance around, her movements imbued with a new, subtle power.
"Master, tell me, how do I reach the next stage?"
I smiled, gazing straight into her eyes.
"You will find all of it, Liora… if you train diligently and understand the intent of everything. So don't rush."
One could progress through the martial path through the understanding of intent, the intent of the world, the intent of man, the intent of others, the intent of the heavens.
For martial arts is intent.
And I knew all of it, for I had reached the apex of martial arts at one point in life.
Liora was cheerful, her face alight with delight as she smiled, dancing around with her sword, its movements now truly seamless.
"Hehehe, look here, Master, how about my sword right now!"
Liora's progress was astonishing.
She was comprehending the intent of the world with speed like no other, her understanding was incredibly fast and monstrous.
She was already nearing the next realm, Solidified World Intent, for goodness gracious.
She was truly a martial genius.
But I knew that her progress would likely slow down once she reached Unification of Intent, for it was one of the hardest parts.
Yet, with her intellect, perhaps she would reach realms beyond the scope of even conventional martial arts.
Liora gazed at me, then her eyes widened, fixed on the horizon.
The water shook violently as behemoths appeared from all around us, colossal forms breaking the surface.
And riding upon them were demon-like beings, their figures menacing against the vast ocean.
"A welcome party, huh?"