The moon's craters continued to expand.
Metal clanged endlessly across the lunar surface, echoes colliding from opposite sides of the moon.
South Side — Sasha
Kernal stood calmly as aura pulsed through the air.
"Once you can exchange aura between sword and body—or body and sword—you won't need the suit anymore," he said.
"Work harder. You're close."
Sasha tightened her grip.
"Yes. I'll try."
"You're fighting with raw force alone," Kernal continued. "That's not enough. You must fight and extract aura simultaneously. Only then does true power manifest. Only then can you create your own Sword Art… or copy one."
Sasha hesitated.
"What about regeneration?"
Kernal shook his head.
"Impossible for you. Only captains can regenerate—and only because their swords are superior."
He paused, eyes narrowing.
"The ten legendary swords belong to the ten most gifted individuals. Their aura circulation is automatic—perfectly precise."
Then he added quietly,
"Arnold's case is different. His original sword was legendary—yet he still gave it to me and chose the aura blade you're wielding now. In other words… he can regenerate with greater precision than the captains—without relying on a sword at all."
Sasha swallowed.
"Who… exactly is Arnold?"
"Even I don't know," Kernal replied.
"That's why he's called the Mystery."
He turned away.
"Return to your training. Next comes a mock battle—with me."
"Yes," Sasha said firmly.
North Side — Karry
Arnold hurled Karry into the rocks.
Karry barely steadied himself before Arnold struck again—sending him flying.
"Don't die yet," Arnold said coldly.
"Hundred push-ups. Hundred sit-ups. Hundred pull-ups."
Karry coughed, gripping his sword.
"Don't hold back."
"If I don't," Arnold replied, "you die. I'll restrain myself—but only barely."
Arnold's aura flared.
"Study aura. Watch my movements. Replicate them. Then surpass human limits."
He charged—kicking Karry mid-motion.
Karry slammed into the ground, blood seeping through his bandages.
His sword gave him nothing. No aura. No support.
"Real battles grant more power than training ever will," Arnold said.
Karry gritted his teeth, forcing his broken bone back into place.
This time, he focused.
Aura flowed—back and forth—between him and the sword.
He charged.
Arnold raised a single finger.
The blast erupted.
When the dust settled, Arnold stood unmoved.
"One-tenth of the training complete," he said.
"Good pace, my boy."
Maizy stared in disbelief.
"Studying aura like this usually takes months… not a single day. And that level of destruction—"
A deep crack tore through the ground behind Arnold.
"Next phase," Arnold said calmly.
"After your workout."
Karry nodded.
"Yes."
[End of Chapter]