Chapter 5: Knight's Training
876 Words
"Bang, bang, bang."
Within the Eagle's Roost, on the exclusive training ground of the lord, Kane, Marcus, and Catherine, clad in leather armor, were engaged in an intense sparring session. The three alternated between attacking each other, sometimes teaming up against Marcus, the sole high-tier first-rank extraordinary individual among them. Marcus, adept at handling both opponents, effortlessly evaded Catherine's thrust and parried Kane's slashes with his longsword.
Using her skills as a swordsman, Catherine unleashed a dazzling red glow that enveloped her entire blade, leaving deep imprints wherever it passed—a testament to its formidable cutting ability. Undeterred, Marcus, summoning a silvery radiance, countered with a swift swing, sending a silver sword aura towards Catherine.
"Clang."
Upon contact with the sword aura, Catherine staggered backward, using all her strength to withstand the assault but ultimately falling to the overwhelming force. Her sword flew into the air, completing a spin before landing on the ground. Catherine herself lay on the ground, momentarily unable to rise.
The dynamic shifted to a one-on-one confrontation between Kane and Marcus. Initially, Kane, leveraging the advantage of his bloodline and the family's swordsmanship, held his own against Marcus. However, as his stamina depleted, Marcus eventually brought Kane down.
Extending a hand to help Kane up, Marcus expressed surprise, "My lord, I didn't expect you to master the Gerard Swordsmanship to such an extent."
Brushing off the dirt from his clothes, Kane chuckled, "We still have a long way to go, Marcus."
Putting away his longsword, Kane inquired, "So, what do you think? How much more practice do we need?"
After a moment of contemplation, Marcus, drawing from his experience, replied, "Another month is necessary; our synergy is not yet optimal."
"No problem, we have plenty of time."
Kane then turned his attention to Catherine, who approached with something to report.
"My lord, the scouts we sent out earlier have brought news."
Upon hearing of new developments, Kane, despite his fatigue, perked up with renewed interest. "Tell me, how did they react?"
"Yes, according to the scouts, Wrenlay Castle had remained quiet until yesterday. However, Horscht's adjutant, Sean, led a few cavalrymen to Wrenlay Castle."
"Sean... Do you know his rank?"
"It's unclear at the moment, but based on the scout's estimation, he is likely not higher than a mid-tier first-rank."
The appearance of a new extraordinary individual put Kane's group at a considerable disadvantage. Furrowing his brow, Kane commented, "It seems my dear uncle has made quite an investment to deal with me, recruiting another extraordinary individual."
"My lord, we need to intensify our training," Marcus suggested.
Kane nodded in agreement, "Indeed, it seems the opponent is planning another assassination attempt."
"Catherine, Marcus, conclude the morning training. Strengthen the training for both the cavalry and infantry."
"Yes, Lord Kane." The two immediately set out to execute Kane's orders.
Learning about the new developments, they decided to accelerate the soldiers' training while seeking to improve their own strength before the inevitable confrontation.
Meanwhile, Kane made his own preparations. Removing his leather armor, he exchanged his longsword for an equally weighted wooden sword. Swinging it casually a few times, he assumed a peculiar stance.
With both hands gripping the sword, advancing his left leg and retreating his right, Kane took a deep breath. He swung the wooden sword, and his entire body followed suit in a rhythmic motion.
Similar to how a swordsman cultivated physical strength and a mage meditated, a knight had a unique method of training. Due to the scarcity and value of the required items, extraordinary individuals who became knights were typically nobles.
Each noble family had its own hereditary martial arts, a set of techniques that not only included exclusive breathing techniques but also required various forms of physical training to achieve the desired effects.
The martial art Kane practiced was the 【Heart-Centric Legacy】, passed down through generations in the Gerard family. It was a culmination of insights into the martial art by Kane's ancestors, complemented by a unique sword technique that perfectly aligned with the Legacy.
Indeed, the sword technique Kane used in the previous sparring session with Marcus was part of this martial art. Created by Tapen Gerard, this sword technique seamlessly integrated with the Legacy, significantly improving the training speed of the Gerard family's knights. Moreover, in actual combat, this sword technique demonstrated exceptional effectiveness.
Memorizing the breathing technique, Kane continuously wielded the wooden sword, whether thrusting, slashing, or executing other unpredictable moves. To an observer, it appeared as if the wooden sword transformed into three.
"Phew."
Exhaling deeply, Kane concluded a set of training routines. Sensing the continuous warmth flowing through his body, he knew his strength had once again increased. However, there was still a considerable distance to reach mid-tier first-rank.
Reflecting on the original owner's mediocre talent, it was apparent that, without the werewolf bloodline, Kane would still be lingering at the initial stage of first-rank at 18 years old. Yet, with the werewolf bloodline, his progress had accelerated significantly. Even though it would take a typical person five more years to reach mid-tier first-rank, Kane could achieve it in a matter of months.
With that in mind, he began another round of training, determined to further enhance his strength.
- Writer
