Shuttling Between the Two Worlds

I laid in the cabin for 30 more minutes before it automatically opened. Sure enough, the cabin opened just as my injuries are healed.

"Follow me."

We went into a huge training area. This had probably occupied the entire basement floor. It looked similar to the one that I have at planet Kyton..

But then, this training area coated with silver coating and those closely cluttered runes is surely much stronger than the one back in my house.

"You have seen this type of training area before right? This one, it can withstand the full attack of an EX+ Rank. I had my friend make this for this clone."

EX+ Rank.. So this master is a clone? It seems that people of this world make full use of clones and use them to comprehend something more quickly..

"All right. Demonstrate the strongest attack that you could execute as of the moment. I'll see to it just how far are you on the techniques side."

"Understood."

I chose to use [Sword Willows], since this is the only thing that I have.

"Oh? My [Sword Willows]?"

Just like before, I formed the core aura blades one by one. After 40 seconds, I am finished.

"No need to aim somewhere else. Go aim it at me."

Trusting my master's words, I aimed all 100,000 Aura Blades at him.

Boom!

A concentrated strike of 100,000 Aura Blades. Even I didn't imagine just how strong would it be. I always aimed those aura blades as an AoE attack, thus I didn't get to try it yet.

Even though the concentrated strike produced a sound similar to a sonic boom, this room didn't even shake, only I was affected by the shockwaves that it made.

Few moments later, I saw my master again. No dirt in his clothes, no folds in his clothes, nothing. That level of attack didn't affect him.

"<Perfection> level Mastery? You actually had comprehended this technique to that level.. As expected of an anomaly."

I dare not hide my mastery from him, since he can surely detect whether I used my full strength or not.

Oh no. My senses kept telling me that the chances of me being hailed as the "Protagonist" had risen. Skyrocketing ranks, insane comprehension, an anomaly. Crap.

Please tell me..

"Master, is there someone else who's more talented than me? I don't have that much confidence in myself.."

Even though I might look arrogant, I asked this. I sorely needed a confirmation.

"Hmm, indeed. There's a person that is even more of a monster than you. There's that time when he went from A- straight to S Rank in one go."

Thank goodness. Speaking of, that guy's insane. He should be a protagonist, or at least a friend of the protagonist.

"Either way, you are already a monster yourself. Even without taking into account that you have an anomaly, just your comprehension alone is insane."

Master's compliment made me quite embarrassed. This should be the first time that I got complimented so much..

"Your basic skills need some work, but your comprehension is fine as it is. Let's see.."

He formed a light ball in his hand. Without me having the time to react, it went inside my head.

Countless knowledge flowed in my brain. The basics of Swordsmanship..

[Detected a chunk of knowledge. Fully comprehending it will cost 200,000 Exp. Continue?]

'Continue.'

This time, "Understanding" flooded my head. As if I had mastered the basics of the sword, i felt that I can do many things.

Different from techniques, this time, it's just some basic knowledge. 

For example, the basics of parrying is just parrying the enemy. But the one that comes after that is redirecting the attack of the enemy so it won't hit its target.

There's also a trick where you make your arm muscle similar to the speed bursts of the legs. This will make your sword attack much more stronger.

It's not only the basics of the sword. Some tricks that a B Rank should've learned is also included in this.

There's so many Understanding to digest, so I remained seated for 1 hour. As if expecting it, my master just stood there.

An hour later, I woke up from my stupor.

"You already digested that huge amount of knowledge in an hour? As expected.."

He then summoned a human—no, a projection. A projection with a sword.

"Understanding is different from knowing. A good defense is the best offense. Before getting started on the way of the sword, you'll train on your defensive Swordsmanship—that is, your ability to parry attacks first."

So that's "Understanding".. I had known it for so many times, but this is the first time that I heard of it from others. 

"This is a projection that I've made. It has the strength of an E+ Rank, one stage higher from you. It starts now."

I am startled, of course, but that didn't prevent me from getting ready.

Swoosh! Clang!

Our swords started clashing. Left, vertical, right, right, horizontal..

Its pattern became more and more evident. With my full understanding of the basics, I could've defended quite easily, but I put on an act.

As I didn't want my "Protagonist Rate" to increase, I intentionally created some flaws that a beginner would make. Of course, I didn't make too many, as I would contradict my Comprehension speed that got revealed.

Clang! Clang!

Its speed is of course, fast. At a first glance, it would look like someone without a rhythm. But then, once you find out that it has a rhythm, that its just relying on its fast speed for his rhythm to not be read, it'll become quite easier.

Swoosh!

A cut appeared in my right arm. To be honest, it did hurt without my [Decisiveness]. I lost my own rhythm in one go, causing me to make more mistakes.

I didn't know that I would have such a low pain tolerance without it..

Even if let's say, I defended against it perfectly. I would've been done in because of how I reacted on pain.

Pshk! Swoosh!

Cuts, cuts, stabs, and more cuts. Wow. I didn't think that one mistake would've costed me of my advantage.

"Stop."

The projection suddenly stopped attacking. 

"Have you learned anything?"

"Yes, master. A single mistake could affect an entire battle.."

"That's right. I'm glad you learned it. To be honest, I already guessed that you might have a supportive trait that rids you of some of your emotions already."

That's why he had disabled even the traits..

"I know, because even I have it. It's rare, yes, but there exists people who has it. I just wanted to say that we can definitely use anything to our advantage during a battle. That counts as our own combat power."

A lecture.. If it had been the me from before I did [World Travel], I would've thought that a lecture about swords would be boring. But it's not, actually.

"Still, you have to rely on your own willpower during training, as it will be your foundation for the way of the sword."

That works? 

"I know your questioning look. Let me ask you a question. Who would win, a swordsman who had swung his sword for 100,000 times daily, or a swordsman who had swung his sword for 10,000 times daily?"

"The 100,000 times one, master."

"That's right. But how did he win? It's very simple, actually. He had honed his mental aspects, the most important thing for a swordsman, better."

"Mental Aspects?"

"Yes, the confidence, patience, resilience, unyieldingness, and so on."

So that's how it is.. The process of training itself is the one that's important. It hones the mental aspect. Techniques and practical skills surely is important, but the mental aspects are more important..

"You now know why I made you swing a sword hours before, right?"

"Yes, master."

"Good. Then we will follow this training schedule for the time being."

The Process of Sharpening. That's how it is called. Starting today, I did only 2 types of training: Swinging my sword until my Master stops me, and the parrying training(guard swordsmanship training).

Then, I always go into the cabin twice a day. Once after swinging and once after the parry practice. I can't tell just how much I've grown, as the Process of Sharpening needs time.. I might need to train for 10 years here before I fight the zergs again..

Just like that, 14 days flew by..