The Art Of Sword

The Axe Soldier immediately attacks Sunz while the other two are on standby. Ignoring his hand condition Sunz faces the Soldier head-on.

Sunz said to the Mysterious voice: I don’t know what you mean but it looks like the only way to escape is to fight them head-on.

The Soldier charged at Sunz and swung its axe. Sunz waits for the perfect moment to swing his sword, but right at the last second, his hand activates ‘Electric Element’ and flings him away in the opposite direction.

Sunz said to his hand: Why did you do that?

Mysterious voice: The body is yours but not its action. Even for the calmest mind a bit of frustration can tip the scale. Feeling makes the decision not you!

Sunz picked himself up, transferred the sword to his left hand, and said “I’m going to put you out of commission” Then he put his right arm behind his back.

Sunz said to himself: This feels weird…If I can swing a sword without any training, then let’s hope that my non-dominant hand obtains 50% of that power.

The Axe Soldier suddenly retreats to its original position and the Katana Soldier steps up to battle Sunz. The Katana Soldier rushed at Sunz and delivered many swift attacks but Sunz was able to dodge most of the attack and parry the rest.

Sunz: OK, this guy isn’t that strong. My movement is decent enough to create a counter. Now, let’s see if “killing” these three can free me from this.

This time Sunz is the one to attack first. The Soldier holds up its katana to block Sunz's attack. When the two blade collide the ‘Mist Katana’ evaporate which surprise Sunz. The Soldier side steps to the left, summons another weapon out of thin air and strikes Sunz.

With one arm behind his back, gives Sunz more room to dodge the attack and finish the Katana Soldier with a counterattack. But it didn’t stop there, a dagger flew right at his head then evaporated.

Sunz was startled by that and then realized something (They don’t do any damage to me…Does killing them free me?)

Now, the last two Soldiers both stare at Sunz. The Dagger Soldier tackles Sunz at a bizarre speed and immediately disappears after touching his body leaving him question what just happened. Right after that, the Axe Soldier leaps into the sky and slowly evaporates after striking the ground. That attack then released a ‘Mist Tsunami’ coming at Sunz.

Sunz raises his sword and holds it 45-degree angle in front of him. Standing still he closes his eyes and mumbles (I believe in my Sword) as the ‘Mist Tsunami’ travels across him.

Different from what he expected, the force of the attack was calm, light, and fast. When he opens his eyes he sees water lingering on his blade, but it is still too early to celebrate because he is still trapped in the Mist.

Then another thing that surprises him is the ‘Dagger Soldier’ from before is kneeling before him with an open water bottle.

Sunz (Wait, is that?) touches his pocket and feels nothing. Doesn’t know what to do next until he hears “Pour it in”. Understanding what he needs to do, Sunz he holds the sword above the bottle with the tip pointing down. After that, a droplet flows through the sword and falls into the bottle.

The ‘Soldier’ closes the bottle, gives it a shake, tosses it back at Sunz, and instantly disappears along with Mist Arena. Sunz looks at the bottle and it is still the same as before. Then he hears Sogae’s voice.

Sogae: How was everything? You’ve been in there for quite a while.

Sunz: Questions all I have are questions.

Sogae: Those can be asked later. Since you escaped that place. That means you had completed the ‘Mist Trial’. So here is your reward!

Sogae pulls out of her pocket 4 shot glasses and gives them to Sunz.

Sunz takes the gift and asks: What am I going to use these for?

Sogae pointed at Sunz’s water bottle and said “The effect duration is based on the shot glass. One shot equals one hour or less.”

Sunz: So what effect does this have exactly?

Sogae: Unknown! It’s different for every host and to narrow down what effect it will have is impossible.

Sunz: So what you’re saying is I just learned a skill that has no benefit.

Sogae: Technically you learned two skills. My skill which may be useless and one of the clan's higher-level skills.

Sunz: Wait I did? Which was it?

Sogae: That is for you to figure out. Now you need to leave. I have work to do and you need breakfast.

Sogae then leads Sunz to the elevator and the two wave each other off. Sunz goes to the dining area while Sogae stays at the ‘Flower Forest’.

Heading to the dining area Sunz meets Yama first, who had already started the feast.

Sunz: You here early. Did the other two show up?

Yama: No, haven’t seen them at all. By the way, did you just do some training before coming here? Your body is sweating a bit.

Sunz “Yeah I did. Some light training that all.” Then his phone buzzes. Sunz checked it and it was Jihu messaging him.

Jihu: Clan meeting. I’ll meet you at the training facility later.

Sunz replies “Ok.” Then he checked to see if Grace woke up, but her profile showed ‘Last online last night’.

Sunz said to Yama: Jihu got some clan stuff he needed to do and Grace probably still asleep.

Yama: Funny…I guess you would prefer to get your own food right?

Sunz: Yeah. Give me 5 minutes.

Yama mumbles: Maybe another table too.

When Sunz turned around he got jumped scared by Grace.

Sunz: Holy!

Grace: hi sunz. hi yama.

Yama: Hello. Well, Sunz I think you should get another table.

Sunz: Yeah we’ll leave you be.

Grace: bye..

Sunz and Grace go sit at another table after getting their food.

Sunz: You look rough this morning…

Grace yawns: yeah didn’t do the usual routine so this is what you have to see.

Sunz: You still look pretty normal except for the hair part. What made you wake up this early?

Grace: you're the one I should ask that, your neck was a bit sweaty when I saw you. You don’t look like the type that does morning exercise so…Who were you with before this?

Sunz:…Sogae…

Grace: Oh, that makes sense. You’re receiving training from many different people. I kind of jealous of you. Not everyone has that luxury.

Sunz: Really! I think it's supposed to be the other way around. Learn everything from one person to another and not learn different pieces from different people.

Grace: I guess different ways work for different people.

Sunz and Grace finish their meal.

Grace: I’ll head back to my room and change now. See you later!

Sunz: See you later.

Grace goes back to her room and Sunz heads down to the training facility.