Nameless King

Wain ran toward the massive white mountain as he felt powerful energy fluctuations from there. It could only mean one thing - someone very powerful was there.

'Wain, how much do you know about fencing?' Gladius asked.

'Hmm... My fighting style is quite varied, all forms have different abilities, but I usually use a sword. However, I don't have any serious mastery, I just grip my sword hilt tightly and act instinctively.' Wain inwardly muttered.

'Well, that's all unimportant. That style that I show you are different from anything you might have seen before. Hahahaha, I remember some pseudo-masters saying my style was terrible, but when their heads flew off their shoulders, I was the one laughing!' Gladius exclaimed as he could no longer wait to fight someone.

'Excellent. That's what we need.' Wain nodded.

...

There was a dense forest of dangerous beasts on the mountain, but they were not strong enough to interest Wain as they fled as soon as they sensed his aura.

Pam.

Wain jumped down the slope as he found himself in front of the ruins. In the center was a circle of several pillars that were in perfect condition. Between them, near the altar, stood a tall knight in white armor that shone brightly from the light of the columns. Into the altar was a long silver sword with a cracked blade.

Step.

The knight turned around, a dark smoke inside the armor as though an evil spirit ruled the armor, but the knight's eyes were blue, calm as water.

"Looks like we didn't come here for nothing." Wain smiled, extended his hand forward, and the seal on his palm glowed.

"Yeah, this dude will definitely show you how to use a sword!" Gladius exclaimed as he appeared in Wain's hand.

The Knight did nothing, but once Wain showed his weapon, the Knight understood why Wain came here, so he pulled his sword from the altar.

The Knight walked slowly toward Wain while holding his sword to the ground, so sparks emanated from the blade's tip as it touched the ground.

'This is a fight we will most likely lose, but it will be good training.' Gladius mentally said.

'What? Why the fuck should we lose? I could easily tear this Knight apart!' Wain resented as he didn't understand why he had to come here for defeat.

'First, you must not underestimate your opponent. Second, I want you to understand how dangerous creatures are in the Fourth Chronicle. Third, I want you to learn how to use a sword. Once we get started, you'll know it's something you've been missing for a long time.' Gladius said in a serious voice, 'Right now, you won't use any abilities, no Concepts, no forms, no Beyond. Only physical strength. I won't advise you the first time, but I want to see what you can do.

Wain didn't expect this turn of events at all, but it didn't take him long to realize that it made sense.

'Yeah... Gladius is right. I can summon my jaws and turn a knight into a piece of iron, but will that victory make me stronger?' Wain muttered as he shook his head.

Whoooooosh.

Wain rushed forward since he decided to attack first. He wanted to get the advantage right away and finish the fight in a few attacks.

The knight stopped, he waited for Wain, and as a maple leaf flew in front of him, Wain was up close.

"Get it!" Wain exclaimed as he swung his sword from top to bottom.

The blade sliced the leaf in two and headed for the Knight's neck. Wain's attack was swift and deadly but too rough.

Crackle.

At the last moment, the Knight raised his sword and stopped Wain's attack with a smooth move. Then, he tilted the sword slightly to put pressure on Wain's weapon, so it fell from his hands and plunged into the ground.

'What?!' Wain exclaimed while in disbelief as his eyes widened.

Bam.

The knight stepped forward, and his hand, like a spear, plunged into Wain's stomach. The attack was simple but had enormous power, so the impact threw Wain back several dozen meters.

Crack. Crack. Crackle.

Like the cannon shell, Wain pierced the backs of many trees while blood flowed from his mouth.

"Fuck! That hurts!" Wain uttered as he gritted his teeth with his fist on the ground.

The knight could have continued to attack, maybe even kill Wain, but instead, he stood in his place. The knight looked at Wain not as an enemy but as a sparring partner, so such measures were unnecessary.

Whooooooosh.

The dark sword in the ground trembled as it lunged toward Wain.

"Well, well, you defeated an Arkan, but you couldn't even last five seconds against a Knight. It looks like you planned to lose from the start." Gladius uttered in a sneering manner.

"Shut up!" Wain shouted in an angry voice as he rose, "Perhaps I really underestimated him, but what was that? Just one move, and I was left unarmed!"

"Hahaha, that was the easiest thing for you to learn." Gladius grinned, "Actually, your strength and speed are admirable, you use your muscles properly, you move well, and you know what momentum is and how to use it, but compared to this Knight, you are just a wild beast that swings your deadly claws.

"Are you sure that you are my ally?" Wain frowned as he folded his arms in front of him in a disgruntled manner, "Maybe you can finally say something useful? I came here to win!"

"Huh, is finding out your flaws a bad thing? Okay, now seriously, you need smoothness, or rather you have absolutely no mastery." Gladius muttered, "The knight was able to defeat you because he used your own strength against you."

"So... What should I do? What suggestions do you have?" Wain raised an eyebrow.

"Attack again, but do it slowly. You act like an assassin as you watch your opponent's every move, but try to look at yourself now."