Mutation

The moment the Watcher finished speaking, Zoneweed timely let go and launched his attack!

Clang!

Tales caught the first horizontal slash.

But Zoneweed felt that something was off.

The Prince's eyes... seemed a little unfocused?

At that moment, Tales was thinking about something.

Thanks to Marius's explanation, the boy had come to understand a few things.

No wonder. No wonder Zoneweed's attacks had given him such a strange sense of familiarity.

So that was it.

This was... a battle with a Northern Land style.

Tales exhaled, and a faint nostalgia welled up for those "getting beaten up lessons" in the Palace of Heroes—something he had once thought he would never miss.

In his life, which could hardly be called long but was certainly rich in combat experience, only three people had truly influenced his sword-fighting skills, through teaching, example, and personal instruction.

One woman and two men.

The Black Sword was one of them.

In reality, Tales adjusted his footing and held off Zoneweed's next sword strike with Hell Senses.

But his thoughts seemed to be turning in another time, churning within the surging Sin of the Hell River.

The Black Sword, a mere mortal, had faced Magic Users, Calamities, beings beyond humanity like Ashida and Giza, and battles that were nearly hopeless—yet had miraculously struggled out a path to survival. With nothing but a strange sword in hand, he had forcibly carved out a chance for victory.

Looking back later, every decision the Black Sword made in battle, every choice and every action, revealed superhuman qualities and astonishing wisdom that deeply shocked Tales.

But the opponents the Black Sword had faced were too rare for him to serve as an example.

However, the other person who had influenced him most deeply...

Tales struggled to block Zoneweed's thrust. In the