Vibration, Ripple, Rotation Power (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

[Vibration] [Ripple] [Rotation] Power (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Levi shook his head. "There's no rush for now. The heavy snow has blocked the roads, and we don't know whether this is a trap set by the Boar Gang. Old Toby is someone the Boar Knight values, but he isn't particularly loyal. To save his own life, he'll definitely obey the Boar Knight and work for him. So his life shouldn't be in danger for the time being. Send someone to reassure Little Toby first. Meanwhile, have people gather intelligence on the Boar Gang, then we'll decide what to do."

"Heh. Ever since my father passed away, every stray cat and dog has wanted to trample over the Black Serpent Family. What a headache."

"Lord Fred, you should retire and rest first. Tomorrow, teach me real swordsmanship. I can also try out that fine sword Little Blacksmith Milan forged."

Levi rubbed his forehead. Beneath the dim candlelight, his pupils radiated a soul-stirring majesty—not the authority of a noble lord, but a pressure that transcended mortal limits, as though it came from some legendary creature of a distant age.

As Knight Fred looked into Levi's eyes, he actually felt as if he were being watched by a terrifying beast.

He looked toward the oil painting hanging behind Levi. In it, a black snake coiled around the entire castle, a lit candle clenched in its mouth. It was mysterious and solemn, its eyes fierce and ruthless.

It seems the Young Master's talent is quite good. With such an aura, his Breathing Technique must have made a breakthrough. Fred muttered to himself, deeply shocked. In Levi's eyes, he saw something of the Black Serpent Knight's former bearing.

He remembered that after the Black Serpent Baron had initially mastered the Breathing Technique, it took him three months to reach the Sword-Bearing Squire stage, another year to become a Pre-Knight, two years to become a Knight, and eight years to become a Great Knight.

The Young Master had only been studying the Breathing Technique for two months. Initial mastery alone had taken him half a month, so his talent had not seemed particularly outstanding. Yet unexpectedly, he had progressed faster and faster, as though he were catching up from behind.

Fred could not figure it out. In the end, he could only attribute it to the Young Master's diligence. Over the past two months, he had witnessed Levi's efforts firsthand and genuinely admired him. Not to mention nobles—even among commoners, people capable of such hard work were rare.

"Young Master, knight training requires a balance between exertion and rest. Don't put too much pressure on yourself." After saying that, he slowly withdrew and vanished into the shadows.

Levi stroked his longsword and looked at the Proficiency Panel in his mind, sighing inwardly.

I only want to cultivate quietly, be a self-sufficient little lord, and live a peaceful life. But without strength, all of that is nothing but wishful thinking.

At four in the morning on the second day of the new year, during the deepest hours of the night, dawn had yet to break.

Within Blackwater Valley Territory, both residents and soldiers were still immersed in their dreams.

On the training grounds, Levi donned his heavy armor and gripped Frostmourne in his hand. This was the name he had given his newly acquired Knight Sword, a way to remember the world he could never return to.

Knight Fred drew his own longsword, Dawnbreaker, and said, "The sword technique I will teach you today is one I obtained by chance while traveling through the Kingdom in my early years. It has no name, so I call it the [Golden Cross Slash]."

"The Golden Cross Slash is essentially an exceptionally profound and exquisite method of exerting force, allowing you to unleash cross-shaped slashes beyond your imagination. It is not limited to swords. Even a warhammer, a blade, a spear, or even a pitchfork can be used to perform it, provided your comprehension has reached a sufficient level."

"The Golden Cross Slash has three realms: the Vibration Cross Slash, the Ripple Cross Slash, and the Rotation Cross Slash. Each is more difficult to comprehend than the last."

"It uses three methods of exerting force. The simplest is Vibration Power, followed by the more advanced Ripple Power, and finally the highest realm, Rotation Power!"

"I have trained in this sword technique for more than twenty years. Even now, I have only fully mastered Ripple Power. Yet its might already rivals that of the finest sophisticated sword techniques. Thus, the quality of this technique depends entirely on its user's level of comprehension. If your talent is ordinary and you can only comprehend the Vibration Cross Slash, then it is merely a fairly good basic sword technique. But if your talent is exceptional and you comprehend the supreme Rotation Cross Slash, it will become a perfect, perhaps even legendary, sword technique."

After Knight Fred finished speaking, Levi could not help but smile bitterly. "Even you have only comprehended the Ripple stage. Other than its creator, can anyone truly cultivate this sword technique to the supreme Rotation realm?"

Knight Fred smiled faintly. "Young Master, don't be discouraged. As long as you comprehend the second stage and master the Ripple Cross Slash, that will be enough. Your father only mastered Ripple Power back then, yet among Great Knights, his strength was already at the very top."

Levi nodded. Of course he would not be discouraged. With the Proficiency Panel, sooner or later, he would grind this sword technique to its highest realm.

Then Knight Fred gripped Dawnbreaker. A powerful aura erupted from him as his entire body began vibrating in a manner so rapid it was nearly an afterimage. That Vibration Power was then transmitted into the Knight Longsword.

Bzz! Bzz! Bzz! The longsword itself rang with a sharp hum! Dawnbreaker's sword light split into two, forming a violently vibrating cross-shaped slash! Crack! The Black Dragon Wood stake before Knight Fred, as thick as a bowl and as hard as bedrock, split into four pieces.

Then he sheathed his sword in one smooth motion.

Levi was stunned. Although Black Dragon Wood was not as hard as steel, with the Knight Swords produced by this world's forging techniques, it would be impossible for an ordinary person to split it apart.

Yet after Knight Fred transmitted his special Vibration Power into the Knight Sword, he could accomplish exactly that.

This was the power of a Knight. This was the power of sword techniques! It was too powerful! Longing rose in Levi's heart. This is what I seek.

A trace of pride appeared on Knight Fred's aged face. He had used only thirty percent of his strength.

If he went all out and used Ripple Power, then with the Knight Sword in his hand, he could even cut through a Knight's Plate Armor! But that would damage the Knight Sword too badly. It was simply wasteful. Vibration Power was already enough to deal with most enemies.

"This is the technique of exerting force. You may not have understood it. I'll demonstrate it again."

Knight Fred knew that even a swordsmanship prodigy would find it difficult to initially grasp the Golden Cross Slash's method of exerting force after seeing it only once.

Levi nodded. It had been too fast. He had not seen it clearly at all.

Much less have it appear on the Proficiency Panel.

The Proficiency Panel could only let him slowly grind experience after he had initially mastered something. It could not turn him into a genius who learned everything at a glance.

And so, after Knight Fred demonstrated it for Levi an unknown number of times, Levi gradually came to understand the basic method of exerting force.

Then he began trying to swing his sword himself.

Sword practice was a process of constant repetition, constant learning, constant mistakes, and constant realization.

Even the slightest deviation in the way he exerted force would prevent him from producing that so-called Vibration Power.

Knight Fred patiently taught Levi again and again.

Over the next few days, Levi did not have time to train his Breathing Technique. He threw himself wholeheartedly into practicing the sword, determined to at least gain initial mastery and make it appear on the Proficiency Panel.

Given his unremarkable talent for the Breathing Technique, Levi had already prepared himself for long-term training.

On the third day, Levi was practicing his sword as usual when he suddenly felt a faint, rhythmic vibration coming from Frostmourne in his hand, like a person's breathing.

His expression brightened. He could feel it.

Vibration Power! It's weak, but it really is Vibration Power. I've passed the threshold.

A new skill had already appeared on the Proficiency Panel.