Constantly Moving Forward on the Road

"What?"

At that moment, Leo was stunned.

That last sword strike was probably equivalent to a full-speed attack from a level 3 Agility user with a D stat?

Impossible, right?

"Don't you really believe it?"

Finn asked with a smile, and Leo nodded obediently in response.

If that sword strike was really only that weak, I wouldn't have been unable to parry it before it was pressed against my throat.

How could an attack that left me no time to even raise my sword to block have only that level of speed?

Leo was really reluctant to believe it.

But this seems to be a fact.

"The reason you felt that the sword strike was fast was just an illusion," Finn explained. "Although the speed of my swing wasn't fast, there were three changes in speed and three extremely subtle changes in direction during the swing. This caused your visual nerves to not be able to keep up with the changes in sword speed, creating a sensory misalignment that gave you the illusion that the sword strike was very fast."

"In other words, your vision and brain were deceived by the sword strike I just swung, to the point that your body felt sluggish, making you think that you couldn't block the sword strike because you didn't have time to react."

Finn's words caused Leo to frankly show a look of surprise.

Is this even possible?

He looked utterly shocked, a look he made no attempt to hide, which made Finn chuckle.

"Why not?" Finn said with a smile. "The same strike, the same swordsmanship, can produce vastly different results depending on how well the user applies it."

"A simple thrust can yield vastly different results depending on the target's location and the opponent's reaction."

"Even without using techniques like changing speed and subtle changes of direction, if I were to strike you with a sword, which is more threatening: a straight, head-on thrust versus a thrust that finds your blind spot or opening? I don't need to elaborate, do I?"

"Such skills, tactics, strategic maneuvering, and clashes of combat wisdom are all qualities that a strong fighter should possess—the kind of 'combat techniques' you are currently pursuing."

As he said this, Finn raised his wooden sword once more.

"Next, I'll use my sword again, watch carefully—"

Finn then began to unleash a sword strike in front of Leo, incorporating various techniques and tricks.

Unlike Ais, he didn't spar with Leo, nor did he teach him actual swordsmanship. Instead, he broke down various combat techniques and demonstrated various combat tips, treating "combat" as a subject to be taught, constantly stuffing all sorts of knowledge into Leo's mind.

He would tell Leo how to kill a monster as quickly as possible.

He would tell Leo how to defeat his opponent when they are not monsters but humans.

Professor Finn's fighting methods vary depending on the type of monster and the race of the opponent. Even when facing the same race and the same individual, the fighting style he chooses will differ depending on the situation.

This is what Finn taught Leo.

"That's right, all I can teach is the knowledge and strategies for combat."

"You need to remember all of this and adjust it according to your own situation, making it your own, even turning it into a bodily instinct or an action you take subconsciously."

"For me, combat is an art. You can only truly understand how to fight if you study it thoroughly, observe it clearly, and figure it out completely."

Finn's teaching method was completely different from Ais's. There was no need for sparring, nor was there any need to correct attack postures or defensive stances. Instead, it required thinking and solving the problem of "combat".

If Ais's teaching method was humanities-style rote memorization, then Finn's teaching method was science-style brainstorming.

He will give you a formula, but how to use it, what to plug into it, that's up to Leo to figure out, to think about, and to solve.

"So-called combat skills are like this: technique and tactics are both indispensable, and strategy and game theory must go hand in hand to achieve the best results."

"There's one approach when the opponent is a monster, and another when the opponent is a human."

"You should be used to fighting monsters by now, but you haven't fought against other people yet, have you?"

"These are what you lack."

As he said this, Finn wore a nostalgic expression.

"Back then, before Ais and the others joined this kin, there were two insurmountable mountains in this city."

"There are two clans, which are basically all monsters who don't care about being chased by newcomers, and each one of them is terrifyingly strong."

"Back then, any adventurer in Orario had to hone their human combat skills to the highest level. Otherwise, forget about catching up with those monsters; even staying in the same place as them could lead to being tormented to the point of wishing for death by their sudden taunts."

That was a hellish era for any adventurer who wanted to make a name for themselves in Orario and had dreams to fulfill.

If you want to get ahead, you have to chase those monsters.

If you want to realize your dreams, you must cross those two mountains.

If you don't work hard to hone your skills, train yourself, and become stronger quickly, there will only be one outcome: being eliminated by the truly strong.

Finn, Riveria, Gareth, and others experienced that era and went through a period that could be described as a cruel trial.

"Later, those monsters all fell while trying to defeat another monster, and the two mountains that had been blocking our way were finally removed."

"But their departure also allowed a group of scoundrels who had previously dared not cause trouble to begin to emerge, officially ushering the city from a hellish era of trials into a dark period where survival itself was a struggle."

"That was another cruel experience; many of our clan elders, including ours, sacrificed their lives during that time."

A shadow crossed Finn's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and began to speak calmly.

"You are lucky to have appeared after our struggle against those monsters and villains was over, so you don't have to go through those cruel trials."

"But precisely because of this, compared to those who have been through it all, the skills of you up-and-coming talents are far too immature."

"I will pass on all these skills, honed through countless trials, to you. It's up to you to learn them to what extent."

After leaving those words, Finn continued his instruction until three hours later, leaving Leo standing there alone, reflecting on his teachings.

During this time, members of the clan would occasionally return from outside, passing through the courtyard and witnessing Finn teaching Leo how to fight.

"No... is Leo starting to learn from the captain?"

"Even the captain is getting involved and personally coaching Leo?"

"First it was Miss Ais, then Lady Riveria, and now even the team battle has become Leo's teacher?"

"That guy is incredibly lucky!"

Many people began to whisper among themselves, their eyes filled with envy and surprise as they looked at Leo.

They were incredibly envious of Leo's ability to receive instruction from three prominent figures within his own clan.

They were surprised that these important figures were willing to personally provide guidance.

But then I thought, if even Leo couldn't accept the teachings of these important figures, then there would be a problem, wouldn't there?

This is an extraordinary prodigy who reached Lv.4 in just two months. Naturally, the leaders and officers of the clan will look at him differently and hope that he can grow up quickly and become the pillar of the clan.

Therefore, some guidance and instruction should certainly not be spared.

Most people think this way, but some people can't accept this situation.

"I really want to receive loving guidance from the team leader!"

When the older sister of one of the Amazonian twins returned and learned of this, she was so envious and jealous that she shed tears of blood. If it weren't for her younger sister's efforts to stop her, she might have gone and taken her anger out on Leo.

After learning about this, Ais silently observed Leo, who was standing in the courtyard deep in thought, for a while, and then left without a sound.

Bete Loga also glanced at Leo as he passed through the courtyard, then left expressionlessly.

As for Lefiya Viridis —this elven girl has been looking listless since yesterday.

"Lv.4----"

The elven girl muttered to herself, her mood utterly dejected.

"I'm still only Level 3----"

Clearly, the elven girl was somewhat resentful and even a little upset about being surpassed by someone.

In Raul's words, when she was Lv.3, Leo was only Lv.1, but now she's still Lv.3 while Leo is Lv.4, having surpassed her. How could the elf girl, who harbors deep resentment towards someone and considers him her rival (love rival), not feel frustrated?

"As expected of Mr. Leo!"

Lefiya, on the other hand, is becoming more and more of an idol to Leo.

She was one of the closest witnesses to Leo's rapid growth, and the girl felt only happiness for Leo's achievements.

And so, under the silent observation and watchful eyes of countless people, Leo began a period of learning from Finn.

Every morning, Finn would deliberately set aside two or three hours to teach Leo, letting Leo learn various combat techniques and strategies from him.

Sometimes it was through explanation, sometimes through hands-on practice. Finn imparted all his experience and combat skills to Leo without reservation, helping him hone his close-combat abilities.

Leo didn't show any particularly amazing learning ability that shocked Finn, but every time Finn taught Leo, he could always feel Leo's growth the next day.

Leo continued to absorb Finn's teachings, like a sponge absorbing all kinds of knowledge for combat.

Meanwhile, the outside world also learned that Leo had officially advanced to Lv.4 after returning from the expedition.

"No way? It's already level 4?"

"Isn't this a bit too fast?"

"Isn't it supposed to be that the higher the level, the harder it is to level up? How come this person's leveling speed is getting faster and faster?"

"It took him less than a month to reach Lv.2, more than half a month to reach Lv.3, and now, only half a month has passed, and he's already reached Lv.4?"

"In just two months, he went from Lv.1 to Lv.4?"

"What kind of monster is this?"

Everyone was numb, their heads were buzzing, and the whole world seemed to be becoming unfamiliar.

When did it become so easy to level up Blessing of the Gods?

Before this, even Sword Princess took a year to reach Lv.2, which was already the world's fastest leveling record. So what the hell is this?

Promoted three levels in two months?

What kind of outrageous daydream could lead to such a thing?

Even though people had accepted the fact that Leo was a genius, and after his previous deeds they understood that his growth rate was extraordinary, they were still quite shocked when they learned that he had advanced to Lv.4.

The main issue is that level 4 is already quite high.

In Orario, adventurers of this rank represent the pinnacle of mid-level combat power, with fewer than forty individuals capable of surpassing them.

Once you reach this level, if you take one more step forward and advance once more, you'll reach Lv.5, which is the first-level adventurer.

Leo, on the other hand, is very close to taking that step.

He was no longer that amazing newcomer, but a powerful figure who surpassed more than 99% of the adventurers in Orario.

It took two months for the person to go from a novice adventurer to a Lv.4, a level that most adventurers could only look up to. This must have been a bitter pill to swallow for those who were still struggling at Lv.3, Lv.2, or even Lv.1.

Those at level 4 will be astonished and question their existence, while level 1 adventurers at level 5 and above will begin to take this rising star seriously.

Everyone had the same thought in their minds.

"Perhaps, before long, Orario will have one more Level 1 adventurer."

This person has surpassed many predecessors at a speed beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Will he catch up with, or even surpass, those first-level adventurers at the same pace?

At what level will this inhuman growth rate start to slow down?

How long will it take him to reach Lv.6?

Is it still possible for him to become the second Lv.7 in Orario?

Even more so, will anyone ever climb to levels 8 and 9 again, which have disappeared from the rest of the world?

"After the demise of the gods' and goddesses' clans, is another monster about to be born in the mortal Lower World, one that will inspire awe in countless beings?"

This thought inevitably arose in the minds of countless people who knew of the glory of that era, as well as in the minds of the gods.

Some people are wary of this, some are jealous, some are curious, and some curse it; everyone, or even God, has a different opinion.

Leo, however, remained oblivious to all of this, steadfastly continuing on the path he had chosen.