What Swordstorm Is That

Before stepping out of the wooden shack, Malone had been pondering this very question.

Even when he stood before Kaldara, his excitement had yet to subside.

"Maicomarlon, Teron told me about your training. He said you've made rapid progress and now only need to familiarize yourself with combat. So, he wants me to teach you something else."

Kaldara said to Malone.

"Mm!"

Malone nodded excitedly.

"What would you like to learn?"

Kaldara asked Malone.

"Hmm... things like Bladestorm or Wind Walk would be fine, just teach me whatever!"

Malone said with a silly grin.

"What are those things?"

Kaldara asked, looking bewildered.

"Huh? You haven't heard of them? Those are the signature moves of a Blademaster!"

Malone seemed even more confused than Kaldara.

After Kaldara's explanation, Malone finally understood that Kaldara knew nothing about things like "Bladestorm" or "Wind Walk."

Perhaps Kaldara could perform similar combat techniques, but they were not something the current Malone could learn.

"I see you don't even know what you want to learn, so I'll teach you something useful instead!"

Kaldara said to Malone.

"Alright..."

Malone appeared somewhat dejected; he felt that the Blademaster wasn't quite as cool as he had imagined.

"Now, before I teach you, I must remind you: this is just a private sparring session between us, understand? You cannot go around telling people I am your teacher, or my own master will surely not let me off the hook."

Kaldara gave Malone a "preemptive warning."

"Oh, I understand."

Malone replied earnestly.

Through his conversation with Kaldara, Malone learned that the Blademasters had many rules. Kaldara was not yet qualified to take on apprentices, and whether Malone could become a Blademaster himself would require passing quite a few trials.

"Very well. I heard from Teron that you have already mastered a combat style that combines melee and magic? That is good. If you want to become stronger, you simply need to practice diligently."

Kaldara said to Malone.

"Practice all the time... are there no, you know, shortcuts?"

Malone was not interested in practice. For one, he felt that once he got Tiffany to a safe place, he could stay away from all this conflict.

Secondly, Malone was pressed for time. He had to leave with Tiffany as soon as her wounds healed; he didn't have much time left.

Therefore, compared to practice, Malone was much more interested in techniques.

"There are no such things as shortcuts. When I first started learning swordsmanship, I had to swing my blade at wooden stakes tens of thousands of times every day."

Kaldara dismissed Malone's talk of shortcuts with disdain.

"Tens of thousands? That many?"

Malone's jaw dropped in shock.

"That's nothing. We also had to run around the clan camp carrying heavy logs, sleep hanging upside down from trees at night... in short, becoming a Blademaster is not easy at all."

Kaldara recalled the "hellish training" he had endured, yet his tone was filled with a sense of pride.

After all, not everyone could persist through such training; only those who endured could earn the glorious title of "Blademaster."

"That sounds too terrifying... I just want to learn some techniques that can increase my strength as quickly as possible. Surely something like that exists?"

Malone settled for the next best thing.

"It does."

Kaldara nodded and replied.

"For instance, even if you, Maicomarlon, have mastered the combat style of combining magic and melee, you still wouldn't be able to defeat me. Do you believe that?"

Kaldara said to Malone.

"Mm."

Malone nodded.

In truth, it was exactly as he said. Malone was not arrogant enough to think that a few days of practice could surpass ten thousand sword swings a day.

He knew that if he could reach the level of Teron Gorefiend, that would be good enough for now, and even Teron Gorefiend wasn't entirely confident in defeating Kaldara.

Of course, Malone possessed cheat-like skills. He believed that once he found a way to level up or unlock other classes, he would eventually be able to defeat Kaldara one day.

"I am not showing off my strength. I am saying that while your magic poses a significant threat to me, most of your attacks simply cannot hit me."

Kaldara explained.

"That makes sense... but why?"

Malone carefully recalled the scene of his first encounter with Kaldara. He had indeed knocked down an Orc with a single blow, yet that same strike couldn't even graze a hair on Kaldara.

"This is what I am going to teach you. If you can clearly see the movements your opponent is about to make before they even act, you will be able to do exactly what I do."

Kaldara said to Malone.

"How is that possible?"

Malone said, dumbfounded.

What was this? Predicting the future? Detecting an enemy's move before they even acted? That was too terrifying!

"There is nothing impossible about it. Come and try to hit me."

Kaldara said to Malone.

"Oh."

Malone didn't stand on ceremony; he had been doing the same thing with Teron Gorefiend all day yesterday.

Unlike yesterday, Malone had made progress; at the very least, he wouldn't shout "Take this!" before making a move.

However, this time, Malone's attack was thwarted as well.

Just as he was about to strike, Kaldara suddenly spoke up.

"You want to attack my left ribs, don't you?"

Kaldara said.

The Blademaster's words nearly caused Malone, who was already poised with his fist cocked, to throw out his own back.

"How did you know?"

Malone used all his strength to keep from throwing the punch he had been winding up, looking at Kaldara and asking in confusion.

"I told you, I can see through your movements before you act."

Kaldara shrugged and said.

"That's impossible, it must just be a coincidence."

Malone said, unconvinced.

"You can try again."

Kaldara said.

"That's exactly what I was thinking!"

Malone shouted.

This time, Malone didn't give Kaldara a chance to speak. As soon as his voice fell, he had already lunged toward Kaldara at high speed.

"Left!"

Kaldara shouted, stepping a small distance to the right.

Malone's full-force punch hit nothing but air, leaving him feeling incredibly uncomfortable, as if something in his sinews and bones had become blocked.

Swaying his body, Malone forcibly corrected his momentum to avoid face-planting into the ground--of course, this wasn't due to his superior technique, but rather because this body's balance was simply too good.

Malone steadied himself and swung his fist again at Kaldara, who was waiting at his leisure for him to continue the assault.

"This time it's the right... this time it's the center!"

Soon, Kaldara's voice rang out continuously across the open ground of the prisoner-of-war camp.