A Beginning

Red Beard took half a step back and raised his sword to block. The tremendous force transmitted through the blade made his arm sink sharply.

The unexpected strength shifted his center of gravity forward. Kraun seized the opportunity, sidestepped a small step to the left, drew back his sword, and thrust again.

Red Beard had no time to retreat. The sharp tip was already at his throat, its icy chill making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

"Haha, Savas, you need to get that arrogance under control!"

Outside the ring, another, slimmer warrior jeered, "Why not let me have a go at him?"

Hamfa was mortified and snapped, "Even when a lion hunts a rabbit, it gives its all. And now you've learned to underestimate your opponent?"

Kraun stepped back. As the sword point withdrew, Red Beard's face flushed red, then went pale.

"Again." Savas took the initiative, his attacks surging like a mighty river, relentless and unending.

Crusader Order warriors possessed physical abilities beyond the limits of ordinary people. Under Savas's flurry of attacks, Kraun could only struggle to keep up, and soon his body was covered in new wounds.

The pain jolted Kraun's nerves, sharpening his focus even more.

Ten minutes later, Hamfa said to the Father beside him, "Your Acolyte's swordsmanship is remarkably good. I can feel him improving as he fights."

I won't tell you that after only a few days of training, his swordsmanship surpassed mine. Nick nodded. "That's what I admire most about him. The more pressure he faces, the more resilient he becomes. Just watch. He's sure to amaze you."

Another twenty minutes passed. Savas's movements slowed, and Kraun found more and more opportunities to counterattack.

Attacking consumed more stamina than defending, and prolonged attacks without a breakthrough were even more exhausting.

His strength lay in his explosive power, but his endurance was somewhat lacking.

His opponent was slippery and avoided meeting him head-on. Savas wasn't fast enough to overwhelm him, and he couldn't catch up. As the fight dragged on, he began to feel his strength ebbing away.

Nick noticed what was happening and said to his old friend, "Looks like Savas isn't putting enough pressure on him anymore."

Hamfa scoffed. "I didn't expect this guy to have less stamina than an Acolyte who hasn't even achieved Transcendence. Marshall, you're up."

The slender warrior answered and called out, "Savas, I'll take over!"

As the words left his mouth, he had already leaped into the ring with his sword raised.

"No need." Red Beard's face flushed an even deeper red. He didn't attack again, but trudged over to the two Fathers with his head bowed.

"Watch carefully." Hamfa glared at him. "Your swordsmanship isn't better than his. There's a reason your attacks couldn't break through."

Kraun felt the pressure suddenly increase. After expending so much energy, fighting a fresh, vigorous warrior was a tremendous test.

His opponent was full of energy and posed a huge threat.

Marshall swung his Sharp Sword and shouted incessantly, "Come on, kid, pick up the pace! Keep moving that slowly and you'll get yourself killed!"

The slender warrior was a little faster than Red Beard and had the advantage in every way.

Kraun's breathing grew heavier and heavier. His throat felt like a pot that had boiled dry, and blood soaked the white fabric wherever his half-armor didn't cover him.

Gradually, he forgot why he was fighting. All he saw was the slender warrior and the sword flashing in his hand.

Outside the ring, Nick watched with a grave expression and muttered, "Something's not right. At this level of intensity, the Seed of Life should have sprouted long ago. Why hasn't he succeeded?"

He'd said that one could break through only in a fight to the death, but that was an outdated notion.

After constant improvements, the Church had developed a new potion to induce the Seed of Life to sprout, greatly increasing the success rate.

The Father whipped around. "Hamfa, did you bring the wrong potion? Why hasn't he succeeded yet?"

The fair-skinned priest pursed his lips. "Old friend, you're letting your worry cloud your judgment. If his Seed of Life hasn't sprouted yet, it can only mean one thing: he hasn't reached the Limit of an Acolyte! You're lucky to have found such a gifted Acolyte. His stamina is exceptional, and his strength and speed aren't bad either. Once he achieves Transcendence, he'll slice through ordinary Monsters as easily as chopping vegetables."

Marshall was starting to grow anxious too. His opponent had withstood his attacks for far too long.

If the fight dragged on any further, he'd lose face as well.

With that in mind, he attacked even more fiercely.

Kraun felt that every movement took enormous effort. Each time their swords clashed, his legs trembled.

The heat throughout his body intensified, and his strength was nearly spent.

Marshall watched his opponent's reactions and knew he had reached his Limit. He planted his foot, stepped forward, and thrust. His speed was far greater than before.

Kraun instinctively retreated and raised his sword to block, never guessing that the attack was only a feint.

The slender warrior changed his move, sweeping the sword tip toward Kraun's neck.

I can't dodge. Half my neck will be gone.

Watching the sword tip loom larger and larger, Kraun panicked and swung his sword upward.

Faster, faster! His mind warned him, but his body couldn't keep up with his thoughts.

The sword tip drew closer and closer.

As the chill neared his throat, a sudden wave of warmth welled up from his abdomen and spread instantly through his limbs. Strength flooded back into his body.

Air streamed out through every pore. The sword in his hand suddenly moved much faster, catching the sweeping blade.

The sword tip grazed his neck, leaving a wound half a finger deep.

Kraun began to counterattack, but Nick's delighted voice rang out. "That's enough. We'll stop here."

Kraun's vision blurred, and the Father was suddenly beside him.

Nick patted his shoulder, his eyes twinkling as he nodded again and again. "Well done. You've achieved Transcendence."

"That's it?"

Kraun was stunned. "I don't feel any different."

Nick smiled mysteriously. "You'll feel the difference soon enough."

As soon as the Father finished speaking, Kraun felt his blood begin to boil. The sensation was even hotter than when he'd drunk the potion.

He saw his reflection in the sword: veins stood out on his face, and his complexion was flushed. His body visibly shrank by a size, and a powerful hunger seized him. He felt like devouring an entire sheep raw.

He knew this feeling.

Visualizing the Golden Light Incantation always made him hungry, but this time the feeling was much stronger.

"Hungry." Kraun's voice was hoarse and low, like a ferocious beast ready to devour someone.

"Quick, get to the dining hall. We've prepared food for you."

Before the Father had even finished speaking, Kraun shot off like an arrow loosed from a bow.

He reached the dining hall and saw a roast suckling pig, a large block of cheese, a generous serving of white bread, and a plate of grilled meat skewers on the table.

He grabbed the suckling pig and sank his teeth into its snout.

Nick strolled over, beaming. "Take your time. Once you've finished eating, you can learn the Breathing Technique of the Crusader Order. Transcendence is only the beginning."