Chapter 87: Sword Aura

Chapter 87: Sword AuraApollo waited until the evening when Master Aaron was feeling well and ready to teach him swordsmanship. They headed to the villa’s backyard, which offered ample space for his training.

"Are you ready?" Master Aaron asked.

"Yes," Apollo replied eagerly, having waited for this moment.

Master Aaron nodded and began his teaching.

"Before I teach you my swordsmanship, you must first understand something crucial that lies at the core of every sword technique, unlocking its true power."

"What is it?" Apollo asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

"Sword Aura," Master Aaron replied with a mysterious smile, revealing the secret every aspiring swordsman must grasp to become a truly skilled swordsman.

"Sword Aura!"

"What is that?" Apollo asked, hearing about it for the first time, as no one had ever mentioned it before, and he had found nothing about it in books.

"Sword aura is the fundamental core of every swordsman’s power. Some powerful swordsmen can overpower their enemies solely with their sword aura," Master Aaron explained.

"It’s akin to understanding the law: the deeper your comprehension, the stronger and more skilled you become," he added.

Apollo listened attentively, absorbing every word. This new knowledge was something he had never encountered before.

"So, how do I understand this Sword Aura?" Apollo inquired, eager to delve deeper into this newfound concept of mysteries.

"There aren’t concrete steps, but you must practice swordsmanship thousands, even tens or hundreds of thousands of times, until every basic sword move is ingrained in your body and mind, becoming second nature," Master Aaron explained.

"Look, I will show you how this is done."

With that, Master Aaron began demonstrating basic sword moves to Apollo, such as stabs, blocks, forward slashes, and others that seemed like routine practice.

However, he also revealed basic moves with different meanings to their strikes: a lightning-fast slash that broke the sound barrier effortlessly, a powerful strike to maximize force, and a defensive posture to withstand sword attacks.

Every attack and movement seemed to carry a profound, almost mysterious power. Though his moves appeared simple, they were infused with unbelievable strength.

They were akin to training that helped him break the speed limit, enabling him to achieve double impact with his attacks and double the damage.

But now he had to do something similar with his sword. Not only did he need to control his strength and every body movement, but he also needed to harmonize with his sword and become one with it.

In a few seconds, Master Aaron displayed most of the basic sword moves, showcasing control over sword strength, speed, movements, and every aspect of the sword.

"Did you understand? Now, show me what you’ve got."

After Master Aaron finished his demonstration, he asked Apollo to show how much he had understood.

"Yes, Master," Apollo replied confidently.

He stepped forward, drawing his sword. Calming his breath and closing his eyes, Apollo focused on recalling and emulating the strength, swiftness, and control of the sword that Master Aaron had demonstrated.

Slowly, he remembered every detail that came to his mind, and his sword began to move. At first, his swings were shaky and fell short compared to Master Aaron’s.

However, as he continued steadily, his movements improved. Gradually adjusting and adapting to his physique, Apollo’s swordplay became smoother and more precise.

At first, Master Aaron found Apollo’s display normal, but as time passed, Apollo began to exhibit his inhumanely extraordinary talent. However, this time, Master Aaron wasn’t as surprised as before; having seen it many times, he had become somewhat accustomed to his apprentice’s godly talent.

He might have been more surprised if Apollo hadn’t demonstrated something truly unbelievable.

Apollo was lost in his swordsmanship, feeling improvement with every swing. Each cut cleaved through the air, allowing it to flow with his strikes. As his sword danced in harmony with the wind, he sensed himself drawing closer to the essence of the sword.

His progress accelerated not only due to his talent but also because he had broken through his limits, transcending into a being that evolved in a profound sense.

After his breakthrough, Apollo’s spiritual resonance with the essence of the world increased significantly. This heightened connection accelerated his understanding of various mysterious forces many times faster than before.

Meaning that his already unbelievable talent became even stronger after his breakthrough.

He felt something as he continued to swing his sword. He seems to have approached a mysterious force, realising his sword was not just a weapon but a vital partner.

However, just as he felt he was on the verge of grasping a mysterious ethereal sensation, it suddenly disappeared.

He was close yet felt distant at the same time, as if something crucial eluded him, causing his concentration to falter.

After that, he calmed down and looked at Master Aaron, who had a twitching smile as he was trying to control his expression.

"Kid, the more I get to know you, the more I’m in awe of your talent. In just half an hour, you touched the surface of the sword aura, something that usually takes years of training and hard work."

Master Aaron looked at Apollo and said a few words. He appeared a bit confused, still partially immersed in the mysterious sensation he had just experienced.

"Ah! Wasn’t it just a minute?"

Apollo was a bit surprised by the perception of time, feeling as though only a minute had passed during that mysterious state in his mind.

"You were in an enlightened state. In such states, time seems to slow down, and everything feels under your control. This state is very rare in every warrior’s life, but for you, it seems to be a situation you frequently enter."

"Truthfully, it is just vexing to think about it; you must never tell others about it; others might beat you to death because of jealousy over being able to enter an enlightened state so many times. Even I am having an urge to beat you after seeing it a few times."

Master Aaron chuckled as sparks of lightning crackled in his hands.

Apollo smiled, and then they stopped today’s training after just half an hour because he ran out of energy. Both his spirit and body were exhausted as if they had been running at full throttle for hours.

It seems that in the enlightenment state, everything is squeezed out of the person. The stronger the person is, the longer he can remain in that state.

Late at night, his spy in the Saber Tiger gang sent him a surprising message: that the gang seems to be making some big moves in secret.

They seem to be hunting quite a lot of weak, unknown warriors with weak strengths, like someone who opened a few prana circuits.

And for the backer behind the gang, he still didn’t have any news or hints for the time being.

After getting the news, he couldn’t help but think there was some problem with the Saber Tiger gang, and their motives didn’t feel simple; there must be some hidden truth behind it.

But he didn’t dwell on it much, as his entire focus now was on training; with time, he would slowly take care of the Saber Tiger Gang.

First, he needed to grasp the sword aura and master swordsmanship. Once his strength increased, he should be able to handle most third-rank Limit-Breaker masters, except for individuals like his Master Aaron, who comprehended the law and were masters of the sword.

So, he let it go and continued his training like that, and quickly three weeks passed by.

Early in the morning, in the backyard, Apollo swung his sword, engaging in his daily practice. His basic sword moves had improved significantly since the first day he started.

Now, every movement of his sword began to exhibit a mysterious charm, akin to Master Aaron’s sword.

He had clearly achieved the demeanour of a master in just three weeks. However, he was still one step away from mastering the sword aura.

The sword aura is the accumulation of a swordsman’s knowledge and unique understanding. Therefore, no matter what, it was still impossible for Apollo to master it in three weeks. He needed stimulation and experience before he could break through that final barrier.

As he finished his morning routine, a servant delivered a message from his master, summoning him inside, where both Master and old man Aragon awaited his presence.

"Haha, come here, kid. I finally completed this masterpiece. It took more time than expected, but the outcome is great."

The Old Man Aragon chuckled, clearly in a good mood, as he looked at Apollo.

Apollo’s eyes lit up with anticipation as he guessed what this might be. He couldn’t help but look at them, silently asking if it was what he expected.

"Yes, kid, I finally made it. It’s one of the best weapons I’ve ever crafted. I was even surprised by how well it turned out."

"It exceeded my previous expectations and has become a truly unique sword."

Old Man Aragon proudly said this, clearly pleased with having created something remarkable.

"Okay, enough talking. Quickly, show us what you’ve made," Master Aaron urged impatiently.