MTLNOVEL Chapter 8: "A Blade That Defies Fate"
The battlefield fell into eerie silence. Not a single leaf rustled, not even the wind dared to move.
Ryoshi swallowed hard. This was different.
His master was no longer treating this as a spar.
The shift in the air was unmistakable. The weight pressing against Ryoshi's shoulders felt like a mountain—his master's presence alone was suffocating.
And then—he vanished.
A flicker of motion—and then a sword was already slicing toward Ryoshi's throat.
His body reacted before his mind did.
He ducked—just barely escaping death. The sheer force of the swing tore through the air, cutting a deep gash into the tree behind him.
He barely had time to recover before another strike came.
Faster. Stronger. Relentless.
Each slash was so precise, so deadly, that Ryoshi could only dodge by a hair's breadth. He wasn't fighting a man—he was fighting a storm.
And he was losing.
His arms burned, his legs ached, but still, he kept moving. If he stopped even for a second—he would die.
From the sidelines, Siren clenched her fists. She could see it—Ryoshi was struggling.
She couldn't just stand there.
Closing her eyes, she whispered a spell under her breath. A faint glow surrounded her hands.
Then—she moved.
A rush of wind wrapped around Ryoshi. His body felt suddenly lighter—his movements sharper.
His master's blade came down—but this time, Ryoshi reacted differently.
Instead of dodging, he countered.
His sword flashed with silver-blue light, meeting the strike head-on.
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the battlefield.
His master's eyes widened—not in fear, but in approval.
"Good," his master murmured. "You're learning."
Their swords clashed again, but Ryoshi wasn't just defending anymore. He was fighting back.
Siren's spell was boosting him, but this power was still his.
And for the first time, he felt like he could win.
His master took a step back, nodding. "You've finally reached the threshold."
Ryoshi's breath came in ragged gasps. "Threshold?"
His master's eyes gleamed. "The point where a swordsman becomes a warrior."
And with that, he attacked again.
But this time—Ryoshi was ready.