As the days melted into weeks, news of Kaiser's unprecedented feat echoed through the hallowed halls of the academy. He had not only defeated the First Tower Master but had also forged his own unique technique, a verse born of sorcery and steel. This achievement, while celebrated by many, stirred unease among certain echelons of the higher-ups, guardians of tradition who viewed his innovations as a dangerous divergence from the purity of swordsmanship.
In a secluded chamber, bathed in the dim glow of arcane lamps, a clandestine meeting was underway. Among the handful of influential figures present was Hanz, his features etched with a familiar disdain. "Elders," he began, his voice laced with venom, "this boy is destroying our tradition. We cannot let him continue this path."
One of the elders, a man with a stern visage and an unyielding commitment to the old ways, nodded in agreement. "You are right. We need to preserve our tradition of fighting with only swords, otherwise, we risk lowering our standards."
Another elder, his eyes gleaming with a shrewd intelligence, added, "We just have to show that sorcery is of no use for us."
Hanz, a flicker of hope in his eyes, asked, "But how should we do it? It's basically impossible to stop him directly."
"If we keep interrupting his training, even he could not learn properly," the first elder reasoned. "We just need a proper reason and a suitable person to interrupt."
A third elder, a thin, gaunt man with a calculating gaze, offered a suggestion. "How about we group him up with other outliers? Individuals like the Sin of Pride's disciple, Adriel, who are known for their irritating and unpredictable natures. This will surely distract and hinder him."
Hanz's lips curled into a triumphant smile. "That is a good idea. I will start the process now." The wheels of their conspiracy began to turn, their collective intent a dark cloud hanging over Kaiser's unwitting progress.
Unaware of the machinations unfolding in the secret room, Kaiser remained diligently immersed in his training. His current focus was on refining the first verse of the First Form of the Sword Saint technique, striving to increase the range of his newly christened "Wind Slices the Sword." Each swing, each subtle manipulation of air, was an attempt to extend the invisible reach of his blade.
He unleashed a powerful wind slice, a shimmering crescent of air cutting through the practice dummy. Then another. And a third. With the third attempt, a sharp crack echoed through the training area. Kaiser looked down, his eyes widening in dismay. His sword, a sturdy and reliable companion, had shattered, its blade fracturing into several pieces.
"What is happening?" Kaiser murmured to himself, picking up a shard of the broken blade. "After every three attempts, my sword breaks. If it keeps on like this, my technique won't be much useful." The thought was a jarring realization. The raw power of his sorcery, when channeled through mundane steel, was proving too much for the blade to withstand. This unforeseen limitation threatened to severely hamper the practicality of his groundbreaking technique.
Despite this setback, Kaiser's resolve remained unbroken. He acquired new swords, each one a potential sacrifice to his relentless pursuit of mastery. He continued to work tirelessly, pushing the boundaries of his sorcery and the very limits of his equipment. He had already broken twenty-three swords, yet his efforts were not in vain. The range of his wind slices had increased, extending by a precious meter, a testament to his perseverance.
As Kaiser left the training area, he noticed a palpable buzz of excitement among the other disciples. Whispers and animated discussions filled the air, an unusual energy pervading the academy grounds. Curious, Kaiser approached one of the disciples. "What's going on?" he asked, "Why is everyone so excited?"
The disciple, a scion of a prominent sword family, looked down his nose at Kaiser, his expression one of thinly veiled contempt. "Who are you to think you deserve to talk to me?" he sneered, his voice laced with the general disdain that many disciples harbored for Kaiser. They resented his unorthodox entry into the academy, viewing his sorcery as a cheap trick that undermined the true spirit of swordsmanship.
Kaiser sighed inwardly. He knew he couldn't change their ingrained prejudices with words. He had to prove himself. Without another word, he followed the stream of disciples, all heading towards a large bulletin board where a group list was prominently displayed. As he scanned the names, his eyes landed on his own. He was in a group with Adriel, Hella, and Sentry.
A faint smile touched his lips. He knew Adriel's reputation, the "Sin of Pride's disciple," a moniker earned through his intense, almost maniacal dedication to the sword. He found Adriel in the training area, a whirlwind of motion as he ferociously attacked a series of dummies, his sword a blur.
"Adriel," Kaiser called out, approaching him. "Do you know what is going on?"
Adriel, without breaking his furious assault, merely laughed, a wild, almost deranged sound. "Who cares?" he roared, his eyes blazing with an almost unholy light. "I only want to become the swordsman!" He continued his maniacal assault on the dummies, lost in his own world of relentless practice.
Suddenly, a blur of motion from Kaiser's periphery signaled an attack. A girl, her movements swift and precise, launched herself towards him, her blade glinting. But before she could reach him, Adriel, with surprising speed, intercepted her, his sword meeting hers in a violent clash.
"Hella!" Adriel snarled, his eyes now fixed on the girl. "I haven't defeated you yet! Come, fight me!"
Hella, a fierce glint in her eyes, retorted, "Adriel, I needed to take out some trash. However, since you've come into my trash list, I suppose I'll grant your wish." With that, Hella and Adriel launched into a furious exchange, their swords a whirlwind of steel, their movements a testament to their exceptional, albeit chaotic, skills.
Just as their battle reached a fever pitch, a new voice, surprisingly calm and collected, cut through the din. "Hello, my name is Sentry," a boy said, stepping into the training area. He looked at the warring duo, then at Kaiser. "Nice to meet you. Looks like the whole group is here."
Kaiser looked at Sentry, utterly speechless. He had expected another eccentric, another wild card. Sentry, observing Kaiser's stunned silence, asked, "What?"
"I thought you would be as crazy as them," Kaiser admitted, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Sentry shrugged. "I am crazy," he replied, a knowing glint in his eyes, "just not like them."
"Well, no matter what," Kaiser stated, his voice firm, "we have to stop them." He drew his sword, a familiar weight in his hand, and channeled his power. With a swift movement, he unleashed a wind slice, the shimmering crescent of air surging between the furiously clashing Adriel and Hella.
Both Adriel and Hella recoiled, their eyes wide with shock as the wind slice separated them. They stared at Kaiser, a mixture of surprise and grudging respect on their faces.
"Stop fighting," Kaiser commanded, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. "We are assigned as a group; we need to stick together."
Hella, her initial shock quickly replaced by defiance, bristled. "Just who do you think you are to order me?" she demanded, and with a snarl, charged at Kaiser.
Kaiser met her charge with another wind slice, but this one was aimed not to harm, but to incapacitate. The invisible blade of wind struck her at her feet, making shallow cuts on both her ankles. Hella cried out, stumbling forward, dropping to her knees directly in front of Kaiser. Kaiser, with practiced ease, placed the tip of his sword against her throat.
"I am not ordering you," he said, his voice calm yet firm, "but if I have to, I will."
Hella gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing with fury, but she remained silent, trapped by Kaiser's unexpected display of power. Kaiser then turned his gaze to Adriel. "So, do you want to fight too?"
Adriel, a wide, manic smile spreading across his face, replied, "Yeah!"
Kaiser returned the smile. "Then you're in luck," he said, sheathing his sword. "We'll fight continuously from now on to practice." He then led Adriel towards another training area. Before they began, Kaiser reiterated, "This is just a practice exercise, okay?" And with that understanding, they began their relentless sparring, a clash of wills and blades that promised to push both to their limits.
Meanwhile, the grouping list had reached the First Elder. He studied it for a long moment, a knowing glint in his ancient eyes. "It has been years since the swordsmen have been grouped like this," he mused, a faint smile touching his lips. "It's obviously a setup. However, he needs to face trials before showing his worthiness."
Suddenly, a dark silhouette of a man materialized silently in the room, a shadowy figure barely visible in the dim light. "Kaiser was right," the man's voice, deep and resonant, broke the silence. "There was a boy named Rei who not only created sorcery, but he rebuilt the entire village of Orville."
The First Elder's gaze sharpened. "So, what was in the books he wrote?" he pressed, his voice laced with an eager anticipation.
"Actually..." the dark silhouette began, a hint of awe in his voice, "...everything."
The First Elder's voice boomed, echoing through the small room. "What do you mean, everything?!"
"It was not just one subject," the man explained, his voice filled with reverence. "He knew all the subjects. Even I have to say that this boy is comparable to a sage, if not higher."
The revelation hung heavy in the air. The First Elder's expression transformed, a mixture of profound shock and immense understanding. "This changes everything," he declared, his voice filled with a newfound urgency. "Kaiser is now the key which connects us to a sage. Create protection near Kaiser. Make it such that Kaiser gets to risk himself during difficult situations, however, does not die." The shadowy figure bowed and disappeared as silently as he had arrived, leaving the First Elder to ponder the staggering implications of this newfound knowledge.