"The first technique you will be learning is called Swift Edge."
Elias nodded and Seraph appeared in the middle of the training room, he basically teleported.
However, as soon as he lifted his stick, multiple system panels flashed up.
[Observing skill!]
[Type: Swordsmanship!]
[Swordsmanship category unlocked!]
[Skill: Swift Edge (1 star)]
[Mastery: 0% (Skill not unlocked)]
Elias didn't even know what to focus on, the stick or the panels, however he couldn't even follow the stick.
It just seemed to disappear, then reappear continuously, leaving faint afterimages in the air and an unfamiliar coldness.
A faint metallic scent filled his nostrils, and all he could hear from the stick was the whistling due to the sheer speed.
'Holy it is swift..'
"As you can see, the basis of this one star technique is for your blade to speed up. That is, if we simplify it."
Elias nodded, Seraph's words made complete sense, he couldn't even follow the stick even if he wanted to. However, that could just be because he was weak.
"I'm assuming it's a one star since it doesn't work with stronger opponents?"
His question made Seraph nod simply.
"Precisely, the technique doesn't evolve with the wielder, so for rankers or even stronger opponents, it won't necessarily work."
'Makes sense, he probably can move faster without the technique anyway.'
Elias thought whilst analyzing Seraph, who just stood still, tilting his head.
"You will have to learn this technique, it will be useful for weaker opponents."
Seraph assured Elias whilst sitting down, then tapped his stick on the ground, and the mana pressure increased again.
'Was that necessary..?'
Elias instantly felt the change as a faint ringing entered his ears and his entire spine seemed to compress.
"Sit."
Seraph signaled in front of himself whilst holding out his hand.
'Why?'
However, he didn't question verbally, only in his mind. With a slight hesitation, he took a seat in front of Seraph, back turned towards him.
The floor was freezing against his knees even through the robe he was wearing.
"I will imprint the technique in your mind. Get ready, it will hurt."
'..Imprint?'
Elias sighed, then relaxed his entire body and mind at once.
Well, at least he tried to, the body part was easy, however, the mind one wasn't.
Considering he was also under constant pressure due to the mana in the air.
Without further warning, he felt Seraph's cold and rough hands touching the back of his head, his fingers almost felt like they were penetrating his entire skull and being, however, that wasn't the case.
Suddenly, he felt a new wave of information rushing into his mind, and then he felt his body.
[Skill Unlocked: Swift Edge]
[Mastery: 0%]
It was flaring up, pain jolted through his whole body as every single bodypart of his went numb and he nearly collapsed, however Seraph's other hand held onto his shoulder, keeping him steady.
He wanted to use his throat and mouth to scream, however, his entire throat was dried out, and his mouth was almost like it was sealed shut.
'I-I can't move my body..'
He smelled a faint metallic odor, then he saw his nose bleeding, dripping down onto the ground.
The candle lights around the room flickered and dimmed constantly.
Every single drop of blood on the ground felt like a thud as it echoed in his ears.
"Hold on."
[Swift Edge Mastery increasing]
[Mastery: 10%]
As soon as Seraph said those supposedly calming words, his system flashed messages in front of him as his mastery of the skill increased.
The numbers continued to rise rapidly, even though it felt like hours had passed, they probably didn't.
All of a sudden, Seraph took his hand off him, and his mastery stopped.
[Mastery: 51%]
"That's all, you shall be able to wield the skill now to a degree."
He said whilst releasing his shoulder, and Elias instantly collapsed on the ground, his body hitting the floor like a cold thud.
He wasn't dead or passed out, no, he could perfectly see and hear.
Well, perfectly would be an overstatement, his entire vision was blurry and his ears were ringing, however, he hasn't lost his senses.
'It's like I'm trapped in my own body.'
He wasn't even able to move a single limb of his.
Seraph, upon seeing this, sighed and snapped his fingers. Then everything went black, and all of a sudden, he was on his wool bed with Seraph sitting next to him.
The familiar feeling of mana pressure also dispersed completely.
He finally felt the warmth of the wool bed, even through his robe.
"I cannot heal you this time, the technique I've been using on you might damage you if it's constantly used, it also won't work on the healing of your mind."
Elias wanted to nod after hearing his words but he wasn't even able to do that, his body just refused him completely.
Slowly, his vision cleared up, and the blurriness disappeared completely.
'So I'm just stuck in my own body now helplessly.'
He lay still, looking up at the ceiling, as Seraph slowly stood up with an exhausted sigh and then disappeared out of his sight.
'What can I do to pass the time?'
The white ceiling wasn't exactly entertaining, so he had to come up with something.
'Let's see, status window.'
The usual white panel appeared in front of him in an instant, showing him his stats.
[Status Window][Strength: 6]
[Dexterity: 7]
[Vitality: 6]
[Endurance: 10]
[Magic Power: 4]
[Magic Control: 2]
[Perception: 5]
[Luck: Unreadable]
'Well, my stats didn't really skyrocket, but I'm still only six, so I guess that's to be expected.'
He couldn't really do anything, so he just stared at the system window helplessly; the ringing in his ears had already stopped.
'I guess I'll just have to wait.'
So he did just that. And a month passed by in the blink of an eye…
"Lower your upper body!"
Seraph barked, however, it was to no avail as a wooden sword struck Elias in the head, making him stumble backwards.
He could feel the pain in his entire skull, almost like he had been hit by a truck!
'Maybe be quicker, old man!'
Elias cursed in his mind. Currently, he was fighting a wooden doll.
Yes, a wooden doll, it was the size of an adult male, meaning its limbs were way larger than Elias's.
However it's strength was on par with his, he just lacked the experience.
Seraph sighed and snapped his fingers, and the doll fell to the ground without any warning, which made a huge thud, making Elias's ears ring.
Seraph's mana powered the doll, to be exact.
After the first technique was introduced, it took him three whole days to finally be able to move, so the past little less than a month has just been spent in the misery of being beaten by a wooden doll until he would increase his mastery and gain experience.