The crisp morning air was broken only by the sound of Saturu's controlled breathing and the rhythmic strain of his body.
"…197, 198, 199, 200… Done."
He lowered himself from the hanging sit-ups, landing softly on the ground. He flexed his previously injured hand; the wounds were healed, the bones knit strong.
"And my wounds seem to be healed…" he muttered, a frown etching his features.
His body was in peak condition. As he gazed into the stream, he observed subtle changes in his form—height, muscle tone, and an almost imperceptible refinement of his facial structure.
"This is a waste of time. If I want to master my full power, I need him to teach me mana expansion."
Frustration propelled him across the training grounds toward Kayon, who sat in deep meditation, floating a few inches above the ground, surrounded by a faint, shimmering aura.
"Yo, old man," Saturu called out, breaking the silence without ceremony. "When are you going to teach me mana expansion?"
Kayon ignored him, eyes still closed.
Is he ignoring me…? No, he wouldn't… Saturu thought.
Kayon's voice was calm, infuriatingly even. "You failed before. Why would I waste time teaching you again? For all intents and purposes, you're already far stronger than most, even without mana expansion, thanks to your spiritual manifestation."
…So that's why he refused, Saturu realized.
"You should take your time recovering," Kayon added.
"I've been here for three months," Saturu shot back, voice tight. "And you expect me to waste away? I'm starting to think you've gone soft."
Kayon's eyes snapped open. His serene expression vanished, replaced by sharp, dangerous seriousness. The air around them grew heavy.
"Are you saying I've gone dull?" he asked, his voice low and edged with warning.
"If not, prove to me that you haven't," Saturu challenged.
Kayon descended to the ground, the meditation aura dissipating. "Very well. This is now a battle—win or lose."
Saturu's eyes began to glow with dark blue and purple light, his aura igniting around him.
"So be it," Kayon said.
They faced each other on the battered training ground. In an instant, they moved—a blur of motion. Kayon was a step ahead. With a mere thought, he activated his earth manipulation. The ground beneath Saturu shattered, upheaving and throwing him off balance.
Saturu reacted instinctively, driving his sword into the broken earth to anchor himself. Using the leverage, he swung into the air—but Kayon had already prepared his next attack.
Lightning forked from the clear sky, streaking toward the airborne Saturu. He twisted, using his blade as a conduit to deflect the first few strikes, but a powerful bolt slammed into his shoulder, sending him crashing to the ground in a shower of dirt and sparks.
Seizing the moment, Saturu used the dust cloud for cover, pushing his spiritual manifestation to its limit. He moved at blinding speed toward Kayon. Their clash was titanic; sword met hardened air, cracking the ground beneath and sending shockwaves through the training grounds.
Kayon, a master of countless battles, noted Saturu's reliance on the blade—a swordsman's greatest weakness. In response, he manifested a sword of pure, solidified mana. The weapons met, leaving deep gashes in the earth and stone. Saturu's relentless assault forced Kayon to create distance and ignite the air itself.
"Fire Manipulation: Dragon's Breath!"
A torrent of flame, shaped like a colossal dragon's maw, roared toward Saturu. There was no time to dodge. He crossed his arms, bracing against the blast. But from within the inferno, a new power surged.
"Heavenly Divine Blade!" A blade of concentrated mana formed in his hand, cutting through the flames. He emerged singed but unbroken.
A flicker of surprise crossed Kayon's face. Respect followed. Then, deciding not to hold back, he released a wave of power, his form becoming more youthful, movements impossibly fast. He speed-blitzed forward, grabbing Saturu and hurling him toward a stone fountain.
As he flew through the air, Saturu reacted. With a powerful kick, he launched his physical sword toward Kayon like a missile. The sorcerer casually deflected it, but the blade nicked his forearm, drawing a thin line of blood. In that instant, Saturu struck, driving a knee into Kayon's gut and sending him plummeting into the fountain.
But Kayon was an elf. Even submerged, he fused with water. A giant hand of water erupted from the fountain, aiming to crush Saturu.
Still the same as back then, Saturu thought, as flashbacks of training with Kayon surged. He released multiple shockwaves, disorienting the water hand, then teleported behind Kayon. The sorcerer was shocked.
"Impossible… no one has ever…" Kayon began—but Saturu interrupted.
"You have mastered Lumina's technique," Saturu said, "but how advanced is it? Creating it again will cost you your weakness."
Kayon's eyes widened, recognizing the warrior before him. "It can't be…"
He dodged, but Saturu was relentless.
"Ice Prison!" Kayon commanded. The water hand froze instantly, shards shooting toward Saturu.
"Heavenly Solar Edge!" Saturu's mana blade blazed like a sun, shattering the ice into a thick, freezing mist. Blinded, he closed his eyes, relying on enhanced hearing. Concentrated energy blows erupted from his position, forcing Kayon on the defensive.
From the chaos, Kayon formed a divine arrow of restraining energy. "Restrain!" Saturu sensed it and cut it in two with a precise flick of his Solar Edge.
"Let's see if you can handle this," Kayon's voice boomed, charged with immense power. "Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning, Shadow… combine! Flow of Natural Order!"
Primordial green energy swirled around him. The weather responded; dark clouds and rain filled the sky.
"The conditions have been met," Saturu whispered, taking his signature stance. "Let's end this." Energy erupted from him, eyes glowing solid blue.
"Behold the Natural Course of Heaven: Celestial Judgment!" Kayon launched himself, a beacon of green energy.
Saturu countered with his ultimate technique: "Blossom Shower!" He vanished, reappearing behind Kayon. But it was too late—the slash connected.
CRACK!
The sound was not flesh tearing but pure shattering power. Saturu's mana blade exploded into thousands of shards.
"Not now…!" Saturu gasped, momentum broken, ultimate technique incomplete.
"It's too late!" Kayon closed the gap, forming a blade of pure force. Each blow concussively struck, forcing air and blood from Saturu's lungs. A sharp pain struck his heart, breaking his focus. The final impact sent him flying into rubble. The mana energy exploded into the sky; the storm ended.
Silence fell, broken only by rain. From the dust, Saturu stood, eyes rolled back, white and vacant. He was unconscious, yet his body moved on pure battle instinct.
Kayon, his youthful form returning to normal, rubbed his back with a wince. "...Ahhh, my back… phew, that was close."
He looked at the boy, standing but vacant. "His sword mastery… beyond any grand swordsman. Battle instinct like his… plus his blessing…" He shook his head, a faint proud smile touching his lips. "I could never surpass my master."
Memory flickered a figure once told Kayon, "You've done well. In a few years, you might be one of the strongest."
"It looks like there's nothing left for me to teach you now."