In the afternoon, Goddess Astraea personally took over the training. She had changed into a simple white training outfit, her long hair tied back into a practical ponytail. Holding an unsharpened training sword, she stood in a relaxed, effortless stance.
"Solon, pick up your staff," the Goddess said calmly. "While otherworldly magic is undoubtedly powerful, a caster must know how to protect themselves when magic is unavailable. Today, I will teach you the way of the blade."
Solon gripped the wooden staff he had reinforced with Shillelagh. Even though it had been temporarily transformed into a magical weapon by his spell, it still felt clumsy in his hands. It was the epitome of the saying "different worlds, different skills"—in reality, even the way he held the weapon felt awkward.
"Watch me," Astraea said.
Then, she moved. There was no thunderous momentum; there were only the most basic thrusts, parries, and footwork. Yet, every movement was terrifyingly precise, and every shift in her center of gravity was as fluid as breathing. The tip of her sword drew simple arcs in the air; though she wasn't moving fast, she projected an inescapable pressure.
Returning to basics... Solon watched, entranced. There was no flash, only pure efficiency. It was like a mathematical optimal solution—completing the most effective action with the least amount of energy. He suddenly realized how shallow his previous understanding of "combat" truly was.
"When the gods descend to the lower world, our divine powers are sealed," the Goddess explained while demonstrating. "But the skills we have accumulated over countless eons do not vanish. This swordsmanship has no name; it is simply the most efficient set of movements I have refined after witnessing tens of millions of battles." She stopped and looked at Solon. "Now, try to attack me."
Solon took a deep breath, gripped the staff with both hands, and charged. The hour that followed was the longest hour he had experienced since arriving in this world. No matter what angle he attacked from, the Goddess's sword always appeared ahead of time at the point where his strength was weakest. When he thrust, a light flick of her blade diverted his momentum; when he swung, a simple step back caused his full-force strike to hit nothing but air.
She's reading my intentions... Even more terrifying were her counterattacks. The tip of the Goddess's sword would invariably stop right before his throat, heart, or wrist. Had this been a real battle, he would have died dozens of times already.
"Stop," the Goddess said, sheathing her sword.
Solon panted heavily, his training clothes soaked in sweat. "Your problem is that you are still 'thinking' about the movements." Astraea stepped closer. She used the flat of her blade to gently tap his shoulder, elbow, and knee. "In a true fight, there is no time to think. Movements must become instinct. Your body has memorized magic; now, it must also remember how to swing a weapon."
She tossed the training sword to Solon and picked up another wooden staff herself. "Now, I will attack. Your task is to parry."
Defense was harder than offense. The next thirty minutes were even more grueling. The Goddess's attacks were as dense as fine rain. Solon swung his sword desperately to block; his arms went numb, and a stinging pain radiated from the webs of his thumbs.
"Don't just use your arms," the Goddess instructed. "Use the strength of your entire body. Power rises from the earth and travels through your body to the tip of your blade."
She suddenly accelerated. The wooden staff lunged like a venomous snake toward Solon's throat. He barely managed to twist his body, and the staff grazed past his neck. In that moment, Solon had dodged almost entirely on instinct.
"Too slow," the Goddess remarked. "But at least you dodged."
By the time training ended, the sun was sinking in the west. Solon collapsed onto the sand, every muscle in his body screaming in protest. Though he was exhausted down to his very cells, he felt a clear sense of "presence." He could feel his body adapting.
Astraea reached out and pulled Solon up. "For the first day, you did well. You lack the basics, but you learn quickly. Come to the Divine Room tonight; I will update your Status."
[Status after the First Day of Training]
As night fell, Solon sat with his back to the Goddess. Astraea's fingertips lightly touched his spine, and sacred text manifested on his skin. When the Goddess read the values, she visibly froze.
Strength: I-87
Endurance: I-92
Dexterity: H-103
Agility: I-98
Magic: H-156
The Goddess stared blankly at his back. "Solon... do you know how much a Level 1 adventurer's stats usually increase after a single day of training?"
Solon shook his head.
"For a typical adventurer, a day of hard training resulting in a 5 to 10-point increase in a single stat is considered excellent. Those with great talent might hit 15 points. But you—your Magic stat rose by 156 points, and the other four averaged an increase of over 90."
One day of his progress was equal to half a month or even a full month for anyone else! Solon was stunned.
"You possess a tenacity and adaptability far beyond the norm, along with an intense hunger for growth. This is the 'quality of a hero,'" the Goddess said, her tone deepening. "But this is both a blessing and a trial. Growing too fast will attract unwanted attention. Starting tomorrow, the training intensity doubles."
[Movements in the Dark]
Late at night, Solon used Healing Word in his room to treat the blisters on his hands.
Meanwhile, in the Divine Room, Astraea stood alone by the window. Ryuu and Kaguya arrived outside the door. When Ryuu saw the record of those status values, her breath hitched.
"This... is the growth of a single day?"
"Yes," Astraea turned around. "We must tighten our secrecy. Until he is strong enough, this growth rate must remain the highest secret of the Familia."
As Ryuu walked out of the Divine Room, her heart felt heavy. She thought of the Familia Wars fought over geniuses; she thought of the ruthless methods used during the Dark Era. Solon was currently like an unpolished gem—dazzling, but fragile.
"Hey, klutzy elf, what are you thinking?" Kaguya asked in a low voice.
Ryuu remained silent for a moment. "I originally thought we were teaching a rookie. But now it seems... we may be witnessing the starting point of a Hero."
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Danmachi: My Magic Style is Different from Yours (30 Chapters – Ongoing)
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