Chapter 52 - Universal Breathing
Among the hundred 'Manuals' that were inscribed atop the Sky-Piercing Sword released to the world, all of them only had one basic feature, 'Absorption'.
Countless scholars, historians, and great swordsmen compared these 'Manuals' based on absorption speed, required stamina, skill threshold, and so on, researching deeper and deeper, but all of these comparison points still revolved around 'Absorption'. No matter how different their 'Art' was, all 'Manuals' were fundamentally the same.
However, unknown to these scholars, historians, and even the first expedition's members, there was one more 'Manual', one that they disregarded to this date due to a loss in translation!
The manual that allowed the total number to exceed a hundred definitely stood out for being different. Unfortunately, the difference wasn't welcomed by many. In fact, the manual was unanimously identified as nothing but 'gibberish'.
Other manuals were completely translatable just relying on the scroll, at most only a tenth of their content needed deciphering, but the situation was completely reversed when it came to that specific manual, not even a tenth of it was within the scroll!
Given the hunger for power brought by the gigantic sword, the original scroll that held the translation script for the language inscribed on the sword was quickly torn apart and scattered around the world. Even if someone wanted to try deciphering it, the complete preliminary 'dictionary' was no more. However, unknown to many, there was one exception.
Influenced by his habitual thirst for knowledge, amid the first expedition's members, one person had committed the scroll's content to memory!
'It wasn't easy…'
Despite the consensus view that it was an incomplete manual, this particular person didn't abandon it. He simply delved further into the study of the unknown language that the manuals came in before achieving a grand result!
The unacknowledged manual, or the 'Origin Manual' as this person named it, was different indeed, in more ways than one. As if being proportionate to the difficulty of translating it, it was one of a kind. Aside from sharing the common function of 'Absorption', it monopolized the unique ability of 'Production', deserving of the 'Origin' in its name!
However, his discovery brought him worry rather than elation. Instead of shallowly celebrating it by announcing his impossible feat to the world, Rain, the only scholar to have knowledge of the extra manual, read further into it.
Not only did he grow suspicious of the scroll's source, but he also contemplated the possibility that it withheld the information needed for the only manual that seemed to have true value. Counting all of this into consideration, Rain accepted one more role under his name.
'This is why it's my 'treasure'...'
Shrouding the 'Origin Manual' in complete secrecy, he vowed to only reveal it to those who he acknowledged, all so that they would stand up to the unknown target of his suspicion if it ever came to be true!
Needless to say, a manual of such something simple. While its unique ability didn't necessarily mean that it was the hardest to master compared to the other manuals, it was definitely at the higher end of the spectrum.
'Yet… What just happened?'
His wish of witnessing a 'first-time mastery' was just an empty thought he had. Even his grand apprentice who had even more talent than his first apprentice only pulled off a true 'Sword Breathing' in his fifth try.
The boy before him managed to succeed in his third try, however, that wasn't even the most shocking part under Rain's observation. Leo's second try was what truly astonished Rain!
'Was I thinking in the opposite direction?'
Within the realm of his knowledge, Rain only had one explanation to what he saw, unmatchable affinity!
While that contradicted Leo's first try, Rain found himself to be easily accepting Leo's excuse. It wasn't impossible to grasp things slowly when being force-fed. Everyone was different!
'A terrifying ability to self-study… and an even more terrifying Sword Breath affinity!'
In Rain's eyes, Leo no longer seemed suspicious. His words that hid no deceit forced Rain's heart to point towards the incomprehensible gears of fate! Only destiny could drive such an abnormal yet pure apprentice in his way!
"Should I… do it again?"
Snapping out of his reminiscing, Rain raised his eyebrows before relaxing them, his lips breaking into a satisfied smile.
"No, you did more than enough. All you need to do now is go back to your room and try to savor what you just underwent to the best of your ability."
One's grasp of 'Sword Breath' after his first 'Absorption' was something that decided a few certain factors in a swordsman's path. As someone who mentored dozens into this 'threshold', witnessing countless 'first-times', with two specifically being in correspondence with the 'Origin Manual', Rain didn't need to stare much before confirming Leo's experience.
"Got it, Teacher!"
Excited to get some time alone just when he wanted it the most, Leo only lowered his head slightly before he dashed to his room…
`~~~`~~~`~~~`
Despite Leo's excitement to see his new 'Book 1' page, he still followed Rain's advice to try his best to remember his perception of 'Sword Breath' within his body.
'I can feel it quite clearly…'
However, he didn't consume much of his concentration to achieve this. Rather, it felt like something natural.
'Is this another effect of the 'Cleansing'...?'
Unknown to Rain, this certainly wasn't his first experience with 'Sword Breath'. Regardless of its savageness, Leo could tell that his particular ease of accepting 'Breath' must have had to do with his 'medicinal' treatment.
Nonetheless, Leo still did his best to make use of the moment. Only calling out to the 'Personal Book' after the thin threads swimming around seemed to fall asleep.
[ Plot change confirmed. Unique event recurrence has been detected. ]
[ The Reader's character has managed to further alter his path, obtaining a new destiny. ]
[ You have received 22 Reading Points. ]
'Recurrence?'
Checking the event first to prepare for the most important reveal, Leo was slightly surprised by the wording. Was this supposed to be a 'chain event' similar to chain quests?
As he pondered about this new hint and its possible use, Leo slowly flipped the pages in anticipation, finally reaching the first page…
[ Book 1 ]
Name: Arthur (Leo Lock)
Age: 12 (18)
Role: Reader
Reading Points: 222
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Personal Statistics:
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Physique: 0.91
Mind: 1.35 (+1.96)
Sword Breath: 0.05
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Personal Skills:
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'Basic Swordsmanship' - Chapter 1 - page 10/10
'Horsemanship' - Prologue - page 9/10
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Personal Abilities:
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'Universal Sword Breathing' - Grade 1 - 7/10
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Events:
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- Teaching Crane - Unique
- Rewriting Destiny - Unique (2)
- Counter Elimination - Impossible
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