The darkness slowly receded like a veil being lifted from the face of the earth. The first rays of dawn crept over the horizon, bathing the sleeping village in a pale golden glow.
Damon threw off his blanket, revealing the lean, athletic physique he had built through years of relentless training. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, his feet touching the cool wooden floor. Rising to his feet, he stretched lazily as the stiffness in his muscles gradually faded.
His sharp crimson eyes drifted toward the window. Outside, the sky was painted in shades of deep indigo, patiently awaiting the arrival of the morning sun.
Today was different.
Today marked the beginning of his training.
He quickly changed into a simple white gi and fastened his black belt around his waist. Running a hand through his messy red hair, he stepped outside and made his way toward Mysticwood Forest, his footsteps soft against the dew-covered grass.
Mysticwood Forest – Outer Layer
As soon as Damon arrived, he looked around eagerly.
The clearing was empty.
He searched behind the trees, scanned the branches above, and even checked nearby rocks, but there was no sign of the mysterious swordsman.
"Master!" he shouted.
"Where are you?"
"I'm right here."
The calm voice came from directly behind him.
"!!"
Startled, Damon instinctively leaped several steps backward before turning around.
The cloaked man stood exactly where Damon had been looking moments ago.
"How long have you been standing there?" Damon asked in shock.
"I've been here the entire time," the man replied calmly.
"That's impossible."
"I didn't even sense your presence."
The man folded his arms.
"Concealing one's presence is child's play for someone of my stature."
Damon's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"That's amazing!"
"I can't wait until I can do something like that."
"So..."
"When do we begin?"
Draven looked at him expressionlessly.
"Slow down."
"Before your training starts..."
"I want to see everything you're capable of."
Damon blinked.
"Everything?"
"I thought you already saw enough yesterday."
Draven frowned.
"You mean to tell me that little technique of yours was all you could do?"
"Well..."
"Not exactly."
"I have another one."
"Then stop wasting time."
"Show me."
Damon nodded.
"Alright."
"I call this technique..."
"Crimson Slash."
He slowly drew his dagger before taking a firm stance in front of a large tree.
Closing his eyes, he concentrated his Spirit Qi into the blade.
SWIRL!
The crimson aura wrapped around the dagger.
"RAAAAGH!"
SLASH!
A crimson crescent shot forward.
BOOM!
The enormous tree was sliced cleanly in half before crashing to the ground with a thunderous roar.
Damon smiled proudly.
"So..."
"What do you think?"
Draven nodded slightly.
"Not bad."
"As I expected..."
"You can already use Sword Arts."
Damon froze.
"Wait..."
"What?"
"How can that be?"
"All I did was pour my energy into my dagger and swing with everything I had."
"I didn't know I was using a Sword Art."
"Hmm..."
"I suppose you created one without realizing it."
Damon stared blankly.
"How is that even possible?"
Draven looked at the fallen tree before speaking.
"A Sword Art is created through the fusion of Spirit Qi and World Energy."
"That fusion is collectively known as a Battle Art."
"Sword Arts are simply Battle Arts used by swordsmen."
He continued,
"Spirit Qi alone strengthens the body."
"But when Spirit Qi and World Energy merge together..."
"...they create attacks far stronger than either energy could produce alone."
"The ability to control and fuse those energies depends entirely on the Spirit Core."
"If the Spirit Core is too weak..."
"...the fusion fails."
Damon frowned.
"But..."
"My Spirit Core is weak."
"I'm only an E-Rank."
"So how was I able to perform a Sword Art?"
Draven looked at him sharply.
"What did you just say?"
"You said your Spirit Core is weak?"
"Yes."
"I'm only an E-Rank."
Draven's eyes widened.
"An... E-Rank?"
"That shouldn't be possible."
"Come here."
Damon walked over.
Draven placed his palm on Damon's chest before channeling a small amount of Spirit Qi into his body.
The moment he reached Damon's Spirit Core...
His expression changed completely.
"...Impossible."
"Your Spirit Core..."
"...hasn't even reached the Foundation Level."
Damon looked confused.
"Foundation Level?"
"What's that?"
"The Foundation Level is the first stage of a fully awakened Spirit Core."
"It should naturally be achieved once someone awakens."
"But..."
"For some reason..."
"Your Spirit Core never fully awakened."
"So that's what Foundation Level means..."
Draven continued examining him.
A moment later, his eyes widened even further.
"This..."
"...this is unbelievable."
"You haven't even finished converting your Spirit Energy into Spirit Qi."
He withdrew his hand and stared silently at Damon.
"How is this possible?" he wondered.
"To fuse Spirit Qi with World Energy..."
"...both energies must remain perfectly balanced."
"If one greatly exceeds the other..."
"...the fusion collapses."
"There are rare cases where people can force the fusion during life-or-death battles..."
"But that only happens when their Spirit Core has reached a very high level."
"This boy's Spirit Core hasn't even reached Foundation Level."
"So how was he able to create a Sword Art?"
"And what happened inside the inner layer?"
"How did he suddenly unleash that monstrous power?"
"Just who... is this boy?"
"Master?"
"Master?"
"Master!"
Draven blinked.
"Hm?"
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
"It's nothing."
"Were you able to figure out how I used the Sword Art?"
Draven thought for a moment before answering.
"If I had to guess..."
"I'd say your Spirit Qi possesses a unique affinity for controlling World Energy."
Damon's eyes widened.
"My Spirit Qi..."
"...can control World Energy?"
"Most likely."
"I told you before that every Spirit Qi has its own unique characteristic."
"Yours appears to naturally synchronize with World Energy, allowing it to fuse far more easily."
"At least..." Draven thought.
"That's the only explanation that makes sense."
Damon couldn't contain his excitement.
"I can't believe it!"
"I actually have a special ability!"
Draven quickly interrupted him.
"Don't get carried away."
"This is only a theory."
"We won't know for certain until your Spirit Qi has completely awakened."
Damon nodded enthusiastically.
"Then let's begin training!"
"I can't wait to discover what my Spirit Qi can really do."
Draven smiled faintly beneath his hood.
"I'm just as curious."
"Follow me."
Without another word, he turned and walked deeper into the forest.
Damon hurried after him.
Several minutes later, they arrived before the massive magical barrier separating the outer layer from the inner layer of Mysticwood Forest.
Damon stopped.
"Huh?"
"This is the barrier protecting the inner layer."
"What are we doing here?"
Draven looked ahead calmly.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"You'll be training..."
"...inside the inner layer."
Damon's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"W-What?!"
"The inner layer?!"
"Master, are you serious?"
"Do you know how dangerous it is in there?"
Draven looked at him without emotion.
"Are you afraid?"
"If you are..."
"You may leave."
"I have no interest in training cowards."
Damon immediately met his gaze.
"Who said I was afraid?"
"I'm no coward."
"If becoming stronger means training inside the inner layer..."
"...then I'll do it."
Draven smiled faintly.
"Good."
"That's exactly what I expected from my disciple."
He removed a strange metallic token from beneath his cloak.
The token glowed brightly.
The enormous barrier slowly parted, creating an opening just large enough for two people.
Draven stepped forward.
"From this moment onward..."
"...your true training begins."
He glanced back at Damon.
"And from now on..."
"...you will address me as Master."
Damon nodded respectfully.
"Master..."
"May your disciple know your name?"
The man smiled.
"My name is Draven."
"You may call me..."
"Master Draven."
With those words, the two stepped through the barrier together.
For the first time...
Damon entered the forbidden Inner Layer of Mysticwood Forest—not as prey...
...but as a disciple beginning the journey toward becoming the world's strongest swordsman.