Kenshi: Grasp the Heavens (RE-UPLOAD) Chapter 13, Shattered Bonds, a dungeon ni deai o motomeru no wa machigatte iru darou ka fanfic

Back with improved Chapter 13.

Guess it is finally time to see who is gonna remain and who is gonna drop the story.

I'm not going to say what I wrote in this Chapter is the overall "worst" that will be happening in the story, but it is certainly ranking among the top 7 or so.

With that said, if you don't like this Chapter, I doubt you will like what I will be writing in future Chapters, either.

So yeah.

Anyway, my thanks to everyone who managed to read so far.

I wrote my fic without taking in consideration what the "consumer" is looking for in those kind of stories, so even just managing to read 13 Chapters out of approximately 50-70 I have planned is a lot and I appreciate it.

That's about it, I guess.

Kay bye, enjoy.

XXX

"...Wait...what?" The small Pallum girl asked in confusion as her newest partner extended his hands towards her, both holding different weapons.

"I said, here you go. Should be easy enough to use even for someone without combat experience." Fuzen replied.

In his right hand he held a crossbow, the kind one could strap to their forearm and fire by reloading with the other hand. In his right he held a blade shorter than a sword, but longer than a dagger: a baselard, in other words.

"...But...why?"

"Because you are reckless enough to enter the Dungeon, even as a Supporter, without any sort of weapon to rely on in a pinch, that's why." His reply had come slightly more aggressive than he wished. Still, he couldn't help it: the anger at the revelation of his Magic the night prior was still boiling inside of him. "Now take them already: I'm not going to keep them extended like this the whole day."

"Lili...is confused…" She said in return, not being able to understand the individual before her at all. Adventurers were not supposed to be like this.

They just aren't supposed to...so then, why…?

"There is nothing to be confused about: these are weapons. Tools, in other words. And what makes us different from mindless Monsters and animals is that we can use the brain inside our skulls to learn how to use such tools."

"I...understand." Unprecedented as this was, Lili grabbed the crossbow and strapped it to her right arm: it fit her quite literally like a glove. "It's...a perfect fit."

"Mhm. It's called Little Ballista: a crossbow made by the Goibniu Familia specially for Pallums to use. Though small, it's firepower is very high and the weapon itself is easy to use. Or so I was told, anyway. I don't use ranged weapons, so I can't say I am an expert on such weaponry."

"...And what about that?"

"The baselard? It never hurts to have a melee weapon on one's person. It's small and light enough to not be a hindrance. Just strap it to your thigh or something. Somewhere you can reach for quickly in a pinch."

"U-Understood…" She grabbed the weapon, and strapped it to her thigh, as instructed. Her left one so she could use it with her off-hand. "I...Thank you. No one...has ever gifted Lili anything before…"

Well, I figured that much on my own…

"Anyway, no foolish heroics from you. Today we are going for a very slow expedition into the Dungeon. What was your highest reached Floor before yesterday?"

"The 9th Floor."

"Understood." Fuzen nodded. "Then, I shall show you the Floors beyond that and their routes and shortcuts. Though I have done something similar for another Familia recently and am starting to feel like some sort of Dungeon guide, I shall show you everything up to the 18th Floor: Rivira."

"T-That far?"

"Yes. It's morning and the day is young. A wise person once said that one should never miss on an opportunity to learn something new. What are your thoughts on that?"

"L-Lili will do her best to learn!"

"Mhm. Then, here you go." Reaching for his pouch Fuzen took out four short strips of cloth. On each were ten wooden bolts, for the crossbow he had gifted her. "Forty bolts, for you. A crossbow is useless without projectiles to shoot, after all."

"Lili is very grateful!"

"I am glad to be of help. However, do not misunderstand: even if you are from another Familia, as long as we go as a party into the Dungeon, you are under my care and I am by no means a kind teacher: I will have you learn how to defend yourself whatever you want to or not."

"U-Understood!"

"Then, let us be off. Let's find some Goblins for you."

Without further time wasted Fuzen led the way into the Dungeon, and soon the two were on the 1st Floor, the trial for every starting Adventurer. Once there he kept his eyes open for solo Monsters. Unfortunately, though the Monsters spawned rather quickly on the Upper Floors the sheer amount of novice Adventurers made it hard to find Monsters within his desired time frame.

"...Stop." Fuzen informed in a quiet whisper, and after kneeling down made a sign for Lili to do the same, which she quickly followed. "One Goblin ahead."

"T-Then…?"

"Take your best shot at it. I'm not an archer: I don't have any tips for you. Simply try your best. Even if you miss, reload and shoot until I tell you to stop. If the Goblin comes too close, I will cut it down. Questions?"

"N-No. Lili...will try her best!"

Letting down her large backpack near the wall, Lili took a few steps closer to Fuzen, and readied her crossbow. They were currently on a narrow hallway, and the Goblin was in the large opening in front of them, his back turned to the two. As for distance, he was some forty meters away, Lili guessed.

"Are you ready?"

"Y-Yes."

"Then, I will whistle to gain it's attention. Shoot then. Even if you miss, reload and try again. Understood?"

"Yes."

"Very well. Here we go...Phwwt!"

Following Fuzen's sharp whistle, the Goblin turned around, and Lili released her bolt. Just a tiny bit, it had grazed the Monster's shoulder but otherwise missed completely. "Again." Fuzen said, standing up, hand on his sword's handle.

Lili did as she was ordered, and grabbed the next bolt. However, her hand trembled and the bolt fell down for her hand.

Crap, crap, crap!

While she reached for the fallen bolt, the Monster had closed half the distance, his club already raised high above his head and ready to fall down on her. Lili quickly loaded the projectile, and without even looking, pointed in the general direction of the Monster and released it. Once again, it missed completely. "Again." Nonchalant as ever she heard Fuzen repeat behind her and she reached for the next bolt. However, the Goblin was already upon them, only five or so meters apart.

Shit, shit, shit! Seeing the Monster raising his club just a couple of steps away from her Lili fell down on her butt, both arms raised to protect her head.

However, nothing happened.

She did hear a sound of something falling lazily on the ground, and slowly opened her eyes to see what was going on.

"Again."

In front of her the Goblin had been literally disarmed, both of it's arms cut off, and was now being confined by Fuzen: he brought the Monster to his knees by pushing on the back of it's knee while he had his free arm wrapped around it's throat to keep it immobilized and in place.

"W-What…?"

"Again. Load your bolt. Then shot. Do it."

"B-But…"

"Dew it."

Lili gulped: she could smell the scent of it's blood, and faintly feel it's hectic breath on her face. Scared as she was, however she did as instructed: she loaded the bolt, aimed at the Goblin's chest and then released the projectile.

"Good." Fuzen nodded, the Monster having been turned into ash before him, the bolt falling to the ground with a short lived sound.

"Y-You were not lying...You are a strict teacher…"

The boy shrugged. "Better for me to be the strict teacher than the Dungeon itself." He replied, and slowly, Lili nodded.

She truly had lucked out with the boy.

Nowadays, finding an experienced Adventurer willing to teach someone for free was pretty much impossible. Finding a needle in a haystack kind of impossible, in fact. However, without even asking for compensation, the boy had simply began doing so without a second thought.

"Let's move on." Wasting no time, Lili grabbed her backpack and followed after Fuzen in their search for other Monsters.

One by one they found Monsters roaming around on their own. However, the result had not been very good.

The second Monster had been a complete miss, and once again, it was immobilized by Fuzen at the last second.

Same with the third Monsters, as well as the fourth.

The story repeated itself on the seventh, and the eleventh as well.

However, on the fifteenth Monster, Lili had managed to shoot her bolt right into the Goblin's chest and killed it instantly.

"Excellent shot." Her partner said with a nod. "Don't forget that feeling."

"Y-Yes! Lili will not!"

"We will have you continue to use your crossbow later. Now, a question: have you ever killed a Monsters with your own two hands, by means of a melee weapon?"

"No, Lili has not…"

"Understood. Follow me."

They had found another Monster, which Fuzen quickly disarmed before holding it into a deadlock before Lili. "You have used your Little Ballista so far. Now, use the baselard."

"What exactly...should I do?"

"I want you to get used to the resistance." He informed, confusing the girl.

"W-What?"

"Cutting something or someone isn't like cutting through butter: muscles and bones will provide resistance against the action of being cut, even more so if the creature you are trying to kill is still alive and struggling. It is not uncommon for those who pick up the sword to find themselves unable to cleave cleanly through something, or someone, because of this unexpected resistance. Try stabbing this Goblin first, and learn how much resistance it's body provides, as well as how much force you need to use to pierce or cut it's body."

I-I get where he is coming from, but this is...so grim...The Pallum thought as she pulled out her baselard, cringing at the crying Goblin in front of her.

"...What is the matter?" The boy asked, noticing Lili's hesitation.

"I-It's just...it's whimpering..."

"...So?"

"…"

"Let me put it another way: if you were hurt and unable to run away because of a leg injury, and this Goblin found you hurt and unarmed, do you think it would care about you crying or whimpering?" His words struck her like a sledgehammer and she cursed herself mentally for her naivety.

Of course, the Monster would not care about her in the slightest.

No, not just Monsters: no one would care about her.

Grasping the handle of the weapon, Lili took a step forward and with all her might, thrust the blade into the Goblin's abdomen. Not unlike what Fuzen said before, there was resistance even as Lili put her whole body's weight behind the thrust, and no more than one third of the blade managed to pierce through the hardy muscles of the Monster's.

The Monster itself struggled and tried to scream but Fuzen kept his hold on it's neck firm to avoid having other Monsters drawn to their location because of it's cries of pain.

"It's...It's stuck."

"Yes. Pull it out." Lili nodded, and though it required quite a bit of effort, pulled the blade out of the Monster which was still alive. "Again. Ait at the centre of it's chest, where the Magic Stone is located."

Lili nodded and performed another thrust. Feeling the tip of the blade cracking the Magic Stone, the Monster turned into ash a single moment later. "Lili...did it!"

"Mhm. Good job. Are you now aware of how much resistance these Monsters provide?"

"Yes, Lili believes so."

"Good." He nodded, and walked on, the girl following him. "We will find another Monster. I will take away it's weapon. You will then proceed to fight and defeat it."

She stopped in her tracks, and hearing the steps behind him die out, Fuzen turned around. "Is something wrong?"

"L-Lili has been a Supporter her whole life. I have never fought against a Monster before…"

"Then 'tis as good a time as any." Her partner said. "Are you scared?"

She felt slightly insulted at the question.

Of course she was scared. Facing off against a Monster by herself? Though she had received her Falna a long time ago, her God rarely took the time to Update her Status, so her overall attributes were only slightly higher than the average newbie Adventurer's.

However, because she was a Pallum, the weakest race under the sun, even those slightly higher numbers meant nothing when compared to, for example, a Human or Beast People who just received their Falna. "Of course Lili is scared…"

"That is...understandable, I suppose. Facing off by oneself against an enemy for the first time can be nerve wrecking. However, I don't think you need to worry too much about it."

"H-Huh?"

"I am here, am I not? I won't let anything happen to you. Besides, I also have healing potions at the ready. It is going to be alright."

Fuzen did not think he said anything out of the ordinary: as the stronger one of the two, it fell upon him to assure his Supporter's safety and pace himself to match her. This way of thinking had been his for as long as he could remember. It was only natural for him. However, for the girl looking up to him with almost teary eyes, it was something she had never before experienced in her short and harsh life. "...You really are weird…"

"Am I? I see..."

"U-Uh, sorry! I didn't mean it!"

"No, it is alright. I do not take it as an insult. However, may I inquire as to why you believe me to be weird, Arde-sama?"

Why, he asks…?

There were countless reasons why he was weird: he shared the profit fairly with her, he didn't beat her, he didn't use her as bait, he didn't laugh at her, he protected her, he even gifted her weapons she could not afford, and took precious time from his day to teach her how to defend herself...Why would he not be weird?

Should...should I tell him? About how other Adventurers are? About how he is different…?

…

No. He is still young. If I tell him, he might...change. "Please forget I said anything, Master Fuzen."

"...Very well, then. Onwards we go." Deciding not to stick his nose in any further, Fuzen once again lead the way, Lili just a few steps behind, her eyes glued on his back.

It might be just for a short while. It might even just be an act. But...I want to experience this just a bit longer…

XXX

He was truly impressed.

Beginner as she was, his new companion, Lili, had proved herself eager to learn and try out his tips, and unlike the day before her trust in him was palpable.

On the Upper Floors, he had her fight against a weak Monster after taking care of it's weapon. Before the fight he showed the Pallum girl how to enter a stance and what movements were possible from there. She was short, like any Pallum, so she had the advantage of being low, a position from which one could use explosive power to strike quickly and fast.

She wasn't talented, that much he had to say honestly: she nearly let herself be bitten and clawed by the first couple of Monsters he had prepared for her. But by the time she faced off against the 6th Goblin, and after a couple of rehearsals with Fuzen, she managed to avoid the first three attacks coming her way and used an opening to jump forward, thrusting her baselard into the Monster's chest, thus killing it instantly.

He had praised her achievement, as it was only natural: reward and punishment should be handed out accordingly.

She had done well overcoming the first of many walls within her, and as such, praise was allowed. Still, for whatever reason Lili had blushed intensely at the words, pulling her hood even more across her head in an attempt to hide herself.

Weird as she was, Fuzen did not question her reasons for doing so and simply guided the way forward. Ever moving on, they had reached deeper Floors: here Lili's crossbow would not prove useful to kill Monsters. However, Fuzen had her shoot at higher-tier Monsters nonetheless, to have the girl learn their weak-spots.

For example, the Little Ballista had enough power to pierce an Orc's knee thus slowing it down enough for Lili to escape, should one get near her. His desire was never for her to become a fighter overnight, he had simply wanted to teach her how to survive, something she was learning very fast.

So fast, in fact, she began to shoot at Monsters trying to approach Fuzen as he was fighting large groups of them, hitting their knees, thighs or wings if they were flying and thus taking some pressure off her partner.

He had actually not expected her to learn so fast.

In melee combat she left much to be desired, but her accuracy with the crossbow only got better with each bolt she fired. Was it perhaps that simple to use ranged weaponry? Fuzen didn't know, for he would not need such weapons, not now nor never.

Besides teaching her a bit about combat there was something Fuzen wished Lili to learn even more: the Dungeon's layout. Lili had said before that her highest reached Floor had been the 9th Floor. As such, Fuzen took it upon himself to show her anything beyond that Floor up to the 18th Floor.

The main routes, the side routes, the areas with collectible ores, the sites where Monsters usually gathered in high numbers, the areas where Monsters spawned at higher rates than usual, the sites where herbs grew regularly and much, much more.

Unknown to most people even in his Familia with the exception of Finn, he had taken his lessons from the Captain very seriously and continued reading and learning even in his spare time, meaning before bed

Naturally, even before his decision to become a better Adventurer, Fuzen had memorized the maps of the Dungeon Floors and how they overlapped on each other, however now he had knowledge on anything up to the Middle Floors.

And he truly meant anything.

Thus, roughly nine hours had passed since they walked into the Dungeon. Naturally, reaching the 18th Floor even at a slow speed would normally not take that long, however Fuzen took his time and showed Lili everything on each Floor thus why so much time had passed.

Nonetheless, they were now almost at the 18th Floor. Once there, he would show her which shops to visit and which to avoid, grab something to eat, and then make their way-

M..t.r c.l. u..n m.!

The voice once again, rattling his brain with the same force like someone was hammering needles into his skull with a sledgehammer without trying to be delicate about it. Fuzen didn't know why, but it was getting more frequent.

...Good thing I am always focused, since that one time with Udaeus. He shook his head, holding it in one hand: he was focused all right, but that didn't make the pain go away. It's only happened since my third Ki awakening. Have I gone completely insane, or is there something reaching out for me? But what? Why?

"Master Fuzen, are you alright?"

"...Mhm. Peachy. Let's move on. We are almost at the final destination for today."

"Y-Yes!"

...If it's related to me being inside the Dungeon, then I simply need to investigate this more. Solo, and on my own. I've got Arde-sama with me now, and that expedition coming up soon...Guess I'll come here in a couple of days, and meditate on this matter plaguing my mind.

XXX

"So, did that really happen?" The High Elf in the room asked. Currently, with the prior day's matters in mind, Finn had called for a short Executive meeting, to discuss their youngest member.

"Yes. Surprising as it sounds, he was furious when he found out."

"I mean…" The Amazon twins exchanged looks, confusing on their faces. "Isn't that just stupid?"

"Maybe." Finn shrugged. In front of him was Fuzen's latest Status Update, from the night before.

"To be pissed about something like that, what the hell is he, a brat-?" Bete questioned, both legs resting on the table before him before realizing his own mistake in his choice of words. "...Ahhh, guess he is one..."

"I still don't get it, though." Tiona stated. "I'm a fighter and even I would like to have a Spell or two. What's so bad in having Magic?"

"Well, that might be so for people like us." Finn began explaining, leaning forward, his fingers intertwined. "However, don't forget that Fuzen is a swordsman."

"Even so, why be angry about getting cool Magic?"

"Hmm, how to explain this to you…?" Finn pondered on the question for a single moment, and already had his answer. "How much do you know about the Far East?"

"Almost nothing." Tiona admitted, as did her twin and Bete, as well as Ais.

"Hmm. Word rarely gets out of that country, after all." He shrugged, and sighed. "To put it shortly, it's a country filled with ever-lasting war."

"War…?"

"Yes. As far as I am aware, the Far East has not known lasting peace for a few hundred years now. They are also far behind other countries as far as technological or scientistic advancement go. Overall, it is not an ideal place to live. However, these circumstances have also made the easterners into hardy, disciplined people."

"...That's good and all, but how does that have anything to do with why Fuzen is angry at getting Magic?" The younger Amazon twin asked, confused.

"I was getting there, Tiona. As I said, these circumstances have had their effects on the people living there. Maybe it was because of how grim their futures were, or maybe it was because they simply wished to survive. I don't know the exact reason, however many easterners have picked up the sword and began training on the path of the sword. Thus, castes, dojos and clans began to form." Finn informed, having gotten the full attention of the younger Executives. Information on the Far East was hard to come by and the few easterners in Orario or generally outside of their sea-locked country rarely talked about their homeland.

"What's a dojo?"

"A place where people come together to train and practice the same fighting style as well as meditate." Riveria replied, and Finn nodded.

"Just so. It would not be wrong to say that the sword is the one and only symbol of power in the Far East. Anyone who doesn't want to live a life of servitude will pick up a sword. Be they a samurai, the aristocratic warriors of the Far East, a lordless ronin who serves no one but himself, or a simple swordsman who does not live by the same moral code and strict life of a samurai but nonetheless trains every day, all of them live by the sword and die by the sword. Honour also plays an important role in their lives: without honour, you are nothing, or so is their belief."

"That extreme?" Tione asked, the Captain nodding.

"Now, this is something that I didn't knew until recently, however the number of Deities in the Far East is very low. So low, in fact, I don't think you would need all fingers on both hands to count them. This created something different than what we are used to: multiple clans and dojos, all under the same God. For us, that would count as a Familia, however for the easterners, only those within their own caste, clan or dojo counts as Familia: everyone else is either the enemy or people they don't associate with."

"Wait, what? So they all have their Falna from the same God, but are...what, fighting each other to the death?" Bete asked next, for the first time showing signs of confusion at the Captain's explanation.

"Well, that's how it is." Loki replied. "The number of Monsters in the Far East is quite high despite the lack of a Dungeon, so they require people with Falna, as well. However, only a few Deities: Takemikazuchi, Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, Hachiman and all the others who always fancied the Far East even while in Heaven, decided to go to that country."

"Mhm. As such, even rival dojos or aristocrats who look down on commoners go to the nearest Deity for their Falna, and that Deity will grant their Falna to the worthy ones regardless of whom they have granted it before, even if those two individuals will fight each other to the death afterwards."

"That's...extreme."

"Quite so. But it's how they do things. Lastly, unlike us, easterners have a slightly different take on the Falna: they believe a God's Blessing will manifest their soul's true nature in Skills and Abilities. If, for example, you are a swordsman like Fuzen and receive the [Sword Fighter] Development Ability, or some Skill which directly affects their swordsmanship, then it is believed that said individual is truly worthy of of the sword and thus worthy of honour." Finn explained, before a slight frown appeared on his youthful face. "However, if someone who has walked the eastern path of power for countless years all of a sudden receives Magic, the complete opposite of the sword…"

"Then what? They are not worthy?" The perpetually irked werewolf asked, and two nods, from Finn and Loki respectively, followed his question.

"Yes. It is believed their soul is weak, and that they seek an...easier path to power. That is also probably why our own little swordsman was so angry last night: this is a stain on his honour as a swordsman."

"...That's fucking dumb." The werewolf replied with a sneer.

"Maybe so. However, that is how it is. Now, another matter which I wanted to discuss…" Finn said, and looked over to the Status before him. "This Spell Fuzen got is...unprecedented."

"How so?" Gareth asked.

"You see, when one of you children receive a Spell, the Deity in question can tell you about information about it: what element it is, what it does and so on. However…This Spell does not follow that rule. All we got is the name, Ikazuchi Jigen Bussei, and the chant."

"Unprecedented indeed." The High Elf nodded. As the senior Mage in the Familia and the best Mage in Orario and thus the world, Riveria also had not heard nor seen any such Spell before. "Well, I cannot say I would not wish to see this Spell our swordsman received, but...making him use it willingly is going to be hard."

"Brat just needs a good spanking to get him straightened up." Bete stated with a smirk, having already imagined how to piss off Fuzen in his head. "Nothing hard about it."

"I doubt you can manage it, Bete. You cannot just push aside a lifetime of discipline. All we can do for now is give him time. I will try to talk to him, and maybe somehow manage to get him to use this Magic at least while on expeditions. Though we don't know what kind of Spell it is, nor what it's uses are, Magic is never a hindrance."

Finn received a round of nods and they moved on to other matters which needed tending to. Still, despite him saying so, Finn had no real idea how to go around making Fuzen use his new Magic.

How do you even go around telling a fish to stop swimming in the water and start walking on land…?

XXX

They had fulfilled the day's objective, reaching the 18th Floor, and Fuzen showed her the makeshift city located there as well as informed her of which shops to avoid and which merchants were at least halfway decent in their wares and prices.

Afterwards they had grabbed a bite at one of the few food stands with decent food, and now, surprising to Lili, they were simply taking a relaxing walk through the dense forests of the 18th Floor.

She had never before seen anything like this: a whole Floors where Monsters did not spawn, a ceiling made of beautiful crystals which reflected the light from above, dense forests and wide lakes...It was beautiful, to say the least.

She had never thought the Dungeon could be beautiful.

"...It's nice." The statement came out on it's own, without Lili even realizing it. It did not escape Fuzen's ears, however he decided to not comment on it. It looked like the girl was actually enjoying herself, and it would be rude to disturb her while so.

At least her Ki feels slightly better than before. As a Disciple of the Lighting Sword Style, I cannot allow myself any moment of laxity, of forgetting why I fight. However, I at least know that others need their breaks and...fun time, as Tiona-sama would say.

It was not an ability he had great mastery of, as it was not part of the Lighting Sword Style.

More truthfully, it was mostly a follow-up perk of having awakened his K: sensing that same life-force in others. It was not anything mind-blowing, however. He could simply perceive how others...felt, but mostly in a gut feeling kind of perception: faint and unreliable, but present nonetheless.

With that same perk he had felt a great darkness inside the young Pallum's soul. However, though not by a great deal, that darkness had subsides. It was not really his business why, as her life was her own, however if there was no reason not to help her however he could then why should he not do it?

"Master Fuzen, do you often come here?"

"Not at all. This Floor provides no challenge for my blade. The most I do is pass through this Floor towards the next."

"Then...why are we having a walk right now?"

He looked over his shoulder at her: a weak, small girl, her backpack twice her own width and almost twice her size. That had not changed from how she was when they first met a short while ago. However, the look in her eyes changed, if only slightly. "...Because I felt like it. Are you mayhaps unhappy with my decision?"

"N-Not at all! Lili is...uhh...having a pleasant time?"

"...That sounded like a question."

"Well...Y-You know, a Supporter has to do much for her Familia, so relaxed walks are not...well, in the job description…"

"...I see. Nonetheless, though there are no Monsters on this Floor, some can still get here from above or below. Stay vigilant."

"Yes!"

The group of two walked around one of the larger lakes, taking in the scenery, all the while keeping quiet, none of the two talking. Instead, the sound of nature talked for them: the sound of water running down a stream in the distance, the rustle of leaves from the many trees around them, the sound of their footsteps on the crisp grass beneath their feet..."Let us partake in a small break here."

Fuzen was first to break the silence again, pointing at the foot of a large, thick tree. Lili nodded, and taking off her backpack, went to sit down at the tree overlooking the crystal clear lake, Fuzen instead sitting down in a seiza posture, ready to draw his sword and spring into action at a moment's notice. "Is Master Fuzen tired?"

"A Disciple of the Lightning Sword Style is never tired." He replied, eyes closed as he meditated on his surroundings.

"Lighting Sword Style?"

"It is the martial school I belong to. You can probably compare it to a clan for easier understanding. In the Far East, there are many Sword Styles, as well as dojos, where individuals go to prove themselves worthy and pursue the path of power for as long as they live."

"...Does...Does Master Fuzen also pursue the path of power?" Lili asked, for once finding herself interested in learning about another person's life.

"Yes. I've been doing so for...seven? No, I'm eleven years old already, it's eight years. Since I was three of age."

"T-That young?"

"Yes." Fuzen nodded.

"...Why?"

"My reasons are my own, thank you very much."

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to pry…"

"Mhm. You seem quite interested in this topic. Does Arde-sama wish to pursue the path of power, as well?"

"N-No, that's impossible. I'm just...just a Pallum…"

"So?" He asked, looking over to his Supporter. "My Captain is just a Pallum, and he is a Level 6 Adventurer as well as the Captain of Orario's strongest Familia."

"You mean Braver?"

"The one and only. My respect for him is surpassed only by my respect for the Founder of my Sword Style, as well as mine own Mistress."

"Yeah, but...individuals like Braver are more like heroes, or something...Normal people like me...can't hope to achieve the same things…"

"Why not?" Fuzen asked bluntly.

As someone who had decided to grasp the heavens, he could not understand other people's inability to pursue their goals, no matter the cost. Was he weird, or were other people weird?

He did not know.

However, in his own opinion, people who used excuses like the one Lili just spoke were in the wrong.

"...Master Fuzen is very...strange. Normal people like Lili...we are unable to achieve the same feats…"

"...You are rather depressing, you know that, Arde-sama? Truthfully, it is slightly annoying." He replied, looking over to her. "Nothing ever came to fruition without hard and bloody work to back it up."

"Lili supposes that is right…"

"Would you like to hear a story, about a simple, normal boy?" He asked, and his Supporter raised an eyebrow. Though she had only met Fuzen recently, he had not struck him as a story teller. Nonetheless, she nodded, and Fuzen looked up, at the crystal ceiling.

"There is a boy in the Far East, who had been born in a small village where nothing of importance ever happened. He was a normal boy when he was born: nothing about him was extraordinary. However, as luck would have it, he was struck with a deadly illness when he was but only a child. Unlike here in Orario, the Far East is the very definition of a backwater country. Doctors and healers are few in numbers, medicine is scarce and the medicine that does exist is kept for the elite and the wealthy. If there was one streak of luck the boy had, it was that a Deity lived near the village, a Deity that lived in the Far East for as long as his grandparents own grandparents could remember. Though the boy was weak and no one expected anything of him, that Deity saw a flame burning within his weak and frail body: the flame of resolution, of undying aspiration. Though the Deity was a God of Warriors, he nonetheless decided to share his Blessing with this frail boy, despite the fact that the boy could not go through the trials said Deity bestowed upon anyone who wished to be blessed by him. That Falna was also what saved his life, as the Blessing strengthened his weakened body, just barely enough for him to not die. Do you want to know what the boy did after receiving his Falna?"

"What?" The Pallum girl asked, by now her focus solely on Fuzen.

"He trained. He had a dream, after all: to become a swordsman, and as far as I know, to stand side by side with his friend against that which needed to be slain. Even as his body screamed in pain, even as he coughed blood, even as he vomited, even as he broke into a cold sweat, he trained. Sometimes three minutes, sometimes five minutes, on good days mayhaps even ten minutes per day. Nonetheless, he always collapsed, his illness never allowing him to get stronger. But even so, he trained. Even though it amounted to almost nothing, day by day by day, he did it, if only to get a fraction of a step closer to his goal."

"...Was that a story told in your country, Master Fuzen?" Lili asked after a short pause where she tried to understand the meaning behind the sudden story.

"...No." Came the reply, followed by a shake of his head. "It is the story of my...hmmm...friend."

"M-Master Fuzen's friend?"

"Yes. That boy is from the same village as me. I lost count of how many times I dragged him back inside his home all the while he was coughing blood from over-straining himself. He was an orphan, as many children are in the Far East, and had no one to look after him. Most probably, he would have died if I had not used the little money I had left after exterminating Monsters in my region to buy him food and what few medicinal herbs could be bought from the nearby villages."

"Is...is he still alive?" Lili asked.

"I believe so. I often write letters back home to my former God, Hachiman-sama, with whom my friend now lives. In the last letter I received not much had changed, as Hachiman-sama wrote."

"I see...The reason Master Fuzen told me this story...Was it to tell me that everyone's dreams can come alive?"

At the question, Fuzen looked over to Lili, a frown on his brows. "Who in their right mind would say rubbish like that?" His own question had Lili flinch.

"So...that's not it?"

"Of course not." He stated bluntly. "If all people could achieve their dreams, then this world would become a utopia, or the closest thing resembling one. It is not a utopia. Quite on the contrary, in my opinion."

"Then why...did you tell me that story?"

"Because I felt like it would help you."

"...How?"

"...Sigh...You are weak." Fuzen said without hesitation. "That is an undeniable fact. Still, even my friend, ill as he is, thin as he is, coughing blood every day, is stronger than you. Why is that? You are living here, in the Dungeon City. You have a Falna. You have a functioning body that is not working against you. By all accounts, you should be stronger than him, yet you are not. Why?"

"...Because...because….Lili is...a Pallum, the weakest race…"

"Rubbish." Came a lighting fast reply, lacking any sort of emotion behind it. "If you ask me, that is simply the excuse behind which you hide to avoid the pain and suffering of self-progress."

His words were harsh but not untrue, and Lili knew this. She bit her lip: she was angry at the boy, yet at the same time, she did not feel the same anger she felt for other Adventurers. It was an unprecedented kind of anger. "...Master Fuzen said that dreams almost never come true. Why go through this hopeless path, then, if it doesn't lead anywhere?"

"...A good question, yet also a simple one. The same reason as to why my friend goes through the pain of trying to hopelessly improve himself every day. He knows full well he will never grasp his goal. Until I found out about that illness-curing Elixir, so did I. Yet, he continues to try. Why do you think this is so?"

"...Lili...doesn't know…"

"It's meaning." Fuzen replied after a moment of silence. "We all seek it, after all. In the end, our souls are not hungry for wealth, fame, comfort or power. They are hungry for meaning."

"…!"

"It may be hopeless. It may be foolish. It may be impossible. But as long as it has meaning, then it is worth pursuing, even if you have to tear yourself to shreds and even if you die just one step into the endless path. That is my way. That...is honour."

Another moment of silence washed over the two and Lili took this moment to reflect on what she had been told, as well as how those words affected her life so far.

Was there any chance of something turning out differently if she had followed that mindset? Would she had been triumphant over the Adventurers who used her as nothing more than an object to be thrown away at the first chance, or would she had died without even them?

If she had died, would she had been more satisfied with her than she was now?

She did not know, for so far, she had not looked at her hardships of her tormenting life, from the perspective Fuzen used. She was a weak Pallum, born into a Familia which did not care for her. All she could do was bow and serve and be satisfied with whatever those better than her gave her, even if she was offered nothing at all. But…

"...Heh. Is Master Fuzen trying to be some sort of hero, inspiring the weak in their moment of need?" Lili asked, almost with a chuckle.

"...No. I happen to hate heroes with a passion, after all." He replied, taking even Lili herself by surprise.

In the city of Orario, heroes were a hot topic, after all.

Everyone was eager to hear stories of heroic deeds, or to perform said heroics deeds themselves so that they may be called heroes by the Gods. Yet here he was, a boy not even older than her, saying he hated heroes.

She even believed him, for she noticed hatred being imbued in his words, as well as being shown on his face. "Heroes...are never there when you need them. Whatever they save some princess simply because they wish to copulate with her, or slay some dangerous foe that in the end, even my current self could slay, it matters little to me. Heroes do not relate to people like us: they do not relate to the weak. They do not relate to the little, nameless people."

She was speechless.

The pure hatred in Fuzen's voice made her skin crawl and it made her be thankful she was not a hero herself, for that hate being directed solely on her would have made her nauseous. "...Then, if you hate heroes and are not trying to be one yourself, why did you tell Lili all those things?"

"...Because we are more similar than you think."

She knew she should not have, but Lili felt the anger rise within her, already at risk of erupting. With great yet difficult self restraint, she kept it within her. "And why would you think that?"

"You look like someone who understand it: someone who understands that humans are far scarier than Monsters ever could be."

"And just what do you know of me?!" She had been unable to contain her anger anymore, and it simply poured out of her as she shot up to her feet, as if Fuzen had been at the centre of all her hardships. She knew it was stupid, the boy was not the reason for her misfortunes. So then, why was she angry?

...What the hell? Am I...Am I angry that someone like him didn't show up sooner…?

While Lili was wondering about her own burst of emotions, Fuzen looked up at her, hazel eyes meeting chestnut ones. "Know? I know nothing of you. However, you have already told me much."

"…?"

"Those who have experienced it can also feel it in others, even though I do not understand why myself."

"...What?"

"...Suffering is a voiceless, universal language, after all."

XXX

"That was...wrong." The boy said, pointing at the lower half of the woman's body. "Your legs. You are swift and agile, but you make useless movements that have no real reason behind them. That is why you cannot slay Monsters faster. For a Level 4 Adventurer, you are rather inefficient when it comes to fighting, aren't you, Autumn-sama?"

"Gah-...That's harsh…" The Cat Person in question replied, her motivation turned down a notch from the harsh feedback.

At the current moment, the Second Group was once again on a small-scale expedition into the Lower Floors, mostly meant to slay Monsters on their own as they had no Quest assigned to them as a group.

Well, in all honesty, it all began with Fuzen.

He had been asked by Amid to collect some materials for her, mostly found in the humid areas of the Water City. First to hear about the sudden request had been Line, who then told this to Aki, who told Cruz, who told Raul, who then told the others.

By the time Fuzen had reached the Dungeon, the Second Group was already there, some panting as if they had rushed. Though Fuzen had told them there was no reward for them, the group nonetheless insisted on coming along and he saw no reason to turn them down as long as they could keep up with him.

Naturally, they couldn't.

With his Ki pool larger than ever, Fuzen could use his Lighting Drive for much longer as well as for much greater distances before needing a short break, and as such, the group's chances of keeping up with him were slim from the very start.

By the time the Second Class Adventurers caught up with him, Fuzen had mostly gathered everything he needed, and after they helped complete his gathering, they decided to stay and slay Monsters for a while longer. Fuzen agreed too, as Amid said her request was not urgent.

Nonetheless, he would not tarry long.

And just like that, somewhere along the way, he had begun giving out tips for the close combatants. He would have not figured it out on his own, as he did not pay any attention to matters like these, however the Captain had told him that for some reason, the Second Group felt rather motivated to get stronger every time Fuzen himself was nearby.

Why exactly, Finn did not tell him, but as his goal now included becoming a better Adventurer he decided to teach them what little he could without going into teaching them his Sword Style.

"So...how would I make better use of my lower body, then?" Aki asked after pondering on his words for a couple of moments but failed to come up with anything on her own. She had reached Level 4 for a while now, and in all honesty, she was one of the Familia members who rarely got injured despite being a front fighter. She did not think her movements were lacking, taking that in consideration.

"It's simple. You move well, but simple. Limited. The human body counts among those of vertebrates, and thus, our spine and bones limits our freedom of movements. However, we nonetheless have many joints: ankles, knees, hips, wrists, elbows, shoulders, and even our flexible spine. Those joints allow us incredible range of movement, and if used correctly, a burst of explosive power and speed. However, you lack that sync with your own body. You do not understand your own natural capabilities."

"...Joints, huh? Then, what would you recommend?"

"..Do you remember the first time we were in a party together?" Fuzen asked, and Aki nodded. She remembered, all right. Taking down a Green Dragon on his own even back then...She would not forget that anytime soon. "Then do you remember how I fought back then? That was a fighting style for group close combat and not part of my Lighting Sword Style. Quick movements, quick turns, and using your surroundings for mid-air attacks. It is my belief as a swordsman that something resembling that stylewould suit you well and make good use of your Cat People enhanced agility, as well as your trained, subtle and well-proportionate body."

The group stopped walking, all of them looking at Fuzen with surprised looks on their faces, Aki even more so than the others. "...I know you are honest without fail, but...you might want to consider how you choose your words…" The Cat girl said.

"Hm? Why? We are fighters, and you cannot fight without knowing your body. In mine own opinion, you have a fine body and it is a shame you do not know this to it's full extend."

"...Sigh…"

"Pfff! Fine body you have there, Aki!" Cruz teased, barely managing to hold himself back from laughing.

"It's fine now, but I wonder how this will feel in a couple of years from now…" Aki sighed, imagining how being told the same words from an older Fuzen would feel like. At the moment, he was but a child being honest without knowing the full implicitly of his own words, but once he matured…

Yeah, it wasn't a comfortable thing to imagine.

All the while, Fuzen himself shrugged off the snickering of the others behind him and focused on the path ahead. His mind found itself wandering to only one thought: if this was enough.

He had decided to become a better Adventurer to improve both himself and the Lighting Sword Style.

Yet even now, he had little idea of what an it meant to be a better Adventurer.

He cut down Monsters, completed the requests Amid made of him, which in turn helped save lives back at her clinic, he had begun training almost daily with Tiona in close combat and tiring as it was, even decided to do the same with Ais, sparing with her whenever time allowed. Lastly, he had begun learning under the Captain all there was to learn about their Familia and how it was run, how expeditions were planned, what to prioritize and so on.

But, was that truly all?

Was he now a better Adventurer?

...No. No, I am not.

Though he did not know what it meant to be a better Adventurer he knew he didn't felt it. When he improved in his swordsmanship, or when he improved as a Disciple, he felt it. But, he didn't feel it now.

...This is troubling. However...I can only move forward. If I don't know what to do, then...all I need to do is keep being efficient.

"...I will be staying on the 24th Floor a while longer after this." Fuzen informed his companions after a nod to himself.

"Huh? Why?"

"Because I need to be efficient."

"Efficient?"

"...Yes. Though it was not requested, I shall gather even more materials for Teasanare-sama. That...is what it means to be efficient." He then tilted his head, eyes focused on the floor below. "I think."

"Oh, so you're thinking that way ahead, are you?" Aki asked with a grin. "Very well. We will come with you."

"...You are not required to do so. There is no reward for you even if you help me."

"We don't need a reward to help a fellow Familia member, dummy. That's what a Familia does."

"...Hmm? Would you said that mindset to be needed for an Adventurer?" Fuzen asked.

"Well, I would certainly say so." The Elf in the party replied.

"I see. I shall remember this. With that said…" Fuzen looked over to Alicia and the bow strapped to her back. It was not imprecise to say she was probably the best archer he knew personally. The face of a certain Pallum girl popped in his mind, and with a nod, he decided that asking could not hurt. "Forestlight-sama."

"Hm?"

"Would you perhaps have any tips regarding archery? More specifically, regarding crossbows?"

This too, he believed, was something which could make him a better Adventurer.

XXX

He had finished much earlier than he thought.

Even taken into account the time he spent together with the Second Group to slay Monsters, and the time they needed to gather materials on the 24th Floor, he had nonetheless returned to the surface much sooner than expected.

Walking straight to the Dian pharmacy, Fuzen dropped off the requested materials as well as the extra materials he had gathered on his own. It seemed his decision had been a good one: thought initially surprised, Amid had been very grateful for the additional materials.

Despite not having a shortage of them, they would nonetheless be helpful in experimentations, both for Amid and the less experienced doctors of her Familia.

With a reward of three High-Potions in his bag, Fuzen bowed to the silver-haired doctor and made his way back to his Familia. Though the sun was setting, there was still some time left for a bit of training.

He looked forward to it.

Once back at the Manor he made for his room, where he stored the potions he had received. Despite being High-Potions which any other Adventurer would save for a truly dire situation, Fuzen knew he would use them rather quickly: sparing with Tiona was not...easy on his body.

With that done and behind him he returned to the ground floor of the Manor, and made for the back garden. He stepped onto the terrace standing high above the ground, and walked towards the steps.

He descended one step.

Then two.

On the third, he stopped.

He stood motionlessly for many seconds after closing his eyes, and simply listened.

He had not wanted to believe it, so he listened some more.

And then some more.

However, Fuzen was a realist.

He had known from the first few seconds what was happening: the additional seconds he spent listening were just a realization that he had grown soft.

He continued to descend down the steps, all the while continuing to take in what was going on by means of sounds alone.

A sword was being used in training nearby.

He listened to the sound of the strikes, as well as to the air being cut: taking in consideration the wind curved around the blade, it was an eastern katana.

One thousand two hundred grams in weight, a standard sized katana.

There was the slightest extra resistance of the wind, meaning the guard was thick and clunky without holes to allow the wind to pass through more fluidly, as well as square in shape.

As he neared the sound of the sword, he was able to make out the exact strikes.

Whoosh!

The sword was being held with two hands, by someone who was used to using only one.

The sound of cutting air was sharp, but sub-par: it was being swung at roughly one hundred and twenty kilometres per hour.

Shameful.

Step.

Side step.

Roll.

Upwards slash.

Downwards slash.

Walking slowly towards the source of it all, Fuzen made out the exact movements being used.

It was shameful, to the point where he wanted to rip off his hair.

The distance between the steps, the time required to change from one movement to another, the swings which were off course, audible just in how it cut the air.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. It's all wrong...

He neared the source, and just then he heard a faint, emotionless voice.

"Lighting Sword Style: Drifting Lighting Hail."

The technique followed, and he continued to listen.

He had not believed it possible, but nonetheless, that it was this person using the techniques managed to disappoint him even more.

Disgusting…

She was making a complete mockery out of the Lighting Sword Style.

His Lighting Sword Style.

Just then, he arrived at the corner of the Manor, and stood there, peeking towards where she trained.

"...Almost there…" She whispered to herself, her back turned to where Fuzen was. Gripping the katana she got into position. "Lighting Sword Style: Replacing Heaven and Earth."

…

"Again-" Having executed the Technique, Ais turned to make for her original spot, and then, golden eyes met hazel. "F-Fuzen." She said no louder than a whisper, stopping in her tracks.

"…"

"This is...uhh…" Ais looked at her katana, then at Fuzen, then back at the katana. The boy did not reply.

"…"

"Uhh…I...I can…" She stuttered, and feeling Fuzen's cold gaze upon her, Ais felt the need to keep her eyes downwards, at the ground. The boy did not reply.

"…"

"I...I'm sorry..."

He took a step forward, Ais looking up again. He approached her, his expression unreadable.

Roughly one meter in front of her, he stopped.

I thought...he would praise my achievement. But...that does not look to be the case..."I'm truly sorry-" Before she could finish she noticed Fuzen shaking his head slowly. "H-Huh?"

He stopped, and then his lips parted slowly. "Tenchu."

"W-What-? Gah!" Her air had been cut off as the pommel of his sword buried itself in her solar plexus, the strike too fast to react to. Now unable to breath Ais fell to her knees, her back bent forward in an attempt to ease the pain in her stomach. As she was coughing, she felt the cold texture of Fuzen's scabbard slowly pushing her face up from under her chin

. Their eyes met again, but this time, even though she was on her knees, Fuzen looked like a giant instead of a boy, his eyes lacking any sort of emotion or empathy inside of them. There was something, akin to an aura, being emitted from every pore of his body, and it made her skin crawl.

"Tenchu." He repeated, and before Ais could even part her lips to speak, her head snapped to the side with a thunderous sound, the blood gathering in her mouth. "Divine Punishment, translated in your language."

"I'm...I'm-"

"Right understanding." He spoke, once more cutting her off. Their eyes met once again and he continued, his scabbard still placed below her chin. "Right intention. Right speech. Right action. Right livelihood. Right effort. Right mindfulness. Right concentration. Eight principles, all of which need to be placed behind each and every swing of a Disciple's sword. Eight principles, dominating over six hundred years of my school's history. Eight principles, in pursuit of which countless of my predecessors died in an attempt to grasp and utilize in perfect balance along their sword. That is the Lighting Sword Style. That is the Noble Eightfold Path. That is our honour."

His explanation came to an end and Ais felt the slightest push of her head up, originating from the scabbard placed under her chin. He stared at her for a long moment, examining her face with a child's curiosity.

And then, that simple curiosity in his eyes turned to pure disgust. "...and you think you can steal it?"

Smack! The pain was sudden and sharp, and she felt the sword falling out of her hand. With a single downwards swing using his still sheathed sword, Fuzen had dislocated her shoulder in a mere moment.

"W-Wait…Please...I can..."

"No." Smack! And her head snapped to the other side faster than she could react. It was a simple scabbard he hit her with, but that simple scabbard was heavy, so very heavy...

F-Fuzen…"

"No." Without mercy he raised his sheathed sword and let it fall on her head with the same force, Ais needing to use her unharmed arm to push herself against the ground to avoid falling face-first in it.

"...Was it fun?"

"W-What…?"

"...Sigh...Forget it. It does not matter." He shook his head, almost as if in disappointment, and his sheathed sword was raised up in the air once again. "It truly...does not matter anymore. Simply..."

Fuze- !"

"Lighting Sword Style: Eightfold Path."

For a single moment, Ais felt a wave of calm, serene energy wash over her, it's origin no other than the boy before her.

It was a pleasant feeling, like standing in front of the rising sun in the morning and allowing oneself to bask in it's warm embrace.

It lasted for a single, brief moment.

And then, hell followed.

SMACK!

WHACK!

SMACK!

How long it went on like that, Ais could not say anymore.

Everything hurt.

Truly everything.

After the first few hits, she had tried to stand up and jump away in an attempt to gain some distance.

Fuzen had shattered both her knees before she could do so with deadly and precise blows.

Her shoulders, her elbows, her wrists, her fingers, everything was broken by sheer brute force despite her Level 5 body and the hardness that came with it.

She stood on her knees near the Manor wall when it began: now, she was way further into he garden, her back against a wall which kept her from being push further back anymore.

Thinking was hard, as her brain rattled with pain after being hit so many times over the head.

She felt the blood pouring out of her mouth like rivers and her nose was broke, as well.

Breathing was truly hard. Probably because of her shattered ribcage.

She tried to speak, to tell him to stop, but it was impossible.

Everything hurt, and she could not move one single muscle on her own, let alone go through the complex process of using her throat and tongue to produce words.

She could not understand how this came to be. As a Level 5, to be overpowered by a Level 2...

…

No, she knew.

Through the sparing she had done with him, and through what she observed while on the expeditions they went on, she had known all along.

He was simply the better out of the two.

He was the better swordsman.

He was stronger.

He was a wall, which she knew, deep inside, to be nigh impossible to overcome.

The difference was too great, in skills and capabilities.

And despite knowing all that, she nonetheless went ahead and did it.

She regretted it now, of course.

After all, she realized her own foolishness.

Truly foolish, not unlike a young child poking a sleeping lion with a stick.

Naturally, the lion would eventually wake up, and without discrimination, tear the child to pieces.

This was no different, she understood now.

And so, she...gave up.

There was no escaping this anymore...

"...Pathetic. You mocked my Sword Style while possessing willpower that weak?" With her blurry vision she saw him shake his head before placing a foot on her chest, slowing drawing his sword from it's scabbard. "Was it the fact that we are of the same Familia? Or did you think your gender would be a helpful excuse? Just what did gave you the impression that it was alright, that it was safe,to try and steal the Lighting Sword Sword away from me?"

"…"

"...Sigh...It doesn't matter." His sword now fully drawn, Fuzen pulled his arm back, the sword glittering in the last rays of the sun from beyond the horizon. "Simply...simply die now."

Without hesitation, Fuzen let his sword fall down, it's destination none other than Ais's neck.

Their eyes met for yet once time, and though her vision was blurry, she nonetheless noticed it, deep inside his eyes: nothing.

Simply...nothing.

...So similar…

…

"Back off...Captain."

"Just what do you...think you are doing, Fuzen?"

Before the sword could cleave through it's destination, Fuzen had felt a hand grabbing his forearm from behind. He did not need to turn around to see who it was, his Ki had spoken for him. "Back off. I am killing her, here and now."

"No." The Captain replied, his usual carefree and cheerful tone replaced by one of pure, hardened authority. "Cease your struggle. Now."

"I said...back off."

Despite the two looking as if standing motionlessly, both Fuzen and Finn were in a delicate struggle: one struggling to overpower the other to allow his sword to cut, while the other struggling to keep that from happening.

Just then, as both of them were locked in their struggle, another pair of big, callous hands grabbed Fuzen by the wrist and shoulder and push him down to his knees. Finn lost not one second and followed after the example of Gareth, who had just arrived. "For fuck's sake boy, what the hell are you doing?!"

"What does it look like? I am killing Ais Wallenstein." Fuzen tried to move, to shake the two of them off him and resume his duty. However, two Level 6 Adventurers, holding him tightly to his knees...even he had no chance of escape from this.

His chance had slipped past his fingers.

For now, at least.

"Fuzen. Don't think for a moment this will go unpunished."

"Keep your threats to yourself, Captain." Fuzen replied, the slightest hint of annoyance in his tone. "You are threatening me for protecting the one thing I have left in my life? What about this thief, this...cur, who tried to steal my everything from me? What about her, Pallum?!"

"...What?"

He did not pay his Captain anymore attention, instead looking straight ahead at the broken mess that was now the Sword Princess."...So, I ask again, was it fun, Wallenstein?" Fuzen asked with a venomous hiss. "Making use of my kindness to spar with you, only to mock me behind my back?! To try and steal my everything from me?! How long have you been at it? Since a month ago? Half a year? A year? Spitting in my face while I did my best to help you grow as a sword-woman, looking so happy after each spar only to go and mock me behind my very own back while stealing my Sword Style...Was it fun? TELL ME!"

"…"

"...The silence is your answer, then. And to think I almost considered a sow like you a friend, a kindred spirit…" He shook his head, the hateful look in his eyes only growing. "Nevermore."

Deep inside, despite his boiling rage, he was actually grateful to her.

After all, since arriving in Orario he had grown soft, and she helped to open his eyes to something he had known for a long, long time, but somehow managed to push aside as if avoiding it:

In the end, people could not be trusted.

That was the reason why the path of power, the path of the Lightning Sword Style, was a lonely, solitary one.

He had somehow forgotten it along the way.

But now, he had been reminded.

For that, at the very least, he was truly grateful to her...

XXX

Six.

That's the number, in case you were wondering.

Six pages of Smack, Smack, Smack.

I have issues -_-

Anyway, regarding the alterations to the chapter compared to the original version, I changed Fuzen's interactions with Lili a bit, tried to flesh out a bit more that he can feel a very faint, twisted version of sympathy for others.

Or at this point, I guess it would be better to say that he 'could' feel such a thing.

Also decided to expand a bit more into the Lightning Sword Style at the end, as I believe that going a bit further into the mechanics of said Style would not intervene with the overall mystery aspect I am going for.

And for those of you who might recognize some names: yes, I did take real-life inspiration from certain religious practices and life-styles and threw them all in a big pot, added some fantasy stuff to them while somehow managing to add in the Falna as well and all of that resulted in the LSS.

Suffice to say, it was a lot of work which required a lot of research.

But yeah, that's about it.

Not a lot more to say.

Hope you enjoyed the Chapter and until next time.

Kay bye.