Chapter 71: The Three Sword Style.
After hearing that Edgar was not aware of the sword styles, Gordon didn’t waste time and brought him to an empty area.
"How can you not know the basics, Young Master?" he cried, holding his sword. "Even a child knows the sword style names."
’I am sorry for being someone ’out’ of this world.’
Edgar grumbled inwardly, but he didn’t let it show on his face.
With a curious look, he asked, "Are you going to show me then?"
"No, I am going to teach you!" he replied aggressively. "It would be shameful if anyone challenged you to a duel and all you did was jump around."
Edgar’s lips twitched, but he agreed with the man and his way of thinking.
’I really need more ways to keep myself safe after what I did with the Northern Sect.’
"Alright! Listen carefully." Gordon said, unsheathing his sword.
"There are countless sword styles in the world, but almost all of them originate from three fundamental schools."
He raised the blade in front of him. "If you understand these three, you’ll be able to recognize most swordsmen the moment they draw their weapon."
Edgar nodded silently.
"The first..."
Gordon lowered his stance, his sword pointing straight toward Edgar’s throat.
"Is the Attack Sword Style."
The man drew back his sword and began explaining how it worked.
This style of swordsmanship emphasizes power and aggression, focusing on striking down the opponent first.
As a result, many practitioners become short-tempered and belligerent.
To react swiftly, practitioners are discouraged from wearing heavy armor and are encouraged to wear light clothing for maximum mobility.
"It is a sword style that was created by the legendary Sword God, Arthur," Gordon said slowly. "He was the first human to kill a Dragon Nightmare."
Edgar’s ears perked up when he heard something new.
’A Sword God and a dragon?’
It was the first time he had heard about dragons in this world.
’Wait, come to think of it, one of the eleven monsters that came out from the remains of the Sun looked like a dragon...’
Perhaps the one that Arthur killed was one of its offspring.
Edgar didn’t even think the legendary Sword God had killed one of those eleven monsters.
He firmly believed no human could kill any of those things.
Gordon continued with his teaching. "The second is the Defence Sword Style."
This style of swordsmanship specializes in defensive techniques, emphasizing parrying and counterattacking incoming attacks.
Since there are only a few ways to attack, the art of provocation is also employed to make the opponent take the initiative.
Gordon then began to tell Edgar the story he had heard about the style in his childhood.
The Defence Sword Style originated in the Kingdom of Warth, an adjacent kingdom.
It was said that the Kingdom of Warth was once plagued by a Sea King Nightmare that could kill any and every Aberrant.
The condition of the kingdom was so bad that the king announced whoever killed the Sea King would get the hands of his two daughters in marriage.
At that time, a man known as Ragnar took it upon himself to kill the Sea King.
Even though he was an ordinary man who had never held a sword in his life, his sheer talent for the sword made him a Sword God in just two years.
He then killed the Sea King, married the two princesses, and later became the new ruler of the Kingdom of Warth.
Gordon then looked at Edgar and said in a deep voice, "And lastly, the third style is called the Speed Sword Style."
The man quickly raised his sword and then moved his hand so fast that Edgar barely saw the blade change positions.
"It is a sword style that is the youngest, but it is still one of the deadliest styles."
Edgar rubbed his chin and looked at Gordon, who had a basic understanding of all three styles.
"Which style do you use?" he asked.
The old man sheathed his sword and replied, "Attack Sword Style."
He shrugged. "But I can also use the other two styles up to the Advanced level."
Edgar tilted his head. ,"Advanced level?"
Gordon nodded and explained, "There are seven levels to sword styles: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Master, Grandmaster, Domain, and lastly, Sword God."
Edgar silently memorized every rank before looking back at him. "Which one should I focus on?"
"You should first learn the basics of all three," Gordon replied without hesitation.
"A strong foundation is more important than mastering a single style too early."
"Once you’ve learned the fundamentals, you’ll naturally discover which style suits you best."
Edgar nodded. "Would you mind training me starting tomorrow morning?"
The young-looking old man bowed deeply. "It would be my honor, Young Master."
Edgar talked with him for some more time before walking away.
He walked around the Fortress and checked on all the progress before calling Oswald and Andrew to his house.
Once both of them were present, Edgar asked them to sit down on the sofa in the hall.
"Why did you call us, Young Master?" Andrew asked with an eager look on his face.
Instead of replying, Edgar took out the two Nightmare Shards that had already matured.
One of them was from the Turtle, and the other was from the Three-Legged Raven.
"Take them," Edgar said confidently. "This will help both of you down the line."
Andrew and Oswald looked at each other before carefully accepting the two Nightmare Shards.
Neither of them immediately reached out to absorb them.
Their expressions instead became solemn.
"...Young Master." Oswald looked at the two crystal-like Shards in his hands. "These are far too valuable."
Oswald thought of himself as someone old who didn’t have long to live. To waste such precious things on him was too much for his mind to handle.
"I have a lot of them," Edgar replied with a straight face. "And I want to confirm something as well."
He didn’t give them any chance to refuse as he said,
"You will take them once the Eternal Night is back."
Both of them shut their mouths and simply accepted the gift.
With a small bow, they walked out of the house, leaving Edgar alone in the hall.
After sitting idly for a long while, Edgar brought out a few Nightmare Stones.
Since arriving in this world, Edgar had wanted to try if he could...
’Absorb the Nightmare Stones like normal Aberrants...’
---
[A/n: Aberrant: they the Awakened Ones, those who can do magical things.]