Two Years Later
In the backyard of the sleepy wooden inn, Anos stood firmly on the ground, gripping a black-sheathed katana in his left hand. His body had grown significantly over the past two years, appearing now as an eight-year-old boy—muscular yet lithe, shaped by the relentless combat training of his mother, Celestia Ruth.
His strength wasn't just natural; it was honed through the Gold Body Technique, a powerful body-refining scripture he had unlocked during one particularly grueling quest: managing to touch his mother once during combat training.
It was a disaster… Anos thought, remembering his repeated failures to land even a single strike. His mother's movements were poetry—fluid, sharp, and terrifyingly precise. She could overpower him with pure strength, yet her finesse made her even more deadly.
He had succeeded in the end, thanks to his Imitation Spiral Eye, which had evolved from two tomoes to three. This increase had enhanced his dynamic vision drastically, allowing him to anticipate and react to movements he previously couldn't.
After each combat session, Celestia often prepared a medicinal bath for him, accelerating his recovery and improving his training efficiency.
Six years… today, I awaken my martial spirit, Anos thought, his crimson eyes flashing with three rotating tomoes.
Open my status.
A black interface appeared in front of him.
[Opening Status...]
[...]
[Name: Anos]
[Age: 6 years old]
[Title: Reincarnator]
[Martial Spirit: Not yet awakened]
[Innate Skills: Imitation Spiral Eye, Divine Light of Healing, Endless Hunger]
[Active Skills: Abyssal Blossom Tempest Sword Art (M), Throwing Art (M), Shadow Flash Steps (C), Rumbling Rock Punch (M)]
[Passive Skills: Cooking (C), Gold Body Technique (A), Sword Mastery (A)]
[Practiced: Abyssal Water Flow Technique, Throwing Art, Shadow Flash Steps, Rumbling Rock Punch, Gold Body Technique]
[Equipment: Fleeting Shadow, Dawn Cleaver, Dawn Fang]
[System Points: 368,000 SP]
Anos smiled, nodding in satisfaction. In the past two years, he had gained three additional rewards: Flash Step (incomplete), Rumbling Strike, and Gold Body Technique.
He had fused Flash Step and Ghost Step into a single advanced movement technique, creating Shadow Flash Steps, which allowed him to move like a flash and generate afterimages simultaneously.
His Rumbling Rock Punch combined Rumbling Strike and Rock Punch, producing a fist as fast as lightning yet hard as iron.
The Gold Body Technique had nine levels; he was currently at level two. According to Celestia, his physical strength already approached the realm of a spirit grandmaster.
I've improved a lot in these two years, Anos thought, shifting his gaze to the black-sheathed katana at his side.
Dawn Cleaver, he murmured.
Calmly, he unsheathed it. The black blade shimmered with intricate purple waves, resembling the pattern of Damascus steel.
[Name: Dawn Cleaver]
[Type: Weapon/Katana]
[Grade: Mid-Rare]
[Description: A katana forged by an expert blacksmith from cold iron ore. Its craftsmanship and material make it a masterpiece.]
He then drew a dagger from his hip, displaying the same purple-wave pattern along its edge.
Dawn Fang, he muttered, watching the light reflect across the blade.
[Name: Dawn Fang]
[Type: Weapon/Dagger]
[Grade: Low-Rare]
[Description: Forged from leftover cold iron ore, this dagger bears the mark of a master blacksmith.]
------------------------------
The Training Begins
Hmm? Anos tilted his head, placing Dawn Cleaver behind his back.
Swoosh!
A blur of movement struck the katana almost instantly.
Clank!
"Good, your senses have sharpened," Celestia Ruth said, stepping from the shadows with a small smile. "But this isn't enough, right?"
Her figure dissolved into thin air before he could react.
Anos' Shadow Flash Steps activated instinctively, creating an afterimage to fool her. Celestia's kick passed harmlessly through the phantom. He appeared beside her.
Rumbling Fist!
Anos unleashed a punch at his mother. She smiled calmly, responding with her own fist.
Bam!
The impact produced a muted thud.
"Good…" Celestia praised as Anos hurled his dagger toward her.
Swooosh!
She caught the dagger by the handle effortlessly. "Throwing knives won't work on me, Anos."
"I know…" he said calmly, slashing his katana through the air.
Second Sword: Falling Thunder Chop.
He slashed downward with vertical precision, creating a thunderous sound.
Clank!
Celestia parried with her dagger, eyes narrowing as Anos dashed forward, leaving two afterimages in his wake.
I've never used this before… Anos thought, placing the katana on his shoulder.
Fifth Sword: Heat Haze.
He and his afterimages slashed simultaneously. Celestia frowned—she had never seen this combination before.
Up! She rose, finding Anos descending from above.
"You can't dodge in the air, Anos," Celestia said, tossing the dagger toward him.
The dagger passed through his body, dissolving into haze.
"None of them are real," Anos commented, pointing his katana at her neck.
"Neither am I," she chuckled, vanishing into thin air.
Bam!
Cough!
Anos' stomach ached as he realized Celestia's fist had planted itself firmly there. He fell to his knees, clutching his abdomen.
"W-Why didn't you hold back a little?" he groaned, pain stretching his features.
A smile bloomed on Celestia's face. "If I held back, you wouldn't improve."
"But… my stomach…" he added, groaning further.
"You've exceeded my expectations these past two years," she said softly, patting his head. "Good job, my beloved son. But… you still lack something."
"I lack what?" Anos asked, raising his head to meet her gaze.
"Intent to kill," Celestia stated simply.
Anos froze for a moment. Haah… I still have a long way to go, he thought, exhaling heavily.