The First Step: Improved

"Okay, so I'm not losing my mind," Liam murmured to himself, looking at the sword lying on his chest. He took a deep breath to calm down, then picked up the sword, examining it closely. 'I've seen this sword before... I think it was in Akame Ga Kill,' he recalled, remembering the anime in great detail. 'Who can forget an anime where the author kills off everyone.' He mused.

'Yeah, this is Tatsumi's weapon—the adapting Imperial Arms, Incursio,' Liam realized, feeling the cold surface of the sword as he got lost in thought. 'A sword, huh? If I can use Incursio well, I could reach incredible heights. In the anime, Incursio's full potential was never unlocked when Tatsumi died.' Liam continued to ponder, 'From what I remember, activating Incursio requires a strong physique and a great determination.'

'My physique isn't anywhere near Tatsumi's level, and I don't have much experience with weapons,' he admitted to himself. He thought ahead to the future. 'In a few years, the chaotic events of the Marvel universe will start. I was just planning to earn some money in stocks and fly to a peaceful country with Pops. But with Incursio… I don't have to do that. I've already lived a mediocre life once. Now, with the chance to make this one special, I should give it my all.'

He smirked, envisioning the future. 'Being the strongest in the universe… that should be my goal.' His smirk faded as another thought crossed his mind. 'With everything I know about the future and all the lives at stake, can I really sit by and do nothing anyway?'

'But reality set in,' and he sighed. 'Right now, I hardly have time to train. I'm stuck at school for 10 hours a day to earn a degree I already have from my past life. With sleep on top of that, there's barely any time left to train my body, let alone learn weapon skills.' A plan started to form in his mind. 'Dropping out seems like the best option. I doubt I'll need money in the future, and if things get tough, I can just find gold in space or rob Asgard.' He mused, 'But how am I going to explain this to Gramps?'

Liam turned in for the night, thoughts of the sword and his future went through his head. For the first time in a while, he slept peacefully. The next morning, he went downstairs and greeted his grandpa, who had already prepared breakfast.

"You've been quiet lately, Liam. What's up?" Harold asked, giving him a knowing look.

Liam hesitated, unsure of how to bring it up. ''Well... I want to drop out of school."

His grandpa's reaction was immediate, surprise flickering across his face. "What? Why on earth would you want to do that?"

"I've already learned everything they teach there, Gramps. I want to travel."

"Travel? What are you, crazy?" Harold asked, his voice tinged with anger.

"Yes, Grandpa, school's nothing compared to real experiences. I can only travel the world while I'm young. Once I'm old, I'll have no choice but to settle down," Liam reasoned.

"No," Harold answered flatly. "You're not going anywhere. You need an education to get a good job and provide for a family. End of discussion."

"Please, Grandpa," Liam pressed, "this is my dream."

Seeing his grandpa's hand move toward his slipper, Liam quickly explained his plan, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.

"Don't worry, Gramps. I won't do anything reckless. I'll freelance while I travel, building skills so that I can still find a job here later," he promised.

Harold eyed him critically, slipper in hand. "Explain this plan more. You know I've always supported you, but as your guardian, I have to make sure you don't make bad choices."

Liam laid out his intentions in detail, explaining how he'd start freelancing in New York to earn some money before traveling to other cities worldwide. Harold listened in silence, occasionally nodding. When Liam finished, a deep quiet settled over the dining room until his grandpa finally spoke.

"So, you've been planning this for a while, huh?"

Liam nodded, and his grandpa let out a heavy sigh.

"If you're this serious about it, I'll let you go for a few years. But first, you need to learn how to protect yourself. I don't want police knocking on my door to tell me you died in some foreign country. You hear me?"

"Yes, Grandpa." Liam agreed, finishing his breakfast before heading upstairs. 'I need to find someone to teach me sword skills anyway,' he thought, 'It would be ridiculous to carry around a weapon like this without knowing how to use it.' He paused on the stairs as he heard his grandpa call his name.

"Liam."

"Yes, Gramps?" Liam replied, turning back.

"Know this," Harold said, voice firm. "I'll always be here waiting for you, no matter how things go."

"Thank you, Grandpa," Liam said, touched. 'I'm truly blessed to have someone like him.'

After a few days of searching, he heard rumors about a retired warrior who ran a dojo on the outskirts of Philadelphia—a former member of a respected martial arts team who had trained countless fighters for international tournaments. Without hesitation, Liam packed his things.

The journey took him through busy streets and quiet neighborhoods, the familiar chaos of his hometown giving way to the calm outskirts. Soon he boarded a train, watching the scenery change as skyscrapers gave way to green parks and rows of houses.

An hour later, he arrived in Philadelphia. Following the directions he'd been given, he navigated through the streets and eventually reached a narrow alley where he found the dojo.

The dojo had a peaceful aura, much like the ones Liam had seen in movies. ''It all feels more real. Maybe because it isn't in some kind of forest but beside some factory buildings.' Liam mused. The dojo's dark, weathered wooden walls made it look ancient but resilient, standing out amidst the concrete and glass structures surrounding it.

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This chapter has been updated to my current writing style. If there are any minor inconsistencies then I apologize, please comment because I'm trying to change them all.