Chapter 4 - Complete Thousand Transformations Sword Set

"I've said ENOUGH!" Thomas yelled.

Kyle simply dropped his sword and stepped back away from Orpal.

"Take him to the infirmary already." Thomas said.

Kyle strength behind his last hist was so strong that Orpal's neck swelled, making it hard to breath. The six minions behind Orpal grabbed him and left towards the infirmary.

"Only one person is enough, the rest come back here." Thomas ordered.

Five of the minions came back again.

"Okay, everyone must've noticed that Orpal took a beating without having a chance to do anything." Thomas was lecturing the class. "What Kyle did was something you all should've been doing. Instead of simply swinging you swords aimlessly, you should try to learn how to apply the Thousand Transformations Sword Set into your fights."

"Orpal attacks were so crude and simple that even with a big difference of power between Kyle and Orpal, Orpal was the one beaten in the end. If this was a real sharp sword, Kyle would've killed Orpal many times already. Kyle maliciously targeted the neck. Which is a good thing if you're in a fight to death, since the neck is the weakest part of the body that can actually kill you in a single hit. If you lose one member, you can still fight somehow, but if you lose your head, you'll be dead with no fighting power left."

"A member can grow back with medical abilities, but a life can't, so be careful."

"I want you to stop sparring like spoiled brats and actually start using the sword as a weapon instead of a stick."

"Now continue sparring."

"Kyle, pair with the student that was paired with the one that took Orpal away and continue."

Orpal's minion that was paired against Kyle was shivering in fear. But Kyle wasn't so malicious this time. He would parry and hit the other person on the arms and chest. The contrast was big and everyone could tell that Kyle was not going all out. The minion, although he would take some heavy strikes, he was grateful that he wasn't so bad injured like Orpal was.

Kyle had a reason for doing so, he was extracting body tempering from his sparring partner. He did so until he stopped getting notifications.

[Body Tempering Absorbed: +6]

[Body Tempering Absorbed: +9]

[Body Tempering Absorbed: +7]

[Unable to absorb further body tempering from target.]

After confirming that he couldn't get more body tempering from his target. Kyle was somewhat upset. He had an idea, he would simply change the target.

"Teacher, can I change my sparring partner, he is simply too weak and there is no improvement at all."

"Sure. Pitt, go and recall your last sparring partner. He was only supposed to take Orpal and not stay there. If you both don't come back I'll remove your frequency today."

"Kyle, spar with me." Thomas said.

Kyle gulped, but he did as he was instructed. Both of them started sparring, but Thomas wasn't vile, on the contrary he matched Kyle level while keeping a little harder. Kyle noticed it and was giving his all. But what was even better was the notifications. Although he couldn't get body tempering from Thomas since he wasn't able to land a single hit, the next notification was even better.

[Absorbing knowledge from the environment: +1]

[Absorbing knowledge from the environment: +1]

…

He was able to once again improve his swordsmanship. And it didn't stop, as he improved, Thomas increased the difficulty level as well. But the barrier to the next level of achievement was too far away. Soon the bell rang and classes were over.

"Kyle, stay behind. I have something to tell you." Thomas said.

"Sure." Soon all the students left after storing their swords in the weapon rack. They left silently but it was written on their faces their desire to gossip about today's events.

"Kyle, I see you mastered the introductory level of the Thousand Transformations Sword. It's a good thing. I tried teaching you some of the more advanced moves while we sparred and it seems you must've noticed that these moves were not in the form you guys practiced."

"I'm going to teach you the complete set now. I see hope in you. Normally this is only taught to those that have completed their military draft, since this is too advanced for other people, but since you have reached this level, there is no problem. Now follow me."

Thomas started to perform the complete set of movements and Kyle repeated the moves. They did this three times together, then Kyle did it a couple times alone while Thomas watched from the side to spot any mistake. Kyle was smart and he could see the intent of some of the moves, but sometimes he couldn't, so he asked Thomas.

Thomas was glad he could see even greater potential in Kyle. Normally students only took information at face value, but Kyle questioned and tried to fully understand the moves.

"Kyle, you're smart and have guts, but why is you power index so low?" Thomas asked when their session ended.

"I only found out the other day, but my ability book was tampered. So now I'm thinking on how to replace with one that is normal." Kyle said.

"What? Tampered?"

"Yeah, I was so angry when I first learned of it. Now, I'm thinking of a way to change it to a normal one. I think someone must be messing with me."

"Why would anyone mess with an orphan, what would they get from it?"

"I don't know myself, so I can't tell you. But I'm not interested in it to be honest. I'm only interested in growing stronger."

"Wait here a little bit." Then Thomas left and came back after ten minutes.

"Take this. This is something that is mine. I already know it so you can study it. When you have memorized it, give it back to me."

"Thank you! This means a lot." Kyle said.

"No problem, just hide it, don't let anyone see it. Now go. I don't think anyone will mess with you today since you beat the crap out of them."

Kyle left the building and rushed home. He didn't find any opposition on his way home today. When he arrived, he simply sat on his bed and started reading the ability book his teacher gave him.

[Acquired body tempering technique: Sword Body Tempering, rank peak mortal]

Kyle understood the principle behind the ability. It was simply an improved body tempering technique that would improve all his body but would give an extra boost to muscles and tendons most used in sword handling, making easier to use swords. The only downside was that it required a sword to practice.

Body tempering techniques were not like cultivation techniques. The body tempering would require specific exercises and poses. Kyle's previous body technique was just a set of poses that would simply improve his body overall. The new one had a set of poses and some active exercises that required using a sword. Kyle knew that it didn't actually require a sword, but the sword was like adding weights to the exercise. The heavier the sword the better.

Kyle went to the small park in front of his dorm and began practicing his Sword Body Tempering. He already knew the whole technique from back to back, with the aid of the system it was very easy. He grabbed a stick and started using it like the sword required in the technique.

The park was not crowded but it had some people. They were students that also lived in the dorm and needed an open space to practice. Everyone had different techniques. Most of the students here were not orphans and had a family. In their case, their family would simply provide them with a an ability book and let them live at school so that they won't be distracted with going home.

People attached a lot of importance in the power index when they were about to graduate from basic school since it'll determine their future in the military draft. If they were weak they would simply bullied, but if they had decent power index, their future would be much better and they could become soldiers or adventurers later. Instead, if they were weak, they could only come back to society and partake in menial jobs to make a living.

Of course, if they were too poor, the government would share the Basic Body Reinforcement ability with everyone. It was basic in name, but it's strength potential was there, and it could be changed in the future. With enough money or contribution, they would be able to buy a better ability.

That said, no one found it strange that Kyle was practicing something other than Basic Body Reinforcement. No one paid much attention to other people's training anyways. Knowing the moves and poses alone wouldn't amount to much. There was still the power circulation inside that could only be taught by the book.

After completing the whole set of Sword Body Tempering once, Kyle tried to measure how much body tempering he gained.

"System, can I get the sum of all my improvement with the Sword Body Tempering in this session?" Kyle asked the system in his mind.

[Order received; Body Tempering gained by practicing was 34]