20 Chapter 20- Duel Breakthrough

Oliver was standing with his new sword at his back when he saw Olson coming to the backyard with a wooden box in his hand.

"I know that your birthday is next month but since you have already gotten your sword. I think this is the best time to give you this present too."

Olson gave Oliver the box that he was carrying. Oliver observed the wooden box for a second and then led to opening it. He saw two thick silver-colored cuff bracelets which had black engravings going all around them.

After seeing the present Oliver looked at Olson with 'what is this' gaze.

"These are grade 0 mana artifacts especially designed in my family. They will help you with your heavy sword practice. While practicing with a heavy sword the most weight one's body undergoes is on the wrists. So these cuff bracelets are specially carved with runes all over which will support your wrists without hindering your movement."

"Now wear them and let's start with the final stage of your weapon's mastery."

Oliver spontaneously took out the bracelets and wore them. As soon as he wore them the runes brightened for a second before going back to their original state. Suddenly Oliver started to feel as of his wrists were wrapped inside a metal casing supporting his multiple carpal joints inside his wrist. But when he tried to move his wrists he felt neither any extra weight nor any restrain.

Happy with the gift Oliver drew the sword from his back and took a stance. He spread his legs as wide as his shoulders and gripped Adamantite with both of his hands while pointing forward.

Although the weight of the sword was still too much for him to handle for an extended period. But with extra support from the cuff bracelets, he was not trembling like earlier.

Olson nodded in approval and said, "hmm, your stance is clean and you can perform a simple hack and slash with your basic mastery of the heavy sword. But that won't be enough. If in the future you hope to defeat much stronger opponents then these basic set of moves won't be enough."

After a couple of moments, Olson took a deep breath and told Oliver," Listen, Oliver, as I have already told you it was my great-great-grandfather, who found the cultivation art of The Supreme way of Shiv, in an ancient ruin. But that was not the only thing that he found... Next to the body cultivation art was a half-torn book. After seeing the greatness of the cultivation technique my great-great-grandfather knew that the nameless book would be something special too so he decided to bring it out with him. Later when he came back did he realize that the book contained the secrets of complete use and control of a heavy sword as well as multiple art forms of the heavy sword. Although it was a pity that the book was half torn, but just with practicing the first form of this unnamed tomb, the cultivation speed of the Supreme way of Shiv exploded in speed."

"So when you said that it was obvious that the only weapon you could use was a heavy sword, you were right. After having these two tombs in our household for 5 generations we have been able to find out that there is some connection between both of them. If only the unnamed tomb wasn't torn we would have known more."

Olson got silent again as if reminiscing of past memories. Seeing Olson, Oliver understood that there must be more to the story, but knew that Olson would tell him if he wanted to and he could not force anything out of him.

Only after a minute did Olson came back to reality. He looked at Oliver still standing straight with the Adamantite in his hand waiting for him to continue.

"From today onwards you will start practicing according to the unnamed tomb. Before you start learning the first form, you will learn how to use and control a heavy sword. Only after you have learned the basics will we start practicing the first form."

"Oss"

"Good, now start with what you know. We will improve on your basics."

Oliver slowly started to swing and cut with Adamantite in the basic sword strikes.

While he could hear Olson commenting on his every move.

"Be faster"

"Stronger"

"Put more pressure behind every swing."

"Faster, faster, faster, connect every swing with last. Bring out your flow and increase your momentum with every swing."

...

After just half an hour of practice Adamantite finally fell from Oliver's hands. While they both were bleeding from of the webs between his thumbs and the index finger.

"The tomb tells that the only way to use a heavy sword is with pure dominance and arrogance. No weapon can stop the way of a great sword. When you swing it, it should be like the whole ocean fell over your enemy. The pressure behind it should suffocate anyone who faces you."

"But if you can't even hold your weapon in your hands. It doesn't matter how great of a weapon is you will die before you even know what happened."

"So pick up the sword and start practicing again. And don't worry about the wounds. They will heal in less than half an hour. The Supreme way of Shiv doesn't just strengthen your body but it also greatly enhances body regeneration ability. According to the tomb if someone is able to achieve the third stage, then they can even regenerate their limbs. The Supreme way of Shiv really is op." Said Olson while shaking his head.

Oliver took a deep breath trying to forget the pain and fatigue in his hands. And then he picked up Adamantite and again took the stance.

Due to some kind of coincidence, luck, or just habit he started repeating the 'Shiv mantra'. And then he breathed out.

It was as if someone just plugged out Oliver's charging cable.

His eyes suddenly looked lifeless, there was no emotion on his face. Suddenly the trembling in his arms also stopped. Seeing him like this Olson also got alarmed and then started calling him out.

"Oliver...hey Oliver... what happened?

It was as if he couldn't head anything. But suddenly.....

[INHALE]

"OM NAMAH SHIVAY"

[EXHALE]

He tightened his grip on Adamantite. He lifted it up and started swinging it.

First, his swings were slow but there was immense power under each swing. The first swing connected to the second swing connected to the third swing. Slowly and slowly his speed started getting faster and faster. Slowly and slowly the pressure started increasing with his every swing.

[RUMBLE]

The ground on which Oliver and Olson were standing started to sake. Bit by bit, more and more rumble started to occur until the whole backyard started to tremble under the pressure of Adamantite.

Olson couldn't believe his eyes. He saw mana gradually starting to collect on Adamantite.

Till now Oliver had already banished his sword 49 times. Every swing contained an increasing amount of mana. Until he lifted Adamantite above his head for the 50th strike. Suddenly mana condensed to form a huge tidal wave behind his sword strike....

Then Oliver swung his sword down and with it the tidal wave.

Everything in it's way got destroyed.. all the dummies and racks and other equipment placed in the backyard.

[INHALE]

"OM NAMAH SHIVAY"

[EXHALE]

Nine times, Oliver repeated the shiv mantra nine times.

And then suddenly like a flash, he was back in the soul world.

He could see the sparks charging and condensing in the center. This time he knew what to do. He was so close that he knew that the next time he breaths, he will be able to break through the first stage of The Supreme way of Shiv. And so he did...

[INHALE]

"OM NAMAH SHIVAY"

"He could hear his heart beat with every single time he repeated the mantra."

"OM NAMAH SHIVAY"

"He could see the sparks getting charged to the maximum and condensing in a dot."

"OM NAMAH SHIVAY"

[EXHALE]

[BOOM]

The charges that had condensed into a dot suddenly exploded in every direction.

Enveloping Oliver, all the charges went directly into his body.

While outside in the real world Olson saw a large amount of mana getting concentrated all over Oliver. As large amount of electric currents leaked out of Oliver's body occasionally.

Suddenly all the mana started condensing on Oliver's forehead and flowing into his body from his forehead. Charges started to increase leaking out of Oliver. But then abruptly Oliver's eyes opened and he fell to the ground while screaming.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAA...."

Oliver's body contorted as the sound of bones cracking could be heard. As soon as the current passed through Oliver's body, it would burrow inside his bones and started dismantling them for inside out.

Only after 5 minutes did the sound of bones breaking stopped and suddenly all the mana and electric charges that were released from Oliver's body started to condense on his forehead revealing a bluish-white-colored trident on his forehead.

The pain from all the broken bones in his body made him about to faint anytime. Seeing his condition Olson ran towards him and fell on his knees.

Oliver's eyes were so heavy that he could barely open them up. Even though they were open, all he could see was a blur. But he could hear Olson's voice in the background.

"Oliver, don't close your eyes. Practice the shiv mantra, don't stop. Keep absorbing mana and heal your bones. Don't stop, and keep practicing."

'The Supreme way of Shiv, shiv mantra. Keep practicing, don't stop.'

{Yes Oliver, you don't have much time. You have to keep practicing the shiv mantra and heal your bone. If you faint before healing them, you will die for sure.}

{The Supreme way of Shiv is a very powerful body cultivation art. Not only the power it provides with every breakthrough is exponentially more than others, but also the recovery ability of the body improves to an unimaginable level. So keep practicing and don't stop}

[inhale]

[exhale]

'Keep practicing. Yeah, keep practicing.'

[INHALE]

"OM NAMAH SHIVAY"

[EXHALE]

[INHALE]

"OM NAMAH SHIVAY"

[EXHALE]

Mana started condensing around Oliver again but this time instead of getting absorbed in the body through skin normally.

The trident on Oliver's forehead started to lighten up and started absorbing the mana around. Slowly and slowly the mana started to flow inside his body, but this time it was more than 3 times the normal amount. Though most of it started to seep into the broken bones and started to heal them. More and more mana started to get accumulated inside his bones and solidifying them, making them much stronger than before.

Only after 8 hours did Oliver finally stopped. His bones were healed and became much stronger than before. They was much more mana in them than his older bones making them much more durable and stronger.

Oliver slowly started to stand up but the pain that still lingered didn't make the whole ordeal any simple.

"Congratulations you have not only broken through the first layer of The Supreme way of Shiv but also through the first for of the heavy sword. Have to say you Lady luck must have hots for you, if not how could you be so lucky to have another enlightenment in such a short period of time." Said Olson with a big smile on his face. Leaving apart what he said, he was genuinely happy for Oliver's breakthroughs.

"Welco...."

[Thud]

"Sigh... did this guy faint again? What a spoiled brat."

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