3 The First Battle

(Updated as of November 29)

Forcing my body beyond its usual limits, I twisted my body and rolled as a shockwave exploded near me. I had somehow managed to avoid it, but the force had blown me back a few meters.

Rebalancing myself in mid-air, I landed to my feet while Arkenvalle appeared in my right hand. I held its seemingly unfamiliar grip—perhaps due to my smaller hands—as I pointed it to the troll.

It was a being that loved the taste of mana, so it was bound to target me since it was something I had in abundance.

GRRAAAAHHH!!

The troll roared. Perhaps to intimidate me, as it raised its hand. It then threw a punch that blurred as it sped through the winds.

"Lancell! Watch out!" Lina shouted in worry.

With minimal movements, I narrowly evaded the punch as I then slashed at the brief moment its hand was vulnerable. I then avoided the upcoming tentacles while occasionally slicing them to reduce the range of the tentacles.

GRROOOAAAH!!

The troll roared in pain as I made use of this chance to dash at the tendons in it's feet as I subconsciously slashed with a one chant Spellblade. I roared out its name in fear that my current strength wouldn't be enough to penetrate the troll's tough hide.

"HOOOLY SLAAAASH!!!"

The instant my sword connected, it lit up a blinding flash for an instant as a 60cm long gash appeared on its leg and it looked like I managed to successfully cut its tendon.

GRAAAAHHH!!!

The troll roared in pain again as it fell to its knees. It was my chance. I pushed my body further as I circulated mana in my body, and slashed with another one-chant Spellblade.

"DIVINE EXECUTIOOON!!"

I slashed at its neck with all my remaining mana as the sword decapitated the head of the Murder Troll.

THUD!

Its head fell with a thud as it rolled about, and finally stopped in front of Lina's direction.

I repeatedly drew breaths, while holding on to my consciousness. I mustn't pass out. I mustn't.

I turned my head to look at Lina. She was looking at me. And with obvious fear in her expression. She was slightly trembling and her pupils had shrank. When our eyes made contact, she flinched and unconsciously took a step back.

"...Who...are you?..." She asked, but she then covered her mouth as it seems it was unconscious mutter.

I approached her with slowly, but it seemed to have scared her as she stumbled and crawled backwards.

I stopped. With an expressionless gaze, I then said "I see. Are you scared?...Well, I guess you are."

"W-Who are you?...A-A-And w-where's Lancell..." Tears had began forming in the corner of her eyes, as she stuttered in her speech.

I didn't answer. Taking the liberty to stay silent, I pondered. After a while, I told her "I'm not the Lancell you knew. Not anymore."

"T-Then! Where is he!!" she yelled back in tears.

I didn't answer. I didn't know how, nor know the answer. I was me all along. Even after I changed, I can still feel it. I'm me.

"Hey..." I called out. "Will you follow me?".

"N-no...I just want Lancell back..." She sounded begging.

However, I wasn't the Lancell she knew. I was 20 years from the future, and 20 years was more than enough for my sentiments to vanish. Perhaps I only saved her today because she was a childhood friend, but she feels like a stranger to me. Arkenvalle even felt far closer to me than her. Even though it was a sword.

With an indifferent tone, I told her. "He's not coming back. Sorry."

I then held Arkenvalle once again and took put the magic core within the Troll's chest. After that, I turned to the deeper part of the forest.

And without hesitation, I left her as I proceeded alone.

◇◇◇

In the middle of the forest, I held Arkenvalle as I channelled mana into the blade. It wasn't much, but it was enough to slice open a hollow tree. It was large enough to fit me, so it's a convenient hiding place.

I had to hurry. Time is ticking, and they'll be here soon. I needed to cultivate and Tread a Path if I wanted to live.

I went inside the hollow tree as I covered it from the inside. It was dark, but it was cool and refreshing inside. It was countless times better than the hot air and the ash coloured world I was used in.

It was time. I sat cross-legged, and checked my mind for the countless Guidance Tomes I had accumulated my entire life. The Heroic Path was tempting, but I already had Arkenvalle. That Path is useless to me now.

Arkenvalle would grow alongside me, and it was the only thing in the Heroic Path I was drawn to. So there was no need to Tread it. What I needed was a Path that could draw out the full potential of Arkenvalle without any chants or delay in activation.

I mulled over my choices, and finally, I decided. "Alright. From now on, I'll walk the Path of the Sword."

The Path of Sword; a simple yet difficult Path to Tread. It was perfect for me in many ways. Perhaps a lot of trouble would pop up when I start on it, but those were worries for the future.

"Now then, which Guidance Tome should I try cultivating?"

If it was just top class Guidance Tomes, I had a lot of them. However, what I needed was something that could definitely cut. Something that could swiftly avoid. And something that can beat 'that'.

"I see. From my list, it was like I never had a choice to begin with."

During my past life, I had excavated a fairly old Tome that had complete Guidance in it. When I casually flipped through it, I had scoffed at its content as it doesn't offer its cultivator much defences. No one could make sure they wouldn't get ambushed, so as long as negligence exists, it would only get its cultivator to die.

It was a Tome for idiots. Or so I thought, as the idiot seemed to be me.

And so, it was decided that from now on, I'll be cultivating the Void Severing Blade Manual.