(10) Sparring with knights

Managing to bring his body to an acceptable level within a month, Nicokel was in a good mood for a long time. He trained as usual, continuing to hammer the sword techniques into his body. 

Adapting to using a sword was very important. Muscle memory helps immensely to react quicker to attacks. 

'I will have to bring out every last drop of potential this body has to offer. My body already has strength surpassing my age, I can match a normal youth's strength with this body. It's all thanks to the magical food of this world.' 

But at the same time, Nicokel realized his limit.

He had watched the knight practice seriously after practicing basic sword techniques. Nicokel couldn't keep up with their sword stance or technique. It was the salamander sword technique, which was considered a specialty of the Verskein family. 

Nicokel couldn't copy or swing his sword like the knights. The reason for that was simple. 

'Mana...I won't be able to execute that method without Mana. I will start learning how to ride horses and other basic stuff after I feel like my body has hit a limit.' 

Nicokel had long noticed that the food he was eating was slowly losing its effect on him. The effect would decrease drastically after another week. 

The next day. 

Finishing morning exercise lightly, Nicokel arrived at the knight's lodging with his sword. He could now carry the sword with just a single hand. 

"How can I help you, young master Nicokel?" The knight captain spoke respectfully with a light smile. 

The knights who had stopped bowing blankly looked at the knight captain. 

'Ah~ I know the feeling. To them, the knight captain must appear like a drill sergeant from hell, who shows no mercy at all. It must be shocking seeing him act so respectfully to me. They are newbie knights, no doubt.' Nicokel had experienced the same, so he could sympathize with them. 

Without much change in his expression, Nicokel replied: "I want to gain some practical experience in using a sword, and this is the only place where I can gain it." 

"Oh, a sparring partner! You came at a very good time, young master Nicokel. This is the time when the knights only use their body and basic sword techniques. You must have known since you came every day to watch for the past three weeks." The knight captain nodded his head and scanned the apprentice knights in the arena ground. 

"Ejihath, come and spar with young master Nicokel." The knight captain carefully chose him as he knew how to hold back. 

"Understood, sir." Ejihath bowed towards Nicokel paying his respect. 

Moving to an open area, they both took out their swords. 

"It is an honor to spar with you, young master Nicokel." Ejihath held the sword at his shoulder level. 

"No need to hold back, respond like you usually do with others." Nicokel positioned the sword on the side aiming it downwards, aligning with his leg. 

Ejihath squinted his eyes seeing Nicokel's stance, 'Does the young master want to have a frontal battle with me? But our weight class is too far apart, he will be on the disadvantageous side.' 

Ejihath looked into Nicokel's face with some doubts. However, his face immediately froze at that instant. 

Nicokel was staring right at him with his dark eyes, that held no emotions. Right now, something insidious was leaking out of his eyes spreading to the surrounding area. 

All the knights in the training ground flinched and stopped in their tracks. Their senses were trained rigorously for almost a year now, they knew what this feeling was that prickled their skin. 

Bloodlust. Only a kind of killing intent possessed by the people who have fought with their life on the line to kill someone. 

'Amazing...His killing intent is comparable to the dangerous beast in the hills.' The knight captain's eyes sparkled in surprise. He could never produce this kind of atmosphere. 

"What do you think you're doing?! Continue your sparring session!" The knight captain Behemothly scolded the knights before him. 

The knights began training again, but they glanced towards Nicokel from time to time. 

'I have never lost in hand-to-hand combat in my past life. I got to remember that feeling...'

Nicokel was practically undefeatable at one point, unless mana or talent was used no one could even reach to his shoulder level.

"Begin!" The knight captain signaled seeing them both ready. 

Ejihath swung the sword, aiming for Nicokel's sword. 

Because of Nicokel's height, he had to perform the strike diagonally. A vertical strike would cause the sword tip to touch the ground, killing its momentum. 

Clash!

The sound of steel clashing reverberated to the surrounding. 

Clack~

Nicokel's sword fell to the ground behind him. Taking a glance at his palm, blood dripped from the fresh torn skin. 

"I-I am very sorry..." Ejihath felt his heart faster, realizing he didn't hold back in that strike. It was instinctual action as he could sense that he might lose by holding back.

"No, good job. Spar using the same strength again." 

The knight froze hearing Nicokel's unaffected voice, even with his hands bleeding. 

"However, your hands..." 

Without any words, Nicokel began undoing the bandage, exposing the condition of his hand. Now, even his fingers were a mess, with skin torn all around them. Blood marks were visible in his older injuries too, showing that it was not very old.

Taking out a new pair of bandages, Nicokel began rolling it around his palms. 

"Good as new, see?" Nicokel smiled toward Ejihath. 

Picking up the sword, Nicokel took up a stance again. 

"Let's start after three seconds every time we take our sword stance." Nicokel gripped at his sword. He could wear a gauntlet now that it was practical training, but he wanted to increase his grip strength further. 

Nicokel had realized that it would be very deadly if the sword was flicked out of his hands.

"....Understood, Young master Nicokel." 

Then a one-sided sparring session occurred for a while. It went on for ten minutes, before...

Snap!

Nicokel's sword broke not being able to take any more torture. His palms were not in a better condition either. 

"....thank you for sparring with me." Nicokel bowed his head once and began walking out of the arena. 

'My hands won't keep up if I train like this every day. My natural recovery can't heal the damage just in a single day. Using some herbs to enhance the repair of my skin is the only option now.' 

Like this, Nicokel headed to the knight's training ground every day, sparring with new knights and losing in the streak. 

However, that changed on the fifth day.