The First Form

"Remove your pressure" Arthur's cold and monotone voice echoed throughout the tense silence at the entrance.

The eyes of everyone in the vicinity widened from shock as they couldn't believe their ears, did the boy just order the former patriarch, a Zenith rank to remove his pressure? They didn't whether the boy had a death wish or balls. Even Nolan and Alice couldn't control their shock at what had just happened and in their panic, they quickly tried to stop Arthur but suddenly they a heard a chuckle next to them.

They looked at Christopher, only to find him with a wide smirk on his face as he matched his gaze with the apathetic gaze of the boy, who at the moment didn't have a speck of fear in his body. For the first time in his whole life after becoming a Zenith, did he see someone speak so boldly and fearlessly to him, and it was not even a talk but rather a direct order to the man, and that too by an 8 year old child!

But rather than feeling furious, Christopher felt elated, he had always wished that someone would stand up to him because that was the one true quality of a Blade, to stand up to people bigger than you without fear. Now in the cold eyes of the boy standing in front of him, Christopher saw his younger self in the boy standing in front of him, a fearless and bold wolf!

This made him almost want to lift the kid up in air with happiness but he had to control himself in front of outsiders, but he knew for sure now that the boy was the perfect heir for the Blade family, a perfect and maybe the best future Patriarch for the family in its history.

Christopher suspected that the boy had used a skill and a high rank one at that but the question was that there was no way for him to get a skill except through a Labyrinth or through the Blade vault, which was not possible for him until he reached the age of 10 and the former was even more impossible, so he dismissed the skill idea.

Labyrinths were portals that connected Luminastra to different dimensions, in which various monster resided. They had a skill scroll at the end of the labyrinth, which would be rewarded to a person upon defeating the boss of the labyrinth.

The labyrinth ranks ranged from F- to SSS+, which were in correspondence to the Fahr ranks like a F- rank labyrinth would require a full party of Initiate rankers to clear them. Sometimes though labyrinths placed a limit on how many people could enter it, and once when the limit was reached the labyrinth would close and not open until it had been cleared or until the people inside had died.

But whenever, a labyrinth appeared, it was necessary to clear it within a time limit, otherwise a labyrinth breach would occur during which all the monster of the dungeons would break out of the portal.

Christopher retracted his pressure and in tandemn the indifferent and chilling aura from Arthur also vanished, returning light to his previous dead and indifferent eyes. Christopher did not move his gaze from Arthur though, and the latter didn't do so as well and after some seconds of silence, Christopher broke the silence and moved inside,

"Report to the mana-proof chambers after the meal."

Arthur didn't understand what had just happened, but then the meaning hit him and a smile appeared on his face and he nodded eagerly before moving inside with his parents as well. As they left, a tense silence engulfed the whole expanse of the Blade manor and all of the people in the manor whether guards, butler, maids and even Arthur's parents were left shocked with two truths that they couldn't bring themselves to believe,

'Did Christopher Blade, the former Patriarch, a Zenith ranked individual not only followed the order of his grandson but even smiled at him and asked him for training? What is happening to everyone who meets with that kid!?'

*****

Arthur had lunch with his parents and grandfather, where he was less cold and talked a lot about what was going on with the Royal Family and the other major houses and even took Amelia loving in his arms like a normal grandfather. Speaking of his sister, Amelia matched her grandfather in facial features rather than father and mother with her silky short jet black hair and golden eyes just like him.

Afterwards, Christopher signaled him to go to the mana-proof chambers where he would report so shortly and then left the manor. Arthur didn't disobey his orders and went to the mana-proof chambers but this time he was wearing the Blade training suit, which was full body armor, moderately tight to his body which allowed him for full body flexibility and movements.

He entered the mana-proof chambers, relishing the feeling of it once again. Arthur did not know why his grandfather had chosen the mana-proof chambers instead of the Blade training grounds, but he suspected that it was because that he did not want others to see him train Arthur. After all, they never thought of Christopher Blade as a warm and kind person because he himself maintained his image that way, so why would he show another side to them now.

After sitting for 30 minutes, Christopher arrived in the training rooms, wearing a training suit as well which fully outlined his muscles and body. He quietly went to the training stands and took a sword as well, before coming back to stand in front of him. Once, he reached Arthur, he quickly spoke is his deep, composed voice,

"Show me what you can do first."

And not even taking Arthur's response, he flicked his finger and out of the sides of the chambers, a door opened, which was previously the part of a wall. From the room to which the door had just opened, a robot came out.

Arthur knew about these robots, he had read about them in the library books. The robots were also made of Crystalium with a crystal blue color and with joints at every edge. The robot had a height of 6ft and it was designed to be used as a training partner. The robot could be assigned any rank and it would fight his enemy according to rank assigned. An elemental mana core was needed for the robot -which was implanted in its right hand- to work and also assign it an element to execute attacks. The robot would also fight according to the rank of the mana core it was given.

Arthur saw that the robot had a [Novice] rank stone fixed in its right hand of the [Darkness] element.

"Choose Weapon: Sword," Christopher ordered the robot to which it obeyed and chose a sword from the stands before coming back to stand in front of Arthur again.

Arthur nodded to Christopher and then quickly jumped back to make some distance between him and the robot. He calmly checked his sword and suit before nodding again to Christopher, who was looking towards him as a sign of confirmation.

Arthur knew that Christopher wanted him to battle against the robot to check his capabilities, to check whether he was worth training. Now that Christopher was home, he wasn't going anywhere. Which meant the perfect chance for Arthur to get Christopher to train him, and now that the chance had been presented to him, he wasn't going to let it go. After all, what would be a better away to get quickly stronger in the confines of these house than a Zenith training him!?

Now that the battle was going to start, Arthur had already formed a strategy of how to gain the approval of Christopher, and that was not to end the battle quickly but rather, show him something that would not be possible at his age or rank yet. And the perfect way to this was none other than the best skill at his disposal, [Assassin's Apathy].

"Target: Arthur Blade. Initiate Battle." Christopher started the battle by giving the command to the robot.

The robot's elemental mana core immediately jumped to life as it glowed and powered the robot up. The robot got into a stance and launched itself towards Arthur, who was ready to intercept its attack. Arthur quickly used [Abyssal Shroud] and covered his feet then launched himself at the robot with full speed as well, leaving cobweb cracks on the ground.

The bot and Arthur's sword met head on, completely nullifying their dash which baffled Arthur because the strength behind his dash was a lot. This meant that the robot's body was extremely sturdy and hard as well. Arthur quickly channel the shroud from his feet to his left hand and blocked the incoming fist towards his face by the robot.

With all his strength, Arthur threw the robot away from him and as soon as it hurled away, Arthur dashed towards the robot. The robot couldn't stabilize itself mid-air and that was what Arthur was planning to exploit, but the bot quickly used [Spectral Steps] creating small solid darkness steps in the air and stabilized itself in the air before quickly landing on the ground.

Arthur couldn't cancel his pursuit now, so he continued towards the robot, who was also prepared to counter Arthur. As soon as Arthur got close, the bot used [Abyssal Shroud} coating his left fist with mana and hurled it at Arthur.

Arthur quickly saw the fist and at that moment used two skills simultaneously, which was something that could be only done if you were a [Novice] rank. He used [Obsidian Screen] to create a half meter long barrier in front of him that completely blocked the robots first and Arthur used the second skill [Nightfall Blind] to instantly blind the robot by using the darkness mana.

But before, Arthur could do something further, the bot caught him even though it was blinded, and hurled Arthur in the air to suspend him in mid-air as well. Although at this moment, Arthur could have used [Spectral Steps] to save himself from the impending doom, he chose to end it now with the use of one skill,

'[Assassin's Apathy]'

Immediately, like before, Arthur's eyes lost their color and a chilling presence spread through the area, except Christopher of course. The bot didn't stop its pursuit even after the use of his ability and so it launched itself in to the air.

Unlike last time, this time Arthur wasn't planning to prolong his fight any longer, and decided to end it in one move, he sheathed his sword mid-air while keeping a hand on its hilt as the robot came closer and closer. He lowered his back and seeing the pose Arthur was making, Christopher's eyes widened for a second upon the realization before a smile started to play on his lips.

When the distance had reduced to 10 meters, Arthur quietly but quickly unsheathed his sword halfway before sheathing it back quickly as well. There was no sound in the chambers except the *SHEENG* of his sword, and it was then after that, that a cold and monotone voice permeated through the tense silence of the chamber,

"Blade Art First Form: Chronic Cleaver"

The room went white.

_______________________

Hello! Author here. I just wanted to say that yesterday, I couldn't upload the second and the bonus chapter due to some health issues, but those chapters will be uploaded today hopefully if my health remains good, adding the total up to 4 chapters including the bonus chapter. As always thank you for reading and supporting me especially ImaginarySnow who supported me with 12 Power stones so tysm! I hope you like chapter as well. Thank you :) :>

Note: Congratulations everyone! My novel has been contracted. Due to the new month starting the day after tomorrow, I might just do two massive mass releases so I can go premium on the new month and keep track with mgs, but this is subject to change and not confirmed.