Methods, Techniques, and The Arts of The Sword

One year has passed. A lot of things happened during this year. First, I cannot found more clue about Lycoris, when I asked uncle Boras where to find information of 'the calamity' he said that information regarding dangerous creature are counted as a restricted document. But, he also told me that I can find it if I can get a special permission to the restricted area of the library owned by Elm Academy.

Elm Academy is a city-sized academy that has produced numerous talented people. It was governed by the five great sage who are counted as the top combat power in this world. It was regarded as the neutral area that even the seven strongest kingdom sign a peace declaration. After all, only stupid people who dared to piss off the five great sage. The only way for me to enter the academy is becoming the student in there. As the best academy, their test will be very difficult which the exam consist of Math, Magic, Combat, and Logic. I'm confidence that I can pass the Math and Logic test as I majoring math in the university but, I'm not certain about the rest. Therefore, I want to hone my fighting skill as far as possible before I register for the test.

Second, now all the villagers regarded me as the adopted son of uncle Boras and aunt Grace which is quite embarrassing. Not only that, I also regarded as the big brother by the village delinquent, it was because they tried to bully me and I beat them in 1 vs 10 fight thanks to my training. They always followed me while saying aniki to me. Their parents also thanks me because I teach them to become a good person after they followed me.

Third, my strength and body has changed drastically. Now I can do any normal activities even though I use four pieces of iron rings that weights 50 kg each and my muscle has not become so big instead, my body became more lean than before I started the training. Uncle boras said that my body muscle become super compacted that makes me strong while making my body lean and flexible which is a good thing for me, because I don't want to have an oversized muscle. I was also glad that I didn't became bald. The most excited part is that I finally will learn using a sword and right now uncle handed me a curved sword.

"Listen, this sword is called katana sword and originated from the east. Katana has the advantage of strong, extremely sharp, and fast that targeted the weak point of enemy which is the best type of sword for your body type. There is particular way to use katana which called kenjutsu which mean 'methods, techniques, and the art of the sword'. The basic moves consist of cut, block, and sword stance. There are eight basic cutting technique, three types of blocking, and five basic stance which is:

8 basic cut:

-Shomen Uchi (Sometimes called Shomen Giri or Kiri Oshi) - Vertical downward head/face cut

-Hidari Kessa Giri - Left diagonal downward shoulder to hip cut

-Hidari ichimonji Giri – Left horizontal cut

-Hidari Joho Giri – Left upward diagonal hip/waist to shoulder cut

-Migi Joho Giri – Right upward diagonal hip/waist to shoulder cut

-Migi Ichimonji Giri – Right horizontal cut

-Migi Kessa Giri – Right downward diagonal shoulder to hip cut

-Tsuke – Thrust

3 types of block:

-Uke genashi – Block and deflect methods

-Uke tomi – Direct blocking methods

-Uke Kiri – Blocking and cutting methods (also blocking with the lower part of the live blade)

5 basic stance:

-Jodan no Kamae – Upper attitude

-Chudan no Kamae – Middle attitude

-Gedan no Kamae – Lower attitude

-Hasso no Kamae – Ready attitude

-Waki no Kamae – Lower ready attitude

That is all the basic moves and now I will show it to you"

Uncle Boras slowly lifted his sword and at the same time his aura also changed like he was a different person from before, his aura feels cold and sharp like a sword. Even though all the moves he shows is basic but, it feels so different. All of his movement is really smooth and sharp that brings chills down to my spine as if I was being cut off by him. It was really amazing and frightening, my legs can't stop shivering and I broke out in cold sweat even after he stops moving. After he finish his final move, he put his sword back into the scabbard and his aura return normal.

"Kiddo, when you hold a sword you must use it with intent to kill. Now, repeat all the moves that I've shown while imagine that you are facing an enemy and trying to kill him. You can only stop swing your katana just before the dinner."

After that, I repeat all the moves his shown but it feels so awkward. At first, I can't keep the sword straight and sometimes I lost my balance. But, thanks to uncle Boras slowly correcting my posture.

"Your legs is too wide!"

"Your shoulder is too stiff!"

"Focus your mind!"

"Balance your body!"

It was harder than I though, just because a little mistake the trajectory of the sword will be shifted. I don't know that swinging sword over and over again is a really tiring. My body started shaking from the fatigue and my hand already bleeding. I finally understand why the workout I usually do is really harsh. If I can't do that workout that means it is impossible to learn sword from uncle Boras with his harsh requirement.

The sky turns dark which mean the training for today has finished. I don't know how many times I swing my katana maybe it was more than a thousand times. When I finally stopped my body lost strength and I'm about fall. Before I fall uncle Boras hold me and carry me back to home. While we are heading uncle told me the training plans for the future.

"From 1pm until 5pm you will repeat this moves until you didn't feeling tired at all. After that, I will change your sword to a heavier ones. We will start sparring if you manage to this with a sword that twenty times heavier without broke a sweat. Honestly, I never train someone this hard, but the day you told me your reason to learn the sword I saw a burning passion in your eyes. I don't know what is your goal, but I'm feeling certain that you need to be at least strong enough to become one of the strongest person in the world. I hope that you can persist under my training because this is your first step to achieve what you want."

"Hehehehehe...I will do it even if you don't tell me but I'm sorry I can't tell you what is my goal." I sincerely said to him

"Boy, I and Grace really want to have a kids but we didn't blessed with a child and there is something that is missing from her until you came. We finally feel that our family is complete and that is all thanks to you. So, if you have any difficulties you can tell us, after all we already regarded you as our son."

My heart feels really warm. I never expect that I will get a parents in this world. I was really blessed, I want to say a lot of things but the only thing my mouth said is...

"Thank you uncle"