7 Boundaries of Swordsmanship

Please re-read the previous chapter as, I made a few minor changes to allow for things to move smoothly.

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While Marcus was lost in his thoughts, Orion awoke from his sudden enlightenment.

[That feeling… It felt incredible! I felt as if that ordinary wooden stick was a genuine sword, and that energy I fired off… Was that sword Qi?]

Marcus appeared in front of Orion with an excited smile plastered to his face.

"You little brat! You just can't go without shocking my old bones can you? To think my son's close to comprehending one with the sword at only 2 years old!"

Orion was a little confused as he heard that.

"One with the sword? What's that?!"

There was no record of sword boundaries in the books in his fathers and uncles studies.

"There are different stages of sword comprehension.

1. Sword User – Someone who just uses a sword as a tool for killing

2. Sword Student - Someone who has become one with the sword, i.e. someone who's able to wield their sword as if it were an extension of their arms. At this stage you could use a wooden sword to cut through iron or cut a falling leaf with a swing of the sword.

3. Swordsman – Someone who has comprehended sword Qi (a sharp energy that shares the same properties as that of a sword and can be used to attack at range).

4. Sword Master – Someone who has truly mastered the intricate details of sword qi, allowing them complete control of their Sword Qi, meaning they can change the shape, direction or even the power even after the sword qi has been fired off.

5. Sword Grandmaster – Someone who is able to use their sword to cut through anything they wish including the natural elements. They could even cut a logia user without using haki.

6. Sword Lord – Someone who has comprehended their own sword domain/sword territory. In their domain they can use sword qi to attack their intended target with a mere thought, not even needing to draw their sword.

7. Sword Saint – Someone who's comprehended sword force. Sword force and Sword Qi can be used for the same things but the difference between them is a like the difference between night and day. If sword Qi can be used to cut through elements such as fire or light, then sword force can be used to distort space and time. Although sword force can't actually tear the restraints imposed by the laws of space and time, it's power is not to be questioned."

As he heard the description of the various boundaries, Orion's eyes lit up as he felt as if he was introduced to a whole new world.

Suddenly he remembered the scene of the waterfall being cut in half and the space around it seemed to distort.

"Dad what boundary are you?"

"Me? As of only minutes ago, I became a Sword Saint!"

As he said that, there was a look of pride on his face.

[Even without the use of haki, just relying on sword arts, dad has enough strength to stand proudly at the apex of this world… Awesome!]

Seeing the look of awe on his sons face as he looked up at him made Marcus even happier. To a father, being a man your son truly admires would make anyone immensely proud and happy. Especially when your son was a monstrous talent himself, whose standards were obviously incredibly high.

"Haha now do you know how incredible your father is?"

Orion knew his father was just teasing him, but he didn't care, he still nodded sincerely. He was truly proud to have such an incredible father!

"Haha, stop buttering up your old man. Your training won't get any easier and now that I know you have such a high affinity to the sword we'll have to work on your swordsmanship even if it's only just practicing foundation swordsmanship.

Ok so during the week you'll do swimming practice in the morning, then we'll work on your devil fruit control in the afternoon followed by foundation swordplay in the evenings.

Ooh and on weekends you are forbidden from doing any training!"

Hearing that Orion was a little dejected as he was just starting to really look forwards to what's to come.

Seeing his expression Marcus, ruffled his sons hair as he explained.

"You're still a child, even though training's a good thing you mustn't forget to live a little. Plus constant training without breaks will affect your state of mind, making it easier to stumble into a bottlenecks.

Sometimes taking a break is just as beneficial as training. I guess you could think of taking a break as training your state of mind."

Hearing that, Orion understood what Marcus said was right and seeing the logic behind it made the worry about not training disappear.

"Right you brat, get back to swimming. Stop slacking off!"

Orion didn't need to be told twice as he started swimming with renewed vigour.

After swimming non stop for 2 hours, Orion's whole body was so numb he couldn't even lift himself out of the water.

Without even realising he started revolving the Heavenly Demon Sacred Art and was pleasantly surprised as he felt the speed it was working had more than tripled.

[Seems like the more I physically exert myself the faster my Sacred Art works. At this rate I should be able to break through to the E- Rank in 6 months, if that!]

Realising the added benefit of doing both physical training and revolving the Sacred Art made him all the more motivated to train as hard as he could.

"Ori, lunch is ready!"

Hearing that lunch was ready gave him all the motivation he needed to get up and walk (albeit slowly) towards his father who was roasting a wild animal on a small controlled fire.

Seeing Orion able to move by himself despite working so hard in the morning slightly startled Marcus.

[I really thought after how tired he was before, I'd have to personally drag him over here. Haha even his regenerative abilities are monstrous! Well that and the fact that there's nothing capable of getting between him and his food!]