The man had simply determined that it would do no one any good. He had supposed that no matter what self satisfaction he might gain from the action, his sword had no purpose there. And instead, he had found a purpose, in his death.
Oliver ought to have been pleased for him. He died incredibly well. Crossing through to the Sixth Boundary, and giving his life as a hero, following along in the footsteps of Arthur. It was a true ending to a warrior's life. He could not have been more content with it than that. So why was Oliver not content with it? 'Surely, another day would have sufficed… He could have offered me counsel on my first battle… He could have told me how I ought to deal with the deaths of all that I had lost… And more importantly, I could have offered him my congratulations for his entry through to the Sixth Boundary.'