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MT - 28 Sword Skills
🕑 Added 2024-12-18 05:52:02 +0000 UTCRoy began explaining the fundamentals of sword skills to Asuna, carefully detailing their mechanics and the nuances of their execution. With his natural talent as a teacher and Asuna's sharp learning ability, she quickly grasped the basics.
However, adjusting to the game itself was another story.
"Try taking down that wolf." Roy instructed, motioning to a nearby creature.
Asuna hesitated, gripping her slender rapier with visible unease.
"What are you doing, Asuna?" Roy called out. "Your strikes need to be swift and decisive. Transition between skills faster!"
"Yes, I'm trying!" She responded, her voice strained.
"And dodge! The moment you see a blue flash, either evade or interrupt the enemy's skill!"
"I got it!"
The two of them stood in the middle of the grasslands, Roy barking instructions as Asuna confronted her opponent. Her movements were stiff, her grip shaky, but her determination carried her forward.
"Keep your hand steady when you hold the sword." Roy admonished.
"Yes!" Asuna replied through gritted teeth, channeling her frustration. In her mind, the wolf before her began to take on Roy's image, and she drove her rapier forward with all her might. The creature's HP dropped to zero, dissolving into a shower of blue particles. Breathing heavily, Asuna wiped the sweat from her brow and glanced at Roy.
He remained impassive, his amber-gold eyes calm and unreadable.
"Keep going, Asuna." He said flatly.
"I can't… I need a break." She panted.
Roy shook his head. "These wolves are the equivalent of beginner-level slimes. You should be able to take them down in a single strike."
To demonstrate, he stepped forward, gripping his iron sword tightly. Drawing a deep breath, he visualized the stance of the Sword God Style's signature Iaido slash. With a sudden burst of energy, he lunged forward.
His right foot planted firmly, propelling him into a dash. Closing the distance between himself and the wolf, Roy's sword cut through the air in a single, sharp arc. A cold gleam of white light trailed behind the blade as it struck the wolf's neck, precise and efficient.
The wolf staggered, its HP bar plummeting but not entirely depleted. Without hesitation, Roy adjusted his grip and launched a follow-up strike, triggering a secondary slash. The creature let out a final, pained howl before disintegrating into particles of light.
"This." Roy said, turning back to Asuna, "Is what combat should look like. Your movements need to be faster, more deliberate. Visualize the skill in your mind and initiate the starting motion. Once triggered, sword skills cannot be canceled or altered mid-execution."
Asuna pouted, her tone laced with irritation. "You make it sound so easy. It's frustrating being lectured like this!"
"Then prove me wrong." Roy challenged.
Determined, Asuna activated her rapier's basic sword skill, Linear. A streak of silver light flashed as the attack struck the wolf square in its jaw. Her high agility bonus made the strike near-instantaneous—a perfect opening move.
Though the damage was modest, the speed and precision of Linear allowed for seamless follow-ups. Pivoting her stance, she transitioned into a basic melee strike, compensating for her limited skill options at Level 1.
Roy observed with approval as Asuna combined her basic attacks to maintain pressure. While standard attacks lacked the raw power of sword skills, their primary purpose was to exploit the brief window of vulnerability left by an opponent's stagger.
"Good. Keep that pace." He encouraged.
Roy's own proficiency stemmed from his past training with wooden swords, a discipline carried over from both his real-life self and his character's history. His advanced techniques weren't officially recognized by the system as sword skills—otherwise, they would have been even faster and more powerful. Still, his combat instincts gave him an edge over the game's beginner-level challenges.
As they continued training, the duo methodically cleared the surrounding area of monsters. Being part of the closed beta, the hunting grounds weren't crowded, as players tacitly respected each other's grinding spots.
Meanwhile, Asuna found herself mesmerized by the immersive realism of the game. With every enemy defeated, the experience bar filled steadily, and before long, both she and Roy had reached Level 3.
After allocating all his starting attributes to Strength and Agility, Roy led Asuna forward.
Heading toward the massive tower in the distance, they encountered various strange, insect-like creatures along the way. Among them were hornets, all around level 3, swift and agile in their movements. This was the perfect time to put the Throwing skill to use.
Roy began explaining the hornets' attack patterns and their stagger windows to Asuna. Picking up a stone, he activated it, causing it to glow faintly blue. With a sharp throw, the stone sliced through the air with a whistling sound, hitting a hornet squarely in its body. Its HP, already low, quickly depleted.
"You'll need to learn the Throwing skill too." Roy said. "It's a simple sword skill, but in certain situations, it can be incredibly useful."
Asuna responded with a lackluster hum of acknowledgment.
Seeing her apathetic expression, Roy couldn't help but twitch his lips in annoyance. He raised his hand and lightly smacked her on the head.
"Hey! When I'm talking to you, listen properly. You never know when this might come in handy."
"Tch. Like something in a game would ever be useful in real life." Asuna retorted.
Roy sighed. "Teenagers. So rebellious. You're even starting to argue with your elders now."
With a serious expression, he declared, "No talking back."
Asuna's cheeks flushed with indignation. "I'm older than you!"
"I'm more senior than you here." Roy shot back.
"I'm taller than you!"
"I'm your sensei."
"But-"
"I'm your sensei."
"Ugh! Why do I have to listen to you even in a game?" Asuna grumbled, visibly annoyed.
Ignoring her endless muttering, Roy led her deeper into the area, farming monsters along the way. Soon, they arrived at the entrance to a dense forest.
Standing at the edge of the woods, Roy peered inside. The narrow, winding path ahead was shrouded in shadows, with sunlight filtering faintly through the canopy above. Tree branches cast dappled patterns on the ground, and the distant chirping of insects filled the air.
Crunching leaves underfoot, Roy paused to consider. Since this was the beta test, dying here wasn't a big deal. He could afford to take risks.
"Let's go, Asuna." He said, motioning for her to follow.
The path ahead was narrow, bordered by towering trees. The light from above was muted by the dense foliage, creating an almost surreal atmosphere. The forest seemed alive with detail—the rustling leaves, the sound of distant insects, even the earthy scent of the ground.
Asuna looked around curiously, her eyes wide with amazement. "It's so real… This feels like an entirely different world." She murmured.
In the stillness of the forest, her soft words didn't escape Roy's ears. He glanced at her and said, "In real life, you don't need to push yourself so hard. I've told you before—balance is important. Playing games like this can help you relax and even improve your focus."
For once, Asuna didn't argue. She simply walked alongside him in silence, listening.
Her rare moment of quiet surprised Roy, though he didn't comment on it.
