Posted by Aker immediately stood up and began practicing with his sword. His movements that always felt technically savvy now felt ethereal.
With his eyes closed Aker imagined his fight with the Lava Boar and the Oppressing Ox as they both charged at him, his life their only target. Each of them were mad with rage and the desire to destroy his body and flesh.
Aker who stood calmly in front of both of the magical beast gently slashed his sword forward as the Lava Boar came into attack distance.
Like a scolding hot knife through butter the Lava Boar was ripped into half as Aker stood still unaffected his attention now on the Oppression Ox.
With a slight step and another seemingly gentle swing of his sword the head of the Oppression Ox floated in the air its eyes still showing its disbelief as it was stunned at its death.
Aker who was still in a state of realization was swinging his sword around in his cell, each of his movements were becoming a work of art that would rain blood and death down on whatever was in front of it.
Normally when Aker would practice he focused on being crisp and fast, his goal was to survive. Survival was found in dodging, in blocking, in staying away from danger. When he trained and visualized he practiced dodging and attacking and blocking and attacking but now Aker was realizing he was wrong.
His sword doesn’t want to run and hide. His knife doesn’t want to cower and look for opportunity. All of the skills in his Peerless Body are meant for conquering.
Vance had explained to him that a sword is made for blood and that it must push forward. He didn’t understand what Vance meant at that time but now he was beginning to. His sword wants to battle that’s the reason it was created. A sword serves no other purpose other than to face its enemy in battle. A sword is meant to protect and attack.
Aker was lost in his visualization as he attacked over and over against all of the different enemies he had faced over the months.
Aker’s visualization was not powerful enough to combine all of his opponents together so that he could practice against all of them at the same time unfortunately because Aker was feeling that the two opponents he facing was not enough.
Over and over Aker’s sword swung and the beast would fall almost effortlessly. As Aker was concentrating on his sword his sword swings were getting faster and and more honed. There was no hesitation in his sword and there was no fear in it.
While Aker was in this state he wasn’t concerned with dodging his opponent or even victory or defeat he was only focused on his sword. His sword had become his entire universe and the universe was only made up of him and his sword.
While Aker was visualizing his attack in his cell Aker was slashing his sword over and over as if though he was looking for that perfect swing that moment that him and his sword could truly connect.
The wall of Aker’s cell was bearing witness to this moment and was becoming a record of it as each time Aker would slash he would leave a gnash on the wall, each gnash proof of his swords improvement and change.
The minutes ticked by and Aker continued to use the same swing of his sword only slighly modifying it with each swing. The sweat dripped off of Aker’s chin as he had been swinging the sword non-stop for over an hour without stopping, without changing position without hesitation…over and over and over again.
As if though planned, each swing would leave another notch on the wall almost perfectly spaced apart by a few millimeters from the others.
‘The user of the sword has so many different paths they can take. They can focus on speed or strength. They can make their sword a hero or a villain. The sword can be upright and honest or it can be full of trickery and lies. Is the villain’s sword weaker than the hero’s? Does speed beat strength? Will the honest sword always prevail over the trickery?’
Aker’s thoughts were racing as he swung his sword realizing that the sword itself was not a set form or idea.
A sudden idea walloped Aker almost shaking him to his core. How could a sword have so many different variations? How could it be so different from hand to hand? Why is that when two people practice the exact same sword movements its so different between the two.
Sure to an untrained eye Aker’s swing and Vance’s swing look identical but to someone who has practiced with the sword they could clearly tell the difference as easy as telling the difference between heaven and hell.
Aker’s swing has been full of hesitation and fear. When Aker practiced he used his sword to block and defend then counter attack. Vance’s sword was full of vitality and blood as it wanted to charge forward ignoring the danger that may lurk around the corner.
As he was swinging his sword and his thoughts were contemplating on the sword Aker could feel himself growing closer and closer to it.
‘My sword is a reflection of me. It is a reflection of my desire, my intent and my understanding. If I am afraid my sword will reflect fear. If I am confused my sword will reflect loss. If I am strong my sword will reflect power.’
Aker had just hit upon the essence of the sword. His sword had been a tool for him that he used because he had to use it. Vance had explained that his sword was versatile and up until now Aker hadn’t truly understood what he meant by “versatile”.
Swinging his sword in this moment he could feel the full effect of his swords capabilities. He understood that a sword could be whatever he wanted to be, that was the reason for all of the variations.
He had also hit upon a much deeper truth and that was that each swing of his sword was a clear reflection of his state of mind and heart. This entire time Aker was not trusting his sword and himself he was just going through the motions and making it through the battles however he could.
‘My sword is not a tool, it is a part of me. In reality its more than that it’s a mirror into my heart and soul that doesn’t lie. If I want my sword to be strong, stronger than anyone or anything I have to trust it, and I have to show it a heart full of power and strength and trust.’
As Aker was having this thought within his soul a seed was forming.
Magic fighters were also able to give life and spirit to weapons. This life and spirit didn’t begin from the weapon but from the magic fighter themselves. They could create a spirit seed and as they grew and understood their weapon the seed would grow and mature. In essence each fighter was sharing a piece of their spirit with the weapon, a weapon they had come to understand at the very root of their soul.
Very few fighters were capable of growing this seed because it took a person who was willing to share their entire selves down to the root of their soul before they seed could take root. Just like planting a tree or flower it needed to be buried in the soil first.
Aker continued on swinging his sword for several hours and during this entire process the soul seed formed by his new understanding of the sword was growing unknown to Aker.
Somehow as Aker was swinging he felt as if though his sword had life breathed into it as it became easier to move his sword into the position he wanted. He found that as he strike grazed the wall his precision had become dozens of times more accurate now he was able to leave marks on the wall only two millimeter apart.
While it felt effortless to Aker as he swung, blocked, stabbed from the observers point of view the speed, accuracy and strength of Aker’s sword raised through the roof. There was literally no comparing Aker’s sword from several hours ago to now.
Already the benefits Aker would receive from his sword seed could carry him for a lifetime, in reality most fighters who developed the seed never saw it grow beyond being buried. Like any seed it needed to nurtured and cared for in order for it to sprout. Most fighters who have a sudden moment of realization don’t ever hit that state again and further never recognized that the seed was formed in their soul to begin with.
In Aker’s case he could most certainly tell the difference between his sword now and when he first walked into the cell, however Aker was assured that the difference was due to his mentality change.
While his mentality change absolutely resulted in a massive change in Aker’s battle strength and sword the speed, accuracy and efficiency of Aker’s sword improvement was all related to the newly formed seed. Aker’s sword wouldn’t hesitate any more due to his mental change, he was now looking forward to his fights within The Pit.
Each fight was an opportunity for him to get stronger and to advance both his Peerless Body and as a magic fighter “Tomorrow is another chance to get stronger!” Aker said with force and vigor and with a satisfied smile Aker laid down on his beast blood stain.