The three middle-aged men surrounded Diether to make sure that he'll die on this garbage dump.

"Hey, what would you do with that training sword?"

​​

"Are you blind already? Can't you see that it's not even sharp?"

Diether didn't answer to their mockery as he slowly stood up grasping the sword tightly.

"Y-your wounds..."

"What did you do?!"

"Vic, do you think that he's an Arcanist?"

"What? If he is, he wouldn't be working here! And also, the youngest Arcanist can only be twelve years old."

The three were surprised to see the kid's wound healed without their notice. They couldn't understand how it happened as there was no way for a kid younger than twelve years old to wield an Arcana, even if that pathetic sword was truly one.

'How did it happen? This is nonsense!'

While they were confused about what was happening, the child smirked at them.

"Ho~ Did you have fun bullying a kid?"

They heard the kid's chilling voice. This time, it felt something different. Something sinister was echoing from it.

"What? Do you think you can fight us just because you have that bamboo sword?!"

Wally exclaimed as he steps forward to let the kid realize that they were not scared. The man pulled out his improvised knife made of a sharp piece of metal and slowly walked towards the kid not viewing the sword he held as a threat. After all, it wasn't even sharp.

They might get hurt if it was wielded by an adult but a ten-year-old kid was holding it now.

Reiji didn't waste any more words as the kid was still slightly injured. He also had to finish it quickly since he only has 10 seconds!

"Hmph!"

Although Diether has a small body, Reiji controlled it seamlessly. It was probably due to the combination of the Sense Link and Take Over.

Reiji had quickly learned about the limit of the kid's physical ability and decided to take the first move.

"Ha!"

Using one big stride, Diether effortlessly thrust the shinai and aimed at the man's left hand holding the knife.

Pa!

The knife was thrown away as Wally was left open. Reiji didn't give him any more chance as he thrust the sword to the man's throat.

Makiwaza followed by a Tsuki!

Makiwaza was a technique that aims to disarm the opponent. Although it is no longer being practice in the modern kendo, Reiji had never skip in learning this technique.

"Guh!" Wally was hit on the throat immobilizing him as he writhes in pain. He couldn't breathe properly.

Tsuki is an attack on the throat and it can be very lethal.

Kid! Remember every move I make.

The kid's consciousness was still present so Reiji could directly communicate with him as they share the same body at the moment.

"Y-yes..."

Diether had never thought that his body was capable of doing this.

All the Cursed Arcana did was to use his body without further enhancing it after it was healed. It means that the fight just now was his ability if he learned the technique.

'It was all about the technique...' Diether was amazed seeing how nimble his body was.

'So, I'm capable of doing this...'

He was mesmerized by the power he was showing even without the help of Spiritual Energy.

Reiji repeated the same pattern to Josh who attacked him after he downed Wally.

Seeing that his two subordinates were writhing in pain, Vic was now planning to escape.

But the kid charged at him and didn't let him get away.

After realizing that the little kid wasn't planning on letting him go, he could only counterattack.

'I just have to protect my throat!' Vic thought as he launches an attack on the young man.

Reiji was actually not confident of reaching the old man if he decided to run away. Luckily, his opponent didn't know that he only has 3 more seconds left and charged towards him.

'Chance!'

The man was fully open except for the throat he was trying to protect with his right hand!

This was the benefit of being small. It was impossible to miss his target. Together with his superb kinetic vision, he had seen through the man's attack.

The man waved his left hand while holding the knife as he tried to slice up Diether.

The kid avoided the knife by a hair's breadth avoiding a serious injury. It was time to end this.

"Haa!"

Vic used most of his strength in that strike so when he missed his target, he was unable to quickly get into a proper stance.

The last thing that he saw was the incoming sword hitting his head as he lost consciousness.

As soon as the 10 seconds had passed, Reiji quickly told the little kid to run away from this place. They only made them immobilize and once they recovered, it would be a disaster for the two. Apparently, the Take Over has a cooldown of 3 hours. Though it can be lessened as long as he levels it up.

"Mhm!"

The kid followed his instruction as he runs opposite the town. He no longer has plans to return to that place since someone wanted his head and the three uncles might try to just kill him again.

'The Arcana isn't cursing me? It seems that the swords still have plans on using me. No, I must think positively. This might actually be my only chance to redeem myself...'

"What's your name?"

"Ah, yes... I'm Diether Luxford. May I know how to call you?"

"I see. You can just call me Reiji. By the way, make sure not to unhand me even for a second..."

"Sure. May I ask why? Ah, no... I will just follow your command."

"Haha... Just don't let me go for 50 minutes and that would work. Alright?"

"Yes!"

"Good... Now, did you remember my techniques a while ago?"

"Mhm... I saw everything..."

"Do you want to learn a sword technique from me?"

The kid was astounded hearing such a kind offer. He didn't hesitate to agree as he excitedly asked to learn the technique.

"Don't hurry. Take a rest for now. You're still wounded."

"Hmm... This much should be fine."

Diether went silent as he started to manipulate the Spiritual Energy to speed up his recovery.

"Oh... So you can do that." Reiji was interested in seeing him do this. It was amazing to see how Spiritual Energy works within the human body.

"Where do you plan to go now?" Reiji asked after seeing that the kid was now fully healed.

"There is a small village in that direction. I'm planning to take my chances there."

Diether pointed past the mountain as Reiji realized that the kid was prepared for a long journey...