****(POV)

The small training room is cold and empty.

Just as it should be.

One does not become stronger in comfort.

That is our belief.

We are the iron guardians for a reason.

We live and die with a weapon in hand.

Pride and justice part of our motto.

Everything is irrelevant in the face of dedication.

The body should be trained to shoulder the burden of the heaviest of armors.

The skills need to be trained relentlessly until the metal is an extension of one's arm.

I do have very good memories of this place.

Training day after day.

Those were simpler times.

Ever since ascending to management, I have had to care for something called politics.

The worst thing ever.

Sometimes I just hope the war would start now.

This would be way easier.

Simply a clash of raw strength and spirit.

No, instead we are here playing house.

In this city, there are all kinds of people.

Even the bad ones.

Well, they are all hiding like rats.

Sometimes I wish I could just go roam and start a killing spree.

Get rid of any shady individual and be done with it.

Sadly I can't.

Well, I can, but I shouldn't.

*Knock knock*

Finally, he is here.

I am actually here for a meeting.

This place helps me think after all.

Enters a colleague of mine.

An elder here too.

"Hey there."

"*Chuckle* You haven't changed one bit. Still hiding in here."

"Eh, well you know me. This place feels like home."

"That it does. Except it can be a bit hard to move in such a cramped space haha."

That is the biggest difference between us.

I am what we call a straight guardian.

Heavy armored, close to impossible to kill.

My weapon of predilection is a halberd.

This friend of mine is a peculiar one in our midst.

He is a pure swordsman.

He has given up the usual defense for a counter style.

His guard is his sword.

A giant sword that he somehow swings around expertly.

He is somewhat of a big shot in our faction.

One that is for some reason was assigned to this single city.

I heard that he even managed to survive a direct confrontation with the Eagle of massacre once.

This is the most impressive feat one can attain as a swordsman.

We have a thing called the thousand swordsman ranking going on this continent.

On the list are about a hundred of the strongest swordmasters.

There is a saying that they are on the list for 2 reasons.

First one their mastery over their art.

Second their ability to evade the massacre demon.

Well, he has been quiet lately.

Still, that simply makes my friend an impressive individual.

This guy has now requested an official meeting.

This means something huge is about to happen.

Well, either that or he is going into closed-door training again.

"Alright, why are we here exactly?"

I can see him take a determined look.

"I am leaving."

"Where?"

"I heard about someone that could help me better myself as a swordsman. I need to try and meet him."

This is huge.

It is the first time I hear him praising another so much.

Every previous fight he was in he would praise his enemy but admit that they do not share the same path.

This means that he either found someone that has a similar blade or perhaps even someone that is so strong that he can teach him lots of things regardless.

"Which is it?"

He understands me easily.

"A true master."

"Is the information reliable?"

"I was at the sword auction. A sword close to rank 4 got cleaved in half using a normal blade. As easily as one would cut tofu."

"That impressive?"

"Yes, that impressive. This is not the most important part. The guy that accomplished it did it casually. When I confronted him guess what he told me?"

"Don't tell me is he a traveler?!"

"No, but he did tell me the name of his teacher. If the student is already that impressive, can you imagine what kind of old monster managed to teach him?"

This is huge.

There is one concern I do have.

"So you plan on paying him a visit? Do you even know where to find him?"

He shakes his head.

"No, but I do know his name. Zero of The Unnamed God Sect."

I try to jog my memory, but the name doesn't ring a bell.

At all.

I know pretty much all the significant sects on the continent.

Yet I am completely clueless here.

"What do you think?"

So he asks me.

I mean there is only one conclusion to be drawn here.

"A hidden sect, is it?"

"Most probably. He didn't tell me where I can find that teacher, so I didn't push. Still, he apparently still accepts disciples. I will try my luck."

"You'll simply go on a wild goose chase simply with this information?"

"Well, yes. I will train at the same time anyway. From time to time seeing the world helps in figuring out things."

He isn't wrong either.

This is significant enough to be worth exploring.

At least for a bit.

I do need to ask him just in case.

"How sure are you about this?"

"Pretty sure. At least that is what my intuition tells me. I don't think he was lying. The hardest part will be finding such a legendary individual. Well also getting him to accept me I guess."

"*Sigh* Do you want any help from the sect? We could use our information network to…"

"No, I do not want to make it look like we are hunting them. The consequences could be disastrous. Make sure you do not offend the young man and we should be fine."

"So you'll just abandon me, eh old friend?"

"Well, you would do the same if our roles were reversed, no? Could you imagine meeting an invincible? These warriors that are said to have mastered the art of defense."

"Hehe, you are right. I would do anything to get such a being to teach me. Alright, goodbye and take care. Make sure to come back when war happens. We will need your power!"

"Hehe, if everything goes well, I will come back a changed man. Take care old friend."

Thus he leaves.

Leaving me alone in the small cold training room with my thoughts.

Ah, I may as well train for a bit too...