“Hahahaha! Then prove it, boy! Prove to me the amount of determination you can muster and fight me!”

Looking at the old man that was staring at me with a smirk on his face. What are you laughing at? But before I knew it

He was gone from my sight. Like vanishing into thin air.

My mind was on its edge right now with every cell of my brain focusing on the old man that was supposed to be in front of me. I expected any direction. And I mean even from beneath my feet.

I was thinking of different scenarios when a cane came towards my face with a horizontal swing. He was slower than I remember but still too fast for me. I reacted fast and jumped back ,seeing the swing slowing down even further to let me go. But because I wasn't used to this new strength, I flew more than 10 metres back and rolled on the ground.

"Cough cough cough… Shit…"

Fuck that hurt… wait that didn’t hurt.

It didn’t hurt?

“I thought you wanted to prove yourself, boy? And yet I only see you jumping around like a scared chicken. What? Can’t even handle your own strength?”

‘This feels very weird. Like I can feel the change in my body… is this?... No! Not now! Before anything else, I have to finish what I started! I’ll show it to you! Show that I am definitely not weak! And I will get stronger! So that I can find my parents again! So that I won’t feel helpless again!’

'the boy finally has the light in his eyes. Now is the perfect time to awaken him.'

"If you have found your courage boy , then I believe it is time to test it! If you can't even beat me with all the advantages I am giving then forget about anything you are thinking of right now!"

My eyes widened at this statement. I knew that he meant his limits on his powers with ‘all the advantages’ but I truly didn't know if I could beat the old man in this way. I always thought about one step at a time. But now that I think about it, that wasn’t enough.

‘ I’m sick of waiting! If slow and steady won’t work, then I just have to push it with all I have! Until my limits are non-existent!’

Every fibre of my being was screaming while the disproportionate smile on my face became ever so psychotic.

As I was bending my knees slightly to push forward, It was then that the old man could see a sparkling golden light in my eyes. A golden light that shines so bright as if it is the light that illuminated my future. The old man saw the same kind of light his eyes had 732 years ago which made him feel quite nostalgic about it.

Both of our hearts started to beat wildly. A caged beast in both of them was finally set loose and will rampage with a crazy smile that spoke volumes. The old man still held back not to kill me instantly but I gave it everything and even more in my concentration which made me feel even more power the more my Will power surged. This truly was phenomenal and I will use this energy to its fullest.

FUUUSH

the wind gathered around me, encircling me while my Will was visible to even normal humans. I could see it, feel it and almost touch it. It looked as if I was in a golden green fire that was set ablaze with sheer power. I was almost ready to awaken. I could understand that as well. It wasn’t out of danger or out of anger and sadness. I knew that my emotions were the ones that triggered it. A strong Will powered by strong emotions that were tied to a goal. I know why I awakened now.

I stopped hesitating! And pushing this further was the goal of being fully in control of my own life and the people around me! Nothing will happen to them! Ever!

My smile was on full display with my eyes almost having its light leave my pupils like crackling lighting. And I had to push myself now to get further beyond.

We both knew. We both instinctively knew that it wasn't a quiet breakthrough that I needed. We both knew that what I needed was a desperate fight. One that will stretch all my body, all of my mind and all of my soul to its limits. The old man cracked his knuckles and I was tensing and relaxing my muscles in a rhythm while we just smiled at each other, waiting for the perfect moment. Then to not wait for an eternity, the old man showed an opening.

I knew he did it on purpose but that I didn’t care right now. I needed to move!

With every ounce of strength gathered in my legs, I kicked the ground with inhuman strength and ran towards the old man with a face of a wild beast. I wanted to just went all of my power out. Let all my strength get known. Let all of my progress known! I don’t have to show it to everyone. But I will show that I did progress! And that this will continue!

The old man responded in the same kind, starting to kick the ground as well. His face had a trace of expectations but that was covered by his pure excitement.

"OLD MAAAAAN!!"

"BOOOOOOOOYYY!!"

as both of us screamed with all the air in our lungs, we threw a punch to each other. A punch that had no way of an escape. But neither of us wanted to dodge the Will of our opponent. Our punches were fast. And hit right at the jaw of the two of us.

BOOM

The earth shook as the two bodies of mortal flash clashed with each other. Each contact created slight shockwaves, shaking the trees around us. The earth beneath us cracked slightly and the wind blew in every direction possible. But no one felt pain. Only pure joy to fight.

‘Ha! Look at him! Having even the same smile as me went to only show how much of a good teacher I am! If only my dear Akiko could see this… pfft yeah right… she would probably lament saying such a talent got ‘corrupted’ by me~… ‘

"I like that smile on your face , boy!"

"Same goes for you, old man!"

"Hahahahaha!"

"Hahahahaha!"

NOW!

The two of us retreated back and dashed right away at the same time right after laughing. This time, I came with a left hook while the old man was about to do a right cross only to stop mid motion to go and grab my wrist. Turning it counterclockwise, he put me in a painful position but before the old man could do more to me , I jumped performing something similar to a backflip and landing my right knee onto the old man's wrist that held mine.

With the momentum and added gravity , the old man had to let go to stay within his power limits. The moment he let go was when I used my left leg and aimed with a slight turning kick towards the old man’s face. The latter clearly anticipated the move and put both his arms in front of his face. The kick was strong and sent the old man sliding for 3 metres while I myself flew back 7 metres.

This was what I needed. Space. With the limit of being in the mortal realm, the old man couldn't go and use his special martial arts and magic. So creating distance would be ideal for me to have enough time to form a plan. Even if I fought with him like this, just fighting will make me tired first. And I had to awaken! But before I could think about something concrete, I got distracted with something I haven’t seen for a long time.

‘The threads! So this means only one thing and that is to listen to my body… they are going towards that place… alright! Lets go!’

I dashed to the side towards a nearby tree that had some of its branches on the ground. The lines were circling around that branch that was quite sturdy and had a very good touch. Perfect balance for a one handed stick. The lines circled around it like it wanted me to take it. And so I took it.

And the lines moved yet again, looking like a field tactic you would see before sport matches. I could see different scenarios. Different outcomes every time. It felt like I was playing chess with each of my possible moves in front of me

While I was staring blankly towards the lines, the old man watched me with curious eyes as he was observing the newbie trying to find a plan to fight a man with 750 years of experience. When he saw me get the stick, his eyes shone with interest. We never trained with weapons since our priority was to get me awakened but he could guess that this may have been a mistake for that

“hoho! So you want to use a weapon~? Let's see what changes will happen with something like that!”

When I finally knew what I had to do, I was stuffing my empty pockets with little sharp stones I could see around me. They had dirt on them but the purpose is in the tactic not the effectiveness against this crazy monster. This would look quite stupid as I was thinking of using them against someone that probably can withstand bullets. But I had an idea how I'll use these stones to try to fight in a different way.

All I needed was a chance, nothing more. And the lines were the best guide towards this chance right now.

When I felt ready to fight again, I sprinted and moved as fast as possible , appearing in front of the old man, who grinned madly at me. Obviously, I had to return in kind so my smile was just as his, like a true madman. I came at him with a diagonal swing as I followed the lines, only to see the old man dodge with ease by crouching. but the moment he went slightly down to crouch was when he had to jump back as my swing changed direction mid abruptly while not losing speed.

This felt unnatural for a beginner and the old man knew this. He thought it was basically because of the boy’s talent but the more he tried to 'cut' him with this branch the more the old man realised that this isn't simple talent. every swing with this stick got heavier, faster, more precise and deadlier. It felt like he was swinging a true blade. And if this was a real sword, that boy would have cut off some chunks of meat from the old man’s body already and this frightened the old man of this boy’s natural talent with the sword.

I swung the stick in an arch, making the old man move to the other side when all of a sudden.

BANG

The old man’s forehead was almost hit by something fast and sharp. He could see that it was just a simple rock but that begged the question. How could it have been so fast? The answer is that he could see the fire around the boy’s body focusing a little on his left hand. The ones he picked up from the ground and put in his pocket.

I was flicking these stones with a velocity that was only possible with a normal crossbow. Coupled with my abnormally amazing swordplay with the stick and the pressure on the old man was now intensifying. He had to play by the rules so using more strength and speed was out of the question and he had no weapon like me. Nonetheless, he still fought better than me and that had a reason.

Experience never disappoints. And he was a being with a lot of experience. He was going for a push kick to blow this annoying kid away when

PLACK

I dodged sideways, seeing the threads form strongly in a circle, and spun around adding centrifugal force to my swing as the stick hit the side of the old man’s face. This was the same kind of swing I used on that Walter guy with a staff but this time it was faster than anyone could have predicted even for the old man. He had to break his limits to dodge that and his pride wouldn’t let him do that.

But this surprise never stopped me. As if possessed, my eyes flickered with light and steam came out of my mouth. I can do more! I will do more! So more will come!

"RRAGH!"

I spun the stick upwards hitting the backside of the old man’s leg that was still out because of his push kick. His leg went up all the way to absorb the hit but I then swung the stick horizontally that made the old man jump back in the air.

BANG

Almost getting hit by a stone again , Akira this time lowered his raised foot to smash the stone down. But I was already onto him and he'd never let such a chance slip away. I can’t let him take a breather! Listen to the lines! Listen to your body!

'I'll have to beat you! I have to take that step! And nothing will stop me at this moment!'

When my thoughts became more desperate and my body more like being possessed, were my intentions finally understood by my body and my soul. The stick in my hand broke apart into millions of bits due to the immense pressure it was under now but that didn't bother me the least. Because something else was forming in my hand.

Pushing the old man even more, I threw my left fist out. The old man retreated when he could understand something.

‘Finally! Go! Break your own shackles!’

The old man was looking with excitement towards me , making my mad smile only look worse now that my will power was going through new limits.

'If I can't find a place where I belong, I'll build one!’

‘If I can't find a path I want to walk on, I'll make one myself!'

As if hearing my cries in my mind, the golden lines concentrated even more in my right hand, becoming even visible to the old man. The Will that was gushing out of my body intensified, giving off a strong light of gold green and black while an object formed on my right hand.

'And if I don't have a weapon when I need it the most… THEN…'

With a swing down of the object in my hand that was almost recognizable, I let out all my remaining strength into this final push.

'… I'LL CREATE ONE MYSELF!'

The form in my hand stabilised and shone in bright black gold and green as it cut through space itself. The old man noticed that I finally awakened so he teleported as fast as possible away from that slash that contains all of my future potential.

BOOOOOOOM

A slash that was louder than any natural disaster possible. But the scene in front of the two of us was even more mesmerising.

In front of a cut that not only cut the earth cleanly but space itself as well , I stood there with a beautiful black Kilij that has golden runes on its blade and a black green cavalry hilt that looked like it was made out of smooth dragon skin with its scaly pattern. The blade itself was one metre long and the last 30 cm of the blade was curved upwards in a smooth slight arch.

It is a one sided blade but has a false edge on its backside giving the freedom of specific movements with this blade. Its runes on its blade shone brightly as they were in an unknown language for Laith.

As if the Kilij in my hand wasn’t enough, my clothes changed as well. They turned into something similar to the old Ottoman style clothing with a black shalvar, a blank white shirt, a dark green sash and a black cepken. The sash and cepken had golden embroidery which looked like runes more than anything else . My shoes were Turkish black leather shoes that had also runes on its side but mostly on its backside.

But the last and most shocking thing wasn't the beautiful sword , the outfit that looked like it could withstand even a supernova.

No it was in fact the reason we trained for so long. For more than 200 days, we trained for this moment.

The awakening of my ability. And now when they saw what was around me, it dawned on both of them. My jaw dropped to the floor when I saw this beautiful sight I swear I will only be able to recreate it in the far future.

Around me were weapons.

Powerful weapons.

Hundreds of hundreds of hundreds of them hovering around me as I am the centrepiece of a whole armoury.

"So your ability is this…" Said the old man with a look of excitement. But before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by me as I instinctively knew what my ability was. It was like I lost the use of a limb and now can finally use it again.

"Weapons… I am able to create and understand every weapon…"