??"Don’t get ahead of yourself just because the duel with Darius went your way."
Lucius frowned at the remark but held his tongue.
Reynard continued, his tone colder than usual. "Darius was once the strongest knight of our kingdom. But one of the rival empires used a curse on him. It destroyed his fourth mana circle and shattered his third. Do you understand what that means?"
Lucius swallowed hard. A curse... No wonder Darius had seemed restrained during their fight.
??"Even after losing most of his strength, Darius still forced you to your limit," Reynard said. "If that was a cursed warrior, imagine the nobles you will face in the tournament—heirs trained from birth, untouched by such weaknesses."
Lucius clenched his fists. He had felt strong after his duel, but now he realized—he was still far from the peak.
??"Your training begins now. I will break your body, push your mind, and forge your swordsmanship into something worthy of a warrior. But understand this—" Reynard’s golden eyes sharpened. "I don’t train failures. If you can't keep up, I’ll abandon you before the tournament even begins."
Lucius nodded. He had no intention of backing down.
"Then let’s begin."
For the next two months, Lucius was subjected to inhuman training. His body was torn apart and rebuilt every single day under Reynard’s ruthless guidance.
"Your sword is nothing without a body to wield it."
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Lucius ran ten kilometers daily carrying iron weights strapped to his legs and arms.
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He performed 1,000 push-ups, squats, and core exercises every morning, his body screaming in pain.
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Combat Sprinting: He was forced to dodge flying projectiles while running at full speed, training his reflexes and agility.
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He trained with sandbags tied to his back, increasing his balance and endurance.
Every day, he collapsed—every day, Reynard forced him to get back up.
"You think nobles will stop attacking you just because you're tired?" Reynard’s words were merciless.
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Lucius gritted his teeth and pushed forward.
"A strong body means nothing if your sword is dull."
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Lucius practiced thousands of strikes on training dummies until his hands bled.
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He was taught to predict enemy movements, reading even the slightest shift in weight or breath.
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Reynard introduced dual-blade techniques, forcing Lucius to fight two opponents at once.
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Precision over Strength: Instead of swinging wildly, he learned to strike with intent—every attack a killing blow.
Reynard would personally fight him, countering every move with ease.
"You're still predictable, Lucius. Nobles will read you like an open book."
Lucius cursed under his breath and pressed on.
"Your Aura Blade is more than just a weapon. It is your will made manifest."
-
Lucius was forced to hold his Aura Blade for long durations while meditating—endurance training for mana consumption.
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Reynard made him compress his mana, creating a thinner yet deadlier Aura Blade.
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Blindfolded Sparring: He fought knights without his vision, relying solely on mana perception to anticipate attacks.
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Precision Aura Control: Instead of simply covering his sword with mana, he was taught to shape it—a fine edge that could cut through steel with minimal effort.
Some nights, he passed out from mana exhaustion, but Reynard never allowed him rest.
"A warrior of your level should never collapse from something so trivial."
Lucius pushed his exhausted body forward.
In another part of the estate, Adrian trained under Commander Darius. The two had always shared a bond, and despite Darius' weakened state, his experience as a warrior was unmatched.
After one of their intense sparring sessions, Adrian sat down, wiping sweat from his forehead.
??"Lucius has changed, hasn't he?"
??Darius smiled. "More than you think."
??Adrian tilted his head. "How much more?"
Darius leaned forward, his voice serious.
??"I believe he will get into the Imperial Academy in a single try."
Adrian froze.
??"A… single try?" he whispered in disbelief.
Darius nodded.
?? "Even your brothers, Cassius and Julius, failed twice. You failed eight times before making it in. But Lucius? He’ll walk through those gates in his first attempt."
Adrian's heart pounded. This was no ordinary praise coming from Darius.
For a moment, he could only laugh.
??"A third-circle mage who can wield an Aura Blade… a boy who fights on equal ground with you, Darius… and now someone who will pass the Imperial Academy in a single try?"
He chuckled, shaking his head.
??"Nothing surprises me anymore."
Darius smirked.
??"You're not like your eldest brothers," he said.
Adrian sighed.
?? "No… and thank the gods for that."
The last week before the tournament, Reynard prepared Lucius for his ultimate challenge.
A real duel—not against one opponent, but against three elite knights not as strong as Darius.
Lucius had to hold his Aura Blade at full strength for the entire fight.
No rest. No mercy. It was do or die.
The first knight attacked—Lucius dodged, countered, and slashed his opponent's shoulder. One down.
The second knight came from behind—Lucius pivoted, parrying a powerful blow and disarming his enemy. Two down.
The third knight was different. Stronger. Faster. Lucius was forced to use everything he had, his Aura Blade shining dangerously.
He barely dodged a lethal strike—then struck.
His opponent fell to one knee.
Victory.
Lucius stood there, chest heaving, blood dripping from a cut on his cheek.
Reynard walked forward, nodding slightly.
??"Now… you are ready."