Chapter 10: Stirring Water

Wilhelm checked the weapons thrown on the ground and said, “To teach you to use all of the weapons you are holding, much less the other weapons, and then proceed to teach you a new ability will normally take months to achieve that. To achieve what we want in such a short time frame, there is a shortcut, the price is, you risk going insane.”

An almost transparent black membrane appeared around Wilhelm; it expanded in an instant to cover the backyard, then disappeared as if it was never there. The hand holding the staff emitted black mist, and it swirled around the staff, completely hiding its shape. And as the mist retracted and dissipated, the staff was altered bit by bit into a sword.

While Franswift saw Wilhelm’s weapon’s change, he could not react until he saw the sword coming for his head. His vision flipped upside-down, and he saw his body headless. Am I dead?

Before the pain could register, he heard a muffled voice, and he felt reality get distorted around him, followed by slight dizziness. He saw Wilhelm staring at him, and he felt his head was still intact.

Wilhelm said with a glazed expression, “You see, the best way and the fastest way to learn is when your life is on the line. I will use the standard moves of every weapon. All you have to do is learn my attack patterns and their uses, then use them however you want.”

Franswift eyes were vacant, and Wilhelm’s voice didn’t reach his mind. He was shuddering in fear; he almost died this time. No, technically, he did die. Even when he saw death every day in the slum and saw the slaughter that happened, it completely terrified him when he experienced it himself.

Wilhelm continued, “Since you haven’t chosen a path yet, I will be able to make you feel every death you experience here. You will never get used to them. You can quit anytime if you want but, do know the moment you quit; I will abandon you.”

Wilhelm looked at the terrified Franswift and sighed. “Of course, there are more gentle ways to practice quicker, if we were in other cities, I would use them, but they will not help you in this city. The moment I go easy on you, I will be guaranteeing your death, you will die before you could blink, just like then and now.”

When Franswift heard those words, he remembered the slaughter he just survived a few days ago. He clenched his fist and immediately bit his tongue. The taste of blood appeared, but the pain diluted the fear that had enveloped him. He gazed Wilhelm in the eyes while entering into focus.

“I will continue.”

“Good.”

Wilhelm attacked again. This time he stabbed his sword aiming for the heart. Franswift quickly jumped backward as he grabbed the sword and the shield on the ground. He had directed his focus on all of Wilhelm’s movements, trying to memorize every action.

After Wilhelm had failed his stab and withdrew his sword, Franswift shifted his focus to his own body and proceeded to do the same stab as Wilhelm. But Wilhelm easily parried it. He effortlessly moved the trajectory of Franswift sword, using his own sword’s blade, and swiftly took a step forward and pierced the head.

While Franswift quickly shook the feeling of death, Wilhelm stared at Franswift in thought. He was able to copy the form and make it almost appear as mine, although the force application was wrong, a few more times, and he will do it right. I wanted to develop his experience in using and defending against different weapons to survive at best. The minimum of what I wanted to do was to change his current mindset, but with this. His face turned into an amused expression. It is possible to do even more.

He slashed again towards Franswift, but it was blocked by the shield. The black mist transformed the weapon into a spear, and he swiped the spear towards the throat. Franswift quickly rolled in response towards the spear on the ground and tried to take it, but he immediately retracted his hands as a black arrow made of the black mist was implanted in the ground where his hands were.

Franswift rushed towards Wilhelm before he could change his weapon. He tried to stab Wilhelm in his heart with the sword, but Wilhelm shifted his foot and dodged sideways, making the attack only graze him. During that time, he had changed his weapon, and a dagger quickly slit Franswift’s throat.

Franswift woke after dying again. This time he could not even hold his weapon as his hands trembled. He really couldn’t get used to the experience of death, falling into despair every time he died.

As Franswift bit his tongue again, Wilhelm talked to him from afar while he walked back to the room before, “Are you going to bite your tongue every time you die? By the end of the week, you will have no tongue to bite. There are many ways to overcome the fear of death, make one of your own, that is if you do not want your mind to break.”

Wilhelm went to a box laid in the room and looked at Franswift as he pointed at it.

“This is your resources. They are different nutrients, energized meat, and body enhancing vials. There is a paper inside with the time and schedule of each portion to achieve maximum efficiency. You will receive these every day beside your daily meals.”

Wilhelm opened the box and took out a paper.

“We will stop for now. That was just the warm-up. You will have to consume the portion that is for before the training.”

Franswift had stopped shaking and walked to the room silently. He received the piece of paper and read it.

[Resource box no .1]

[Listed materials]

(Nutrition bottles x8)

(Level 3 meat x12)

(Body endurance vials x4)

(Body reinforcing vials x4)

(Body soothing vials x4)

[Plan 1]

(After warm-up one... )

[Plan 2]

(... )

[Plan 3]

(... )

[Plan 4]

(... )

Franswift looked in dismay at Wilhelm, “A box of these materials is delivered every day?”

“Yes, a box will be delivered daily to you, but the resources differ based on the progress in your training.”

Franswift stayed silent and narrowed his eyes as he looked at Wilhelm. First, I am under his family, then he trains me personally, now this. He was very suspicious of why Wilhelm is doing this for him.