Lock picked up the wooden sword and said nothing.
He practiced alone beside Kanao, quietly observing her stance and movements.
Lock had never held a sword before, so at first, his movements were awkward, almost playful. But with his incredible comprehension ability, he quickly adapted, following Kanao's every motion, and soon his movements became fluid.
Practicing swordsmanship was clearly the fastest way to get stronger in this world.
With the Shadowless Hand technique he had learned earlier, Lock still couldn't hope to defeat a demon with just his hands. To survive and become stronger, he needed the Sun Wheel Sword as soon as possible.
A light breeze swept through the courtyard, carrying the fragrance of flowers. Bees busily collected nectar as the two figures danced with their wooden swords.
Kanao suddenly paused and looked at Lock quietly.
Lock raised his wooden sword and smiled. "Can you help me practice swordsmanship?"
Kanao nodded, though she hesitated when she saw he held only a wooden sword. After a quick check with her coin, she relaxed, retrieved her own wooden sword, and prepared to train seriously.
Lock's playful joke made Kanao blink in surprise for a moment, but it lightened the atmosphere. The others watched quietly from the side, impressed by his courage.
Lock introduced himself formally. "I'm Lock. I'll be here for a while. Please teach me."
Then he stepped back slightly, waiting for Kanao to strike first.
He had studied her movements during their previous practice, but real combat was unpredictable. He needed to react immediately, learning and adapting as the fight progressed.
Finally, Kanao struck first.
"So fast!" Lock thought.
The wooden blade sliced through the air with precision, and though it was just wood, the force and speed were enough to make him flinch.
But Lock's reflexes, enhanced by his observation and Shadowless Hand training, allowed him to keep up.
[You observed Kanao's body movements and footwork, learning to mimic and adapt through practice.]
[You observed Kanao's sword techniques, analyzing and mastering the motions.]
At first, Lock struggled slightly to keep up. But by analyzing Kanao's movements step by step, he quickly anticipated her next attacks.
The first feint, a left strike—he dodged.
The second, a horizontal slash aimed at his waist—he sidestepped.
The final strike, a downward swing—he anticipated and moved aside.
Each attack revealed Kanao's rhythm and intentions, and Lock memorized them, predicting her next moves as if reading a pattern.
Kanao jumped high, swinging her sword in a flowing motion.
"Flower Breathing · Type 5: Fruitless Peony!"
Lock's eyes widened. Kanao had incorporated her breathing technique, doubling her speed. Her nine consecutive strikes cut through the air like blooming petals, each swing precise and deadly.
Lock's comprehension ability kicked in. [You observed Kanao's sword skills, perfectly reproducing the motions in your mind through deduction.]
The auspicious cloud pattern appeared on Lock's neck. His body tensed, ready to move in perfect sync with Kanao's last attack.
He matched her posture exactly, prepared to respond to every strike.