The water cascaded down from a great height, its sound echoing everywhere, each droplet hitting the rocks creating a small wave of fear and awe in my heart.
The cold pierced my skin, as if the waterfall itself was trying to test my limits before I embarked on my true journey.
I stood under the flow of water, my body shivering, every muscle tensed from the cold.
But there was another feeling, deeper than the pain...
A sense of power that seemed to be forming inside me, buried beneath the pulsating sensations and the cold, but I didn't know what kind of power it was.
Dian stood behind me, steadfast like a beacon, his eyes gleaming with an intensity that couldn't be missed.
"Begin," he said in a low voice, yet full of authority. "Let the water test you, let your body and spirit unite."
What does he mean by this, damn it?!
My body was completely soaked. I shivered, but I endured.
Every second under the water was a challenge to my breathing, each droplet felt like an arrow piercing my skin.
I felt like I was experiencing every past life in a single moment,
every pain, every loss, every disappointment... and every power I hadn't been able to harness until now.
I thought to myself, "What's the point of this training, anyway?"
Dian laughed and said in a sarcastic tone, "If you continue like this, maybe you'll get the power of the great Etherion land, hahaha." I couldn't even respond.
After only ten minutes of sitting under the waterfall, I reached my limit. I headed straight to where Dian was sitting, and when he saw me, he said, "Oh, you've reached your limit already?!"
When he saw the look of exhaustion on my face, he added, "Actually, when I first tried this, I could only endure for 3 minutes. So don't be too hard on yourself. Here, take this."
He handed me a towel.
I took the towel, dried myself, and quickly put on my clothes. "What's the point of this exercise?" I asked.
"Oh, this exercise? It's pointless," he replied.
"What?! Then why did you force me to do it?!"
For a moment, I forgot to speak respectfully, then added, "And what is the great Etherion land?"
He looked at me for a moment, then said, "Actually, I've read about it in a book. They say there's a distant land, and no one knows where it is. They say the original inhabitants were very close, and to enter this continent, you need to awaken the mark of the supreme. It's said that you can awaken it with this exercise, but I've given up on that a long time ago."
So, he was just messing with me?
"So, young man, did you feel anything?" he asked.
"Ah, actually, I felt some kind of power inside me, but I don't know what it is."
Dian looked at me in amazement and said, "Yes, yes, of course, you did! Hahaha!"
He was teasing me. I sighed slightly and said, "If you don't have anything else to say, I'll head back now."
"Wait, wait, let's head back together," he said.
After that, I returned to my room, threw myself onto the bed, and prepared to sleep, but I couldn't. I kept thinking about what Dian said.
"Is Etherion real? And if it is, what kind of power can I gain?"
As I was lost in thought, I drifted off to sleep.
The next day, Daniel and William were having breakfast and chatting.
"Daniel, it's been a month since we got here, right?" William asked.
"Oh... yeah, you're right. It feels like it's been a month already, huh?"
"But the training is getting tougher. The running distance has been increased because of that idiot. Damn him!"
"Oh... you've reminded me. But I don't have a problem with running, to be honest."
"Ugh, you're so lucky."
Actually, during the running training, if someone collapses during the run, they'll have to add 3 more kilometers. And two weeks ago, after increasing the running distance... one person did collapse, and it became 15 kilometers.
It also seems like we've made progress in sword training. We've started learning the basics of imperial swordsmanship, which I already know, so I've been skipping training.
And... it seems like I'll be starting the new program soon.
"Ah, you're here! It's been a month already, huh?" Dian said.
"Yeah, you're right," I replied.
"So, today's the day we start the new program, right?" William asked.
"Yeah, I know," I said.
"Ugh, it's no use. Oh, wait! You're annoyed because you couldn't manifest the mark, aren't you? Hahaha!"
I made a disgusted face and thought to myself, "Is he really older than me?"
"Hey, don't look at me like that. Ah, anyway, let's start today's training," Dian said.
"Okay," I replied.
I formed my usual stance and looked at my master's sword.
"Good posture, but it's closer to a killer's stance. You know?"
As soon as he finished speaking, we both moved at a speed that the naked eye couldn't follow. I formed a diagonal sword path, but I started with a straight one. I brought it down, and Dian took a defensive stance, easily deflecting my sword.
Dian retreated and then charged towards me, aiming a thrust at the spot between my chest and stomach. As I prepared to deflect his sword, he quickly changed the trajectory of his sword, aiming for my right side. "What the...?!" But I was quick to react and dodged the attack with difficulty.
As soon as I did that, Dian formed a sly smile and kicked me in the stomach, making me cough. "You scoundrel!"
_Cough_ _Cough_
I glared at him with anger-filled eyes.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Fighting isn't just about wielding a sword, you know?"
I reformed my stance and charged towards Dian. Dian thought to himself, "This kid is stubborn," but before he could finish thinking, Daniel dropped his sword and slid down, using his right foot to kick Dian's face.
"Huh?!"
Before Dian could react, Daniel had already kicked him, sending him rolling 30 meters away, crashing into a tree.
"Aaagh...!"
Dian spat out blood from his mouth and stood up, holding his sword. He smiled slightly, his eyes burning with intensity, and said, "I didn't expect that. You've got some guts, kid!"
He took a strange stance with his sword, and Daniel picked up his sword, forming a small smile. His eyes burned with a killing intent... he really did resemble a killer.
After a few seconds of exchanging intense gazes... they both formed a burst of aura.