Chương 114: The Trinity

"Strength and speed are important, but you also need the right technique."

"A sword isn't the same as a blade meant for chopping. A thrust is one of its most important killing moves, and you have to master it."

"Earlier, you were just pushing the sword with your arm. That kind of approach is incredibly inefficient."

"A true thrust is the explosive release of your entire body's strength, concentrated into a single point." Grey put away his usual playful expression, becoming completely serious.

"Imagine yourself as a bow."

"Your body is the bow frame. Your rear leg, the one preparing to push against the ground, is the fully drawn bowstring."

"And the sword in your hand... is the arrow that pierces your enemy's throat."

"Your arm is only responsible for guiding the direction. The true power comes from the instant you release the string."

"That is the moment your back foot violently pushes away from the ground!"

"Power begins beneath your feet. Shift your weight onto your rear leg and feel the connection between yourself and the earth." Grey's voice was firm and powerful as he assumed the stance.

"The instant you thrust, your arm should not move first. Your rear foot drives into the ground!"

"That force travels upward through your legs, passes through your hips, and twists your entire body forward, transferring the momentum into your shoulder."

"Finally!" Grey suddenly stepped forward, his movement accelerating from slow to explosive in an instant.

"Body, footwork, sword tip."

"Three become one."

"The sound of your front foot striking the ground and the sound of your blade tearing through your target should happen at the exact same moment." The moment his words ended, Grey shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. The wooden sword ripped through the air with a sharp whistle before striking the training dummy's chest with perfect precision. The entire movement flowed smoothly. Simple. Efficient. Without a single wasted motion.

"Understand now?"

"All of your body weight and forward momentum must be poured into the sword tip in that single instant."

"Only then can it become truly lethal."

"So that's how it works..." Zelier gained a deep understanding. Thinking back to his previous attempts, he realized Grey was right. He had moved his arm first, then forced his body to follow afterward. His strength had been completely disconnected.

"Again!" A spark of determination ignited in Zelier's eyes. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. He took a deep breath. This time, he stopped thinking about the technique itself and focused entirely on feeling the method of generating force Grey had described. He shifted his weight onto his rear leg. He felt his muscles tighten. Like a bowstring drawn to its limit. Push off! Drive the hips! Release the sword!

"Bang... hiss!" Two sounds. His front foot landed first. Only afterward did the sword tip sluggishly strike the target, leaving behind nothing more than a faint white mark.

"Wrong. Your hips didn't drive forward enough. The power broke at your waist!" Grey immediately corrected him.

"Again!"

"Bang... hiss!"

"Still wrong. Your body and your sword are separated. They need to become one!" For the next hour, the training ground echoed only with Grey's merciless instructions and the clumsy impacts of wooden swords striking the targets. Zelier repeated the same simple movement over and over. Sweat had already soaked through his clothes. However, as he practiced, he gradually discovered the essence behind it. The way muscles generated power... Honestly, it was not even half as complicated as a spell matrix.

Once he slowly grasped the basics, Zelier quickly found the key. He could precisely analyze the mistakes in every single attempt and adjust himself immediately. The efficiency was so high that even he was surprised. So the description of his Intelligence attribute was right. Warriors really could comprehend combat techniques at an incredible speed. Finally, after an unknown number of thrusts, Zelier suddenly felt something. He closed his eyes. The entire world seemed to fall silent.

Only his heartbeat and breathing remained. The next moment— Zelier's rear foot exploded against the ground! A powerful force erupted from the sole of his foot, surging through his tightened leg muscles and rushing instantly into his hips. He could clearly feel it. His body was like a compressed spring suddenly released. All the accumulated strength flowed through his arm without reservation and poured into the sword tip. Thrust forward!

"Whoosh!" This time, there were no two separate sounds. The instant Zelier's front foot landed, the wooden sword in his hand also struck the training dummy with perfect timing. The sturdy wooden target was violently knocked backward by the impact. The sword tip pierced straight through the chest. Wood fragments exploded into the air. Success! An unprecedented sense of satisfaction spread throughout Zelier's entire body.

The power behind this strike was several times greater than when he relied purely on arm strength.

"Hoh..." Grey stood beside the weapon rack with his arms crossed. He raised an eyebrow, speaking in a casual tone.

"Not bad... you're finally getting somewhere."

"Remember this feeling. This is how you thrust." Monster. This guy was absolutely a monster. I spent at least two weeks just learning this move back then! Grey screamed internally.

"No more..." Once the excitement faded, overwhelming exhaustion crashed over Zelier like a tide. He collapsed onto the soft sand, leaning on his sword as he breathed heavily. Even with his extraordinary physical abilities, pushing himself this hard in one session was still too much.

"Take it slowly. Don't rush." Grey looked at him.

"Your improvement is already ridiculously fast."

"Over the next few days, I'll teach you the fundamentals of the other basic sword techniques, including their key points and methods of generating power." As he spoke, Grey picked up the slender sword Zelier usually carried and examined it.

"Actually, I've wanted to say this for a while."

"You really aren't suited for using this kind of sword."

"Or rather, this type of sword simply isn't suitable for fighting monsters." Grey swung it a few times, then lightly flicked the blade. The sword gave off a faint ringing vibration. He curled his lip disdainfully.

"This thing is like a noble lady's hairpin."

"Beautiful, sure."

"But too fragile."

"It's too light, which makes its slashing power lacking. The material is also designed for lightness rather than durability."

"It's fine for cutting down soft-bodied creatures like goblins."

"But against monsters with tough scales or hardened shells, the blade will definitely chip."

"And the double-edged design also makes it unsuitable for blocking and parrying."

"Then what kind of sword should I use?" Zelier asked sincerely. He had never really studied weapon types before. When he bought his current sword, he had only chosen it because it felt comfortable.

"Come on." Grey patted Zelier's shoulder.

"I'll take you to pick one." The two left the Sword Training Ground. Blackstone Town had more than one blacksmith shop. But by coincidence, the one Grey brought Zelier to was the same forge Zelier often visited. Before they even entered, the familiar heat of burning metal and the rhythmic sound of hammer strikes already reached their ears.

"Yo, Brown." Grey raised his hand and greeted him casually. Brown, who was hammering a glowing piece of iron, looked up. His sweat-covered face broke into a rough smile.

"Well, if it isn't you, Grey."

"Been busy lately?"

"I haven't seen you at the tavern for several days." Grey winked mischievously and stepped closer, nudging Brown with his elbow.

"Remember those girls from last time?"

"It'd be a shame if you missed them again tonight."

"Cough..." Brown cleared his throat.

"Maybe don't talk about that in broad daylight."

"Hahahahaha!" Grey burst into laughter.

"Didn't expect you to be this shy."