CHAPTER 214: USING THE STONE

Orion shrugged lightly, following Edgar and Lucan to the expansive training grounds behind the mansion.

The area was quiet and peaceful, bordered by neatly trimmed hedges and shaded by tall trees, the soft grass underfoot providing a perfect footing for practice.

Once within the spacious training area, each man retrieved their respective swords. Orion gripped his obsidian longsword firmly, its weight perfectly balanced in his grasp.

Edgar calmly held his own sword, stance relaxed yet poised, while Lucan confidently unsheathed a slender blade, his expression unexpectedly sharp and focused.

Edgar turned toward Orion, his demeanor shifting to a serious instructor. "Young Master, you’ve shown exceptional skill in one-on-one combat. Now, however, it’s essential you learn to handle multiple opponents simultaneously."

"Lucan and I will both engage you together, matching ourselves to your level in strength, not realm—given how much stronger you are compared to ordinary awakeners of your tier."

Orion nodded firmly, immediately understanding the intent behind Edgar’s training method. "Understood, Uncle Edgar. I’ll do my best."

With no further ado, Edgar and Lucan moved fluidly into position, their gazes sharp and unwavering.

Orion adjusted his stance, his breathing steady and controlled as he mentally prepared himself for the coming challenge.

"Begin!" Edgar commanded clearly.

Instantly, Orion felt pressure from two simultaneous angles. Edgar’s sword flashed swiftly, aiming carefully toward Orion’s right side, while Lucan moved agilely, striking directly from Orion’s left with surprising speed.

Caught slightly off-guard by their coordinated approach, Orion reacted instinctively. He swiftly pivoted, narrowly deflecting Edgar’s precise strike with a hurried parry, only to find Lucan already upon him, his blade slicing dangerously close.

Forced into a defensive stance, Orion rapidly retreated, struggling to maintain his composure against the relentless onslaught.

The coordinated teamwork between Edgar and Lucan overwhelmed him repeatedly, his defense gradually faltering against their well-synchronized attacks.

Sweat beaded lightly upon Orion’s brow as he maintained constant vigilance, swiftly analyzing each strike pattern and their collaborative rhythm.

Each exchange taught him valuable lessons, forcing rapid adaptation and sharper reflexes.

Yet, despite his considerable talent, Orion was repeatedly overwhelmed, clearly unfamiliar with managing simultaneous, coordinated attacks from multiple opponents.

His breathing grew heavier, fatigue accumulating as minutes turned into hours of relentless practice.

Still, Orion stubbornly refused to back down. Instead, his determination only deepened, each defeat sharpening his analytical mind.

Gradually, he learned to anticipate and exploit brief openings within their coordinated movements, improving steadily with each passing exchange.

"Focus, Young Master! Predict our intentions before we move!" Edgar encouraged sharply, expertly adjusting the pace to keep Orion continually challenged.

Lucan’s eyes sparkled with surprising intensity, his playful demeanor now replaced by genuine seriousness. "You’re doing well, Young Master, but you must broaden your perception—fight both of us as one!"

Slowly, Orion’s movements began shifting, growing smoother and more precise. His instincts adapted to their synchronized rhythm, enabling him to predict and counter their moves with increasing efficiency.

His sword gradually transitioned from purely defensive to increasingly assertive, skillfully weaving counterattacks amidst his parries.

Each successful counter built Orion’s confidence, refining his instincts further. His focus sharpened dramatically, awareness expanding to encompass both Edgar and Lucan simultaneously, his blade movements becoming more decisive and controlled.

After several exhausting yet profoundly instructive hours, Edgar finally signaled the conclusion of their rigorous training session.

Orion, drenched in sweat yet clearly satisfied with his progress, lowered his sword, breathing heavily from exertion.

"Well done, Young Master," Edgar praised warmly, genuine pride clear in his voice. "You improved greatly today. Group battles require vastly different awareness and adaptability—remember these lessons."

Lucan, returning his blade to its sheath, grinned appreciatively. "Indeed. You surprised me, Young Master. Not bad at all."

Orion nodded appreciatively, wiping sweat from his brow. "Thank you both. I still have much to learn, but today was extremely enlightening."

Edgar smiled warmly, placing a reassuring hand on Orion’s shoulder. "We’ll continue refining this skill. For now, rest well. You’ve earned it."

Orion looked at him for a second and asked, "What about Sword Aura? Is there a different approach to learn it, or one just learns it from experience?"

Edgar paused, then thoughtfully said, "Hmm, I forgot to tell you, Young Master, but Sword Auras are also based on our Elements. For example, if someone has Fire Affinity, then they will awaken the Fire Sword Aura. You need to not only learn the sword art but also have deep understanding of your elements."

He paused, letting the knowledge sink in before continuing, "But looking at you, you already have deep knowledge of Elements and are only lacking in the experience with the sword. These battles will help you with that."

Orion exhaled a sigh and nodded his head, "Very well, then I will continue to practice the sword like this."

Edgar nodded his head lightly, feeling a surge of pride in his heart at the rapid progress of Orion.

Feeling deeply satisfied with the progress he’d made under Edgar and Lucan’s guidance, Orion thanked them once more and made his way back to the mansion.

As he stepped inside, he instantly noticed Rina and Fiora patiently waiting outside his room, their expressions lighting up with smiles as soon as they saw him approach.

The three of them chatted for a bit before Orion headed inside the bathroom for a quick bath with the two of them. After having a calming bath, he came out feeling refreshed.

After drying off and dressing comfortably, Orion turned to Rina and Fiora, gently dismissing them with warmth. "You both have worked hard today as well. Please, rest now and take some time for yourselves."

Rina nodded cheerfully, her eyes brightening with gratitude. "Thank you, Master. If you need anything else, please let us know."

Fiora echoed quietly, offering a gentle smile. "R-Rest well, Master."

As they left, Orion closed his room’s door gently behind them, allowing himself a moment of quiet peace. His expression grew serious, his thoughts already shifting to the next crucial step in his swordsmanship journey.

Moving to the center of his spacious room, Orion carefully settled into a cross-legged position on the soft, woven rug, breathing deeply to center himself.

With calm movements, he retrieved the Sword-Aura Resonance Stone from his inventory. The small, translucent stone gleamed gently in his palm, emitting a subtle, inviting pulse of energy.

[Master, are you finally going to use it?

Lumi asked curiously, her screen appearing beside him, gently hovering near his shoulder.

Orion nodded thoughtfully, carefully turning the stone between his fingers. ’Yes. Uncle Edgar mentioned that Sword Aura aligns with one’s elemental affinities. Given my recent progress, this seems like the perfect time to gain deeper insight.’

Lumi bobbed enthusiastically, clearly excited yet slightly cautious.

[This stone will definitely provide valuable knowledge, but be careful, Master. It could overwhelm you if you’re not prepared.]

’Well, I don’t think it’s dangerous. At least I can’t feel any danger from it,’ Orion replied calmly, eyes fixed intently on the stone.

He took a deep, measured breath, calming his mind fully and ensuring his mana channels were stable.

Once completely prepared, Orion gently infused a thin strand of mana into the Sword-Aura Resonance Stone.

Immediately, it vibrated intensely, its surface shimmering brightly before abruptly vanishing from his palm.

Startled slightly, Orion swiftly closed his eyes and entered his Sea of Consciousness. Within that vast expanse, the stone suddenly materialized above, radiating brilliantly before exploding outward in a cascade of vivid, multi-colored insights.

Streams of profound understanding about various Sword Auras surged through Orion’s consciousness, merging rapidly into his expansive mental space.