Sword God in a World of Magic

Shang nodded. He had waited for this examination for way too long.

Soran answered with a nod of his own and turned towards Mervin. "Mervin, you're the sword instructor. Could you get us a fitting opponent for Shang? You know how examinations work."

Mervin nodded and wanted to stand up but stopped. "Shang? That's his name?" he asked.

"That's at least what he wrote onto the form," Soran said as he waved one of the forms around.

Mervin shot a weird glance at Shang.

"Weird name, kid," he said before leaving.

Viera only snorted, showing that she didn't like what Mervin had just said.

Soran only awkwardly looked at Shang. "You have to excuse Mervin. He's an old but very capable teacher. As you might have noticed, he always speaks his mind."

"No, he's right," Shang said. "Shang is a weird name."

Soran's face transformed into a representation of confusion.

That was not the answer he had expected.

"Well, alright then. As long as you don't take what Mervin said personally," Soran said.

"How is it not personal?" Shang asked. "He literally commented on my name. It doesn't really get any more personal."

Soran moved his hands forward like he wanted to stop an expensive vase from falling to the ground. "That's not what I meant."

"I know what you meant," Shang said.

Soran pulled back again as he looked at Shang with a slightly frustrated expression. "Then why didn't you say so?" he asked with forced politeness.

"Why didn't you word it correctly?" Shang answered.

"You," Soran said as his hands very lightly indicated that he wanted to strangle Shang. Then, he took a deep breath to calm down. "Fine. It's fine. The situation's resolved," he said.

Shang didn't answer anymore.

On the side, Viera shot a strange look at Shang.

This kid wasn't like most other kids.

Was something wrong with him?

time passed, Mervin

at the young

be older than

saw the boy, he felt

good at judging his opponent. The slight feeling of threat he felt meant that the other side was capable

a real

all, even a Pest Cat

man looked at Shang with burning

teachers and the Vice-Dean

to prove his

an exhibition match," Soran explained. "You two will fight each other. Shang, this match won't decide if you can join our academy or

as he gestured to the empty half of the

why the table's

end of the hall as he looked at

a mixture of speed and power. It wasn't as thin as a rapier,

Clk!

of the present people could see what Shang was doing. His sword had been hidden beneath

saw that. Keeping one's weapon hidden made

start whenever you

BANG!

with a lot of power

ready for Shang to suddenly

he didn't know from which

sword was still hidden

quickly changed his block to a chop. In the academy, he had

swing towards him, but he had already known that

his opponent knew more about how to wield a sword than him. So, entering a

saw the sword swing down. Shang put all his power into his sword arm and

BANG!

other, creating sparks as they bounced

SHING!

into the ground. Shang had blocked a chop coming from above, but instead of pulling his sword back into a combat-stance,

his power into recovering his

he had let go of

a lot of practice, but

moment, Shang's opponent was out of balance as he

BANG!

opponent's torso,

pushed his opponent over and fell on top of him.

CRK!

"AAAHHH!"