The Primal Hunter

The Sword Saint had found himself in a lesson with quite a difficulty.

To face a superior foe was nothing new to him. Throughout his life before the system, he had fought many people superior to himself as he got better and better. Oftentimes, he also met those who simply had a stronger physique, making their speed and power higher than his own. Even so, he had risen to become one of the most talented swordsmen in the entire world, even before the system. With his many years of continued practice, even as his body deteriorated, he was perhaps the most skilled.

After the system, he had yet to face a single individual around his own level who he would recognize as superior to himself when it came to pure technique. Everyone who he found capable of beating him found their superiority not through sheer skill but by some other advantage. Jake had an instinctive style that surpassed all sense of logic and technique, as one example.

No, the only person that the Sword Saint had fought around his own level, with a level of technique even approaching his own, had been Ell’Hakan. He was still behind, even if he had proved himself a formidable fighter. The fact that he used a trident did contribute, too, as the Sword Saint hadn’t fought people who used those often.

Alas, the point is that the Sword Saint found it difficult to find opponents who could match his skill level. Fighting people of equal or superior skill was the best way to improve, so he felt like the lack of proper foes held him back. He did firmly believe that once he spent more time in the wider multiverse, he would meet many who matched or surpassed him, but for now, he felt starved.

That is when Minaga appeared.

When the Sword Saint asked Minaga to duel him using at least some of his true skill, he had expected it to be with his staff, as that was what Miyamoto had seen the Unique Lifeform display hints of overwhelming skill with. To see him pull out a sword was a welcome surprise, but he did quickly come to realize he had made one mistake.

He had either overestimated his own skill level significantly… or underestimated Minaga’s.

The Unique Lifeform made the first move as he stepped forward. Moving back slightly, the Sword Saint tried to get a read on his opponent. Minaga took another step, entering the range of Miyamoto, making him take the chance to try and land a light attack.

Blood sprayed as the Sword Saint jumped back, a light cut on his arm from the blunt blade. It had moved faster than he had expected, yet it seemed to not have been any more swift than his own sword.

”Good try, but too obvious,” Minaga smiled. ”So try again.”

Not wanting to back down, the Sword Saint moved in again, this time not holding back as his Rainblade activated. Water revolved around his blade, and several raindrops shot out toward the Unique Lifeform. Without Minaga even moving, the raindrops were cut into pieces mid-air, and the Sword Saint missed, stumbling forward.

Miyamoto jumped back as a sword swept up, leaving a light cut on his chest.

”Keep coming.”

Following the encouragement, the Sword Saint did just that as he tried all he could. He used several of the attacks in his arsenal, but no matter what he did, it proved useless. Miyamoto felt like an utter novice. A child fighting against a true master.

And he only felt euphoria from that sensation.

The concept of the blade is embedded within your water, allowing it to cut and act like an extension of your weapon… but it is only that. An extension. Your concept itself still needs work. Most will come with time, but as much shall be from practice. I noticed on the prior floors that your focus recently has heavily shifted to improving other aspects of your powers. Rain and time magic are all well and good but don’t lose sight of the blade,” Minaga explained, blocking dozens of blows as the Sword Saint’s robes were

me

instead swept his hand up, moving to catch the sword. The sharp edge of the Sword Saint’s blade hit the palm of the Unique Lifeform. The Sword Saint stared in confusion as Minaga’s flesh remained uncut, and he held the ancestral blade like a blunt metal

and it depends on your will as much as any physical prowess or whatever weapon you may possess. You will still need the whole… but as you are now, I need nothing more than my intent to render your cuts useless. Before a fire mage, fire shall do little harm. In the same vein, a master swordsman should never find himself cut by a lesser blade,” Minaga said in a calm tone. ”In other words, to me, it doesn’t matter if you wield a sword or a blunt object. With your current power, you simply

the Unique Lifeform had it thoroughly grasped in his hands. Rather than struggle, the Sword Saint did something else. He dove forward as he chopped, a faint layer of water surrounding

moved his sword to block it and

said, kicking the Sword Saint away before throwing his ancestral sword back to him. Catching it, Miyamoto barely managed to block in

need to seek deeper. Consider all the whys you can find. The Path you walk is one of enlightenment through practice and learning, same as me. Don’t look at those around you as ones to imitate, and at most, only observe them for inspiration. Only Dina walks a similar kind of Path as you, after all. Jake, Sylphie, and that other darn Unique Lifeform all walk Paths following their instincts, which means

the concept of sharpness… no, on all those related to my

more tried to desperately block. He

pressing on as the Sword Saint tried to adapt.

confused, which made him briefly lose focus, getting a nasty cut on his shoulder. He tried to counterattack but was pushed back as Minaga landed a palm strike on

pointing out flaws,” the Sword Saint said as he stabilized himself, questioning if he failed to comprehend something the master swordsman before

to me,”Minaga smiled as he raised his sword

over and over without countering, gladly just blocking everything. ”The number of foes you have encountered that could truly match you are limited. This will improve with time, but you would do well practicing with someone of high skill when you can. Not necessarily skill equal to your own, just someone close enough. Superior would be best, of course, but

was now on the defensive, using everything he had to avoid any lethal blows, his boosting skill already active on full power just so he could

difference. You strike me as a smart fellow, after all. Anyway, this one is the most obvious. You need time to practice what you already know. Time to meditate. Time to ponder. Time to simply grow in power and have your horizon expanded. Experience and time do

in this area,” the Unique Lifeform said in a far more serious tone than the two prior. He even

No matter how many times you evolve, you simply cannot

pain from his cut-open cheek. ”As much as it

head. ”Anyway, let’s continue our fun. I am sure you have already realized what this lesson is about by

Sword Saint nodded as Minaga

finding yourself crumbling, but do know that you are on a timer. The lesson will end when either your party succeeds in killing my four other clones,

the final words Minaga spoke as he attacked again, the Sword Saint meeting his teacher. Everything he did was foiled, but he kept fighting as the minutes passed. He was pushed back repeatedly, as Minaga did not let up, barely giving him time to breathe. Yet the Sword Saint also began to notice something else. The Unique Lifeform intentionally used certain repeated rhythms in his swordsmanship. One would think getting a read for this rhytm would make it easier for the Sword Saint, but he soon came to realize this insight

kept heightening the difficulty. Whenever the Sword Saint thought he saw an opening or reached an adequate understanding of his opponent, the pattern slightly changed, forcing him to dance to Minaga’s tune once

matter how much he felt like he had improved, the wounds kept coming. Miyamoto barely found a brief opening to consume a health potion to battle the blood

as the

changed his movements and attacked in a far more aggressive manner

Miyamoto thought he was about to block it, it seemed to disappear, only to reappear, leaving a cut on his chest. He knew better than to try and counterattack, but even as he attempted to dodge, he was

him tumbling backward, leaving a trail of blood from all his wounds as he slid across the tiled floor. Trying to get up,