C8 Being Strong

"Small stone katana mode, dark blaze!" exclaimed Benedict, who turned the small stone into a black katana like Ichigo's bankai mode sword.

"You're a genius, Benedict," Carly praised.

"It took me a year to master this Small stone, but you only an hour. I didn't make a mistake in choosing you as my disciple."

"What? One year?" said Benedict, rounding his eyes.

Benedict couldn't believe that the dumbest junior high school student in the Tangerang area could be such a genius. Benedict, a Prime Soldier Agent, beat Carly regarding Small stone mastery.

"You practice sparring with Clara to improve your swordsmanship in preparation for your graduation exams in the sector Mali," Carly ordered.

"Yes, master," Benedict replied with a bow, then headed straight to where Clara was training in the dessert training field.

Clara collapsed, the training with the increased weight of the sword draining her stamina and physical strength.

"Clara! How many swings have you been able to swing at 1 tonne?" asked Carly.

"Sorry master, I can only do 100 swings at 1 tonne," Clara replied breathlessly.

"You did great, Clara; none of my previous students has been able to lift a 1-tonne sword 100 swings," Carly praised.

"Master?" asked Clara with a beaming face.

"Yes, you are my first student," Carly replied, giving Clara a thumbs up.

"Then why is Benedict here? Isn't he training too?" Clara asked.

"Clara, train Benedict in swordsmanship. Your swordsmanship is very good; Benedict will take a special exam in a week. So, please! Spar with Benedict," Carly pleaded.

"What's the special exam, master? Is Benedict the only one taking it? We're a team?" asked Clara with a quizzical look.

"Yes, only Benedict. We know that Benedict is a level one, and a level one has a poor fate at the academy. So I'm recommending Benedict take the position exam. Don't ask too many questions; follow my request," Carly replied.

"Yes, master, I'll be happy to teach Benedict the sword techniques of the Gomez clan," Clara replied with her lips curved into a smile, and her face lit up at being able to train with the man she liked.

Clara stood up with both hands and picked up her katana named Soulrender. Clara quickly pulled the katana from its sheath and disappeared from view, then darted towards Benedict with a vertical slash.

PANK!

Benedict parried Clara's vertical slash with his dark blaze, but unfortunately, the difference in the power of the swords sent Benedict straight to the ground.

"Aww!" screeched Benedict, whose face was buried in the desert sand, looking up at Clara, who had stopped attacking.

"Sorry, I was too excited," Clara said, reaching out to help Benedict.

"Why are you so strong, Clara? When you were training the day before yesterday, you weren't this strong," Benedict asked.

"Maybe it's because of the master's exercise of lifting a sword that weighs 1 tonne. So my slashing power has increased a lot," Clara replied.

"Do you still want to practice again?" Clara added questioningly.

"Yes, of course, please guide me!" said Benedict with a respectful bow.

"Okay, first, how to hold the katana. We should give our thumb and forefinger a floating feel to grip the sword. Keep your middle finger neither tight nor loose, and tighten your ring finger and pinky. A relaxed grip is wrong; we should pull out the sword to slash down the opponent," Clara explains.

Benedict began practising Clara's directions carefully so the results would be good.

"When doing so, we must hold the sword in such a way that there is no change in our grip or possibility of our hand slipping into an uncontrollable position. We should only move the thumb and forefinger slightly, whether holding, dodging, striking, or pressing the opponent's sword. Rigidity is a dead hand, while flexibility is a living hand. We must understand it well," Clara added.

"Okay, thanks for the directions," Benedict said and began to practice all of Clara's directions. Benedict swung the dark blaze according to Clara's directions, getting faster and faster. Benedict's level of understanding was very fast in understanding the movements exemplified by Clara.

Clara performed the sword god technique, the I Azure Dragon god technique, which is a technique of quickly stepping at the speed of light. Benedict followed Clara's movements, from the I Azure Dragon technique's first step to the last.

Benedict did it perfectly, leaving Clara in awe. It was the first time Clara had seen someone who had learnt the sword in just one hour master the fundamental technique of the sword god I, Azure Dragon.

The super glasses also enhanced Benedict's understanding from being just a dumb young man to an invincible genius, breaking records for mastery of combat techniques.

Carly left Benedict and Clara behind, heading towards Jacob, who was practising increasing the capacity of his energy soul container under the waterfall.

Benedict and Clara began sparring with katana fights. Clara uses the sword god technique two crazy storm phoenix, a technique of successive sword slashes like a storm that releases flames.

PANK!

Benedict dodged Clara's two crazy storm phoenix sword god technique slashes. The blade of Benedict's katana became crimson from deflecting thousands of Clara's slashes.

"Hot, hot, hot," Benedict shouted as he continuously threw the hilt of his sword into his right and left hands.

"Hahahaha." Clara burst out laughing and held her stomach with her left hand at the sight of Benedict like that.

"You're really funny, hahaha."

"Hi, Clara! What's so funny? You slashed at me like a firestorm; my sword got hot," said Benedict with an annoyed grin.

"Sorry, sorry, I got excited." Clara softly laughed while scratching her head, which was not itchy.

[Blangtungpak blaem-blaem]

[Congratulations on mastering the sword god technique I, Azure Dragon. Master's body speed and reflexes are improved]

[Congratulations on getting 100 experience points for successfully converting small stone to dark blaze mode]

[Congratulations on getting 100 experience points for successfully mastering the sword god technique 1 Azure Dragon]

[Congratulations on practising to increase the level of masters]

"This is cool; if I keep training like this, it's not impossible; I can defeat mythril-level monsters," Benedict thought with sparkling eyes.

"Hey! What are you thinking about? Why are you quiet? Do you still want to practice?" Clara called out.

"Sorry, sorry, I was daydreaming. Let's continue training!" said Benedict, snapping out of his reverie.

Clara and Benedict train again; this time, Benedict uses the Azure Dragon technique to counter Clara's attack. Benedict slashed diagonally; Clara parried and pushed Benedict's slash back four steps. Clara made four quick slashes vertically, diagonally and horizontally.

Clara's slashing movements were faster, and in an instant, the pressed Benedict dropped his katana.

"I give up," said Benedict, who had been cornered in the neck by Clara with a katana.