Emotionless Swordsmanship Genius

Chapter 60: A New Beginning (2)

Dragging the wild boar deeper into the forest, Karon abruptly stopped. His gaze pierced the shadows where the sunlight couldn’t reach, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

In the darkness, two glowing eyes flickered, slowly moving from side to side as they drew closer.

Emerging from the shadows was a massive bear, easily two or three times the size of a regular one. Its brown fur was marred with scars, and a patch of white fur adorned its chest, a testament to its brutal life in the wild. Its large claws and fangs were enough to strike fear into anyone who encountered it.

The bear had an almost otherworldly aura, as if it were more than just a wild animal—a creature mingling with the energies of monsters.

But Karon remained unfazed. In his usual dry tone, he spoke.

“If you’re going to attack again, hurry up. I don’t have time to waste.”

Roar!

The bear seemed to understand his words, releasing a menacing growl as it radiated a dangerous bloodlust, preparing to charge. However, when Karon released a bit of his own energy, the bear hesitated, pacing back and forth, unsure of its next move.

Unable to bear the tension, it stomped the ground in frustration and disappeared back into the forest.

When Karon first encountered the bear in this forest, it had easily overpowered him, forcing him to flee. But over time, he had gained the upper hand, and now the bear thought twice before attacking.

‘Feels like there’s a demon’s orb inside that thing. Maybe I should kill it one day and find out,’ Karon mused, casually walking deeper into the darkness of the forest, as if it were his own backyard.

Before long, he pushed through a thicket and entered a small clearing where sunlight streamed down. In the center of the clearing stood a small cabin, nestled as if it had always been there.

Thwack! Thwack!

In front of the cabin, a man in his early fifties with short gray hair was chopping wood. Despite having only one arm, he swung the axe with precision, splitting the logs cleanly.

This was Rhodes Altord, Hinshan’s father and the former captain of the Royal Knights.

Rhodes noticed Karon and the large boar he dragged behind him, putting down his axe as he approached.

“You’ve caught a large one,” Rhodes said, addressing Karon with respect. The prince had made it clear that Karon was important, so Rhodes treated him accordingly.

“There’s already enough firewood,” Karon muttered as if it were a complaint.

“Haha! You can never have too much firewood,” Rhodes chuckled, effortlessly slinging the boar over his shoulder and carrying it toward the cabin.

A short while later, the two of them stood in the backyard near a shed, skillfully butchering the boar without speaking a word. They worked in perfect sync, each performing their tasks efficiently, as if they had done this a hundred times before.

After quickly preparing the meat, they used some of it to make a simple stew for dinner. Once they had finished eating, they stepped outside the cabin once again.

Karon held a wooden training sword in his hand.

“What’s today’s lesson again?” Karon asked.

“Kata-Ryu, fifth form, second sequence,” Rhodes replied. He had long realized that Karon had an excellent memory.

“Ah, right,” Karon said, taking his stance by gripping the wooden sword with both hands and spreading his feet shoulder-width apart.

As he did so, the energy within him surged, creating a slight breeze that rustled the surrounding leaves. This was something Rhodes had never seen in Karon when they first met. Back then, Karon’s stances had been sloppy and unrefined, mimicking the movements of others but never truly mastering them.

Though Karon possessed remarkable instincts and observational skills, he had never been formally trained in swordsmanship. His self-taught techniques were enough to imitate but not enough to stand against true masters.

Now, however, Karon was training under Rhodes Altord, one of the empire’s finest swordsmen.

With Rhodes as his teacher, Karon’s swordsmanship had advanced rapidly. His natural talent, combined with Rhodes’ meticulous instruction, had produced visible results in just a few months.

Despite his incredible progress, Karon remained unaware of just how far he had come. To him, it was simply a matter of absorbing as much knowledge and skill as possible, with no thought of comparing himself to others.

‘He’s a true prodigy…’ Rhodes thought, though he never expressed his amazement openly. Watching Karon wield the sword, Rhodes couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly Karon grasped even the most complex techniques.

Not only had Karon mastered the intricate movements of Kata-Ryu, but he had also begun stripping away unnecessary flourishes, refining the style and making it his own. Rhodes was astonished to see Karon improving on techniques that even he hadn’t fully perfected.

Rhodes had only shown Karon each technique once, yet Karon could replicate them flawlessly, as if he had been practicing them for years. It was clear that Karon’s abilities were nothing short of divine—he was a swordsman blessed by the heavens.

‘If I had met him earlier, he would have become one of the greatest swordsmen, not just in the Rob Empire, but across the continent,’ Rhodes mused.

However, there was one troubling aspect.

Whenever Karon immersed himself in his training, a dark, foreboding energy seemed to seep from him. His eyes glowed faintly red, and an ominous, almost demonic aura surrounded him. It was as if the hardships of Karon’s life had manifested in this unsettling power.

Thankfully, Karon seemed to control the dark energy with ease, as though it were a loyal pet.

“Phew…” Rhodes exhaled softly, watching Karon’s movements with a mixture of awe and concern.

Karon had just finished his training, his wooden sword held loosely by his side as he took deep breaths to calm his body. The intense practice had left him mentally focused and physically energized, a sharp contrast to the usual exhaustion most would feel after such rigorous training. His movements had become precise, and his connection with his inner energy—an eerie, dark aura—had grown more refined.

Rhodes watched Karon in silence, unable to find any flaw in his execution. The young man had absorbed every lesson and technique with such speed and accuracy that even a seasoned swordsman like Rhodes found himself at a loss for words.

‘He’s too perfect,’ Rhodes thought, feeling a strange mix of pride and helplessness. ‘As a teacher, I should be finding ways to challenge him, but… there’s nothing to correct.’

Noticing Karon’s calm and expectant gaze, Rhodes cleared his throat and spoke.

“Ahem. Aside from a few minor stiffnesses, you’ve mastered the form perfectly,” Rhodes said, trying to sound authoritative.

“Are you talking about the sixth stance of the third sequence?” Karon replied. “I noticed the upward slash felt awkward, so I changed it to a deflecting strike instead.”

“Haha! So that’s why it felt a bit off!” Rhodes laughed nervously. “I suppose you’re right. During the upward slash, the torso and left leg are exposed.”

Karon’s brief analysis was concise and to the point, leaving Rhodes with little to argue against. After a pause, Rhodes spoke again, his tone more serious.

“As expected of Prince Merka’s judgment. Well, that will do for today. I have something important to tell you. Let’s head back to the cabin.”

Without further questions, Karon followed Rhodes back to the cabin. Over the past year, Karon had come to respect Rhodes as a mentor, learning advanced techniques he could never have mastered on his own. Though Karon never outwardly called him “teacher,” his actions spoke louder than words.

Inside the cabin, Rhodes retrieved a letter from a small wooden box. The letter bore the seal of the prince. He handed it to Karon as he began to explain.

“It seems a massive army has crossed the waters from the southern regions, near the Egel Sea. Prince Merka has ordered you to return to the grand duke’s estate immediately to avoid getting caught up in the coming war. He also wants you to prepare for tracking down the Blue Ravens.”

Karon read the letter silently. The Egel Sea was infamous for its treacherous waves, dangerous currents, and numerous sea monsters. For an army to cross those waters, something must have driven them to desperation.

“Which nation’s army is it?” Karon asked calmly.

“It’s unclear at the moment. The southern regions are largely unexplored, but they are said to excel in naval warfare,” Rhodes replied.

Karon nodded. “Understood. I’ll prepare to leave.”

Rhodes sighed, nodding in return. “Good. I’ve taught you everything I can about swordsmanship. What remains now is for you to continue training and make the techniques truly your own. Don’t slack off.”

Karon gave a quiet nod, his expression as unreadable as ever. Rhodes, however, could sense that Karon was eagerly awaiting the day when he would put his skills to the ultimate test.

* * *

Later that night.

After confirming that Rhodes had gone to bed, Karon slipped out of the cabin, his wooden sword in hand. He headed for a secluded area he had discovered for his private training.

This place was a large cave located between two rushing streams. The sound of the water muffled any noise he made during practice, making it the perfect spot for sword training.

Despite the darkness, Karon navigated the cave with ease. He had memorized every inch of the terrain. Here, away from prying eyes, Karon fused the techniques he had learned from Rhodes with his own battle experience, refining his swordsmanship into something unique.

As Karon trained, his wooden sword moved through the air faster and faster, leaving afterimages in its wake. A red mist began to form around the sword, creating a fiery glow as his movements became a blur.

Szzzzt…

The reddish energy grew more intense, swirling around the wooden sword like a menacing aura. Karon’s eyes glowed faintly red as the dark energy within him surged, sharpening the sword’s aura into a deadly blade.

The air around him, which had been calm, began to tremble with the power of his strikes. It was as if the cave itself could no longer contain the force of his training.

Though his black sword was absent, the demonic energy that had once inhabited it still lingered within Karon. From time to time, the dark energy sought release, and Karon used these moments to channel it into his training, keeping the power under control.

Karon could sense the pull of the black sword, faint but unmistakable. He knew where he needed to go to retrieve it, and he knew that when he did, the ones responsible for his suffering would be there, waiting.

But there was no need to rush. He would reclaim the black sword when he was ready, when he had honed himself to perfection.

“Phew…”

With one final slash, the red mist disappeared as if it had never existed. Karon’s glowing eyes returned to their normal black hue, and the oppressive atmosphere in the cave faded.

He slowly sheathed his wooden sword, his face calm and focused.

As he left the cave, stones began to fall from the ceiling. The walls of the cave had been sliced clean by his attacks, leaving sharp, intricate marks behind.

* * *

The next morning.

Karon left the cabin, walking deeper into the forest as he began his journey back. The forest was vast and dense, but he navigated it without issue, knowing the terrain well after a year of living there.

Rhodes, standing by the cabin, watched Karon depart without much worry. He had prepared Karon well for the journey ahead, even providing him with enough provisions—dried meat, water, and supplies to last the trip to the capital.

By the third day of travel, Karon had left the thickest part of the forest behind and was now riding along a sunlit path. The trees had thinned out, allowing sunlight to filter through the canopy.

Suddenly, Karon stopped his horse and dismounted.

Without a word, he slowly lifted his head, gazing up into the dense branches above. His sharp eyes scanned the treetops, sensing something—or someone—hidden among the leaves.

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