Chapter 590: Grasping The Fundamentals

Lieutenant Dante led Northern to a secluded part of the forest, its dense shadows providing a makeshift training ground. The black soil beneath their feet was firm enough here, having dried somewhat compared to the saturated ground they'd passed earlier.

The world fell silent around them, the rustle of plagued trees fading into the background.

"First," Dante said, drawing his sword with deliberate slowness, "forget everything you think you know about fighting."

Northern raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

"Combat isn't about the flashiest technique or the most powerful strike. It's about efficiency." Dante assumed a basic stance, feet shoulder-width apart, sword held at a diagonal across his body. "Watch carefully."

He executed a simple horizontal slash through the air. The movement was so clean, so precise, that it seemed to leave a lingering trace in the crimson air.

"Now you try. Just like that."