章 7: Training (2/3)

"Yes, Grandpa, I'm doing well. I'm having a great time over here," Liam said into the phone, a smile on his face. His grandpa called him every day with love and diligence to check up on him.

"Are you eating enough? You know how important it is to stay healthy while you're training," his grandpa replied with a bit of worry in his voice.

"Of course! I'm eating more than enough. Master Chen makes sure we have good meals after training," Liam said while glancing at the clock on the wall. He was running a bit late.

"And how's your training going? Have you made any new friends?" his grandpa continued, wanting to hear more about Liam's life.

"It's going great! I've improved a lot since I got here. I've even been sparring with some of the older students." He paused for a moment, "I'm working hard, Grandpa. Just need to get a little stronger."

"Remember, it takes time. You're doing well; I can tell just by hearing your voice. Don't push yourself too hard," his grandpa said.

"I won't. I promise," Liam replied. They talked a little longer about old times and shared laughs, but eventually, the conversation ended.

After hanging up, Liam took a moment to take in emotions feeling grateful for his grandpa's support. With one last glance in the mirror, he headed out the door.

As he walked to the dojo, he felt a sense of purpose. It had been almost a year since he first stepped through these doors and he was now 17 years old. With Tony Stark's kidnapping a year and a half away, he was aware that time was running low. But despite that pressure, he felt a great improvement in both his strength and skills.

However, a barrier remained. He still lacked the strength to unlock Incursio. He had made great leaps in skill, especially when compared to the older students who only trained a few hours a week due to school commitments. His body was changing, his muscles growing stronger, but it wasn't enough yet. There was more good news, he had a natural talent for swordsmanship and spearmanship that surprised even him considering he was a Historian in his past life.

Arriving at the dojo, he was greeted by the other students. The atmosphere was filled with energy as students practiced their techniques. Master Chen was waiting for him while having an expectant look on his face.

"Liam," Master Chen called, gesturing him to come over. "It's time to evaluate your current skills again. I want you to spar with one of the older students today, so go and warm up."

Liam's heart raced at the challenge. He nodded and went off to warm up.

After Liam had warmed up he was placed in front of a tall student named Alex.

As they faced off, Liam focused on his breathing, centering himself. The older student, smirked, clearly underestimating him. But Liam had learned to trust in his training.

The dojo quieted as Master Chen called for attention. "Ready? Begin!"

The moment the match started, Liam stepped forward with confidence, using quick footwork to close the distance. Alex seemed surprised by Liam's speed, but he quickly regained his composure, raising his wooden sword to deflect Liam's strike.

Liam's focused as he aimed for Alex's right side. Their swords clashed in a sharp crack that echoed softly in the dojo. He followed up with a quick thrust, but Alex sidestepped, countering with a swift swing aimed at Liam's waist. Liam barely managed to block it, the impact hurting his arms because of improper technique.

"Focus, Liam!" Master Chen said from the sidelines. "Watch his movements!"

Nodding, Liam adjusted his stance. Alex circled him, slowly searching for an opening. Liam kept his eyes locked on Alex's feet, trying to anticipate the older student's next move. Suddenly, Alex lunged, feinting left before swinging to the right.

Liam reacted instinctively, shifting his body to parry the blow just in time. He countered with a jab, catching Alex off guard. It connected, and Liam felt a wide grin spread across his face.

But Alex quickly recovered. "Not bad, kid," he said, grinning as he shifted into a more aggressive stance. "Let's see if you can keep it up."

The two exchanged a flurry of strikes, their wooden swords clashing in a rapid succession of attacks. When Alex aimed a high swing at him, Liam quickly ducked under it, his movements sharper than before. He pivoted on his back foot, raising his sword in a defensive position, feeling a sense of progress as he effectively defended Alex's next strike.

"Good reflexes!" Master Chen called, a hint of pride in his voice. Liam couldn't help but grin, but he knew better than to get cocky. Alex was still a formidable opponent.

In a sudden burst of energy, Liam lunged forward, aiming for a simple thrust toward Alex's torso. To his surprise, Alex sidestepped the attack, twisting his body to deliver a quick swing. Liam barely had time to react, raising his sword to block the blow. The force of the impact sent shocks up his arms, but he held his ground, determined to not get pushed to the ground.

"Impressive," Liam heard Master Chen say, but he was too focused on the fight to respond. He could feel the exhaustion setting in, his muscles burning, but he pushed through, drawing on the determination that had fueled his training.

With a surge of adrenaline, he launched a series of rapid strikes, each one calculated and precise. Each movement flowing into the next. As he pressed forward, he noticed an opening—Alex's left side was exposed.

Seizing the moment, Liam feinted to the right, gaining Alex's attention, then quickly shifted to the left, delivering a sharp blow that connected with Alex's shoulder. It was enough to knock the older student off balance, and Liam was about to follow through when he heard master Chen.

''Stop, you've won Liam,'' Master Chen said.

When the sparring session came to an end, Master Chen clapped his hands, calling for attention. "Well done, Liam. Your hard work is paying off. You've improved significantly, and I'm proud of your progress,'' after a slight pause ''As for you Alex, you left your guard down towards the end. Still an improvement compared to your last spars, good job.''

Liam couldn't help but smile innocently, happiness growing within him. He was getting closer, little by little. He knew the journey was far from over but progress is progress.

If he could continue improving at this rate, maybe he could use Incursio sooner than he had thought.

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章 8: Kill or Be Killed

The night air was cool against Liam's skin as he walked home from the dojo, his mind still replaying the sparring session from earlier. His body was a little exhausted from a full day's training. Master Chen's words going through his head again: precision and patience. He felt his progress, his control was growing with each day.

The streets were quiet, the orange glow of streetlights casting shadows as he passed. Movement up ahead caught his eye. Three figures emerged from the alley, blocking his path. Their swaggering steps and low murmurs were clear signs of trouble. Liam didn't slow down, his face remained calm hoping they would just walk past him. But unfortunately, that didn't happen.

The first thug, a skinny man with a shaved head, laughed as he flicked open a knife. "You lost, kid?" he taunted, taking a step forward.

Liam's gaze shifted between the three men. He didn't reply, his body already shifting into readiness, though he made no move to engage yet. These weren't professionals, they were just street thugs, hoping for an easy target.

"Looks like he's too scared to talk," the second thug laughed, his hand sliding to his waistband. Liam's eyes narrowed as he caught sight of a gun handle.

That's when things got serious.

Without hesitation Liam closed the distance, his movements sharp and efficient. The first thug didn't even have time to react as Liam's fist slammed into his ribs. The cracks from his bones was followed by a gasp for air as the man fell to the ground, clutching his side.

Liam didn't pause. The second thug was already pulling out his gun, but Liam was faster. In one fluid motion, he drew Incursio, the blade humming through the air as it sliced clean through the thug's wrist. The man screamed, dropping the gun to the pavement. Before he could react further, Liam's sword flashed again, this time cutting deep into his chest. The thug collapsed, blood pooling beneath him, his eyes wide with shock.

The third gangster took a step back, his face pale as he fumbled for his own weapon. Liam's gaze locked onto him. The thug raised his gun, but in his panic, his aim was shaky.

The gunshot rang out, and Liam felt a sharp burn as the bullet grazed his shoulder. His body reacted on instinct, sidestepping the next shot with a fluid motion. He felt the pain in his arm, but he ignored it. The world seemed to slow down, his senses sharpening as adrenaline surged through him.

In that moment, Incursio responded.

Power surged through the blade, the runes glowing faintly. Liam moved before the thug could fire again. With a single, precise slash, he severed the man's hand at the wrist. The gun dropped to the ground as the thug screamed in agony, reaching to clutch the bloody stump.

But Liam wasn't done. He stepped forward, his movements smooth and decisive. In one swift arc, Incursio cut through the man's throat, silencing him before he could make another sound. The thug's body slumped to the ground, lifeless.

For a moment, the alley was silent except for Liam's breathing. Blood dripping from Incursio's blade. He sheathed the sword with a soft click, wiping a bit of blood away from his shoulder.

He glanced down at the bodies—three men, all dispatched quickly and efficiently. No one had seen. No one would know. It was as if they had never crossed paths with him at all.

Liam's expression remained steady. The encounter had been swift, yet he had taken lives for the first time. It was a reminder of the brutal world he lived in. He knew he had acted out of necessity; kill or be killed. He wouldn't hesitate to defend himself again if the situation demanded it.

But as he started to walk away, he paused. He could call the police, report the ambush, claim self-defense. But he knew better. The moment the authorities arrived, Incursio would be confiscated as evidence in a murder investigation. And Incursio was not just a weapon; it was a part of him, tied to his survival. Losing it was not an option.

Besides, the police wouldn't care about the full story. They'd see a kid with a bloodied sword and three dead bodies, and that would be enough to ruin everything he had worked for. He couldn't risk drawing attention to himself, not when he still had so much left to do.

He took one last glance at the scene. "It's better this way," he muttered under his breath, turning his back on the bodies and walking away.

The pain in his shoulder was a reminder that he still wasn't strong enough. The fight had been quick, but not perfect. He should've sensed them sooner. Should've disarmed them faster. He knew that in a real battle with a stronger opponent, that bullet could have been far worse than a mere graze at his shoulder.

As skilled as he was becoming, tonight exposed a weakness. His instincts weren't sharp enough, his sixth sense was still underdeveloped. 'I need to train harder,' he thought. 'I need to be more like Tatsumi, with the ability to sense danger before it even happens.'

In the back of his mind, a single thought lingered, Incursio was waking up. He'd barely used its power, but it had responded to him. The potential was there, he just needed to train harder.

He estimated it would take at least another year for his body to reach the standard he needed. He had no illusions about what had just happened. He'd made a choice, there was no place for hesitation in the world he lived in. Danger was everywhere and without enough power you can turn to dust barely even knowing what was happening.

Still, there was more work to be done. His hand pressed against the wound in his shoulder, the pain now subsiding slowly. It was nothing serious, he'd had worse in training. But the reminder was there, he wasn't invincible yet.

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