The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 69 - Something New [2]

Chapter 69: 69 - Something New [2]

TWHACK!

Kaiser successfully blocked Viktor’s axe by using the wide blade of his weapon as a shield.

And while his left forearm was still supporting it from the other side—

"GRAAAH!!!"

He pushed forward as hard as he could!

"?!"

Tap- tap-

Forcing Viktor to take a few steps back!

Fwip-

Kaiser immediately held the handle of his sword with both hands, then from his right to left—

SWOOSH—

He swung it horizontally!

"Too wide and slow."

Fwish~

Viktor just ducked down to avoid it. But Kaiser already expected that.

"GRRRGH...!"

SWISH—

He immediately drew an arc with his hands and swung his greatsword vertically down!

"Still slow."

BOOM!

Though this time, Viktor just took a step back and the attack missed him by an inch. He had a smug smile on his face.

Kaiser hit nothing but the concrete ground. But he wasn’t done yet!

BAM!

"GRAAAAAHHH!!!"

SWOOSH—!!

He kicked off and got close to Viktor, then without hesitation—he swung upward!

"?!"

Viktor actually didn’t expect this from Kaiser, he was surprised.

He thought that Kaiser would have a hard time launching another attack after his weapon had just slammed on the ground. After all, this is usually the case for new greatsword users.

But what he didn’t take into consideration is that—Kaiser already had enough strength to handle such a heavy weapon, and he had already trained enough in using it to fix such newbie mistakes!

’Shit!’

Viktor cursed internally as he saw the wooden greatsword getting close toward his face. He hurriedly moved his right hand—

TAK!

And he was able to block it with his wooden axe!

Though...

"Ugh...!"

His right hand was flung upward because of his unpreparedness to receive such an attack!

And not missing such an opportunity—

"HAAAAAAAA—!!"

Kaiser twisted his hands with his weapon and slashed back down!

"Idiot, I still have a weapon!"

Viktor exclaimed, and with his left wooden axe—

"You’re wide open!"

THUD!!

He struck Kaiser on the right side of the torso!

Crack-

"Keuk...!"

He heard a few ribs cracking, and with that...

"Heh."

Viktor smiled.

"Huh?"

Though, that smile of his disappeared not long after. After all—

"HAAAAAAAA!!!"

Kaiser didn’t stop even after being hit, he just gritted his teeth—and swung down while ignoring the pain!

’Crazy...!’

T W H A C K—!!!

"URGH?!!"

Viktor was able to intercept it at the last second with his right axe, but the impact behind the attack was too great for his flimsy attempt to block it—and thus, he felt all of its force on his left shoulder!

He was also able to tilt his head to the side so he avoided it being hit.

Anyway, Viktor realized that it was his mistake to treat Kaiser as clueless about the greatsword.

And to respond to his attack just now—

Bam-

Viktor lightly jumped while staying in place. Then, as both his feet were in the air—

THUD!

"Gah?!"

He kicked them both into Kaiser’s chest!

BAM-

Kaiser fell butt-first on the arena.

Meanwhile... Viktor was flung back a bit and rolled skillfully to immediately regain his balance, and the next thing everyone knew—

Fwip-

"Fuuuuu..."

He was standing up, taking a stance again.

"That was a close one."

He said, looking at Kaiser.

And upon doing so...

"Huh?"

He saw him still sitting on the ground, holding his right ribs.

...

...

...

After seeing Kaiser still on the ground clenching his side with a slight frown on his face, Viktor immediately stopped caring about the match and approached him.

"What’s wrong?"

He asked.

And while squinting his eyes...

"What’s wrong? You broke my fucking ribs, that’s what...!"

Kaiser responded to him, his voice was fairly loud. Viktor smiled after hearing that, because that just meant he was okay.

"Ugh, fucking hell it hurts."

Kaiser grumbled to himself.

*****

Anyway, just like that—Kaiser and Viktor’s sparring match ended after just a few seconds.

Turns out that Kaiser was hit pretty bad.

"Why didn’t you try to block or avoid it? You wouldn’t have been hit before."

Viktor asked him. The two of them were sitting side by side. Then on Kaiser’s other side was Damian, still resting.

"If I did that, then I wouldn’t be able to hit you."

Kaiser answered casually. Then, without even waiting for Viktor’s response...

"I was prepared to receive some hit in exchange for hitting you even just once."

He added with a straight face.

After training with a greatsword for a bit, Kaiser had reached the conclusion that they were slow but highly destructive.

So his plan while using it was to let non-lethal attacks get him, and launch a heavy counter to his opponent—then finish it with one strike.

That’s why he had been training his body to be able to take some hits, to be durable.

It was actually doing well... He was just unlucky that Viktor got him in a weird spot.

"You’re insane..."

Viktor muttered, letting out a soft chuckle.

"You’re the one who broke my ribs and kicked my chest with both legs."

Kaiser retorted, squinting at him.

Damian, still lying beside them, cracked a tired grin.

"You two are really something else..."

He said, eyes closed.

And just like that, the three of them sat there in the arena—resting, laughing lightly, catching their breath under the sun.

*****

(Kaiser’s POV)

"Shit... They still hurt."

I mumbled as I held my right ribs. It’s not like they’re unbearable—but they’re throbbing.

"I need to train more."

I muttered to myself, frowning.

My plan was good... Launching a counter after my opponent as they just attacked me. They wouldn’t be able to get away and I’d be able to finish the fight quickly.

The only problem is: my body is still not strong enough.

I can take hits, yes.

But after a while, or just like with Viktor, when I’m hit in a weird spot—then I’ll fall. My current durability is still not enough.

’I can probably do something about this artificially using armor.’

I thought, nodding my head.

But even with that solved, I still need to be stronger.

Why?

"To be able to swing the greatsword much more freely."

I grumbled, looking at my hands.

My wrists, palms, forearms, and basically my whole arms... They were aching. My muscles were tensed too much just from swinging the greatsword a few times.

"Tch..."

I clicked my tongue.

This won’t do. If just a few swings are already straining me like this, how am I supposed to last in an actual fight? A real one—where missing once could mean death?

I took a deep breath and slowly laid my back on the ground, arms spread to the sides.

The sky was a bit cloudy... warm wind brushing against my face. But even with all that, I couldn’t relax.

’I need more time with the greatsword... more control, more strength.’

And not just that.

"...Speed too."

I whispered to myself.

It’s not enough to just be able to hit hard. If I can’t land the blow, it’s pointless. If they dodge or deflect everything... I’ll be the one falling first.

"..."

I closed my eyes for a second.

I imagined it—me standing, holding the greatsword like it weighed nothing. Swinging it fast, precise, powerful.

That’s the version of me I want to reach.

And I will.

*****

After resting for a bit more that my ribs didn’t hurt as much than before, I stood up to continue my training.

Damian and Viktor were already back at it since earlier. They even sparred once before doing so.

Viktor won, of course.

Anyway, I ignored them for now... And this time, instead of training with the greatsword—I headed to where the weights were.

I will be training my body.

And so, I did just that.

Starting slow, I grabbed the usual medium-sized sandbags and began doing squats. Then shoulder presses, bicep curls, and everything I could think of to hit the major muscles I needed.

Bit by bit... my body started heating up again.

The ache in my ribs was still there, but I just gritted my teeth and worked around it.

I didn’t go too heavy, just enough to keep pushing myself without risking another injury. Each rep, each set—I focused on the same thought.

’Become strong enough to wield the greatsword like it’s nothing.’

I repeated it again and again in my head, syncing my breath with every movement.

No wasted effort. No distractions.

This was the only path forward.

...

...

*****

From that day on, I followed a strict discipline.

Every morning—I’d wake up before the others, do light stretches, warm-ups, and core training inside my room.

Then once the guards allowed it, I’d head straight to the training ground.

There—I’d swing the greatsword again and again, refining my grip, my stance, my angles. I studied the weapon like a beast I had to tame.

And after that—

Viktor and I would fight.

Every single day.

"Still slow."

He’d say, dodging and parrying me like usual.

But even so... I kept swinging.

Even when my muscles burned... I kept moving.

Even when I lost and got hit... I stood back up.

The pain never left. But it started feeling more familiar.

And after our sparring matches, while Viktor and Damian trained together, I kept going.

Push-ups, pull-ups, squats, shoulder presses with rocks and makeshift bars. I forced myself through every set with clenched teeth.

Then, even when the sun went down and the others started to rest...

Even when dinner was over...

Even when my arms shook just from lifting a cup of water—

I still trained.

Alone, under the dim torchlight of my shitty room.

Repeating swings in the dark. Controlled. Focused. Over and over again.

Every single night.

Little by little, the stiffness in my wrists faded.

My form got better.

My grip got steadier.

My balance improved.

And I noticed—Viktor started dodging with more effort.

Then before I knew it...

...

...

Two weeks had already passed.