Chapter 1008

Hmm. So that’s why General Gino took her as his protégé.

Meghna Curlieva, unlike many others in her position, didn’t have what one might call “useless pride.” She was a noble and had lived under the title of the Swordmaster’s favored disciple—naturally, one would expect towering pride. Perhaps even a sense of inferiority from failing to reach the level of Master despite years of expectation. And certainly, some jealousy or frustration at facing a younger, arrogant opponent.

But none of that existed in her. Not even a trace.

Her reaction to that last attack proves it.

Rolling on the ground to dodge an attack was something many would consider humiliating. Even knowing it might be the best option, countless so-called “strong” individuals Yuder had encountered in his past life had chosen instead to stand their ground out of sheer pride—only to fall.

The higher one’s status, the stronger the ego. The more pride in one’s skill, the easier it was to fall into that trap. But Meghna didn’t hesitate for a second to hit the ground. She didn’t even flinch when one of her shoes came off. Instead, her eyes shone with fierce resolve, not shame. That sharp, intelligent fire in her gaze was all too familiar—it was just like General Gino.

General Gino never saw mingling with subordinates as beneath him. Likely, that’s exactly what he valued in Meghna when he chose her as his disciple.

That kind of mindset couldn’t be achieved through training or realization alone. One had to be born with a naturally grounded temperament, a wide perspective, and an unwavering drive for growth. They also needed the ability to confront and exhaust negative emotions before they could fester into prejudice. Most importantly, they had to relentlessly discipline themselves without ever letting up.

Meghna Curlieva, it seemed, was the end result of that rare combination.

A fine raw gem.

From the seasoned perspective of Yudrain Aile—who had faced countless opponents—Yuder saw in her a worthy material.

But a fine material doesn’t guarantee a beautiful masterpiece.

He remembered the woodcarvers he used to watch at the village market when he came down from the mountains to sell herbs and timber. In every village, these craftsmen bought different types of wood and sorted them according to hardness, shaping each based on its nature.

Soft woods were delicately carved into decorative trinkets using small knives, while harder woods were quickly and forcefully sculpted into sturdy baskets and furniture. To Yuder, training and teaching people was no different.

Just like you can't apply the same force to every piece of wood, you can’t treat every person the same.

Meghna had grown under General Gino, within the Imperial army. It wasn’t a bad thing—it gave her a stable environment where she could dedicate herself to training without distractions. But sometimes, people needed the jarring impact of real struggle—painful, raw stimulation—to truly grow.

Strong materials often required stronger strikes.

She seems to respond well to new stimuli without shutting down or growing resentful. I doubt she’d spiral into despair even in defeat...

So then, let’s test her limits.

Like a predator that had found worthy prey, a flash of hunger flickered through Yuder’s eyes.

And from that moment on, the match transformed completely.

—

"..."

At the beginning of the sparring match, General Gino had watched with a smile.

Now, not a trace of that smile remained on his face.

The veteran swordsman’s gaze was locked solely on the training ground, completely ignoring the chatter around him. His eyes held nothing but sheer astonishment.

How can someone like him exist...?

At first, it had seemed like Meghna was dominating the pace, relentlessly attacking. But soon after, Yuder changed his stance—and completely overwhelmed her.

He used fire, water, wind, and earth with seamless fluency, even manipulating metal weapons as though they were an extension of himself. Whenever Meghna adjusted to one element, another would suddenly wrap around his blade and lunge for her like a taunt.

That’s right—his blade.

Yuder Aile never once let go of his sword. His Awakener powers weren’t the main focus—they simply enhanced his strikes, highlighted openings, supported the swordplay. Despite using such powers, he fought as a swordsman first.

General Gino had assumed his swordsmanship wouldn’t be especially impressive—he was wrong. Wherever he’d learned, Yuder’s fundamentals were terrifyingly solid.

Modern young swordsmen often skipped basics and rushed straight to aura. But aura didn’t bloom from superstition. It came only after relentless, boring repetition—training long enough to forget the boredom itself. The stronger the foundation, the higher one could rise.

Yuder looked like someone who had already grasped that truth.

How has someone his age already reached such a level?

To General Gino’s eyes, Yuder moved like someone who had wielded a sword nonstop for twenty years. If that were ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) the case, he would’ve had to start practically as a toddler. How could a poor mountain-born boy do that?

Only scions of noble warrior families could achieve that kind of refined skill at such a young age. Yet this boy from a remote village moved with precision born from generations of martial discipline.

And that wasn’t all.

Even as he manipulated the elements with shocking creativity and pressed Meghna to her limits, Yuder barely broke a sweat. His breathing was controlled, effortless. Meanwhile, Meghna’s uniform was torn, dirty—she looked like she’d already endured a full battle.

Despite facing shards of aura—something most people would never encounter in a lifetime—Yuder showed no fear. He responded to them with the calm and familiarity of someone who had already studied them inside and out. The speed at which he adapted, countered, and analyzed her attacks was so far beyond expectation that it was surreal.

All right. Let’s say he was born with exceptional battle instincts. I’ve seen that before...

General Gino’s gaze drifted to the man seated beside him—Kishiar la Orr.

Back when Kishiar had been a young Second Prince, he too had displayed breathtaking talent. One lesson, and he’d grasped ten more. If a youngest-ever Swordmaster were to emerge, it would’ve been him. That belief made his later fate all the more tragic.

So yes, someone could be a genius.

But even a genius can’t instantly analyze an opponent they’ve never fought before—especially one as trained and seasoned as Meghna. That kind of ability only comes from experience.

Meghna wasn’t a Master, but the fact that she could wield aura fragments made her virtually unmatched. Who could’ve imagined she’d be so easily overwhelmed?

Worse—General Gino could tell that Yuder was holding back. That was perhaps the most stunning part of all.

He’s a monster in human skin.

The old general had fought alongside multiple Cavalry members during the hailstorm incident. He thought he understood their power, their fighting styles.

But the boy before him was something else entirely.

If someone like that hadn’t joined the Cavalry—if he were on the enemy’s side, opposing the Emperor—what possible strategy could have countered him?

As someone who had spent his life protecting the Empire, it was a chilling thought. But it was impossible not to think it.

That’s how powerful—how shocking—Yuder was.

Still... if there’s one small mercy, it’s that Meghna hasn’t given up.

General Gino turned to look at his disciple’s battered face.

Her hair was tangled, streaked with blood, but she hadn’t dropped her sword. Her face was blank, but the corners of her lips were curled up, and her eyes sparkled like a beast’s.

To be honest, it was the first time—even for him—that she’d looked so thrilled.