A swordsman's gratitude

Travis stepped forth. Thunder Blade marked a clear arc before it met Rimel's blade. The clear sound rang in the air, punctuated by the momentary pause as the swords interlocked. The smaller man didn't let the elf ponder for even a second. With a quick mental command, he used the crab's pearl he touched in his pocket.

"!" Rimel's brows shot up with surprise at the man's sudden burst of strength. Backpedaling, he slashed at Travis, attempting to create some space.

The man didn't chase after him initially. Instead, he raised his hand, and a few Mana Bolts left its palm.

Mana Bolt was a simple skill in essence. At level 5, attained during the day, it dealt 7-13 damage per bolt and an additional 22% of his magic power. Below level 100, every point in Intelligence increased one's magic power by 0.5 points. With Travis's 155 total Intelligence, it meant 77.5 points, about 17 of which were usable as damage. A typical Mana Bolt would therefore deal no less than 20 damage. It was far more than Travis would give such a skill credit.

However, that was only when not considering the target's magical resistance, which was also Intelligence-driven. Isolde was a great example of how immense innate magic could thwart magic-type strikes. 10 whole Mana Bolts, which should've done at least 200 damage, didn't even deal 10. Rimel, similarly, didn't take the full damage.

[You have dealt 101 damage.]

Travis grimaced, shooting forward with a Sprint and aiming a series of blows. Rimel was nearly caught off guard, allowing two strikes and only successfully retaliating once.

Travis let his opponent step back further. Scanning him, he confirmed that Rimel's HP trickled to about 92% while he was still relatively untouched.

"Not bad, not bad at all," Rimel conceded, lifting his sword slightly. His eyes glistened with a vigor that appeared greater than ever. His smirk persisted as the man connected a few steps. "Let's up the difficulty a notch."

Travis squinted, breathing out as he steadied himself. While analyzing what technique the elf would use, he began sending Mind Prickles one after the other.

Rimel's hair flowed and raised slightly, almost as if electrically charged. The wide movements of his sword were deliberate and measured, but quick nonetheless. The gentle motions traced along an invisible edge that dispersed energy on the blade's tip. Every step was charged with increasing power.

'It's the ranged attack.' Travis realized, raising his sword and preparing himself.

The elf's sword moved precisely, every swing carrying a blade of energy that shot forward. Individually, they weren't that great. They hit stronger than Rimel's normal attacks, but the brief delay between every swing and when they'd reach their target meant they were barely avoidable, so long Travis knew the attack was coming. Perhaps, if he put his mind to it, it would be possible to parry or block them, but the Apostle was not confident about trying that.

As Rimel finished the last step barely a second later, Travis darted to the side. With every next beat of his heart, he could feel his focus getting sharper. The sun's warmth blurred slowly, replaced by the searing heat of his own blood and muscles.

Suddenly, the Apostle stopped, and a blade of energy passed right past him. He dodged another one. Rimel could keep this attack up for about 30 seconds. Every second that passed, Travis sent another Mind Prickle.

[You have received 162 damage.]

[You have received 165 damage.]

Travis almost smirked as the attack came to an end. Avoiding this attack wasn't easy, and only getting hit twice was an accomplishment he could take some pride in.

Widening his stride, he didn't stop his feet as he began tracing a few steps. Rimel responded in kind, and the two closed the distance.

"Really, that's quite surprising," the elf spoke as they exchanged another few blows. Every strike he made was blocked or evaded almost perfectly. "Seems like you've learned something this quickly."

The golden-eyed man hardly responded, instead backpedaling. Simultaneously, Travis cast Suggestion. However, it met strong resistance, nearly bouncing off despite his layered Mind Prickles.

'This bastard's Willpower is really high...' he conceded. Rimel's HP was below 80%, but his own had dropped below 70%. If this kept up, he'd end up losing before even trying anything significant. 'But it's manageable. It's somehow easier to keep track of his movements now... probably because now I know how the motion looks.'

Deciding to stop his ponders, Travis retook a stance. Waiting for Rimel to respond, he continued throwing Willpower at the man.

The song of metal clashing sounded again. The jingle sound echoed in the arena one time after another. Travis did his best to keep up with the quick rhythm of Rimel's motions. Every second was punctuated by him using more Mind Prickles, aiming to reduce the elf's mental defenses.

Dust roused as the two shifted their positions again. A slash here, a stab there, notifications about damage dealt and received popped up in the corner of Travis's vision but were promptly ignored. All that mattered was the secondary **** on the man's mind.

Eventually, the two separated again. Circling one spot in the arena, they took a second to breathe. Travis could feel his face drenched in sweat, as the monumental task of keeping up with the elf was putting both his agility and stamina to the test. Several small cuts marked his attire, a few shallow stabs that almost pierced his vital organs dispersing trickles of blood that stained his armor. He was at about half health, and his WP dropped below 600. Swiping his brown hair with a hand, he scrutinized Rimel's posture.

The elf man stood valiantly, but it was visible that the exchange had some effect on him as well. His HP was a touch below 60% now, as evidenced by a few faint stains of blood on his attire. His hair was partly cut, and sweat ran down his neck as he regained his breath.

'He's used all the techniques he had bar the barrier one. As far as I know, the earliest he will be able to use another is in at least 5 minutes.' he realized. It was like that the previous times, too. Looking at the duration left for the pearl, Travis grimaced. 'Only 6 minutes left. I should finish this quickly.'

He shot forward. As he did so, he sent a Suggestion toward Rimel's mind while making a rather obvious motion.

<Defend to the left!>

This time, the mental spell met far less resistance. It still bounced once around the elf's mind, but afterward, it was inside.

Rimel lifted his sword diagonally, expecting his opponent's motion to match his predictions. However, that was not what happened.

Travis bolted left and aimed a deep stab at Rimel's now-exposed right side. The elf's brown eyes traced his movements with a glint of surprise as the Apostle shot at him with a Sprint. The distance was too short to avoid, and it wasn't possible to block.

[Thunder Blade's option effect is activated, triggering the skill 'Vein Cutter'. Damage increased by 15%. Bleed effect is applied.]

[Critical!]

[You have dealt 388 damage.]

Rimel's eyes went wide. For the first time since Travis met the man and went through the trials, the elf's face showed a tinge of concern, the smile waning from his face. His response was immediate, capitalizing on his opponent still retreating his sword.

[You have received 127 damage.]

Travis hissed quietly, making some space. He scanned Rimel's posture, noticing that the man's tunic was colored with an increasing stain of blood. The elf appeared mildly confused about the exchange of blows that just happened. A hand went to his temple briefly before he rubbed his eye.

...

"...I see," Rimel's lips parted, his tone somewhat distanced. He exhaled deeply, the motion reminiscent of a sigh. His hand lowered slightly before he smiled. The vigor on his face was renewed. "You're making quite some moves now."

Stepping forth, the elf could feel his body surge with strength. The man in front of him, whom he had met not that long ago, was already adapting to him.

'The harder it is for him, the easier he learns.' Rimel conceded to himself as he moved gracefully. This time, he aimed the skill that stabbed with tremendous ****, but the motion was almost perfectly read and avoided. Lost in the moment, he barely even noticed the blade aiming for his torso. 'This guy's learning fast when he meets an obstacle.'

He had to admit as such. As another few strikes were exchanged, Rimel felt his health dropping. Travis used his skills much more frequently now, creating and utilizing openings. He no doubt burned through his mana like crazy, but he showed no signs of stopping. Yet, his skill usage was more controlled than met the eye. He didn't dash when it wasn't necessary, and once or twice, he even allowed a blow if it meant he could strike properly as well. It was almost like he was trying things out still.

But that wasn't what baffled Rimel the most.

'He's tracing the footwork so accurately... is this something you could learn in just a few hours...? Was 'balance' really the only thing holding him back?' the elf wondered as he deployed the barrier skill. Using the brief moment of calm, he scrutinized the smaller man. Travis stood back, his eyes never leaving Rimel's form as he prepared himself for whatever the man would use. 'It doesn't seem he's even aware of that. It's like he's meditating, adapting on a subconscious level. Yet, those eyes... unwavering. Determined. Focused to a fault. Could it be...?'

The elf man didn't let his thoughts continue for long. As soon as he felt the barrier's magic release, his feet traced another skill. Travis attempted to keep his distance, but Rimel moved too quickly, and with too much intent behind his steps. Within a second or so, the two interlocked their blades briefly.

'The fiercer the fight turns, the stronger he grows...' Rimel pushed forward. Surprisingly, Travis held his ground and even pressed back, his eyes glimmering with intensity.

'He adapts in real-time. He might not even be aware of this... haha.'

Rimel let out a laugh before kicking the ground and dashing to the side. However, it was not a laugh full of contempt or ridicule. Rather, it was an emotion permeated with satisfaction.

It was a genuine feeling. Since Travis first set foot in Trial Tower, Rimel could tell that his form was unrefined, and his attacks had a huge element of randomness in them. Seeing his flaws, the elf gave him pointers. They were common things that every swordsman should follow - simple corrections to the man's posture and overall form, tempered with constant fighting. They were meant to serve as his nourishment, but their realization would have to take dozens of hours of application to be useful.

What happened, however, was different to Rimel's expectations.

'It's flowing... his motions are fluid. That's not something that can be just imitated. At this point, I have to admit it, fair and square. He's fit for this technique. But...'

Rimel suddenly stopped. Travis's momentum caused him to go a little further to the side before he stopped, staring at him. There was neither anger nor pressure in his gaze. Only focus.

The elf exhaled, lifting his sword further. His body felt tensed up, his HP no doubt lower than two-thirds. Through their exchanges, the human in front of him didn't go unscathed, either, his health probably about half.

'...I won't give it to him based just on that. If he wants it, I want to see him beat me.'

"I'll admit it," he said, focusing on the golden-eyed man better. "You're doing very well. Let's see you handle this."

-Travis's POV-

The sensation of his blood rushing in his veins felt visceral, almost like he could sense every tiniest bit of his body being supplied by it. The hard stone under his feet gave him stability that made his movements quick and precise.

With every inhale, he stepped forth. With every exhale, his hands moved, sending Thunder Blade into a crash course against Rimel's blade. It was a rhythm that his body followed of its own volition. One step. Then another. A slash, a stab, a dodging motion. He moved instinctively, guided by the shifting sense of balance that his body automatically adjusted.

[You have received 112 damage.]

[You have dealt 145 damage.]

[You have received 129 damage.]

[You have dealt 133 damage.]

[Thunder Blade's option is activated, triggering skill '2 Joint Attacks'...]

[You have dealt 278 damage.]

His progress was steady, even if he didn't notice it. During the first try at this fight, Travis was one-sidedly beaten, with barely even a chance to respond. But with every following attempt, he learned. He adapted. He grew. Now, almost every hit Rimel connected had a response. Unlike before, he now could react to the elf's movements, and even anticipate some of the blows. The unrealistic speed Rimel had showcased now became traceable with the man's eyes, albeit faintly.

[You have received 134 damage.]

Travis felt Rimel's sword leave a heavy mark on his shoulder. Blood spewed forth, accompanied by a flash of pain. However, he did not panic. Rather, his hand moved with precision, just barely missing the elf's armpit as he backpedaled.

A few quiet seconds passed. Travis's HP was nearing 25% while Rimel's just barely dropped below 40%. The difference in strength was too much. No, rather, it was a difference in health alone. Rimel had twice as much maximum health as Travis. But at the same time, Travis felt a bit of pride piece through the sour feeling of dissatisfaction. His strikes dealt about the same damage as Rimel's, and the sporadic activation of Thunder Blade's two options when stabbing or slashing leveled the field somewhat.

Rimel took a breath in.

"I'll admit it. You're doing very well. Now, let's see you handle this."

???

Travis gave the man a quizzical expression.

The mute question was answered instantly as the brown-haired elf stepped forth, tracing some footwork.

'...this is different from before.' thought the Apostle. 'I thought all his skills were on cooldown... does he have more?'

As if to confirm his thought, Rimel suddenly charged forth. Every step he made appeared stronger than the last, the sword in his hand marking a large arc. Almost instantly, a blade of mana poured forth, too quick to dodge.

[You have been afflicted with 'Slowness' abnormality for 12 seconds. Movement speed reduced by 10%.]

[You have been afflicted with 'Withered' abnormality for 12 seconds. Attack power reduced by 15%.]

[Resistance to the effects failed.]

Travis had almost no time to react as Rimel shot forward. His hands were both poised on the sword, one clenching it while the other provided additional thrust as he suddenly stabbed.

[You have received 181 damage.]

Travis's eyes went wide, feeling his HP drop to nearly 15% in an instant. The pain from his abdomen erupted like a searing wave of lava as the elf removed his blade, stepping back hastily to avoid his counterattack.

He hissed internally, getting a hand to the wound.

"There is still a lot you have to learn," Rimel said, standing a few steps back.

Travis frowned. A surge of anger stirred in his spirit at the words, bellowing him to rush and strike back at the elf. It resonated with his feeling that it was an unfair fight.

[Skill 'Unwavering Heart' is in effect.]

However, another sensation welled up within. Unlike the vicious fury burning his soul, it had a chilly yet comforting embrace. It soothed his anger and brought quiet release to the pain. With every hasty beat of his heart, Travis felt his mind slip away from impulsive thoughts.

[HP: 231/2250

MP: 332/620

WP: 549/1648]

The time he had remaining of the crab's pearl was below two minutes. He dismissed the panel. This try was bound to fail after all. A sense of bitter defeat bit his throat.

But.

'I can't give up yet.'

Travis didn't get this far by giving up. Each time there was an obstacle, he fought tooth and nail to get past it. This would be no different. Even if he was bound to lose, he'd give it his all.

He fixed his position, lifting Thunder Blade and shifting his hold. The reverberating pain in his body constantly rang, reminding him of the damage. Yet, undeterred, he spread his feet a little.

"Seems like it's the end again," Rimel said, taking the base stance. "You've done excellent, Travis. Better luck next time."

"...no."

"?"

"I'm not done yet," he said, grasping Pacifist's handle and unsheathing the dagger.

Rimel's brow raised as his head tilted marginally. He was confused as to why the human in front of him would show a new weapon exactly when he was on the brink of ****.

"Do you plan to fight me with two weapons? Bring it on, then," he smiled warmly, preparing himself.

But Travis shook his head. As Rulebreaker’s newest piece played in his head, Travis recalled one resource he’d never dared use before. Now, however, it was worth the risk.

"It's not for you."

?????

Rimel blinked once or twice, unable to understand.

Travis's hand moved, striking at his leg. Pacifist's blade lodged itself in his skin briefly, a spike of pain erupting afterward.

[You have received 15 damage.]

The notification was dismissed as Travis dropped the blade. Looking at Rimel, he could see the immense bafflement that crossed the elf's face. He appeared to be questioning his sanity.

However, a notification popped up.

[Apostle of Justice strives through hardships.

All stats increased by 20%.]

It was the conditional passive buff that was affixed to Travis's only title. It was something he didn't want to try out because of its activation condition of him being below 10% HP. It was a burst of power for him, but it risked his life. However, in Trial Tower, he didn't have to worry about dying. He had already experienced that 28 times here.

'Sprint.'

Travis shot forth. Rimel's eyes widened as he saw the man move faster than ever before.

'Suggestion.'

<Strike at his right!>

<Lift the hand!>

Travis sent the mental spells at Rimel's mind before suddenly coming to a halt and rushing in another direction. The elf was caught off-guard as Travis slashed diagonally.

'Reinforcement.'

The strike connected, marking a deep cut across Rimel's chest. The power of the blow was amplified greatly. Firstly, there was an 11% Strength and Endurance increase from the crab's pearl. Then, 20% in all stats from his title. What made it even greater was the 15% attack bonus applied after that.

[You have dealt 205 damage.]

Rimel's physical defense wasn't great. He wore naught a piece of actual armor, and therefore, he took most of the damage head-on. Before he had a chance to retaliate, Travis backpedaled and connected his steps. Then, he used Sprint to dash forward, stabbing at Rimel's heart. He narrowly missed, striking the elf's abdomen instead.

[Thunder Blade's option...]

[Critical!]

[You have dealt 462 damage.]

"!"

Rimel almost lost his footing as his HP dropped to 20%. For the first time since Travis ever saw him, his form faltered. He staggered, his hand moving to counterattack.

<STOP!>

<HALT!>

<CEASE!>

Travis repeated the Suggestion threefold at once, his MP dwindling to 107.

Suggestion's power was limited. It was a simple mental magic that only worked effectively against targets with low Willpower. Rimel, on the other hand, had immense mana, which meant good Intelligence, which meant high Wisdom. In other words, Rimel's Willpower couldn't be low. Even with a 20% increase in all stats, Travis's mental magic wouldn't do much. But that is why he had been using Mind Prickles for a while during combat. Rimel's mental defenses, once so proud and tall, now were feeble.

The elf's motions halted, if only briefly. That opening was enough.

[Thunder Blade's option is activated, triggering skill '2 Joint Attacks'. The attack repeats one time.]

[You have dealt 394 damage.]

Travis didn't even think. He had no time to. Time was literally the only thing he lacked. Reinforcement was running out. He had to use this moment.

He exhaled heavily. He stepped forth, blocking Rimel's retaliation with the sword.

'10 points into Intelligence.'

He acted completely on instinct. With Unwavering Heart, Travis discarded his emotions, letting him take things at face value. Therefore, he made the judgment based solely on how the situation looked. The pain, once reverberating in his every muscle, now faded into obscurity, if only for a fleeting moment. The footwork, once so unstable and rigid, flowed effortlessly and fluidly like water in a river. It was only brief, but that was sufficient.

...

Rimel's eyes diluted with shock. On an instinctual level, he could recognize that Travis was pushing past his limits. Even if this was only a momentary effort, it was no less admirable. As the elf blocked the initial strike, only one thought permeated his mind.

'Transcendent...'

The elf's thoughts were halted when he saw the man lift his other hand. A wisp of mana was burning fiercely within before shooting right at him. It was the culmination of all the magic Travis had left.

...

[You have dealt 135 damage.]

Travis's mind was devoid of unnecessary thoughts. Calmness and stable movements permeated his entire being as he observed his opponent mid-move. He wasn't even aware of the way he stepped forth, inwardly believing in his sense of balance like he'd practiced it a million times over. He cared not if Rimel would retaliate. All that mattered was to keep going. Even if his next breath would be his last, he'd push on regardless.

However, as he poised his sword and dashed whilst slashing, he noticed something strange.

[You have dealt 190 damage.]

Travis stopped after a few steps.

[Swordmaster Rimel's HP dropped to the minimum.]

[You have completed the first trial.]

He exhaled, feeling Reinforcement's buff end. But contrary to the satisfaction he should be feeling, a sensation of bewilderment surged in his mind. His golden eyes darted at the elf.

"...did you... just let yourself get hit?" he asked, turning around.

Rimel's soft laugh entered his ears. The elf dropped his sword with a clatter. A hand went to his chest. His tunic, torn and cut, was almost completely stained with crimson fluid flowing from his wounds. Yet, his face showed a pleased expression.

"Who knows...?" he answered, facing the man better. "I think what matters most is that you've won, don't you?"

Travis blinked. The surge of surprise in his mind was almost overwhelming but he decided against pondering on it at the moment. "What happens now? Will you teach me that style of yours?"

"Teach you?" Rimel's voice sounded slightly surprised. Right after that, the man erupted in benign laughter. "When you already know it?"

"???" Travis formed a perplexed expression. "I don't know it. I just know a few footwork moves. I don't have whatever that skill is."

"...skill?" Rimel's brow raised before he sighed. "Ah, now I remember. She did mention the world works differently now."

"...'she'?"

"I suppose, this will do for you," the elf continued, his hand extending to the side. After a brief moment, a small book appeared in his palm, which he swung lightly as though to wipe any dust off its surface. Its dark brown surface appeared worn down by time, and yellowish pages were barely visible poking from underneath its cover.

Rimel stepped closer. His hand extended, handing the item to Travis, who immediately scanned it.

[Rimel's notebook

Rating: Legendary

It is a book written by Swordmaster Rimel, who glimpsed into the world of legends briefly during his life. It contains the narratives of an elven clan known for its adaptability and cunningness.

*The skill can only be attained once.

Usage conditions: Rimel's acknowledgment.]

'!!!'

Travis's eyes went wide. He could expect a lot from this, but... wasn't this too much? A skill book, and a legendary one, at it?

He glanced at the elf with bewilderment. Rimel smiled at him warmly, just like he usually did, before nodding his head.

"I congratulate you, Travis. You've been a truly worthy adversary. I'm grateful I had this opportunity."

"...thank you."

Suddenly, Rimel looked at his hand. As the Apostle followed his gaze, they both noticed the elf's fingers turning to gray light and dissipating.

"Ha, looks like this is the end," Rimel laughed warmly, completely ignoring what was happening to him. His hair began shimmering with silver light as well. "Should fate have it, perhaps we will meet again someday. Farewell, Travis," he continued, taking a step away before scanning the man one last time.

Travis's body bore signs of their fight. Sweat on him had yet to even begin drying up, and his eyes appeared to be half-closing by now as the last effects of his items ran out. However, Rimel felt nothing but pride.

'He may be still far from refinement, but he has the potential. I can see why you picked him. Unorthodox and chaotic... he is almost like a mirror reflection of you. A perfect fit for our clan's techniques.' the elf thought with a faint snicker. 'It's a shame. I wanted to teach him some more... haha. Look at me, getting attached like that.'

Rimel's eyes went down to his hand. It had already half dissolved, and the process was quickening. Then, he looked back at the brown-haired man, who gave him one last nod. The respectful nature of the gesture was prominent, and the glint of gold in his eyes appeared to have an almost ethereal depth. The way the sun shone from behind Travis made it look like a faint aura emboldening him. Rimel closed his eyes, releasing one final breath.

'I wonder... how much will this potential bloom...?'

And then, Rimel dissipated into gray light that scattered in the breeze. There was no more sound breaking the silence.

...

'...dammit.' Travis thought, looking over his body. 'I honestly didn't expect to win... I'm in a horrible shape.'

"Haaaaa..." he exhaled heavily, his golden eyes going to the sky before landing on the book. Almost immediately, a notification sprung forth.

[The first floor's trial has been completed in 29 tries.

Rank: S

Reward: Your mana has permanently increased by 100. 15 stat points and 1 skill point have been awarded. You can now use Rimel's notebook.]

[Will you use 'Rimel's notebook' now?]

Travis blinked slowly. Finally, the rewards arrived, and they were very good. Increased mana, in particular, was a great gain. Almost on instinct, he brushed the book's cover. Some dust clung to his wet fingers before he opened it slowly.

[The conditions are met. Using 'Rimel's notebook'...]

[The skill ingrained within has been learned!]

Instantly, a surge of images flashed through Travis's mind, together with a plethora of sensations akin to electric shocks spreading through his entire body. Their random and disorderly appearance made him wince briefly. However, just as quickly, he took the reigns of his mind. With his experience in dealing with floods of memory, overcoming this much wasn't a great problem. As his eyes focused on the pages in front of him, he could see it depicted exactly what surged in his mind, albeit in a slightly different way. That was why he was able to quickly discern what those images were.

'Stances... it's all the stances Rimel did.'

Travis's hand went to Thunder Blade almost on instinct. As he unsheathed the sword, he suddenly felt... lighter. Not uplifted, but actually lighter on his feet. As he moved, he could feel his movements be hastier than before. Or... perhaps it was just some of the stamina he'd regained?

His feet moved on instinct, driven by the newfound memories. Every movement he made was corrected, piece by piece. With every second he'd done all the motions, he could feel his body instinctively fixing every last mistake he'd made.

From within him, a burning sensation rose. However, the man did not feel panicked. Rather, he let it course through him, filling his entire body like water entering an empty vessel. With every passing second, he took different stances, changing the form slowly.

...

Eventually, he stopped. The mana waned as he sheathed Thunder Blade. Then, he noticed a new notification littered in the corner of his vision.

He brought it up, letting it open in full.

[You have acquired the skill, Hyllen Sword Dance (Degraded).]

[Hyllen Sword Dance (Degraded) lvl. 1

A unique sword technique developed by the Hyllen clan of Minnael. It is fluid and adapts rapidly to any development.

-When the skill is deactivated-

Increases movement speed by 15% and evasion chance by 5%.

*Applies only when a sword-type weapon is equipped and the skill is not on cooldown.

-When the skill is activated-

Express your prowess. Enabled access to sword dances.

*Currently available sword dances: Unity, Transcend, Perturbation, Execution, Blockade.

*The effects of the passive skill are transformed into physical attack speed and critical hit chance, respectively.

*The skill has no upkeep cost but only remains active when a sword-type weapon is held. It will deactivate immediately if you unequip or drop the weapon.

Activation cost: 100 MP

Cooldown: 50 seconds]

[Unity lvl. 1

A fleeting sword dance reminiscent of falling leaves.

Deal 130% of your physical attack power to a single target multiple times.

*Lasts for 2 seconds.

Cost: 300 MP

Cooldown: 120 seconds]

[Transcend lvl. 1

A sword dance that portrays an imaginative, transcendent being.

Increase attack power by 1.5 times. Regular attacks will transform into ranged attacks.

Duration: 30 seconds

Cost: 1500 MP, 20% of max stamina

Cooldown: 2400 seconds]

[Perturbation lvl. 1

A quiet sword dance depicting a stir in a puddle.

Release a blast of mana at a target. The blast deals no damage, but it causes 2 random battle-oriented status abnormalities for 12 seconds.

Cost: 200 MP

Cooldown: 100 seconds]

[Execution lvl. 1

A sharp sword dance that strikes like a hawk.

Deals 1600% of your physical attack power to a single target. There will be a potent bleed and desperation effect for 8 seconds.

Cost: 800 MP

Cooldown: 420 seconds]

[Blockade lvl. 1

An oppressing sword dance reminiscent of tree roots.

Release a field of mana in a 3-meter radius. Nothing will be able to approach you for 3 seconds.

*Does not apply to projectiles.

Cost: 250 MP

Cooldown: 180 seconds]

...

...

...

...

...the what sword what, now?

---

---

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/meedrowh