The night went by quickly. With the badgermole's core absorbed and my first experience fighting against another being to the death, I slept like a baby.

I stretched myself thoroughly as Shiroi told me that I needed to be flexible to fight and manoeuvre out of any situation. I cleaned up and threw on my skintight latex training gear and headed out to the woods.

The spot where Shiroi told me to meet him was in another clearing about 100 meters south of the outpost.

I jogged there to not keep my master waiting. When I arrived I was honestly surprised at the scene in front of me; there was a rack of weapons ranging from a pair of daggers to a broadsword.

"I'm glad you arrived on time. Todays training is what will take up most of the month you have. You are going to be training martial arts."

I now understood why there was a rack of weapons waiting for me when I arrived.

"Go on, pick a weapon that suits you. It will be your companion for quite a while. They are all Rank 1 so not one is better than the other."

'I wonder if he will pick 'that' blade. If he does then it must be fate.'

Shoto slowly approached the weapon rack and silently appraised all of the weapons; there was a spear that looked as if it had been crafted by the finest artisan.

Gold thorns adorned the shaft while the tip was pure white with little crescent moon designs surrounding it.

"Truly beautiful, but I don't think it suits me" I muttered

I carried on appraising the weapons steadily, a pair of daggers caught my eye when something deep within told me that it was a cowards weapon.

'What was that?'

While I was nearly at the end of the rack, a glint of white steel made me turn my head. A katana. Something deep within my soul was pleased with this sword.

The handle was made out of moonstone while the grip was a type of animal Hyde bleached white. Blue spirals of string encircled the handle giving it an elegant finish.

The blade itself was pure white and made from glatherium. It was the sturdiest mettle known to the Asura. It was also pure white with little blue details fitting the theme of the sword.

It resonating deep within me as if it were greeting it's old friend. I reached for the sword and it hummed slightly. A smile grew on my face.

"I choose this one. This katana feels comfortable for some reason."

Shiroi began smiling wildly and lost composure for a second.

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

"Master, what's funny?"

"You are just full of surprises young Shoto" My master said wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.

"That sword. It was your father'a training sword. I wanted to see if you would pick it and you actually did. It must be fate."

I looked at the sword in my hand and I wondered if that's why it felt like it was greeting me. I threw the thought away for now and focused on the training.

"Nico, come."

I couldn't notice this before as I hadn't trained in qi, but now I'm more sensitive to it I can perceive more. Like how when the special ability of the Elliard family is used, the space itself distorts for a fraction of a second.

Nico appeared right next to Shiroi "How you doing kid, long time no see." He waved at me domineeringly.

I smiled awkwardly as the last time we met he was itching to kill me. Shiroi broke the silence.

"Let me introduce you to this big oaf, I know you two are acquainted but you have started off on the wrong foot. Shoto this is Nico Elliard, my oldest son."

I bowed slightly and he did the same.

"Since my level far exceeds both of you, he will be your sparring partner. He is a Rank three conquer and you will have to survive fighting him the rest of the time you are here. You will mediate on your qi during the morning, fight Nico during the day and meditate qi before you sleep. This is your schedule until it's time to leave for zerxes so enjoy."

We made our way into the makeshift arena that was really just the centre of the clearing we were in.

"You will be learning 'Moon God's Requiem'. It is a set of sword moves that are elegant but deadly, they are created to oppress your opponent until they are cornered. Nico give him an example.

Nick unsheathed his sword and my body screamed danger.

He twisted his leg and pivoted on one foot and struck forward tilting his whole body while simultaneously striking backward with his left leg, he swung his arm and faked a horizontal swing but when I blinked his arm was coming down vertically.

It sliced the air and a shockwave resounded.

"BOOM!"

"Wow." That was all that could escape my lips.

"That is the first set of the Moon God's Requiem. You must learn all 12 sets by the months end and reach a Rank 1 core.

I won't ask if you can do it or if you want to do it. Simply, will you do it."

"YES MASTER!"

"Good, I like your resolve. Begin!"