Chapter 16: Sharpened Edges

A new day dawned, and Vesper found himself back in his usual training routine. His body had grown stronger over the past month, lean and defined, but his mind was always hungry for more knowledge. As he worked on his sword forms, a video played in the background, its narrator detailing the state of the world.

The man's voice was gruff, laced with years of experience. "The world once had seven continents, but now only five remain. Thirty years ago, the Great War decimated much of the Earth, leaving ruins where once-thriving nations stood. Natural disasters ravaged the remaining lands, altering them beyond recognition. Asia and Europe are the only major landmasses left intact, but even they are mere shadows of what they once were."

Vesper swung his wooden sword, focusing on his technique while absorbing the information.

"China, once a mighty nation, is now known simply as 'the Mainland.' Europe is a fractured shell, having lost over half its land to rising seas and volcanic eruptions. The Americas have all but disappeared, with only fragments of North America remaining. Australia, now known as the 'Bastion of the High Grades,' is a fortress for the elite, impenetrable and isolated. And Antarctica, though mostly uninhabited, serves as a crucial cargo stop for the few ships brave enough to cross the Abyssal Seas."

The video continued, but Vesper's attention drifted as he finished his meal. His body was primed for action, and it was time to train. Setting aside the speaker, he stood, picking up his wooden sword once more.

Just as he was about to begin, a knock echoed from the door of the small gym. Vesper paused, walking over to open it. Standing in the doorway was a familiar face—Casper, the Awakened he had fought before. The man had a weathered look, his face marked by scars that told of countless battles, yet his demeanor was calm and focused.

"Hello, new gu—I mean, Vesper," Casper greeted with a slight smirk.

Vesper raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback by the casual tone. He hadn't forgotten the intensity of their last encounter. Still, he shrugged it off. "Hi, Casper," he replied, taking in the man's appearance. Unlike before, Casper was dressed in simple, casual clothes—no longer the intimidating assassin-like garb he had worn during their previous fight.

"Are you just starting your training?" Casper asked, noticing the untouched sword resting nearby.

"Yeah, I had to watch something about... well, the world. Helps me focus," Vesper responded, gesturing toward the paused video.

Casper nodded, understanding. "Alright. Do you want to warm up first before we spar?"

Vesper shook his head. "No need. How about you? Do you want to rest? You look like you just got here."

"Not really," Casper said with a chuckle. "I've been here for about 30 minutes, just talking to your mom."

Vesper smiled briefly before motioning to the weapons. "Pick up a sword, then. Let's start."

Casper walked over to the rack of practice swords and selected a small blade, barely larger than a dagger. Vesper eyed the weapon curiously, memories of their last fight flashing in his mind. Casper had used a similar-sized weapon then, swift and deadly. But this time, there would be no surprise attacks or dirty tricks. Just raw swordsmanship.

Vesper took his stance, feet grounded firmly, sword held with both hands. He nodded, signaling the start.

Without hesitation, Vesper dashed forward, swinging his sword in a horizontal arc. Casper reacted instantly, parrying the blow with his short blade. The clash of wood echoed in the small gym. Vesper gritted his teeth, stepping forward to regain the initiative. He grounded himself and pulled his sword back, launching another horizontal slash, this time with more force.

Casper met the attack again, but Vesper's strength pushed him back a step. Vesper pressed his advantage, unleashing a flurry of strikes—each one faster and harder than the last. His movements were sharp, calculated, each swing meant to break through Casper's defense.

Casper, however, remained calm, his smaller blade moving with incredible precision. He deflected Vesper's strikes with minimal effort, conserving his energy as he waited for an opening. Despite the pressure, Casper's expression never changed, his eyes focused solely on Vesper's movements.

The clash continued, a relentless exchange of blows that echoed through the gym. Vesper's muscles burned with exertion, but he refused to relent. He lunged forward, feinting a high strike before twisting his body into a low, sweeping slash aimed at Casper's legs.

Casper jumped back just in time, avoiding the blow by inches. He countered with a quick thrust, aiming for Vesper's midsection. Vesper barely managed to parry the attack, but the force of it sent a jolt up his arms.

For a moment, they both stood still, catching their breath. Sweat dripped from Vesper's brow, but his focus remained unshaken. He knew Casper was testing him, waiting for him to make a mistake.

Not giving Casper the chance to dictate the pace, Vesper charged again, this time feinting left before launching a diagonal slash from the right. Casper's eyes widened as the strike came at an unexpected angle. He raised his blade to block, but Vesper's strength overpowered him. The force of the blow knocked Casper off balance, and he stumbled backward.

Sensing an opening, Vesper pressed forward, aiming to end the spar with a decisive strike. He brought his sword down in a powerful overhead slash, intent on forcing Casper to submit.

But Casper wasn't done yet.

In a flash, he rolled to the side, avoiding the strike entirely. Before Vesper could recover, Casper sprang to his feet and rushed forward, his short blade moving with lightning speed. Vesper barely had time to react, raising his sword to block the incoming attack.

The two weapons clashed, but Casper's momentum drove him forward. Vesper grunted as he struggled to hold his ground. Casper's smaller blade slipped past Vesper's guard, grazing his arm. A sharp sting shot through Vesper as the wooden blade made contact, leaving a red mark.

Vesper hissed in pain but didn't back down. He tightened his grip on his sword, gritting his teeth as he shoved Casper away with all his strength. Casper stumbled back, giving Vesper a brief moment to reassess.

The fight had taken a turn. Casper's agility and precision were proving to be a challenge. But Vesper wasn't about to let a scratch stop him.

He adjusted his stance, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Casper was quick, but Vesper knew he had the advantage in strength. He just needed to time his attacks better, wait for the right moment to strike.

Casper circled him, eyes sharp, searching for another opening. Vesper mirrored his movements, watching closely, anticipating the next move.

Then, without warning, Casper lunged again, his blade aimed at Vesper's side. But this time, Vesper was ready. He sidestepped the attack, swinging his sword upward in a counterstrike. The tip of his wooden blade caught Casper's arm, causing him to flinch.

Vesper didn't stop. He followed up with a series of rapid strikes, forcing Casper on the defensive. Each swing was heavier than the last, pushing Casper back toward the edge of the gym. Sweat dripped down both of their faces, but neither showed any signs of giving up.

With one final, powerful swing, Vesper aimed directly for Casper's sword arm. Casper moved to block, but the force of Vesper's strike knocked the weapon from his hand. The wooden dagger clattered to the floor.

For a moment, there was silence. Casper stood still, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. Vesper lowered his sword, stepping back to give Casper room.

"You win," Casper said, a faint smile crossing his scarred face. He rubbed his arm where Vesper's strike had landed, clearly impressed.

Vesper let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. He wiped the sweat from his brow, nodding in acknowledgment. "You're fast," he admitted, his voice laced with respect.

Casper chuckled. "And you're strong. If you keep this up, the Abyss won't know what hit it."

Vesper grinned, feeling a surge of pride despite the stinging pain in his arm. He had won, but not without a fight. And as he stood there, catching his breath, he knew that this was just the beginning. There were still many challenges ahead, but for now, he allowed himself to savor the victory. 

After some time, Vesper and Casper Sparred again for a few more times, each time was more intense than the last one. But this time, Vesper was not the victor. But it was fine, since it was but a mere spar. Vesper realized where he lacks and what his strength is. Then after all those arduous spar, they decided to take a break and go inside the main house and get some snack, not noticing the time, then Samara walked out of the kitchen with some drinks for two of them.

"It must be tiring training the whole afternoon, get some drinks first, you two." she said while having a smile on her face.