[40] It is wrong to make it a measuring object

Kaoru entered a room bathed entirely in a pristine white hue, resembling a world freshly born. This was a high-tech battle simulation chamber, equipped with the cutting-edge hologram technology of 2082. Everything within appeared as a tangible illusion—a virtual environment capable of creating highly detailed and realistic simulations. With a vast library of supernatural creature data, the room was designed to test and train soldiers through various combat scenarios.

"So, I just need to defeat the monsters you project, right?" Kaoru asked, glancing upwards at the transparent glass that offered a view into the control room. He saw an array of holographic devices ready to engage.

"That's right… But are you sure you want to fight with just a wooden sword?" Asagi's voice crackled through the speaker, tinged with scepticism. There was a hint of disbelief in her tone, as though she couldn't quite grasp Kaoru's choice of such a simple weapon.

"Hmm~ Of course," Kaoru replied casually, his smile brimming with confidence. "After all, this is just a simulation, isn't it? No need for real weapons. I reckon I can manage with just simple tools."

Asagi sighed audibly, her voice betraying a mixture of exasperation and concern. "Alright, it's your decision. I hope you know what you're doing," she conceded, her tone somewhere between admiration and unease, like a coach reluctantly giving their pupil free rein.

With that, Kaoru stepped further into the simulation chamber, prepared to face the challenges of this extraordinary holographic world.

In the control room, Asagi instructed the staff to begin with a low-level scenario. Following standard protocol, they projected a set of beginner-level fantasy monsters. As expected, a horde of goblins appeared, each brandishing crude weapons like rusted swords and makeshift spears. They looked feral and aggressive, but they posed little danger to seasoned fighters.

"Goblins, huh?" Kaoru thought, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "So, they're using mythical creatures for the novice round. But they're clearly underestimating me."

Around twenty goblins gathered, their eyes filled with murderous intent as they prepared to strike. However, before they could act, Kaoru had already anticipated their movements. Without hesitation, he moved with such speed that he seemed to vanish from sight.

In the control room, the staff were left stunned. Kaoru's movement was too fast for even their advanced cameras to track. "What on earth…?" one of the staff murmured, wide-eyed, as the screen failed to capture Kaoru's movements. There was only a brief pause before Kaoru reappeared, now positioned behind the goblins that had just materialised.

Within mere seconds, the goblins' bodies vanished one by one, dissolving into holographic particles. The simulation had not been able to capture what truly transpired, and the staff could only watch in awe as the twenty goblins, seemingly prepared for battle, were eliminated in an instant.

Asagi stood behind the observation glass, her eyes following Kaoru's incredible movements with a mixture of disbelief and admiration. It was as if she had just witnessed a miracle she hadn't expected. "Kaoru… it seems you're much more than just confident," she murmured softly, her voice only audible to herself. Her arms now crossed over her chest, she allowed a faint smile to form—a smile that hinted she had uncovered something far more intriguing about the man before her.

Not wanting to lose momentum, Asagi quickly issued her next command. "Proceed to the next level," she ordered firmly, her voice resolute. The staff in the control room sprang into action, their fingers flying over the keyboards to programme a more challenging simulation—an intermediate level, where far more dangerous monsters would appear.

In the arena, the atmosphere shifted abruptly. The holographic floor glowed faintly as a new set of creatures materialised near Kaoru. They were much larger than the goblins from before. Orcs—towering two-metre tall beasts with hulking frames and fierce expressions. They wielded deadlier weapons: massive axes and maces capable of crushing anything in their path.

But that wasn't all. Emerging from the shadows was an even more formidable figure. A red-skinned orc, three metres tall and weighing roughly 200 kilograms, stepped forward. Its glowing red skin, illuminated by the simulation lights, signified its superior rank. This was no ordinary orc—it was an Orc General, a leader among orcs, with the strength of a mini-boss. Each step it took made the ground tremble, and its wild eyes locked onto Kaoru, like a predator sizing up its prey.

Kaoru regarded the monstrous horde before him with calm indifference, showing no trace of fear. With the wooden sword still in his hand, he didn't flinch as the orcs began to snarl, tightening their grip on their weapons, poised to attack. The air in the arena grew heavy, as if holding its breath before an impending storm.

"This is getting interesting," Kaoru thought to himself, his smile widening yet retaining his calm and assured demeanour. His gaze sharpened, like an eagle homing in on its target. His movements were fluid, almost as if he were one with the wind. But this time, Kaoru wasn't just going to defend—he was ready to showcase something far beyond basic skills: the Aslan Sword Style. He had learned it from an old knight of the Aslan Kingdom, humanity's last defence against an invasion of world-eaters from another realm.

The techniques Kaoru employed were extraordinary—not the standard moves used in training or everyday combat. This wasn't about raw strength but a form of swordsmanship that defied conventional logic. The wooden sword he wielded, though simple in appearance, became an extension of his body, slicing through the air with unimaginable speed and precision.

Asagi, watching from behind the glass, suddenly squinted, observing Kaoru's every movement with heightened vigilance. Something felt different this time. The staff in the control room exchanged puzzled glances, unable to comprehend the techniques they were witnessing. They were experts in analysing various fighting styles, but what Kaoru was doing now was completely alien to them.

Asagi stood still for a moment, observing every detail with the calmness of a strategist. The staff in the control room held their breath, watching the screens with rapt attention. Asagi, observing from behind the glass, didn't divert her gaze in the slightest. "Don't underestimate the orc general," whispered one of the staff. "This is an intermediate-level simulation, but the strength of the orc general is very close to the real thing."

Asagi nodded, realising that what was about to unfold before them was not just an ordinary training exercise.

Suddenly, without warning, Kaoru moved.

The Aslan Sword Style was unlike anything the staff had ever seen. His movements were not only fast but also possessed an almost supernatural fluidity. In an instant, he shifted from point A to point B, but to those watching, it felt as if he had vanished. The orcs in front of him didn't even have time to react before their bodies were split apart, as though an invisible force had attacked them.

The flash of his wooden sword seemed to dance through the air, but it wasn't a mere dance. Each swipe, each swing, was measured with perfect precision. The air around the sword vibrated, sending deadly waves of energy towards his enemies. One by one, the orcs fell, unable to even scream in resistance.

"How is he doing that?" one of the staff in the control room asked, astonished.

"He doesn't need a sharp weapon," Asagi replied flatly, though there was a note of admiration in her voice. "He has surpassed what we consider human limits."

Kaoru continued to move, drawing closer to the orc general. The monster roared in anger, raising its massive axe that glinted under the hologram lights. However, Kaoru merely smiled faintly. The Aslan Sword Style wasn't just about strength; it was about reading every movement of the opponent, understanding the rhythm of the battle, and striking at the precise moment.

The orc general swung its axe with tremendous force, causing the ground beneath it to shake violently. However, Kaoru was no longer there. With speed that defied belief, he had already moved behind the orc general. His wooden sword swung slowly—but to those who understood, it was a deadly move.

Instantly, the orc general's body froze, its axe slipping from its grasp. Within moments, it collapsed, disintegrating into glowing holographic particles.

The room fell into silence. The staff stared at the monitors, a mixture of awe and disbelief written across their faces. What was supposed to be a prolonged battle had ended in mere seconds.

Behind the glass, Asagi allowed a small smile. "You're truly remarkable, Kaoru. But I still haven't seen your limits," she murmured, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Kaoru twirled his sword and whistled casually. "Next time, you might want to prepare something more challenging," he said, lifting his weapon with a confident glint in his eyes.

Asagi pressed a button on her console, issuing a new command. "Alright then, let's move on to the next level. Hard mode." Her voice was firm and decisive.

The staff in the control room nodded tensely and began programming an entity typically reserved for elite-level tests. From the holographic floor in the middle of the arena emerged a terrifying form. A monstrous creature covered in writhing tentacles, with slimy skin and eerie eyes scattered across its body. It was a living nightmare—a fusion of shapeless horror, seemingly pulled from the depths of hell.

Kaoru regarded the creature with disdain. "Word Eater," he muttered, or rather, a grotesque simulation of a devastating entity that had once haunted his nightmares. The beast had a body composed of pulsing tentacles, its skin a thick, dripping black liquid, and its countless eyes glared at Kaoru with undefinable hatred. "They really excel at creating disgusting simulations," he scoffed, the corners of his mouth curling into a smirk of derision.

Without warning, the tentacles lashed out at him, hissing with a speed almost impossible for the human eye to follow. The air around him vibrated with each strike, the force behind them capable of crushing concrete. Yet Kaoru remained still, his eyes narrowing with the calmness that had become his trademark.

He wouldn't face such a creature again. Once was enough. Quickly, Kaoru took a deep breath and activated his aura—a dark red energy so dense it resembled a blazing fire surrounding him, enveloping his sword in a deep, ominous glow. The energy felt heavy and menacing, as though every drop of it carried destructive power.

"It's over," Kaoru murmured flatly.

In a swift, nearly invisible movement, Kaoru dashed forward and swung his sword in a perfect horizontal slash. The air around his blade seemed to split, producing a thunderous sound that shook the entire room. The red light from his aura flashed like lightning, piercing through the monster's body with no resistance.

The result was immediate—the creature was cleaved in two, its body disintegrating into tiny particles that dissipated into the air. However, the energy from the slash exceeded expectations. A shockwave spread across the room, and with a single impact, the simulation walls—designed to withstand heavy weaponry—exploded.

The thick layers of the walls, built to endure high-energy attacks, were now torn open with a massive gash, revealing horrifying damage—damage that shouldn't have been possible with a wooden sword, even in a simulation.

In the monitoring room, Asagi was speechless. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. The staff around her were equally shocked, some even trembling—not out of fear of Kaoru, but from the stark reality that the simulation room, built to resist high-energy explosions, was now severely damaged.

They all knew the monster had been a simulation that typically required 20 experienced Taimanin to defeat. Yet Kaoru had destroyed the creature—and damaged the room—with a single swing.

Despite her astonishment, Asagi couldn't help but smile faintly. "Incredible," she murmured. But her smile quickly faded, replaced by concern. She knew what would follow—a lengthy lecture from the department head, and likely much more. "We've just ruined the most expensive room in the building," she said in a tense tone.

The staff began sweating nervously, some almost panicking. They knew no simulation should cause such damage. Yet Kaoru had done just that effortlessly. Now, they could only wait, bracing themselves for the inevitable repercussions.

Kaoru, meanwhile, lowered his sword and wiped the sweat from his brow. He stared at the massive hole in the wall with a flat expression. "Looks like I got a bit too enthusiastic," he said, glancing towards the monitor window, his face still calm as ever.