The Crazy sword teacher

As he left the village, Dante began walking along the muddy path that led him to the "Tartary Village", where the blacksmith had instructed him to find a man named "Dabi", a skilled swordsman who could teach him sword techniques. In his hand he held the sword that the blacksmith had given him, and a short message was engraved on its sheath:

"Go to the village of Tartary, and you will find a skilled swordsman, who will teach you sword techniques and how to obtain Aestesis. His name is Dabi."

Dante: Well, it seems I owe the blacksmith Grapp this instruction... I wonder what this man will be like?

After walking for hours through the dusty, foggy roads, he finally arrived at the outskirts of the village, where there was a small inn with warm smoke rising from it. The place was bustling with life, and the sound of the villagers' clamor filled the air.

As he entered the inn, he was greeted by the smell of grilled food and the sound of cups clinking in delight. He walked up to the waiter and asked him:

Dante: Hello, do you know someone named Dabi?

Before the waiter could answer, a faint laughter came from the nearby table, where a tall half-elf man with silver hair and sharp eyes was sitting, quietly sipping his drink.

Dabi: Oh, this old blacksmith, he keeps sending me students.

Dante looked at the man in surprise, then walked over to him.

Dante: So, you're Dabi?

Dabi with a sly smile: Yes, that's me. It seems like you're the new kid that Grapp sent me.

Dante with some unintended rudeness: That's good, it'll make it easier for me to look for you.

Dabi: Boy, you're rude, you know?

Dante: "Well, I'm sorry, did you like that?"

Dabi laughed, then motioned for him to sit down.

Dabi: You're interesting, kid, but let's break the ice real quick. Do you have any experience with sword fighting?

Dante: Nothing official... I was training by myself.

Dabi: Well, that's not bad. But you have to realize something, sword fighting isn't just techniques, it's a reflection of your soul.

Dabi looked at the sword Dante was holding, then pointed at it.

Dabi: Show me how you hold it.

Dante raised the sword and held it firmly, but Dabi shook his head in mockery.

Dabi: You hold it like it's just a piece of iron. The sword isn't just a weapon, it's an extension of you.

Dante: That's what the blacksmith said too...

Dabi, smiling: Grapp wise as usual. Well, kid, if you want to learn, you have to be prepared for some tough training.

Dabi stood up, pushed his chair back, and looked at Dante with sharp eyes.

Dabi: Come with me, let's see if you can keep up with my training.

Dabi walked with confident steps as Dante followed, trying to keep up with his speed. The air was filled with the scent of wild herbs, and the sound of the wind caressing the scattered leaves. Dabi led the way through narrow paths between trees and rocks, as if he knew this place by heart.

Dante inquisitively: Where are we going?

Dabi with a sly smile: Ah, you want to know? Well, I'll tell you... when we get there.

Dante sighed: What a mysterious trainer...

Dabi jokingly: Not mysterious, but inspiring! You have to keep some mysteries to stay interesting, otherwise you'll just become a boring person... just like you.

Dante grumbled: I didn't know that training required sarcasm as well.

Dabi with mocking seriousness: Of course! This is an essential skill, if you can't handle my words, how will you handle a sword in battle?

They continued walking through narrow passages until the place gradually began to change. The dense trees that surrounded them began to part, and a gentle cool breeze replaced the dry air. Suddenly, a magical scene opened up before them—an oasis hidden among the rocks and hills.

The lake shimmered in the sunlight, its clear waters reflecting the clear blue sky. Around it, cherry trees stood in a beautiful scene, their pink blossoms falling with every breeze, like flakes of pink snow. At the edge of the lake, a carpet of green grass stretched out, sprinkled with smooth rocks that seemed to be placed there intentionally as natural seating. Small birds were flying between the branches, chirping a soft tune that harmonized with the sound of the calm water.

Dante, surprised: This place is... amazing.

Dabi, proud of himself: Of course, I don't choose ordinary training places, they must have a magical touch! The beauty of nature increases inspiration, and eases the pain of training.

Dante: Is pain relief necessary?

Dabi, laughing: Of course not, I was joking. Actually, pain is part of the deal! But don't worry, at least you'll die in a beautiful place.

Dante frowning: Your words are very encouraging...

Dabi smiling as he reached out to take his sword: Well, time to get to work. Show me what you've got, little one!

Dabi nonchalantly raised his wooden sword, leaning on it as if it were just a walking stick, a wry smile on his face. In contrast, Dante had taken a serious fighting stance, his hands clenched around his fist, his eyes watching Dabi warily. But he couldn't help but be annoyed by Dabi's careless behavior.

Dante frowned: Are you serious? Or are you insulting me on purpose?

Dabi with a sly smile: Me? Insulting you? Dante, my little friend, I'm just preparing you for real life! If you were faced with an opponent who mocks you, would you stop and ask him if he was serious?

Dante angrily: Of course not!

Dabi triumphantly: Then don't do that to me either!

Dante quickly charged forward, holding his sword with both hands as he aimed a straight strike at Dabi's chest, but the latter moved lightly, bending at a narrow angle, effortlessly dodging the attack, then spun around Dante in one step, his wooden sword still held limply.

Dabi sneered: "Oh, so fast! I could almost feel the wind blowing past me."

Dante pursed his lips in anger, attacking again with a series of blows, one after the other, trying to at least force Dabi to retreat, but each blow was met with a lesser response than he expected. A side step here, a slight tilt there, a soft retreat that barely made a sound on the grass. It was as if Dabi was dancing instead of fighting.

Dabi sneered: "Wow! You're like you're doing a dance, but it's a very random dance! Don't tell me you were practicing this instead of fighting."

Dante paused for a moment, panting, while Dabi hadn't broken a sweat yet. Dabi finally gripped his sword tightly, and smiled slightly.

Dabi with mocking seriousness: Well, time to show the difference between us, little Dante.

Before Dante could realize what was happening, Dabi rushed towards him at a speed he didn't expect, his wooden sword lightly hitting the air, but as he got closer, he quickly struck Dante's wrist, causing him to yelp slightly and let go of his sword. Before he had a chance to retrieve it, Dabi had wrapped his foot around his ankle, knocking him to the ground.

Dante fell hard on his back, the sound of falling cherry leaves mixing with the sound of him hitting the ground. He opened his eyes to find Dabi standing over him, his wooden sword pointed at him, and a wide smile on his face.

Dabi with fake interest: Oh, did I fall? Sorry, I didn't mean to! I thought you would dodge the attack like you were trying to just now.

Dante in pain: Were you... were you kidding the whole time?

Dabi playfully: Not exactly, I was just showing you a little something… the difference between someone who just fights, and someone who fights smartly.

There was silence for a few moments, as Dante stared at Dabi, trying to process what had happened. He took a deep breath, then extended his hand for Dabi to kiss, pulling him back up.

Dabi with a sly smile: Well, don't worry, it wasn't all that bad… but let's just say you have a very, very, very long way to go before you can land even a single blow on me.

Dante looked at him with eyes full of determination, despite his pain. This fight was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. Dabi wasn't just a strong swordsman… he was an unpredictable opponent, and a master of mockery at the same time. But if there was one thing Dante had learned by now, it was that he wouldn't allow himself to be the butt of ridicule for long.

After a few moments of silence, Dante sat on the ground with his hands behind him to support his body, while Dabi threw his wooden sword aside and lay on his back, placing his hands behind his head and looking at the pink sky covered in falling cherry petals.

Dante grumbled: I didn't expect the gap between us to be this big...

Dabi with a light laugh: Oh, don't exaggerate! The gap isn't big... it's huge! But that's okay, there's always a chance to improve, if you don't give up like a little kid.

Dante gave him a sideways glance before sighing, knowing that matching Dabi's words wouldn't help.

Dante: Anyway, was this the training you promised me?

Dabi (with a sarcastic smile): Huh? Training? Dante, my little friend Dante… What I saw a moment ago was just a simple test to see how experienced you are! We haven't even started real training yet.

Dante's eyes widened slightly as he sat up, while Dabi raised his index finger and slowly moved it, as if to scold him.

Dabi: You can't build fighting skills on a shaky foundation. I wanted to see if you had a solid foundation, and… well, let's just say you need a little work.

Dante sighed as he stared into the water: I can't believe you've been stalling all this time… and you still haven't even started real training!

Dabi laughed as he put his hands behind his head and lay on the grass: Of course, did you think I would make you fight me seriously from the start? Dante, this was just a test of your current experience, just a warm-up.

Dante raised his eyebrow as he looked at him suspiciously, while Dabi continued his speech in a more serious tone, But he didn't give up his sarcastic style.

Dabi with a side smile: Well, now that I've seen your skill level, we can start the real training... Don't worry, it won't be too painful, at least not physically.

Dante with a sigh: Great, now? What exactly are we going to do?

Dabi stood up, walked to one of the huge trees, then pointed to one of its thick branches extending over the lake.

Dabi: Your first training will be about balance in using the sword. Fighting isn't just about strength or speed, it's about complete control of your body and your weapons. And if you're not balanced... you'll—

He raised his hand slightly, and the air around him began to tremble lightly, before one of the falling cherry leaves suddenly dropped at an unnatural speed, as if it was being pulled towards the ground by an invisible force.

Dabi with a sly smile: —Fall.

Dante looked at the leaf and then at the lake, slowly realizing what Dabi was planning.

Dante nervously: Don't tell me you're...

Dabi excitedly, pointing to the branch: Exactly! You're going to stand there, on this branch, hold your sword, and then start performing a series of precise swings... and if you get any of them wrong, I'll use gravity to pull you into the water.

Dante worriedly: You're kidding, right?

Dabi playfully: No, why would I joke about something so fun?

Dante looked at the branch, then at the lake reflecting the clear sky, trying to figure out if this was actually serious training or just Dabi's plan to watch him fall over and over again. But in the end, he sighed in frustration and got up and headed towards the tree, ready to take on the challenge... even if it meant drowning more than once.

Dante stood on the branch steadily, gripping his sword tightly as he watched Dabi warily. He knew that any wrong move would send him diving into the cold waters below, but he had no intention of giving Dabi that satisfaction.

Dante focused: Okay... Let's begin.

He began moving his sword, strike after strike, according to the rhythm he had set in mind. His strokes were balanced, fluid, and he didn't appear to be flustered or off balance. Dabi, who had been leaning against the tree trunk as he watched in boredom, let out a long sigh before yawning exaggeratedly.

Dabi lazily: Oh my... Are you a machine? This precision is so boring.

Dante sarcastically: Wasn't that your idea? Don't start complaining now.

Dabi raised an eyebrow before raising his hand up, and the pink leaves falling from the cherry trees began to swirl in the air around him. In an instant, the leaves began to attract him and then rushed at an incredible speed towards Dante, like small arrows flying towards him.

Dabi with a sly smile: Okay, genius... Let's see your skills now! Cut all these leaves before they touch you!

Dante's eyes widened as he noticed the sudden storm of leaves coming towards him, but his mind didn't comprehend what was happening until it was too late. Before he could move his sword, the leaves had all touched him, dancing over his face and shoulders, causing him to freeze in place for a moment.

Dante in shock: Wait, that's not a count—

But before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly felt an invisible force pulling him down. He didn't need to look to see that Dabi had used the gravity element against him. In a split second, Dante lost his balance and fell straight into the water, amidst Dabi's loud laughter.

Dabi sarcastically: Well, I guess training wasn't hard enough, so I decided to add some small challenges... No thanks for that!

Dante emerged from the water panting, completely soaked, as he glared at Dabi.

Dante with suppressed anger: I did it on purpose...

Dabi with a wide smile: Of course! How else am I going to make it more entertaining?

Dante sighed, trying to hold back his anger, but he knew that this wouldn't be the last prank Dabi would pull during training... This might just be the beginning.