Sharp Eyes Will See Them All

"I can imagine why both the God of Swordsmanship and the Dragoria king became friends, but the reason the king's son became his disciple?" Ashan asked, his face filled with curiosity.

"There is a special reason for it," Boris said, closing his eyes as if recalling an old memory. "When the first prince was born, the Dragon King, Kaelthir himself, came and blessed him to be a 'Dragon Vessel.'"

"Dragon Vessel? What is that, Grandfather?"

"A Dragon Vessel is a person who gains the right to ask for help from the dragons. He has the protection of dragons, and if he is ever in danger, nearby dragons will come to his aid. It's almost as if he is part of their kin. That also means he has a duty to protect dragons as well. Compared to an average person, his aura and mana levels are abnormally high. So when the prince grew older, he excelled in swordsmanship. That's why the God of Swordsmanship chose him as his disciple."

"So that's what happened," Ashan nodded in understanding. "No wonder he was taken in as a disciple. So the firstborn prince will be the next king, right?"

Boris sighed. "Hmm... that is a bit complicated to answer. Currently, the king has five children and three wives. The first queen has two sons—Prince Edan, the eldest, and Prince Brian, his younger brother. There is a two-year gap between them. Since the king has yet to name his successor, both brothers are locked in a silent competition. The entire kingdom is divided, with each faction supporting the prince they favor. Fortunately, this hasn't made the brothers rivals, but they are determined to prove themselves."

"That's good. They made a wise decision. It prevents unnecessary conflicts. And what about the other three children?"

"The second queen has one daughter, and the third queen has twin girls. Since women cannot participate in the competition for the throne, they are not involved."

Boris gave Ashan a wise smile. "There is much about the world you do not yet know—about dragons, martial arts, spirits, and our own race. As you grow older, you will come to understand. But for now, it is our duty—mine, your parents'—to prepare you for that world. We must prepare you to take responsibility for yourself, for there will come a day when you must stand on your own. We will teach you about culture, human values, and, most importantly, the sword."

Boris drew his sword and pointed it at Ashan.

"Now, you will fight me with everything you've learned. I will adjust to your level and fight you properly—no more one-sided training. In this battle, you will experience real combat. You might get injured, but you must endure it. Only through pain will you truly understand the way of the sword. The more you fight, the more you bleed, the more you will become one with your blade. That is the key to reaching greater heights. Now, prepare yourself!"

A determined yet calm smile crossed Ashan's face. He positioned himself, gripping his sword tightly. Taking a deep breath, he locked eyes with Boris, unshaken.

"Here I come, Grandfather."

Pow!

Ashan burst forward like a lightning strike, his blade flashing towards Boris. The older warrior twisted his body, raising his sword to block.

Clang!

The impact rang out like a bell, shaking the air around them. Sparks flew as Boris effortlessly deflected Ashan's strike, sending him skidding back a few feet. Before Ashan could regain his footing, Boris lunged, his sword sweeping in a wide arc.

Ashan barely managed to intercept the strike, metal screeching against metal. The force of the blow rattled his arms. Thinking quickly, he redirected the impact, spinning and delivering a sharp counter-slash.

But Boris was faster.

With a precise strike, he knocked the tip of Ashan's blade off course, nullifying the attack before it could land. However, Ashan had anticipated this. Using the force of Boris's deflection, he twisted his wrist and redirected his sword straight toward Boris's chest.

Whoosh!

At the last second, Boris leaped back, narrowly dodging the attack. A smirk tugged at his lips.

"Yes, that's it! You're fighting beautifully. Keep going! But now, I'm going to get serious."

With a sudden burst of speed, Boris closed the distance, his sword flashing like a phantom. Ashan barely had time to react. Their blades clashed in rapid succession, the air vibrating from the force of their movements.

From a distance, Elowyn watched with wide eyes. She had returned to her human form, gripping the tree branch tightly.

They're moving too fast... I can barely see them!

Her heart pounded as the battle escalated. The ground cracked under the pressure of their strikes. Boris increased his pace, pushing Ashan further and further.

Then, suddenly, they leaped apart.

Ashan stood, breathing heavily. His clothes were tattered, small cuts visible through the fabric. Elowyn gasped, her hands trembling.

"Mother Nature, he's hurt! Should I go to him?"

But as Ashan glanced down at his wounds, something strange happened. The cuts began to close, his flesh knitting back together. He sighed internally.

I forgot... Dragons have powerful regeneration. I need to suppress my core energy, or Grandfather might suspect something.

Meanwhile, Boris wiped a small cut on his chin, grinning with excitement. His grip on his sword tightened, red aura crackling along the blade.

"Excellent! You're amazing. Let's push further."

Ashan smirked.

Look at him, getting all excited. Then let's shock him a bit.

They clashed again, the air trembling under the weight of their strikes. Their bodies shone with aura, their movements like two beasts locked in battle. But then, Boris felt something unsettling.

A presence... Something is watching me from every angle...

His concentration faltered. He noticed something shocking—Ashan's eyes. Every time Boris prepared to attack, Ashan's gaze would flicker to the exact spot, his body already moving to evade.

He's predicting my attacks?!

But how? The sixth sense takes years to develop. How did he obtain it so soon?

Whoosh! Slash! BOOM!

Sweat dripped from their faces. Boris increased his attack speed, and Ashan started to struggle.

Even if he can see my attacks, his body can't keep up. His movements are slowing... Yes, this is his limit.

Boris delivered a final powerful strike, forcing them both apart once more. Ashan stood with more cuts on his body, panting.

"Let's stop for today, son. We'll continue tomorrow."

Ashan sheathed his sword. "Are you alright, Grandfather?"

Boris chuckled. "I should be the one asking you that. You're covered in wounds."

He stepped forward, eyeing Ashan sharply.

"Come here, son. I want to check something."

After a brief test, Boris narrowed his eyes. It seems he hasn't awakened his sixth sense yet... Then how did he do it?

A smirk formed on his lips. Perhaps... he's just that talented.

To be continued...