The Mistakes
After settling in his dorm, Hayden finally decided to look around the Academy.
Although the class hadn't started yet, they were already allowed to use some facilities while they waited.
Hayden didn't think too much of it and decided to explore the training grounds of the Dawnspire Academy which seemed to be filled with activity.
Just as he neared the area, he heard the clash of steel against steel echoing through the air…
'They're practicing hard even if it's not the start of the class yet…' Hayden nodded as he certainly admired their dedication.
Soon, he stood at the edge of the field and his eyes immediately noticed a group of higher-year students practicing their swordsmanship. There was also a young instructor wearing comfortable clothes that were teaching them from time to time and even showing them the proper technique of using the sword.
They moved in unison and it was quite a mesmerizing sight…
Of course, Hayden immediately recognized their movements after they performed a series of swift-flowing sword strikes.
This was the Dawn Swordsmanship, a technique unique to the academy.
Even without the Lens telling him, Hayden recognized it immediately—it was the same style his brothers, Brody and Henry, had been practicing for years.
The technique emphasized speed and fluidity. Since he had no experience with sword arts even in his past life, he couldn't really tell if this technique was great.
Nonetheless, he continued to watch them practice.
'This sword technique seemed simple if they're not moving fast… But since it's designed to flow seamlessly into the next, it looks effective in combat.' Hayden thought to himself.
It was beautiful to watch, but soon, Hayden's Ocularis Lens saw more than just beauty.
"Mhmm? Is there something wrong? Just continue to analyze it then." Hayden muttered as he noticed that his Lens seemed to have found something…
With his words, the Lens activity intensified as the device or the A.I. began a thorough analysis.
Just like that, a stream of data flooded his mind, breaking down every movement, every angle, and every flaw of the students practicing the sword!
'Now… This is interesting…' Hayden thought to himself.
[ Analyzing Sword Technique: Dawn Swordsmanship. Primary Characteristics: Speed, Precision, Fluidity. Current Practitioners: 26. Average Skill Level: Beginner. ]
"Ah? You can tell that much?" Hayden was quite surprised but there were certainly quite a lot of samples now.
Twenty-six practitioners including the Instructor using the same technique would certainly allow the A.I. to calculate various things from their movements.
It didn't end there, the Lens highlighted the students' movements in vivid detail!
In Hayden's vision, their movements were being broken down by Ocularis Lens, allowing him to understand their movement techniques a lot faster!
However, the Lens didn't stop.
He soon, noticed that the Lens was trying to show their inconsistencies—small inefficiencies that added up over time.
It showed how one student's footwork was slightly off, causing him to lose balance during a pivot. Another's grip was too tight, limiting the flexibility of her wrist. Even the instructor showed a minor flaw in his stance that left his left side exposed.
Soon, the Lens summarized the information it gathered.
[ Flaws Detected:
Footwork inconsistencies in 78% of practitioners.
Grip tension exceeds optimal levels in 65% of practitioners.
Stance imbalance in 42% of practitioners.
Energy expenditure is 23% higher than necessary due to inefficient movements. ]
Hayden's lips twitched into a faint smile.
'This Lens is very strict…'
It seemed that the Dawn Swordsmanship was impressive, but it wasn't perfect. And with the Ocularis Lens, he could see exactly how to improve it.
After all, since the Lens found various mistakes in the footwork and sword strikes or movements of the Dawn Swordsmanship, Hayden tasked it to suggest what should be corrected or modified to perfect their movement…
"Alright… Let's see if I'll get a good result."
Hayden knew that his Lens was capable of doing this since he would always use this feature of the Ocularis Lens to find his mistakes in his missions and for it to suggest what he should've done.
[ Modifying the Technique… ]
As Hayden continued to observe, the Ocularis Lens began to modify the technique in real-time. It projected a series of adjustments onto his vision, showing him how to optimize each movement for maximum efficiency and power.
Soon, it completed the modifications and showed the result.
[ Recommended modifications:
Movement 8 ( Crescent Step ): The standard form required a sharp pivot on the ball of the left foot, which often caused students to lose balance. Adjustment: Instead of pivoting sharply, the practitioner should shift their weight gradually, using a small, circular motion with the right foot to stabilize the turn. This would maintain balance and allow for a smoother transition into Movement 9 ( Rising Strike ).
Movement 14 ( Whirlwind Turn ): This movement involved a full 360-degree spin but the standard footwork would leave the practitioner vulnerable to counterattack…
…
Movement 18 ( Flowing Blade ): The standard form required a tight grip on the hilt to maintain control during a rapid series of slashes but this often led to wrist fatigue and reduced flexibility…
…
Movement 25 ( Flickering Edge ): This movement involved a quick flick of the wrist to redirect the blade, but the standard grip was too rigid, limiting the range of motion…
…
…
There was a lot of information involved and Hayden absorbed all of them easily as he could easily visualize the changes with the help of the Lens!