Demonstration

Hayden remained calm as he continued to absorb everything… Well, he was certainly thankful that he had decided to record the Dawn Swordsmanship of his brothers. To be exact, he recorded not just their practice but also the Dawn Swordsmanship manual he had found in the Manor!

Thanks to that, he knew very well about the 48 movements of Dawn Swordsmanship, at least on paper…

This time, however, with all the information that he had gathered from the Ocularis Lens, he was finally able to fully understand the potential of this Sword Technique as long as it was fixed or perfected by the Lens!

"Go on… Show me more…" Hayden muttered as he continued to visualize all the changes suggested by the Lens.

Movement 26 ( Lunar Thrust ): The standard form required the practitioner to lean forward slightly during a thrust, leaving the left side exposed. It is recommended to shift the stance so that the left foot is positioned slightly behind the right, angling the body to reduce exposure. This would also improve balance and make it easier to transition into Movement 27 ( Solar Guard ).

Movement 30 ( Quick Parry ): This defensive movement involved stepping back with the left foot, but the standard stance left the right side vulnerable to follow-up attacks. It is suggested to turn the body slightly to the left, using the right shoulder to shield the torso while maintaining a strong defensive posture.

Movement 35 ( Spiral Strike ): …

Movement 37 ( Cyclone Slash ): …

Movement 40 ( Vertical Slash ): …

…

"Nice…" Hayden could only say this much after he absorbed all the information… He knew that the Lens had helped him massively.

After all, it didn't just improve the Sword Technique but he also found out all about its flaws.

It means that fighting against someone with such a Sword Technique would allow him to exploit those weaknesses.

After a few moments, Hayden controlled his Lens to show the new movements of the Sword Technique.

Soon, he witnessed that the modified version of the Dawn Swordsmanship was faster, smoother, and more precise but still appeared to be the Dawn Swordsmanship.

Indeed, the essence of the Swordsmanship was still present. If he copied these movements, it would surely seem as if he was just performing the same technique with a bit of "mistake".

But of course, the truth was that he eliminated the flaws of the Dawn Swordsmanship…

'Still… I can't believe I found so many mistakes, considering this is being taught by a retired Knight. Is there something more to it?'

Hayden just couldn't understand why this academy would just teach all of its students with so many mistakes.

He wasn't sure if the instructors were just that unskilled or if this was deliberately done for a deeper reason.

In any case, Hayden continued to replay the new Dawn Swordsmanship as it turned the technique into something truly formidable.

Watching the projected virtual simulation of him performing the modified technique felt as if he could really do it…

Hayden felt excited as he watched the simulation.

If he could master this modified version, he would have a significant advantage over the other students. But first, he needed to practice.

***

Finding a quiet corner of the training grounds, Hayden borrowed a wooden practice sword.

"Let's try…" Hayden muttered to himself. He wasn't shy practicing at all since there were also other young students like him playing with the sword.

He was able to blend it easily.

The Ocularis Lens then guided him through the modified technique.

At first, his movements were clumsy and awkward, but he quickly adjusted, his body was undoubtedly adapting to the new forms and it was quite an amazing feeling.

The modified footwork felt strange at first, but it indeed gave him better balance and control compared to what he had seen from other students.

Then, with the instructions of the Lens, loosening his grip certainly allowed his wrist to move more freely, making his strikes faster and more precise.

'This is amazing…' Hayden's eyes lit up as he could immediately tell that the movements were a lot better than his brothers.

He saw how shifting his stance eliminated the exposure on his left side, making him harder to hit. And the circular motions conserved his energy, allowing him to maintain his speed and power for longer…

As Hayden practiced, he noticed a few students glancing in his direction. Their expressions were filled with either curiosity or confusion.

One of them, a tall boy with a scar across his cheek, approached him.

"Hey, new kid," the boy said, his tone seemed friendly but curious. "What are you doing? That's not how the Dawn Swordsmanship is supposed to look."

Hayden paused, wiping the sweat from his brow. In the end, his physique wasn't that great yet. Even after his Meridian was fixed, he didn't have enough time to strengthen his foundation. 

"Just trying something different. The standard technique has a few flaws, so I thought I'd see if I could improve it." Hayden then saw the boy's reaction and he immediately realized his mistake.

He felt that he shouldn't have said that. However, he felt a bit too excited.

Just like what he thought, the boy raised an eyebrow.

"Improve it? You've got some nerve, kid. The Dawn Swordsmanship has been around for centuries. Who are you to say it's flawed?"

Since the mistake was done, Hayden shook his head and decided to just play with it. In any case, he didn't care if people found out about his abilities.

After all, he knew that showing his worth inside this academy would show him his worth and become more protected…

Hayden smiled and shrugged at the boy. "I'm just trying... If you're interested, I can show you what I mean."

The boy hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, show me."