33 Schemes

Luca walked out of the wagon as his grip on the jade slip given by Sukehime tightened, even though he had a smile on his face his eyes looked confused. Lacu again looked at the Prompt shon on the status screen,

[ Ding!, Host has acquired the Prop ' Sukehime's teaching on Royal Medicine and Plague'. ]

[ Ding!, Prop ' Sukehime's teaching on Royal Medicine and Plague' is related to 8 star occupation Royal Medic and 8 star sub occupation Plague Doctor. ]

Luca was feeling both happy and confused at the same time, Happy because he got 8 star occupation and sub occupation but still confused because each of his teammates before him had gotten at least one 9 star Occupation or Sub Occupation.

Getting a 8 star occupation or sub occupation was Luca's goal while entering the World Terror with a 9 member team, having achieved his goal Luca still felt a little distaste somewhere in the far corner of his heart, being a orphan he was used to this kind of feeling and knew better than blaming others or god for this matter.

Luca shook his head in realization, 8 star occupation and 8 star sub occupation is something millions will die for, he an orphan who had hard time getting two meals a day no is something millions dream off and want to be. Realizing his mistake Luca laughed heartily as he thought ' I finally got the chance I have been waiting for, now I will show the society who Luca Splot really is and what he is capable of. '

Leon, who was waiting for his turn patiently, seeing Luca laugh heartily as he got off the wagon thought ' he must have gotten something better.' and asked Luca " Tell me why your laughing so I can also laugh together with you,"

Luca looked Leon the person whom he had choose to lead him as his captain and said " Captain I have not let you down I got 8 star occupation and 8 star sub occupation"

Instead of being happy for Luca, Leon asked " what just 8 star occupation and sub occupation?" realizing his mistake Leon quickly said " good, I am looking forward to achieving together. "

Luca noticed Leon's disappointment towards him for not getting a 9 star occupation or sub occupation but he did not mind as he himself was disappointed when he knew. Luca then looked at Leon and said, " Sukehime Sama is waiting for you, all the best captain. "

Leon nodded at Luca and then headed into the wagon.

.....

Walking into the wagon, before Leon could knock at Sukehime's room door, the door opened by itself. Leon was not surprised by this as for someone with Sukehime's strength this was nothing. Leon walked inside the room and bowed to Sukehime " Your Highness, Grand Empress Sukehime sama "

" sit "

Leon sat on the wooden floor in a seiza position opposite to Sukehime politely. Sukehime looked at Leon and said " for a bunch of Western refugees you and your friend know lots about Japanese Culture and language. "

Leon did not panic under Sukehime's sudden interrogation but carefully explained " That's all thanks to James and Malinda they are actually scholars in the west before we ran for our life, they always had a huge curiosity towards Japanese and eastern culture, language, history etc. Most Importantly James ability is weird he is able to learn or teach any language with a single touch or contact. It was his ability which allowed us to speak such fluent Japanese. While James and Malinda together taught us the most basic Japanese manners. "

" Interesting Ability, I am getting more and more curious about these abilities that you westerners have. " hearing Sukehime say this Leon panicked and looked at Sukehime with fright.

Looking at Panicking Leon, Sukehime smile and said " tell me about your ability, skills and achievements. "

Leon nodded and said " My ability is called Sword embryo, it allows me to easily learn or gain enlightenment in any form of swordsmanship "

...….

Name : Leon Barnard

Age : 16 years old

Ability : Sword embryo

Sword embryo is the basic form or the initial state of sword spirit, it provides the user with the power to be supernaturally proficient in the way of the sword as well as this allows the user to easily learn or gain enlightenment in any form of swordsmanship.With this ability Leon gained the title 'The Prodigy of Sword'. There are other capabilities to this ability like the User is able to wield a sword with supernatural proficiency in speed, power, and skill, allowing the user to perform seemingly impossible feats with ease, such as cutting through highly invulnerable or intangible materials, blocking or deflecting things that should be impossible to block/deflect and even slash targets from any distance. The user's skill with a sword is so great that they can wield blunt items as they shouldn't be able to, like an actual sword.

In other words, user is able to wield a sword with incredible expertise in speed, power, and skill, allowing them to perform feats such as stopping and deflecting bullets, decimating large objects or areas, cutting through a solid material such as steel, and even hold back his strength to deal damage to his foes without killing them. The user is able to operate with little or no effort, deliver skillful strikes to weak points with great precision, and cut only and exactly what he wants. This ability also allows him to become naturally skilled with multiple swords or any bladed weapon regardless of shape or size to suit his needs in combat. User's remarkably fast weapon control may allow them to bypass obstacles in order to cut his intended target.

Sword Ki, The power to use the Ki with traits of swords. Ki is the latent energy that is present in the physical body. The user can create, shape, and manipulate Ki. By learning to harness this inner latent energy, they can gain superhuman capabilities and use them in cases of extreme combat. Some examples include physically manifesting all of their inner strength and unleashing it to the fullest extent of its power through sheer force of will. The control of one's Ki can allow extraordinary abilities, strength, speed, durability, and reflexes, or in some cases, enabling the use of basic energy blasts, elemental manipulation, hyper awareness, and high Vitality. In Leon's case he can produce Ki by channeling the energy through his physical body using the natural energy of the Sword Embryo, giving his Ki the ability to take on the traits of a sword or swords. Leon's Ki can transform its traits that are anatomically identical to the normal traits of a sword.

Thanks to Sword Ki Leon is able to wield blunt items as a normal person shouldn't be able to, like an actual sword.

Even though the Sword Embryo allows Leon to achieve some supernatural capabilities they are still earthbound and have not been bathed by heavenly laws and rules like Masako and Hito's swordsmanship. For that to happen Leon has to gain and understand heavenly Laws and rules related to swordsmanship and grow his sword embryo into sword spirit .

.......

After hearing Leon's detailed explanation on his ability and skills, Sukehime thought for awhile and said " over the years I have collected many powerful swordsmanship practice and techniques one stronger than other but to achieve the peak in this swordsmanship you should have the similar character and mood as the ones that created these techniques, that's why these swordsmen are very picky when the select on disciples to pass their inheritance. But since you already have an inborn sword embryo as long as you practice this swordsmanship practice and techniques and plant the heavenly laws and rules into the sword embryo and grow it into sword spirit you should be able to achieve the peak of any swordsmanship of your choosing.

I would tell you various swordsmanship I have for you to choose from but you seem to have already chosen, tell me what you are seeking."

" This lowly one's thoughts were seen by your grace, I felt the sword spirit of Hito San and also experienced how powerful it is. After a lot of thinking I have decided to practice Hito San's Swordsmanship with your permission your grace. " explained Leon with extreme politeness.

" Um! Hito's Heartless Swordsmanship is very strong and powerful it only knows to cut and nothing but cutting along with his sword Owari No Ken the sword that brings end to everything, Hito is one tough enemy to fight against. He created it to get rid of the wretched sadness in his heart after the death of his Master. I can see why you would settle on that Swordsmanship but if you want to display all the power of Hito's Heartless Swordsmanship then you need his Owari No Ken without it, Heartless Swordsmanship is the same as the other Swordsmanship I have with me. If you're sure you want to practice Heartless Swordsmanship You have My permission to learn Heartless Swordsmanship if you are able to, that is as I can be of no help for you with that, you will have to talk with Hito. It's not mine to pass on to you. " said Sukehime

" I know it will be hard to get Hito san to teach me his swordsmanship. Since I have your permission, your grace, I will successfully learn Heartless Swordsmanship from Hito san. " said Leon and did not forget to flatter Sukehime.

" I see you are up to something " said Sukehime, looking at Leon keenly.

Under Sukehime's gaze Leon felt like he could not hide any secrets from her but still gathering his courage and bowed in 90 degree's his forehead almost touching the wooden floor while he said " your highness trust me, I will never do anything to bring harm to you or her highness princess Masako or my friends. "

" I know you will not, cause if you do this world will not be enough for you to hide from me. " said Sukehime proudly

Still bowing his head Leon said " this lowly one knows your highness "

" Good, now sit straight I will awaken your spirituality, it should make it easier to learn the Heartless sword . " A small marble size almost transparent orb appeared and slowly entered Leon's forehead.

As soon as the marble size almost transparent orb entered Leon's forehead, he felt as if a dam had been broken in his mind and spiritual power flooded throughout his body and spread 6 meters out of his body. And he saw a prompt appear on his status,

[ Ding!, Host has awakened his Spirituality, your ability Sword Embryo is strengthened.]

[ Ding! Host's Sword Embryo has gained Spirituality, your Spirituality has mutated.]

[ Ding! Host's Spirituality is mutated, now your Spirituality is sharp as a sword and now use your spiritual strength to manipulate sword.]

Seeing that his Sword Embryo has gained Spirituality Leon was really excited this increased his chances of successfully learning Hito's Heartless swordsmanship.

" Ok then you can leave now, if you are not able to get Hito to teach you Heartless Swordsmanship then come approach me I will give another Swordsmanship to practice. Send James in next." said Sukehime

" Thank you, your grace" Leon got up and gave Sukehime a 90 degree bow and walked out of the room.

Walking out of the wagon, Leon sent James a M-chat message [ James Sukehime is waiting for you. ] then he directly headed towards Hito who with the help of two Corpse Puppet was setting up a Mechanical tent.

Hito looking at Leon who was approaching him asked " what's wrong Leon san, is there anything I can help you with ? "

Leon neared the Mechanical Tent and said " Hito san is there anywhere we can talk privately? "

Hito looked at Leon with his eyebrows raised and asked " how private? "

"Just the two of us" said Leon, indicating to Hito the seriousness of the topic he wants to discuss with him.

Hito nodded and led Leon into the finished section of the tent and said " this is the best privacy I can give you out here, talk what do you want to discuss. "

At first when Leon had awakened the sword embryo ability he had yet to master the sword Ki or any swordsmanship for that matter, even though he did not hate his ability he never liked it, unlike others ability which were flash and strong from the very beginning his required him to do lots of sword practice and learn different sword styles. Even though he could easily learn these styles he still had to practice to achieve perfection.

This all changed when his grandfather took him to visit the 26th Grand Sword Festival of Great Sword University. That day his view on swords changed, even though he had seen so many videos on swordsmanship and sword fighting they were nothing compared to the real sword fights shown in the Festival.

Seeing these Sword manic's fight awe springingly made the Sword embryo in little Leon's body tremble with excitement, thanks to the sword embryo Leon was able to watch and understand the every sword fight that took place. These fights were like enlightenment for him, he got to see all ways of swords, elegant swords, mad swords, happy swords, raging swords, flamboyant swords, domineering swords, merciless swords, graceful swords, dreadful swords, free swords, drunk sword, love sword, regretful sword, sworrorful sword etc. every sword clash one by one slowly awakened the sword manic in little Leon that day. That day finally he understood what his masters, elders, father and grandfather were trying to tell him. That day was the day he fell in love with swords and decided to come back to GreatSword University to learn and study under the grand sword masters of the university and become one of them reaching the highest of the Swordsmanship.