"Today, we will spar again," declared Yato.
"Again?" I frowned in displeasure.
We have been engaging in sparring sessions almost every single day since we came to this place.
Though I learned so many things from sparring against him, his skills are on a completely different level than mine.
Fighting him feels like trying to climb a wall that I know I can't ever climb in a lifetime.
Going against him, I couldn't help but feel inferior. And I'm not good at dealing with inferiority complexes since I don't feel it much.
Maybe Yato noticed my thoughts as he let out a sigh and said, "I can see you don't like losing much, but as I've said before, martial arts can only be honed in combat."
...I guess he has a point.
"Alright," I relented. "Let's get started then."
"Good," Yato nodded. "And don't worry, I will go easy on you this time."
'Like that, you went easy on me before.' I remarked inside of my head and followed Yato outside to take another beating from him.
The mountain air felt colder as we stepped outside, and the ground was covered in a thin layer of snow. Yato, ever composed, assumed a stance with his black sword at the ready.
I readied my sword, taking a deep breath to focus my mind. The spar began, and Yato's movements were a blur as he effortlessly countered my strikes.
Despite knowing that he was going easy on me, it was still a struggle to keep up. Each swing of his sword felt like a lesson in humility, a reminder of the vast gap in our skills.
"Haaah!" I lunged forward, attempting a series of quick strikes. Yato parried effortlessly and countered with a precise move that left me off balance.
He stepped back, giving me a moment to recover. "Lucas, your attacks lack conviction. You hesitate, and that hesitation becomes a weakness."
I nodded, absorbing his feedback. It was true; there was a lingering doubt in my strikes. Perhaps it stemmed from my awareness of the vast difference in our abilities.
"Again!" Yato's voice cut through the quiet mountain air, and the spar continued. I focused on implementing his advice, attempting to infuse my attacks with more certainty.
15 minutes later...
Thwack—!!
A forceful kick slammed into my chest, propelling me back in the air until I collided with the ground, tumbling and rolling before coming to a halt.
"F-Freaking hell," I stammered, cursing softly under my breath.
I gathered myself and rose to my feet, directing my gaze towards Yato. "I will go easy on you this time, my ass!"
Yato stifled a chuckle, his tone filled with amusement. "Believe me, this is me going easy."
I rolled my eyes, frustration building within me.
Gathering my strength, I charged forward with my sword poised for an attack.
As soon as I closed the distance between us, with swift precision, I swung my sword towards Yato.
Cling—!!
However, Yatoo effortlessly deflected my assault with his sword, skillfully pushing me onto my back foot.
"Arghh!"
"However, you are too immature if you think you can defeat me right now," Yato said the next moment as my eyes widened in surprise.
Swoosh—!!
"...?!"
Before I could understand my current situation Yato appeared before me out of thin air!
My eyes widened in disbelief as he unleashed a powerful horizontal slash with his sword, aimed directly at me.
Thwoosh—!!!
Reacting quickly, I raised my sword to block his attack, but the sheer force behind his strike flung me in the air, tumbling to the side.
Performing a mid-air backflip, I managed to land on my feet, stumbling a few steps before regaining my stance.
I looked back at Yato in front of me, my eyes still widened in shock.
Swish—!!
In an instant, Yato appeared before me once again, his presence both startling and disorienting.
"You think too much," he stated plainly.
"...?!"
Before I could even react, he thrashed his knee into my abdomen, causing me to crumple to my knees.
Consumed by intense pain, I started to cough fitfully.
"Khuuk! Khuaaaak!!"
Observing my agonized state, Yato tossed a healing potion in my direction and took a step back.
As he moved away, he began to speak.
"Your mind is cluttered with strategies, endless possibilities, and tactics. To anticipate, you must clear your thoughts and feel the flow of combat," Yato explained, his voice calm amidst the aftermath of our intense clash.
Still recovering from the impact, I reached for the healing potion, hastily downing it to ease the pain in my abdomen. Yato's words echoed in my mind, urging me to reassess my approach to combat.
As the healing potion took effect, I pushed myself back up, focusing on Yato's teachings. Clearing my mind, I sought to feel the rhythm of our duel rather than overthinking every move.
Yato observed my efforts with a discerning gaze. "Combat is a dance, Lucas. Let the movements guide you, trust your instincts, and you'll find the openings you seek."
Nodding in acknowledgment, I reset my stance, ready for the spar to continue. Yato, ever composed, resumed his position, the black sword gleaming in the cold mountain air.
The clash resumed, but this time, I approached it with a newfound mindset. Instead of getting lost in the myriad of strategies, I focused on the ebb and flow of our movements.
"Haaah!" I lunged forward with renewed determination, my strikes becoming more fluid. Yato countered with precise moves, his blade a symphony of calculated strikes and effortless blocks.
As we exchanged blows, I felt a shift in the atmosphere. The spar transformed into a more synchronized exchange, our blades meeting and parting in a harmonious rhythm. Yato's nod of approval hinted at progress.
The mountain wind carried the echoes of our duel, a testament to the evolving dynamics between us. The snow-covered ground beneath us bore witness to the struggle, our footprints marking the dance of combat.
Minutes turned into moments, and the spar approached its conclusion. Yato, with a subtle smile, delivered a final strike that I barely managed to block. The clash lingered for a brief moment before he stepped back.
"Well done, Lucas. You've shown improvement," Yato commended, his expression conveying both satisfaction and encouragement.
Panting, I acknowledged his words, grateful for the guidance that pushed me to evolve in the art of combat.