"Your movement technique isn't bad, but your use of the sword is totally wrong," Raydon said.
''I apologize, master. '' Sami lowered his head in reply.
He was overjoyed by Raydon's comment on his movement technique, but he continued to feel guilty because he had failed to live up to his expectations.
''The way you hold the sword is not suitable for you. Hold the sword the same way you held the brush when you were painting the walls a little while ago, and as you attack, let your movements be as delicate and cautious as if you were applying sunscreen to your girlfriend's back,'' Raydon said with a grin.
He didn't try to hide the fact that he had overheard what Sami had said while he was giving instructions to others some time ago.
''Y-yes master. '' Sami replied.
The fact that Raydon had repeated his words from some time ago didn't come as a surprise to him. After all, he was under the impression that Raydon was an all-knowing god who was aware of his every move.
Sami loosened his grip on the hilt of his sword in order to allow it to rest more comfortably in his palm after taking into consideration the new instructions. He temporarily shut his eyes in order to concentrate on the weapon's weight and how it balanced in his hand.
Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes and took a step forward, his body moving with the grace and fluidity of a dancer.
This time, instead of charging at Raydon all at once, he took his time and proceeded at a more leisurely pace. As he got closer to Raydon, Sami's sword shone brightly in the sunlight, attracting the attention of the people who had gathered nearby.
And then, with a sudden burst of speed, he lunged forward, his sword arm extending with lightning-fast precision.
To the surprise of everyone watching, this time Sami's attack was not the brutal, bone-crushing strike they had been expecting. Instead, it was a delicate and intricate sword technique, the likes of which they had never seen before.
This time, Raydon did not block the oncoming sword but instead used his finger to slightly alter the direction of the sword, which enabled Sami to launch a second attack without having to retreat.
As if Sami's body had gotten the assignment from Raydon's move, he gracefully shifted the direction of his sword and swung it a second time toward Raydon's neck.
Sami was forced to deliver the third blow after Raydon again effortlessly deflected the incoming sword attack on his neck.
And fourth,
..
..
.
And eleventh,
Before Sami even had a chance to process what had occurred, he had already launched the eleventh sword attack against Raydon.
With each move, Sami's sword seemed to dance in the air, weaving an intricate web of steel that left everyone watching him with gaping eyes.
And as his attacks wore on, it became increasingly clear that Sami's relaxed and fluid movements were improving, allowing him to make his next attack more swift and flowing like water.
"What exactly is this? He gave the impression of moving so slowly while at the same time being so quick. '' When one of the younger people finally broke free of the hypnotic effect that the fight in front of him was having on him, he questioned what exactly was going on.
According to his logic, Sami was making faster attacks with each sword swing, but to the untrained eye, it appeared that he was sluggishly moving.
"From what I can see, the Master adjusts his movements each time he reflects his sword, and Sami now swings the sword with a greater sense of synchronicity than his previous attacks. Because of this, the sword appears to be moving slowly, despite the fact that it is actually gaining speed,'' Dan said without taking even a moment to take his eyes off Sami's sword.
Watching Sami's sword in motion, Dan was reminded of the wheel of a speeding car on a straight road. As the car picked up speed, the wheel would eventually appear to stop, defying all logical explanations, and even appear to start turning backward.
Dan experienced a phenomenon that was similar to this as he watched the movements of the sword. It was as if the sword was moving with such speed and fluidity that it defied the logic of their minds and created an illusion.
Dan was spellbound by the mesmerizing sight, unable to take his eyes off the ethereal movements of the sword. However, in contrast to the other people, he did not lose his composure in spite of all of this.
He made a vow to himself that he would never again allow himself to be shocked by anything Raydon did in the future, not even the astounding fact that Sami, who had never even held a sword in his life before, became a perfect swordsman in just seconds.
Dan and the others watched as Sami became more and more proficient with each swing of his sword.
Each movement was like a brush stroke on a canvas, precise and deliberate, forming a beautiful masterpiece in the form of a sword fight. Dan and others couldn't help but feel mesmerized by the beauty of the swordplay, even as they watched Sami's exhaustion start to take its toll.
The fact that Sami's breathing became erratic and heavy as time went on was a dead giveaway that he was beginning to tire out.
''That's enough,'' Raydon finally said as he stopped the final sword blow, this time by absorbing the impact rather than deflecting it.
Sami was finally able to stop his body, which had been acting against his will, and he collapsed to his knees, grunting heavily with the exhaustion he felt.
''T-Thank you, m-master. '' Sami uttered.
'How in the world was I able to pull that off? Unbelievable. ' Sami pondered as he relaxed on his knees on the ground and made an effort to control his breathing.