The dimly lit dungeon echoed with the sounds of footsteps as Canna and Vorgrim faced each other, both ready for their sparring session. Canna, with his mastery over water and wind spells, stood poised and ready, twin daggers gleaming in his hands. Vorgrim held a massive greatsword, his presence alone exuding raw power.
Without warning, Vorgrim lunged forward, his greatsword slicing through the air with terrifying speed. Canna swiftly summoned a barrier of swirling water, the blade crashing against it with a resounding splash. He twisted his hands, and the water morphed into arrows, shooting towards Vorgrim. The warlord deftly parried the attacks, his movements fluid and precise despite the weapon's size.
Canna's eyes narrowed as he cast a spell, a gust of wind enveloping him. He launched himself into the air, avoiding another powerful strike from Vorgrim. Hovering above, he extended his arms, unleashing a barrage of water arrows. Vorgrim moved with the grace of a seasoned warrior, deflecting each arrow with his sword, his focus unyielding.
"Impressive," Vorgrim grunted, a hint of respect in his voice. "But you'll need more than that my liege."
With a swift motion, he discarded the greatsword, pulling a pair of twin axes from the ground. He spun them expertly, creating a deadly dance of steel. Canna responded by summoning a whirlwind around him, the wind howling as it grew in intensity. He directed the tempest towards Vorgrim, the fierce gusts attempting to throw him off balance.
Vorgrim stood his ground, his axes carving through the air with precision, countering the wind's fury. He closed the distance between them, his movements a blur. Canna barely had time to react as Vorgrim brought an axe down towards him. He conjured a shield of water just in time, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through his body.
Not giving him a moment to recover, Vorgrim followed up with a series of relentless attacks. Canna weaved through his onslaught, using his wind spells to enhance his agility. He retaliated with a torrent of water, the powerful stream pushing Vorgrim back momentarily.
"You're really strong," Canna acknowledged, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of battle.
Vorgrim switched tactics, tossing one of the axes aside and drawing a spear from the ground near him. With a flick of his wrist, the spear extended, aiming straight for Canna's heart. Canna countered with a cyclone of wind, redirecting the spear's trajectory. Seizing the opportunity, he launched a concentrated blast of water at Vorgrim, hitting him square in the chest.
Vorgrim staggered but quickly regained his footing, a smirk playing on his lips. "But let's see how you handle this."
Canna's stomach churned at the thought. Decapitating his enemies felt abhorrent, but he knew the pursuit of strength demanded sacrifices. He steeled himself, accepting the sword from Vorgrim and mimicking his stance just as he had before the sparring began.
Vorgrim nodded. "Now, prepare my liege."
With a swift gesture, Mortem summoned a couple of undead skeletons. The skeletal warriors charged at Canna with hollow, menacing glares. Canna tightened his grip on the sword, his pulse quickening. He focused on the task ahead, readying himself to decapitate the skeletons, each swing bringing him closer to mastering the sword.
As the first skeleton came into view, Canna boosted himself with mana, feeling the surge of strength course through his body. He tightened his grip on the sword, his muscles coiled with anticipation. When the skeleton was within range, he swung the sword sideways with all his might, but instead of a clean decapitation, he only managed to crush the skeleton's head.
Bone fragments scattered, and the skeletal body crumbled to the ground.
Two more skeletons approached, their hollow eyes fixed on him. Canna steadied his breathing and swung again, but like before, he ended up crushing their heads instead of severing them. Frustration built up inside him, but he pushed it down, determined to complete his goal
Another skeleton advanced, and Canna adjusted his stance, attempting a different angle. He swung with precision, but the blade struck the ribs, shattering them with a sickening crunch. The skeleton fell apart to the ground.
Hours passed, and Canna's muscles screamed in protest. He swung the sword over and over, bone fragments scattering with each attempt. Despite his efforts, he still couldn't make a perfect decapitation. The few times he succeeded, it felt like sheer luck rather than skill. He knew he had to do it consistently, or the skill would never manifest.
Sweat dripped down his face, and his arms felt like lead. Each failed attempt gnawed at his resolve, but he refused to give up. He glanced at Vorgrim, who watched intently, and took a deep breath. He knew this was just the beginning, and he was resolved to keep trying until he got it right. With renewed determination, he tightened his grip on the sword and prepared to face the next wave of undead.
After a few more hours, just as exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him, a smile plastered on his face as he saw the prompt he had been waiting for:
"You have learned skill 'Sword: Mastery Lvl: 1"