Hunt Race

The moment Kael stepped through the doors...

He found himself in a wide training arena.

Unlike the waiting hall...

There were no spectators.

Only a handful of Association officials stood around the edge of the arena, quietly recording the results of each assessment.

At the center...

Cedric stood with his hands behind his back.

His calm gaze settled on Kael.

"You may begin."

Kael frowned slightly.

"...Just like that?"

Cedric nodded.

"The first stage is simple."

"Demonstrate the technique you claim to have mastered."

Kael slowly unsheathed his sword.

The blade reflected the afternoon sun.

He closed his eyes.

Taking a slow breath...

He steadied himself.

Then...

He moved.

Shhk!

The first slash swept cleanly through the air.

Without pausing...

The momentum carried naturally into a second slash.

The two strikes flowed together seamlessly.

One motion.

Two cuts.

Kael lowered his sword.

Silence filled the arena.

The Association officials quickly wrote something on their documents.

Cedric remained expressionless.

"...Again."

Kael nodded.

This time...

He increased his speed.

Shhk!

The sword sliced through the air.

The second slash followed so closely behind the first that they almost seemed inseparable.

Again...

Kael returned to his stance.

Cedric walked forward.

Stopping a few meters away.

"What is the name of your technique?"

"Ripple Slash."

Cedric gave a slight nod.

"You created it yourself?"

"...Yes."

"And its principle?"

Kael answered without hesitation.

"The momentum of the first slash is carried into the second."

"Instead of stopping after one attack..."

"I let the blade continue flowing."

Cedric remained silent for several moments.

Then...

He spoke.

"Many hunters mistake repetition for mastery."

"They memorize movements."

"They practice until their muscles ache."

"But when pressure arrives..."

"They think."

"And the moment a swordsman thinks..."

"He hesitates."

His eyes met Kael's.

"So..."

"Attack me."

The words surprised him.

Kael tightened his grip.

"...Pardon?"

Cedric slowly drew the sword at his waist.

"I'm not asking you to defeat me."

"I'm asking you to show me whether your technique truly belongs to you."

"If you've mastered Ripple Slash..."

"It won't matter who's standing in front of you."

He raised his sword.

"Come."

Kael took a slow breath.

There was no killing intent.

No overwhelming pressure.

Cedric simply stood there.

Leaving an opening.

Kael knew better.

A veteran examiner would never expose himself so carelessly.

This...

Was the real test.

Without another word...

Kael stepped forward.

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