No matter how much Kai disputed it Alpha was still an Artificial Intelligence.
That meant that things like breathing techniques were easy for her to get.
But because of her slightly crazy attitude, he didn't expect her to give him anything easy.
But this was pure torture.
[The script said it is meant to be easy, so what are you doing?]
'This..... is.... anything ...but.'
A loud scream escaped his mouth.
Four hours, that was how long Kai had spent trying to learn the arcane mana breathing technique.
His head hurt, migraines that refused to diminish and only increased by the minute.
His heart felt like it was being pierced by a hundred swords.
His chest throbbing. Eyes covered in dark circles, each moment they flickered with blue light before returning to normal.
His knee trembled as if constantly being hit by a rod.
'Damnit.'
The breathing technique was meant to be used by high-ranking mages.
Be as tranquil as the sea at night but as explosive as an erupting volcano.
Kai had tried this weird combo more times than he could count.
But he couldn't be cold and hot, fiery and calm all at the same time.
"Ha...ha...ha."
[Let's stop here Kai, you're mana is depleting faster than expected.]
Kai released his hands which formed an oval shape.
He leaned back separating his crossed legs.
He panted heavily.
Picking up a bottle of water that lay on the ground, he gulped it down in less than a second.
The cool water ran down his throat refreshing it again.
"Puah..... What is wrong with this breathing technique even?"
[You are the one wrong.]
"How is it my fault?"
[What's so hard about being tranquil and explosive.]
"Maybe it is easy for you but not for everyone."
[Let me ask you this... What do you think can make you mad and at the same time calm?]
Kai hesitated for a moment his expression turning dark.
'Nothing.'
[You know I can read your inner thoughts, right? Just this once, remember her face; you need to do anything to survive, remember?]
"Tsk."
"I need fresh air."
Kai stood up from the floor and headed for the door.
Walking down the stairs he spared no glance at the rest of the house and soon left for the front door.
"Her face huh?"
Just like every other person, Kai too had things he wanted to forget.
People he wished never existed.
Maybe he hadn't yet fully merged with Kaiser Vanguard. Maybe that's why the memories of his past life still haunted him.
"Ok let's do it, but if it doesn't work, you're doing whatever I say from now onwards."
[Agreed.]
Kai shifted to the side of the building, and with a single thought, the tachi blade given by the school appeared in his hands.
'Still can't believe this is a vesper.'
He sighed as he swung the blade in the air.
Before he started his breathing training, Kai first of all read the martial text on the 'Stranger Sword Dance'.
'The moonlight shall cast its dim light on the stranger who runs from the fourth, and when he dances, the wind and the universe shall dance with him.'
This was written on the first page of the book.
'Dance with the wind and universe, huh?'
[Use the sword style to calm your body; imagine a beautiful scene of a slightly rippling ocean.. then as your mind gets accustomed to it, let your rage boil, but never let go of that calmness.]
Kai took in a deep breath and closed his eyes tightly.
The wind caressed his skin gently. The moonlight shone faintly on his beautiful face illuminating it.
The conditions were perfect.
He tried his best and finally stabilized his breathing.
Raising the sword above his head, he let down a downward slash accompanied by stable breathing.
'This doesn't feel right.'
He loosened the grip on his blade. Calming his breath even further.
The unusual breathing made his lungs burn.
His eyes felt like they were dipped into a clear blue ocean.
[Kai you aren't just any swordsman, you are a weaver so think as one]
Hearing Alpha's words, Kai changed his view of the world.
He wasn't a player in the game or one of the lifeforms in the sea's expanse.
He was the weaver.
Slowly, faint lines started to appear; without wasting one second, Kai followed the movement of the lines.
From left to right, further left, a light jump, a step back.
With each movement his sword swung, it felt aimless but also with meaning.
Soon, he reached what seemed to be the end of that world, and then a figure stood.
Just a fragment of Kai's memories.
A faint shiloeuete of a figure Seoyoung couldn't forget.
A woman with brown hair and a long jacket.
But that was all he could make out, his world shook as the figure drew close.
"Don't come any closer!"
[Kai don't let it consume you.]
Gritting his teeth, Kai moved the blade to the final point of the line.
"I have to cut... Nothing else matters just cut."
He raised his tachi blade, and with a single swing, he cut the world into two.
The world, the tranquil waters, the rising temperature.
He cut it all, final sparks of the world lit the world like beautiful falling stars.
[Soon, you, too, will be able to perform this.]
'That will be awesome.'
[Wouldn't it?]
Kai blinked once making his eyes return to normalcy.
He was back in the courtyard of the castle.
----------
[CUBE INTERFACE]
CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR FIRST SUB-MISSION.
YOU HAVE LEARNED ARCANE BREATHING TECHNIQUE.
YOU HAVE LEARNED STRANGER SWORD DANCE FIRST FORM (1/9)
APPRAISING POINTS.
'Hah.' Kai exhaled falling onto the stone slabbed floor.
"That was tough.'
[You did well Kai.]
"At least you didn't say we, this time."
[What's that meant to mean you idiot.]
Kai let out a soft chuckle before looking at the stars.
'One out of nine, that's a good start.'
[Don't get cocky.]
"Allow me to breath, Alpha."
[Ha.. just this once Ok?]
"Yeah, this once?"
---------
[CUBE INTERFACE]
YOUR CORE HAS BEEN CLEANSED BY YOUR BREATHING.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED 1 RANDOM ABILITY POINT
YOU HAVE RECEIVED 5 STATS POINTS
YOU HAVE UNLOCKED WEAVER STORE
THE WEAVER STORE CAN BE ACCESSED
-------
The system rang, but no one heard it. Kai was already fast asleep.
********
Kai rubbed his eyes as the sun shone brightly on him.
"I didn't wake up back on earth, thank goodness."
Kai wasn't sleeping on his bed or even in the building but on the cold stone floor of the courtyard.
'Good morning Alpha.'
[Good morning I hope you slept well.]
Kai slowly stood up, but his knee soon buckled as he fell back to the floor.
His whole body was in pain, an unbearable pain.
His stomach cramped, and his bones ached.
'That's what I get for sleeping on the ground.'
He sighed as he gently stood to his feet; cleaning the dirt from his body, he went straight into the house.
1-DAY TILL LOCK LEAGUE
He entered the old bathroom, took his bath and brushed his teeth before heading for the tiny wardrobe.
He grabbed his spare uniform and quickly wore it with his leather hand glove and wore the face mask he bought the previous day.
Soon, he put on his Japanese-style school bag and left the house.
"Let's test something."
He hopped twice, sending as much mana as he could control into his feet, and leapt into the air.
The whistling sound of the wind, the cool breeze, Kai felt it all.
His body was light. His breathing was even and controlled.
'Seems like I have gotten the hang of this.'
Jumping from floor to floor of the skyscraper, each step sent soft tremors through the building.
Soon Kaimade it halfway to the roof.
[What are you doing?]
'I have always wanted to try parkour.'
[You're hopeless.]
Kai smiled widely as he jumped from the building completely cutting off the gutter area.
'In your face Lisa!'
[Why didn't you shout it aloud]
"..."
Soon Kai landed on the floor without much effort.
Placing his bag back on his shoulder he began cutting his way through murmuring students.
Halfway to his new classroom, 'Class E', a message came from the most unexpected person.
'I just gave her my contact and she is already sending messages.' He clicked his tongue. 'Introverts.'
Looking at the message she sent, he skipped the first few lines that were useless and went to the middle.
MEET ME AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS B BUILDING, I HAVE IMPORTANT NEWS.
P/S: I SAID CLASS B NOT CLASS E.
"Why did she have to add the last part?"
[To taunt you.]
'I don't know if you are with me or against me.'
[I am with whatever team makes me the happiest.]
Kai exhaled changing his path to the area of class B.
Since he was already near the Class B building, it didn't take him long to meet them.
Kai first caught sight of Elia before he saw the other two she came with.
By her right, sitting on a wooden bench, was Ikenna Kai's former roommate.
And right behind was Lilia who was hiding behind Elia.
"So why did you call me?" Kai asked hurriedly.
"Unlike the rest of you, I have to go to classes."
"I know that but just listen to me." Elia spoke her voice calm and poised.
[She knows how to act her part, doesn't she?]
'Tell me about it.'
"I'm all ears."
Elia turned over and glanced at Ikenna before speaking. "The thing is, the three of us agreed to join your team if you enter the top twenty."
Kai tilted his head slightly. "Why?"
It made total sense if Lilia agreed but he didn't get what Ikenna would gain from it.
"I think Matthew is an asshole." Ikenna's calm base voice snapped Kai back to reality.
'What?'
Kai didn't quite get what Ikenna said.
According to ICUWSA, Ikenna was meant to be Matthew's right-hand man; though they had their differences, they always stuck together.
And that same Ikenna was cursing Matthew.
"This doesn't make sense, I thought you and Matthew were friends?"
"Who said that? We are just classmates."
[Kai by this time Ikenna and Matthew haven't become friends yet.]
'That's right, it was after the Professor Deerheart incident that they became friends.' Kai placed his hand on his jaw. 'And that is meant to happen right before the midterms.'
Kai looked at the figures before answering. "But why me?"
"You seem like a pretty fun guy and you like my cooking."
A soft laugh escaped Kai's lips before he held it in. "Just because I like your food."
He glanced over to Lilia. "Hey, Lilia."
"Hmm... Hey Kai, sorry I couldn't do anything for you back then." She said shifting away from Elia's shadow. "And it's Lilith I lied back then."
[Oh... She played you, Kai.]
Scratching his head Kai answered calmly. "Ok, and it wasn't your fault; I was the one who let my guard down." Looking at the three he added. "Well, can't wait to work together and all that."
Lilia smiled. "That's if you reach the top twenty."
"Who even brought up that idea?"
Both Elia and Ikenna simultaneously turned to face Lilith.
"Can't jump into a dying boat."
'Hah, she is 'L' after all.'
[Did you think your face will win you everything?]
'Shut up Alpha.'
*******
After the meeting with Elia, Ikenna and Lilith, Kai made his way to his first class.
'I just hope my teacher is good, I might be stuck with them till I get points for more classes.'
[But who is the idiot that got themselves demoted?]
'Maybe Professor Jet.'
[That's sounds believable.]
'Right?'
Kai soon reached a small door at the end of a hall on the second floor of the D building.
'First official magic class.'
[Our first step to becoming actual mages]
The door creaked open, revealing the small empty classroom.