Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 4: Chapter 3: The Transcendent World
Previously on Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys...
A towering figure, standing at least 1.9 meters tall and encased in gray plate armor, moved with an effortless grace that belied his heavy gear. Wielding a two-handed greatsword broader than a man's palm, the warrior delivered a devastating overhead strike against a vertical stone pillar.
"Whoosh!"
A shimmering silver trail sliced through the air.
"Crack!"
The upper portion of the stone monolith sheared off at an angle, crashing into the dirt and sending a plume of dust billowing upward.
The surface of the severed stone was perfectly level, appearing as smooth as glass without a single jagged edge.
The group of elite second-generation heirs immediately erupted into applause.
"Incredible! Instructor Perez is truly on another level!"
"Is that the true power of a Knight? I wonder how many years it will take me to reach such heights."
"....."
Rein stared at the spectacle, rubbing his eyes as if he could wipe away the impossibility of what he had just seen.
"That massive stone block was too heavy for a single person to lift, yet he split it with one swing??"
"Can a human being actually possess such strength??"
Previously, Rein’s knowledge of the supernatural and the unknown was limited to the tall tales of traveling bards and mercenaries. Now, the reality of transcendence was manifesting right before his very eyes!
To someone from the modern world, this vivid display of power was as shocking as seeing Iron Man touch down on one's own balcony. Rein was left completely speechless!!
As the initial wave of shock subsided, Rein looked at his translucent attribute panel and suddenly found it less impressive than before.
Even if he mastered the craft of a Blacksmith, he would still just be a commoner....
This world truly was a Transcendent one!
The wealthy heirs hadn't been exaggerating!
Every rumor stored in the previous host's memories was the literal truth!
"I can't accept this!"
"Since I've ended up in a Transcendent world, I have to seize any opportunity to become a Transcendent myself!"
"Otherwise, I'm no better than a salted fish!"
Determined, Rein steeled his resolve amidst the lingering awe!
Just then, the activity in the center of the training grounds shifted.
One of the noble girls, dressed in practical hunting attire, stepped forward from the group of heirs. She had volunteered to spar with the armored giant, Instructor Perez.
Rein couldn't see her face from his position, but her silhouette alone suggested she was a beauty. Her frame was lean and powerful, reminiscent of a predator ready to strike.
Instructor Perez accepted the challenge, and the two soon engaged in combat.
"Clang!!"
Bright sparks showered the ground!
The lithe noblewoman opened the duel with a Leap Slash, her two-handed sword colliding violently with Perez’s massive blade.
That single impact resonated deep within Rein’s chest.
If the feat of slicing the stone could be dismissed as some unique trick, the shower of sparks from this head-on clash confirmed the terrifying physical power both fighters possessed.
The fact that a young noblewoman could exert such force was undeniable evidence of this world's Transcendent nature!
Rein could find no other logical way to explain it.
"Cling clang cling clang!!"
Despite the weight of her heavy steel blade, the girl moved with incredible speed. She was as nimble as a gazelle, pivoting on her toes to launch a barrage of strikes at Perez from several difficult angles.
Her chestnut ponytail whipped through the air with every jump.
Like a boulder in a storm, Instructor Perez remained unmoved. Rather than counterattacking, he stood his ground, precisely parrying every one of the girl's fierce assaults.
"Smooth Cleaving Slash!!"
With a sharp cry, the noble girl leapt several meters into the sky. In mid-air, her body coiled like a bow drawn to its breaking point, radiating explosive energy.
In a flash, she brought the five-foot-long greatsword down in a wide semi-circular arc at a forty-five-degree angle, aiming a savage strike at Perez!
"Clang!!"
A piercing screech of metal on metal rang out!
Even though Rein and the other child servants were standing nearly thirty meters away, the sound made their ears throb and their teeth feel numb from the vibration.
Even the heirs in the front row winced, covering their ears in discomfort. Only a handful of them managed to keep watching without flinching.
Suddenly, a tiny glint of gray light flew from the point of impact, landing in the dirt about a meter away from Rein.
Because it landed so close, Rein could see it clearly; it was a small shard of metal, likely a chip from a notch in either Perez’s or the girl’s greatsword.
At that moment, both Instructor Perez and the noble girl turned their gaze toward Rein’s location simultaneously.
Rein’s heart skipped a beat as a wave of fear washed over him. It felt as though he was being stared down by a deadly predator, making his skin crawl and his hair stand on end!
The pressure was suffocating...
However, after a brief look, the two combatants turned away, seemingly satisfied that the flying fragment hadn't caused any injuries.
That quick glance back finally gave Rein a clear look at the girl's face.
She was the definition of valiant and majestic!
She had an oval face with thick, expressive eyebrows that gave her a spirited look. Her brownish-gray eyes shone with intelligence, and her form-fitting gear highlighted her athletic build.
She reminded Rein of a specific actress from his past life—a young Cristiana Yeri.
Instructor Perez looked down at his own greatsword, a hint of regret in his eyes as he spotted the jagged notch. This blade had served him for years, and he hadn't expected...
"Instructor Perez! Please forgive me, I lost myself in the moment and failed to hold back. I've damaged your sword. I will personally inform Master Verintan so it can be repaired."
The noble girl was quick to speak, noticing Perez's frown and offering a sincere apology.
...
With the duel concluded, the heirs resumed their training under Perez, moving on to more complex swordsmanship techniques.
Rein remained where he was, head bowed, staring at the small iron splinter buried in the dirt.
After waiting a while and realizing no one intended to retrieve it, he reached down and dug the shard out.
His first thought was how heavy it felt!
Despite its small size, the fragment had a surprising weight to it. It definitely wasn't bronze, nor did it feel like standard steel.
Holding it, Rein could estimate just how massive a full-sized greatsword must be.
Swinging a weapon that weighed nearly eighty pounds?
Rein realized that these weapons were several times heavier than anything used in the history of his previous world.
It was one thing for a giant like Perez to handle such a blade, but how did that slender girl do it? How was it possible?
Was it the result of some secret training or specialized technique?
Or was it an inherent power tied to her lineage?
"If it's a technique that can be learned, then I might have a chance too!" Rein whispered to himself.
Was he too old to start? Had he missed the window for the Transcendent path?
"That might be true for a normal person..."
"But I am not normal!"
"If the system can grant me a Blacksmith Apprentice profession panel, it should be able to trigger a combat-related one as well, right?!"
"I've heard the child servants eventually get to learn basic swordsmanship."
"I wonder if that will unlock a Swordsman panel or perhaps a Warrior panel when the time comes?"
A new light of hope began to flicker in Rein’s eyes!!