“Hey, Kain, snap out of it.” Ketal waved his hand in front of Kain’s face, but there was no sign that his mind was returning to reality.0

Kain just stood there, staring blankly with his mouth slightly open, lost in his own world. A single tear pooled in his eye, as if he were overwhelmed by sorrow.0

This… this can’t be happening… Kain thought. He reflected on the sheer amount of time and effort it had taken to teach his level. 0

He had abandoned everything except the sword—his loving parents’ affection, his fiancée’s love. He sacrificed it all, devoting his life entirely to mastering the blade.1

And yet, that technique—his ultimate mastery—had just been shattered. It wasn’t by some otherworldly skill, but by raw physical force alone.0

What am I… 1

The cries of his family, begging him to give up the sword and stay with them, echoed in his ears. His fiancée’s lament and curses, asking if she meant less to him than a mere blade, resurfaced vividly in his mind. Every painful memory flashed through his head like a reel of film.0

“Hmm.” Ketal stroked his chin, observing Kain thoughtfully. His mental resilience is weaker than I expected.0

He had assumed that being a Swordmaster meant Kain’s mind would be as unyielding as his skills, but apparently not. Then again, strength did not necessarily correlate with mental fortitude. After all, many strong individuals in this fantasy world had fragile...0