Reborn as an Extra Chapter 530: A Meeting Arranged By Fate. Part-2.
Previously on Reborn as an Extra...
Regarding the essence of 'Sword Intent,' Rio had never possessed a mentor to turn to for advice.
As a legendary skill, 'Sword Intent' was a rarity, matching the scarcity of any other ability of its tier.
Since even Ashtel Rex, the most powerful warrior in the kingdom, lacked a legendary skill, Rio was left with no one capable of teaching him its secrets.
He was forced to navigate the path of cultivation alone, deciphering every mystery through his own efforts.
Ironically, he acted as the instructor for others, assisting them in the refinement of their own legendary abilities.
Having awakened his legendary skill before any of his companions, Rio served as the guide for Link and the rest of the group on this subject.
Yet, for Rio himself, there was a total absence of proper direction.
This lack of guidance caused the development of Rio’s 'Sword Intent' to stagnate significantly during its advanced stages.
His 'Sword Intent' had undergone an evolution after he reached the status of an S-ranker, but the Young Master was still far from achieving his desired results.
His intuition told him that the 'quality' he sought remained just out of reach by a few final steps.
Several 'factors' contribute to the overall power and growth of a legendary skill.
These include 'proficiency,' the capabilities of the user, and most importantly, 'understanding.'
Rio had already pushed his 'Sword Intent' proficiency to extreme levels; sitting at 99 percent, he had no immediate need to advance it further.
Furthermore, his physical condition and combat techniques were elite, befitting a formidable S-ranker.
Even if he set aside his 'Sword Intent,' he possessed enough raw power and skill to slaughter other S-rankers with ease.
The sole bottleneck obstructing his progression was his level of 'Understanding.'
Rio remained quite distant from truly grasping the 'law' of the 'sword' and the fundamental 'foundation' of 'Sword Intent' itself.
What was the true definition of the 'law' of the 'sword'? How could it be applied most effectively? What specific ratio of power could be utilized without inflicting damage upon one's own soul?
Countless questions plagued Rio’s thoughts.
Chief among these puzzles was a simple one: why was Rio’s 'Sword Intent' characterized by such 'violence'?
Why did it manifest with such uncontrollable hostility toward everything, requiring him to maintain a constant, iron-fisted grip over it?
If Rio ever relaxed his suppression, his 'Sword Intent' would instantly devastate his surroundings, lashing out with lethal strikes against anyone nearby of its own volition!
It is often said that the area directly beneath a lamp is the darkest.
While Rio solved the problems of others, he remained blind to his own complications.
It took a comment from Kifrid, a mere unknown child, who noted that Rio’s 'Sword Intent' seemed to be 'burdening' him, for a vital realization to strike Rio.
From the moment he first obtained his 'Sword Intent,' Rio’s primary focus had been to 'control' or 'suppress' it.
He had spent his time containing its aggressive nature, becoming incredibly proficient at holding it back!
However, he had never attempted to truly understand it or allow it to exist in a natural, liberated state.
As a manifestation of a 'natural law,' 'Sword Intent' was a power now intricately woven into Rio’s very soul.
It had essentially become an extension of his own anatomy.
Much like how 'breathing' becomes erratic and forced when one tries to control it manually, 'Sword Intent' could suffer the same imbalance.
There should be no need to exert control over 'Sword Intent' while it resides within the body.
When it is perfectly synchronized with one's body and soul, 'suppression' and 'control' should be unnecessary.
Control is only required during the act of attacking an opponent; even then, it is the energy exiting the body that needs regulation, not the energy within.
By constantly fighting his own power, Rio was needlessly draining his mana, mental focus, and soul strength, which led to a decrease in his overall combat effectiveness.
"Oh!? That strange power suddenly turned so quiet!? What did you do?"
Kifrid shouted in surprise as he sensed the immediate transformation in Rio’s aura.
By ceasing all suppression and relinquishing his rigid control, Rio’s 'Sword Intent' instantly became more fluid and tranquil.
Rather than restraining the power, he allowed it to circulate through his frame without restriction.
This change not only accelerated the movement of the 'Sword Intent' within his Meridians but also made the entire flow harmonious and perfectly structured.
It felt as though Rio’s 'Sword Intent' had finally entered a true 'flow state,' removing the necessity for constant vigilance.
Rio simply guided the direction of the power, allowing it to cycle through his body much like the circulation of blood, causing the 'flow' to become serene and balanced.
It moved through him with such order that it was hard to believe it had ever been violent.
Rio felt a surge of vitality and lightness; the 'Sword Intent' was now providing a passive physical enhancement alongside its defensive properties.
"It’s thanks to your help... I suppose I owe you one, kid. Tell me, is there a wish you want me to grant?"
Upon hearing the offer, Kifrid grinned and replied,
"I want to become the strongest person in the whole world!"
Rio shook his head at the boy's request and spoke softly,
"Strength handed to you by others only leads to ruin and corruption; true power, earned through your own sweat and labor, brings peace and order..."
"Instant power won't make you the greatest; it is the act of failing, rising again, and defying 'fate' itself that defines the world's strongest!"
Rio reached out to pat the boy's head and asked once more,
"That is a wish you must fulfill yourself; it is your personal 'Dao' in life, and no one can walk that path for you..."
"If you have a different request, speak it..."
Kifrid swatted Rio’s hand away, pouting.
"Stop patting my head! I won't be able to grow tall if you do that!"
"I've made up my mind; I want to be both tall and strong!"
Amused by the child's innocent words, Rio smiled and produced his flute.
Gently tapping the boy's forehead with the instrument, Rio activated one of his most potent abilities—soul manipulation.
Utilizing his newly refined 'Sword Intent,' he began to forge a more profound connection between Kifrid’s soul and his physical body.
While a person's soul and Dantian are naturally linked to their physique, this bond can be artificially strengthened through 'Soul Resonance' or soul manipulation techniques like Rio's.
This was a feat that even many SS-rankers would find impossible to replicate.
Rio was manually boosting Kifrid’s innate talent across several categories.
By fortifying the bridge between soul and body, Kifrid would naturally outpace his peers in both physical growth and mental acuity.
This enhancement would allow his mind and spirit to develop in tandem, reinforcing one another as he grew.
Once Kifrid eventually became an awakener, this augmented connection would become even more formidable!