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 grey metal plate, moved with the grace of a bird. Carrying a two-handed Greatsword broader than a man's palm, the warrior delivered a savage overhead strike against a vertical stone pillar.
"Whoosh!"
The air was split by a shimmering silver arc.
"Crack!"
The upper portion of the stone monolith sheared off, sliding away to crash into the earth and send plumes of dust swirling into the air.
The severed face of the rock was perfectly level, appearing as smooth as glass.
Immediately, the elite second-generation heirs watching the display burst into applause.
"Incredible! Instructor Perez is truly formidable!"
"Amazing! Is that what a genuine Knight is capable of? I wonder how many years it will take me to reach that level."
"....."
Rein stared at the display, rubbishing his eyes as if he were dreaming.
"A solid stone pillar that a single man could barely lift, cleaved in two with one swing??"
"Can a human being actually possess such power??"
Previously, Rein’s knowledge of the supernatural and extraordinary was limited to the tall tales told by traveling Bards and hired mercenaries. Now, however, the reality was manifesting right before him!
To someone from the modern world, this vivid display of power was as shocking as seeing Iron Man touch down on a private balcony. Rein was completely paralyzed with awe!!
Once the initial waves of shock subsided, Rein looked at his translucent attribute panel and found that it had suddenly lost its luster!
Even if he mastered the craft of a Blacksmith, he would remain nothing more than a commoner...
This world truly was a Transcendent one!
The wealthy young masters hadn't been exaggerating!
Every rumor stored in the original host's memory turned out to be the absolute truth!
"I can't accept this!"
"Since I have been reborn into a Transcendent world, I must seize any opportunity to become Transcendent myself!"
"Otherwise, I'm no better than a salted fish!"
Caught in the throes of his astonishment, Rein steeled his resolve!
Just then, the activity in the middle of the training grounds shifted.
One of the true second-generation nobles—a girl clad in practical hunting attire—stepped forward. She seemed intent on challenging the heavily armored swordsmanship instructor, Perez, to a duel.
Rein was positioned where he couldn't see her face clearly, but her silhouette alone suggested she was a beauty. She possessed a lithe, powerful build, reminiscent of a leopardess prepared to strike.
Instructor Perez accepted her challenge, and the two warriors soon engaged.
"Clang!!"
Bright sparks erupted from the impact!
The graceful noble girl initiated the fight with a Leap Slash. Gripping a two-handed sword, she slammed her blade directly against Perez’s massive greatsword.
That single strike resonated deep within Rein’s chest.
If splitting the stone earlier could be dismissed as a feat of raw physical talent, this clash—accompanied by genuine sparks—was undeniable proof of their supernatural strength.
The fact that a young noblewoman could exert such force was the ultimate evidence that this was a Transcendent world!
Rein could find no other logical way to explain it.
"Cling clang cling clang!!"
Despite the weight of her massive steel blade, the girl moved with startling speed. She was as agile as a gazelle, pivoting on her toes to strike at Perez from a series of difficult and unpredictable angles.
Her chestnut-colored ponytail whipped behind her with every bound.
Like a cliff face enduring the tide, Instructor Perez remained unmoving. He didn't bother with a counter-offensive; instead, he stood his ground, parrying every one of the girl's fierce attacks.
"Smooth Cleaving Slash!!"
With a sharp cry, the noble girl leaped several meters into the air. While suspended, her athletic body coiled like a drawn bow, radiating explosive energy.
In a flash, she swung the broad two-handed sword—a blade at least 1.5 meters long—through a semi-circular path at a forty-five-degree angle, Cleaving downward toward Perez with terrifying force!
"Clang!!"
The sound of grinding metal was enough to set one's teeth on edge!
Even though the child servants, including Rein, were standing nearly thirty meters away, the sound made their ears throb and their gums feel strangely numb.
The elite heirs at the front were also affected, grimacing as they covered their ears. Only a handful of them managed to watch the duel without flinching.
Suddenly, a tiny glint of grey 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 was a small shard of metal—likely a chip from the edge of either Perez's or the girl's greatsword.
At that exact moment, both Perez and the noble girl turned their gaze toward Rein's position.
Rein’s heart skipped a beat in terror. It felt as though he were being stared down by a predatory beast, causing the hair on his arms to stand upright!
The pressure was suffocating...
However, after a brief look, both combatants looked away and ignored the fragment. They had likely only been checking if the flying debris had injured anyone.
As the noble girl turned her head, Rein finally caught a clear glimpse of her features.
She could be described in two words: valiant and majestic!
She had an oval face with thick, expressive eyebrows that gave her a spirited look. Her brownish-grey eyes shone with intelligence, and her form-fitting hunting gear accentuated her athletic frame.
She bore a striking resemblance to a foreign actress Rein remembered from his past life—a young Cristiana Yeri.
Instructor Perez looked down at his own Dual-Handed Greatsword, a flash of regret crossing his face as he saw the jagged notch in the blade. This weapon had been his companion for years, and he hadn't expected...
"Instructor Perez! Please forgive me. I became too immersed in the moment and failed to restrain my strength. I will inform Master Verintan so your sword can be repaired," the noble girl said quickly, her wit as sharp as her blade as she noticed his frown.
...
Following their brief duel, the young heirs resumed their training under Perez, moving on to more sophisticated swordsmanship techniques.
Rein, standing off to the side, kept his head lowered while staring at the metal shard buried in the earth.
After waiting a while and realizing no one intended to retrieve it, he dug the fragment out of the dirt.
His first impression was its sheer mass!
The tiny piece felt incredibly heavy in his palm. It was clearly not bronze, nor did it feel like any ordinary steel he recognized.
Holding it, Rein could estimate just how heavy a full 1.5-meter greatsword would be.
Swinging a blade that weighed seventy or eighty pounds?
That was many times heavier than any historical weapon from his previous life! Rein understood the implications instantly.
It was one thing for a giant like Perez to swing such a thing, but how did that slender noble girl do it? What was the secret?
Was it a hidden technique or a specific regimen of training?
Or was it a matter of bloodline—an inherited, innate gift?
"If it's the former, then there's hope for me too!" Rein mused.
Some might say he hadn't learned enough, or that he was already too old to start the path of a Transcendent.
"That might be true... for a normal person!"
"But I am different!"
"If my system could unlock a life profession panel for a Blacksmith Apprentice, it should be able to trigger a combat profession panel as well, right?!"
"I've heard that part of a child servant's training involves basic sword skills."
"I wonder if it will manifest as a Swordsman panel or perhaps a Warrior panel when the time comes?"
A new light began to burn in Rein's eyes!!