The spectators exchanged glances.
"..."
"That stance..." a dark-haired apprentice murmured, frowning.
"It doesn't look like a beginner's."
"He said he'd never held a hammer before," another replied, incredulous.
"But look at his footing. That's something you only learn through practice."
"I don't understand any of this." The first shook his head.
"Either he lied, or he's a genius. There's no middle ground."
Sun Luguo said absolutely nothing. His eyes remained fixed on Kyrian, capturing every detail of the young man's stance.
He noticed the stiffness in his shoulders, the slight tension in his fingers, the way his feet were slightly misaligned. It wasn't perfect, nor could it be, coming from someone with no experience. But it was... promising.
Then...
Kyrian took a breath.
A deep inhale filled his lungs with the hot air of the forge. He felt Qi flow through his body, warming his muscles, preparing them for the task ahead.
He raised the hammer.
