Although his blade was drawn, I felt none of the pressure from earlier. Kaito pointed his blade at me, holding it in a relaxed manner.
"Come, try to kill me."
I looked at the blade in his hands, then at the blade in mine.
'Is he serious?'
"I won't attack you. So don't waste my time. Come at me with intent to kill."
Not willing to push his patience any further, I walked cautiously towards him, blade leveled in a stance I remembered from the manual.
As soon as I was close enough, I struck, thrusting the blade towards his abdomen.
His blade was already there, easily blocking it with its flat side.
It was like slamming into a brick wall. A vibration ran along the length of my blade, then my hand, nearly making me lose my grip on the hilt.
I wordlessly gritted my teeth before entering into the stance again.
There was a path to getting stronger right before me. No matter what it cost, I had to take it.
