Born in Blood

The test was teaching him something.

The baboons were adapting to him.

If Liam continued to use his best abilities, eventually, the baboons would learn how to counter them all.

And eventually, he'd be defeated by monkeys.

Literal baboons.

Instead, Liam put the odachi between his teeth and clamped down on it.

It was weird, biting a sword hilt. It felt unnatural and wrong. The odachi's long edge stuck out the side of his bared mouth, but it didn't cut him.

Liam strengthened his teeth a bit to better his grip on the blade. 

Then, Liam honed his focus and took light steps forward to the group of baboons.

At the same time, they took slow steps towards him.

Slowly, it became a jog, then a run, then a sprint, then a clash of blades.

CLING!

Six different baboons pressured him with his blades. Liam outstretched his swords to cover him as much as possible.

Gashes formed on his body, but his blood reformed them.

Liam had to be careful not to accidentally slice or even nick the baboons' skin.

With a pushing motion, Liam swung his Dusk Blades and pushed away five of the baboons around him.

Liam's physical strength was obviously better than theirs.

But he could tell that with each iteration, they were getting stronger.

As five baboons were hurled away, Liam looked towards the one in front.

CLING!

Liam pushed away the baboon's blades.

SHING!

Then swung to the left with the Black Blade in his mouth. 

SPURT!

A head rolled over the patch of grass.

Liam looked towards the other baboons with a predatory gaze. 

Despite the sword in his mouth, clamped on with his sharp teeth, he managed to smile.

***

What followed after painted the patches of grass blood-red.

Getting used to fighting with three swords was not pleasant.

In fact, it was pretty damn uncomfortable.

Liam's teeth had already made a dent into the Black Blade's hilt.

All three of his weapons had nicks and scratches on them. He'd have to repair them afterward.

But he'd killed off the baboons one by one.

By the end of it, Liam heaved a long sigh and held his breath, removing the Back Blade from his mouth.

Silence.

The voice kept quiet.

That was not a good sign.

Something began to emerge from the ground.

Liam grimaced.

But when he realized it wasn't the baboons, he instantly felt relieved.

"A blade is not a piece of metal. It is fluid like water, strong like earth, fierce like fire, and sharp as wind. It is made for a dark purpose, but could be wielded for light."

Eternal Sword's glorious voice echoed throughout the fake dimension. 

Liam raised his brows.

He didn't like riddles or poetry in the least.

But when it came from a Celestial, it held merit.

Liam memorized the words. 

'Is there a hidden meaning in them or something?' Liam thought, before choosing to study them later. 

Words of a Celestial were valuable.

What came out of the ground was a marble dais with a bright rune on top of it. Further ahead, was the gate to the third Trial.

Liam approached the rune, grabbed it, and inspected it from all angles. 

It looked like a normal rock made out of light, but there were precise vertical lines etched onto its surface.

"You forgot the instructions again!" Liam shouted angrily at the air. 

Liam looked towards the rune.

He applied mental energy to it.

Silence.

Nothing happened.

He applied 'Ora' to it.

Nothing happened.

Liam let out a long exhale.

'This better work.'

Liam resolved himself…

…and crushed the rune in his fist.

It instantly exploded into motes of glittering light, producing a shimmering sound effect.

Liam nearly cursed himself when he saw nothing happening, but then the motes of light rushed into his sea of consciousness.

There was a sharp twinge of pain that disappeared instantly. Like a quick stab to the brain.

Liam's eyes widened when he realized what just happened.

Within his sea of consciousness, the motes of light had melted into his sea of mental energy.

Liam instinctively knew what it was and how to execute it.

Liam instantly took out his Black Blade, anticipation rising in his chest. 

Liam held it outward.

SHIIIING!

A metallic ripple enveloped the Black Blade, intensifying its dark luster even further. Even its hilt  gained a metallic property.

The odachi simply looked... glorious.

'Sword Hardening,' Liam smiled.

Liam swung from top to bottom with the Black Blade.

SHING!

A lengthy arc of darkness left the Black Blade's edge, but as it soared through the air, it continued for more than 40 meters before puffing out.

Liam undid the Sword Hardening and smiled.

There were no more nicks or scratches on the surface of his weapon!

Liam no longer had to go through the boring process of repairing his weapons or the inscriptions on them.

With Sword Hardening, Liam's swords would no longer chip or break!

The technique essentially allowed Liam to strengthen all aspects of his swords. Sharpness, rigidity, and natural ability. 

It required no real resource to work, either. Other than a small but steady flow of mental energy.

'This is just the second Trial, too,' Liam smiled. 'But it's obviously going to get harder after this.'

'I had to go from killing 100 Rank 1 magical beasts to getting matched up with baboons that could have won against me.'

'I'd be a fool if I don't prepare well before attempting the third.'

Liam used Sword Hardening for the Dusk Blades too, repairing them. 

With the bright black sheen, they looked both ominous and vicious at the same time.

Liam took to cultivating his mind and core for two entire weeks before moving forward.

There was no time limit or restriction holding him back from doing so.

'There's only that girl to worry about. It's a shame I can't see what stage of the Trial she's in.'

Finally, after the two weeks were over, Liam heaved a long sigh.

Then, he walked through the third Trial gate.