3 Swordsmanship

A Year has passed. During that Year two changes in me had occurred.

I reached the Apprentice Stage and my Mana Core had turned Red reaching the Deep Red Stage. After my Mana Core had reached the deep orange Stage only then am I promoted to a Initiate Stage Mage.

Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, Violet and White. Those were all the color's a Mana Core could change to. Red being the weakest realm and white being the strongest. The color's were also categorized as deep, light and lastly bright. If you reached the deep level of your next color you would breakthrough.

The second change was...

"Everyone wake up! Assemble Immediately!"

"Assemble!!"

I opened the Door as I walked towards the designed place. Student's looked at me bewildered.

'The effect of me reaching the Apprentice Stage was starting to become apparent' I smirked

'My Bones have become stronger and my height has increased a lot'

'Number 203, the biggest child of the second Group, was not much bigger than me anymore' I grabbed my metal bracer

'Neither Number 7 nor I had any defeats in the recent daily food competitions' I acknowledged

Number 203 glared at me as I glared back which made him turn his back on me grunting

"Hmph!"

'Not in a million Year's' I smiled

'Although it wasn't complete my Body should fit in the Top 700' I clenched my Fist

'Not to mention it's been a year since we started learning Magic'

'The Number of dying children has decreased noticeably'

'The weight of the iron bracelets on my Arms and legs have been increased to 45kgs'

'It wasn't a weight that the children can bear while climbing without using Mana'

Also by using Mana Rotation I could continously absorb Mana from the environment to continue training my Mana Core. It was a Technique that many People didn't know about.

"Starting Today, You will begin training with weapons" Our instructor told us

They brought out a batch of weapons

"As you are all aware, these are all weapons that have become staples of the Magic Society"

"The Sword, Spear and Bow the three most basic weapons"

"You will choose one of these three weapons and learn how to master it. Stand infront of the weapon you wish to learn"

"Choose carefully! You will use this weapon for the rest of your life!" He told us

I immediately went up ahead and took a sword as he gave me some Book's.

"After you choose your weapon, come and receive the manuals"

'The three basics of being a Child in this Time and Age. The three basic weapons for children who chose the Warrior Path, The Four Elements of Magic for the children who chose the Magician Path'

"You will now be given time to practice and study your martial arts freely! The instructors will be here, so feel free to come ask questions whenever you want!"

'Since we don't know how many of you will survive after 6 months, we'll help you master these weapons after you run out Mana' The instructor's thought

'You will have a difficult time surviving if you don't learn it properly' The instructor smirked

'Even if you do, you will barely be in one piece' They smiled like devils

I looked towards the Book's as I thought

'I remember how excited I was when I first learned Swordplay...'

"Well then, let's get to it" I muttered

'The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means. Whenever you parry, hit, spring, strike or touch the enemy's cutting sword, you must cut the enemy in the same movement. It is essential to attain this. If you think only of hitting, springing, striking or touching the enemy, you will not be able actually to cut him' That was what my Father told me

'Oh' The instructor smiled

Number 7 smirked.

'What is that Guy...!!' Number 203 thought in disbelieve

'Is it really his first time using a Sword?'

'How am I supposed to beat that Monster?!'

"I see. Number 1005 has changed indeed" The Director grinned

"It is as you said" The Director admitted

"For Number 1005, The Trial of Life and Death coming up in 6 months shouldn't be much of a Problem"

The Trial of Life and Death. The First Trial conducted in the Cave of Hell. Children die off in much large numbers in a much shorter time span.

Those who survive this Trial are acknowledged as Demonic Soldiers by the Demon Race.

A Demonic Soldier is the lowest rank of Elite Forces in the Demon Race. Above it are Demonic Captains, Demonic General, The Demon's of Ars Goetia, The Seven Deadly Sins and lastly the Demon King.

'Even though it is only the rank of a Demonic soldier less than 10,000 of the 100,000 Demon's in the Demon Race are acknowledged as Demonic Soldiers' The Director thought

'It's not easy for children under the age of 15 to become one' He continued

'But the Cave of Hell doesn't exist to train mere Demonic Soldiers'

'They're expected to survive the Trial of Life and Death easily'

'The Goal of the Cave of Hell is to raise a Demonic Captain'

'Furthermore this one is a bit more special. By the order of the Demon King himself, we have to raise a Number of Demonic Generals!'

'It would be nice if we could get one to join the Ars Goetia' He thought

'I would be asking for too much. Even I barely became a member of the Ars Goetia being in the lowest of its ranks'

"How are the preparations of the Trial of Life and Death going?" He asked the instructor that appeared behind him

"We secretly sent out People to buy and train those we need for the Trial of Life and Death"

"By the Time of the Trial they won't be some ordinary Beasts" The instructor told him

"Good" The Director said

"For those who survive the Trial of Life and Death we will provide Demonic Medicine from the highest grade we could get" The Director said

"And open the Treasury of the Demon Race"

"The Leader did give us those orders" He smirked

"Yes,sir!" He bowed

"I look forward to the Trial of Life and Death" He mused

Half a Year later

'Finally'

'Finally...'

'I stepped into the Light Red stage!'