At that moment I realized that nothing is real peace

Fuyuki put her hand on her chin, thought for a moment, and said,

"Hmm… I think you should learn the Japanese swordsmanship technique of Kien Lai."

Arthur tilted his head, curious. "Ken Lai? What technique is that?"

Fuyuki smiled, gently explaining,

"Ken Lai is a technique that focuses on speed and reflexes. It allows you to quickly draw your sword, slash in one stroke, and then return to a defensive stance immediately. This is one of the important techniques in kendo, especially effective when facing agile enemies."

Arthur nodded, feeling excited. "That sounds strong. So where should I start?"

Fuyuki picked up another wooden sword, and walked in front of Arthur. "First, I will show you the correct foot placement and sword-drawing posture. Please observe carefully."

Fuyuki took a few steps back, standing in front of a wooden statue used for practice. She took a deep breath, her eyes focused, and then gently placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.

Arthur watched intently, feeling the surrounding atmosphere seem to become quieter.

Suddenly—

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, Fuyuki had drawn her sword and slashed down so quickly that Arthur only saw a flash of light. Immediately after, the blade returned to its sheath as if it had never been drawn. A sharp cut was clearly visible on the wooden statue, the upper part of the statue slowly slid down, proving that the attack just now was not only fast but also extremely accurate.

Arthur's eyes widened in surprise. "So fast... I didn't even have time to see clearly how you did it."

Fuyuki gently turned her wrist, returning the sword to its original position, and smiled. "This is the Sword Release. This technique is not only about speed, but also requires absolute concentration and perfect body control. If you want to learn it, you must first practice drawing the sword accurately."

Arthur nodded with determination. "Then I will do my best! Show me!"

Fuyuki nodded. "Of course, let's begin."

Fuyuki smiled, gently placed her hand on the hilt of the sword and said:

"Okay, first, I will guide you step by step to perform Kiem Lai properly."

Step 1: Preparation position

Fuyuki stood straight, her legs slightly apart, her left foot placed slightly back, her knee relaxed. Her right hand was placed lightly on the hilt of the sword, her left hand was placed on the scabbard for stability.

"First of all, you must have a stable posture. If you stand incorrectly, you will lose your balance when drawing the sword."

Arthur tried to imitate, but was still a bit confused. Fuyuki walked over and gently adjusted the position of her legs and arms.

Step 2: Focus and control your breathing

Fuyuki continued: "This technique requires a high level of concentration. Before drawing the sword, you must take a deep breath, keep your breathing steady, and focus completely on the target."

Arthur closed his eyes, took a deep breath, trying to feel his breathing.

Step 3: Draw and Attack

"Now comes the most important part," Fuyuki said. "When you draw your sword, you don't just draw it out, you have to combine it with an immediate slash."

She demonstrated again, this time more slowly. Arthur watched as Fuyuki used her left hand to gently pull the scabbard back to give her right hand the power to draw the sword faster, and at the same time deliver a sharp slash.

Step 4: Return the sword to the scabbard

"Finally, after you've finished cutting, you have to immediately return the sword to the scabbard in one smooth motion. This is not only to prepare for the next strike, but also to help you maintain a defensive stance."

Fuyuki returned the sword to the scabbard smoothly but with control, without any hesitation.

Arthur Practices

Arthur nodded, gripping the hilt tightly and trying to follow Fuyuki's instructions step by step. At first, her movements were slow and awkward, but Fuyuki patiently corrected them bit by bit.

"Not bad, keep practicing, you will gradually improve your speed and accuracy."

Arthur clenched his fists, determined to practice hard so that he could use the Sword of the Future proficiently.

Arthur patiently repeated the steps Fuyuki had shown her, bit by bit, without missing any details.

At first, her movements were slow and a bit stiff. Every time she drew her sword, Arthur had to stop for a moment to check if she was doing it right. Fuyuki stood by and watched, occasionally correcting her posture and reminding her about her breathing and balance.

After about 30 minutes of practice, Arthur's movements gradually became smoother. She was able to draw her sword a little faster without losing control.

"Hmm, pretty good," Fuyuki commented. "But the speed is still not enough. Try putting more force into your hips when drawing your sword."

Arthur nodded and continued practicing. She felt every muscle in her body working in unison, from her balancing legs, her hips creating force, to her hands drawing the sword as fast as lightning.

Just like that, she kept repeating the movements. Sweat gradually ran down her forehead, but Arthur still did not stop. Each time she drew her sword, she became a little faster, a little more accurate.

After nearly two hours of continuous practice, Arthur finally managed to execute a quick and clean slash, the blade barely making a sound as it was drawn from its sheath.

Fuyuki watched that moment, the corners of her lips slightly curling up. "Very good. I've already understood the rhythm of Kiem Lai. Now I just need to practice more to increase my speed and accuracy."

Arthur was panting, but his eyes were shining with excitement. "Yes! I'll continue to practice!"

Fuyuki nodded, satisfied with Arthur's persistence.

After four hours of continuous practice, sweat soaked her shirt, Arthur's breathing became rapid, but her eyes were still filled with determination. She placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, took a deep breath, and then—

Swoosh!

The blade flashed in the air, a sharp slash was unleashed almost immediately after the sword was drawn. The sword returned to its sheath so quickly that it barely made a sound.

Arthur stood still for a moment, feeling the heat radiating from her muscles. She looked towards the wooden statue in front of her—a deep cut was clearly visible on it.

Fuyuki, who had been observing from the beginning to the end, smiled with satisfaction. "Good. You finally did it."

Arthur was panting but smiled with satisfaction. "You really did it..."

Fuyuki nodded, approached and patted Arthur on the shoulder. "But don't be too happy. You've only used the Sword at a basic level. If you want to perfect it, you need to practice more to improve your speed, power, and accuracy."

Arthur clenched his fists, more determined than ever. "Yes! I will continue to practice!"

Fuyuki looked at her with eyes full of recognition. "Good. But now, you should rest a bit. Four hours straight is no joke."

Arthur smiled awkwardly, only now feeling his whole body aching and his arms aching. She relaxed, sat down on the floor and took a deep breath, feeling her body protesting the additional movement.

Fuyuki crossed her arms and looked at her, chuckling softly. "You're really stubborn."

Fuyuki shook her head and laughed, then pulled out a can of energy drink from her pocket and threw it at Arthur.

"Take this and drink it, you need to replenish your energy."

Arthur reached out to grab the can, sighing softly. "Thank you." She opened the can and took a sip, feeling the bittersweet taste spread on the tip of her tongue, her body gradually recovering a little from the fatigue.

Fuyuki sat down next to Arthur, looked at her for a while, then said: "It's not bad. But don't think that just learning Kiem Lai is enough. In real combat, if you only rely on one move, sooner or later your opponent will figure it out."

Arthur nodded, still holding the can of drink. "I know. I won't stop here."

Fuyuki smiled faintly, then stretched and stood up. "Good. Then rest. If you want to learn anything else, just come find me."

Arthur watched Fuyuki's back, secretly grateful. She clenched the can of water in her hand, her eyes filled with determination—she was one step closer to her goal.

Arthur stood up, stretched a bit to relieve the fatigue, then turned to Fuyuki.

"Thank you for helping me today. I will continue to practice more."

Fuyuki crossed her arms, nodding slightly. "Yes, remember not to overdo it. If you have any questions, just look for me."

Arthur smiled, then turned and left. The sky outside had gradually turned a light orange, signaling that dusk was about to fall. She walked down the hallway, feeling the gentle breeze that blew past.

The fatigue from four hours of continuous practice began to show clearly. Thinking about going back to the dormitory to shower and rest, she couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

When she returned to her room, Arthur threw herself onto the bed, eyes looking up at the ceiling. Today, she had taken another step on the path to becoming stronger. But this was just the beginning.

With that thought, she closed her eyes, letting her body relax after a long day.

The next morning, Arthur woke up with a slight soreness in her body after yesterday's intense sword practice. But she didn't have time to complain—today was Sunday, the last day off before the entrance exam.

After quickly brushing her teeth, washing her face, and changing her clothes, she went down to the cafeteria for breakfast. While eating, she thought about her plan. Her swordsmanship had improved, but her shooting skills were still not good enough. If she wanted to ensure a good result in the exam, she needed to practice more.

With that in mind, Arthur immediately stood up, left the cafeteria, and headed straight to the shooting range. She knew that time was running out, and she couldn't afford to lose to the others.

Arthur entered the shooting range and immediately noticed that the place was more crowded than usual. Everyone was probably practicing before the exam.

Her eyes swept across the training area, then stopped at the gun lending counter nearby. She walked over and looked at the list of available weapons. There were many different types of guns, from pistols, shotguns to rifles.

Arthur considered for a moment and then said to the counter clerk,

"Let me borrow a stable handgun for practice."

The clerk nodded, handing her a suitable gun and a magazine. Taking the weapon in hand, Arthur took a deep breath—it was time to start practicing seriously.

Arthur stood in the shooting range, trying out each gun one by one to find the one that suited her best.

First, she picked up a pistol—compact, maneuverable, but requiring precision. She fired a few shots, but found the recoil a little difficult to control when firing continuously.

Next, she tried a rifle—longer range, more stable, but a little heavy. When she tried shooting, it felt solid, but moving quickly with it seemed like it wouldn't be easy.

Then she picked up a sniper rifle—powerful, but requiring longer aiming time. Arthur fired a shot, and the bullet went straight to the bull's eye, but at close range, the gun would be inconvenient.

Next, she tried a heavy weapon—powerful, but too heavy to move flexibly. After only a few shots, she felt tired trying to control it.

Finally, she tried the submachine gun—lighter than a rifle, faster, but also with more recoil. She focused on adjusting her grip, firing a few rounds, and it felt better than the previous ones.

Arthur lowered the gun, thinking for a moment. She could use a sword for close combat, so the best gun for her would probably be a submachine gun or a pistol—weapons that were small but still had good firepower.

She decided to focus on training with those two guns until the exam.

Arthur was concentrating on his shots when he saw Azama enter the shooting room. He raised his hand and waved at Arthur.

Arthur stopped, smiled slightly, and waved back: "Hello, Azama! Are you here to practice too?"

Azama nodded and approached. "Yeah, I can't be careless, I have to practice." He looked at the guns Arthur was testing, then asked: "What guns are you practicing?"

Arthur looked at the submachine gun he was holding, then replied: "I'm testing a few guns, thinking of using a submachine gun or a pistol for the exam. What guns do you use?"

Azama smiled confidently: "I use a sniper rifle. Although it's inconvenient at close range, it's extremely accurate at a distance."

Arthur nodded, feeling quite impressed. "You must have practiced a lot to adjust your aiming angle and hand strength, right?"

Azama shrugged. "Yes, but with a sniper rifle, you have to be patient and control your breathing. A good shot will give you much more peace of mind."

Arthur chuckled. "That sounds difficult."

"It's okay," Azama said, "You'll get used to it with practice."

Arthur smiled, then continued practicing with the submachine gun,

Azama: "Oh, Arthur has many types of bullets."

Arthur looked at Azama in surprise, unable to believe what he had just said. "Eh, aren't there only regular bullets?" she asked, looking confused.

Azama laughed and nodded. "No, there are many special types of bullets. For example, explosive bullets, which can cause a large explosion when they hit the target. Then there are armor-piercing bullets, which are used to destroy the opponent's weapons or armor. Anti-magic bullets can neutralize or reduce the power of magic when they hit the magic user. Fire bullets, as the name suggests, will create a large flame when they hit. Ice bullets will freeze the target instantly."

Arthur still couldn't quite understand. "So... you can choose the type of bullet depending on the situation?"

"That's right," Azama replied. "Each bullet has its own effect, and you will have to know when to use this and when to use that. You should try these bullets to get used to them." Arthur nodded, now she realized that using a gun was not simply about aiming and shooting, but also involved choosing the right bullets for each combat situation. She felt like she needed to practice even more.

After finishing her training session, Arthur decided to sign up to borrow a submachine gun and a pistol, 20 bullets each, and 300 bullets for regular bullets.

She went to the gun borrowing counter, showed her student ID card to the staff there, and asked to borrow the things she needed. The staff looked at the information and confirmed:

"You want to borrow a submachine gun, a pistol, and 300 bullets for regular bullets, right?"

Arthur nodded. "That's right."

The staff quickly handed her the submachine gun, the pistol, and a box of regular bullets, along with a special package of bullets for the submachine gun and pistol she had chosen. "Here are the bullets you requested. Thank you for signing up."

Arthur carefully took the items, feeling excited but also nervous as she prepared for the upcoming exam.

That evening, Arthur felt the need to relax a little after the stressful days of practice, so she decided to invite the group to dinner together to prepare for the exam day.

She quickly texted Shiina, Kazu, Azama, and Fuyuki to invite them. A while later, the group was at a cozy restaurant on campus. Everyone sat together, chatting happily before entering the important exam.

"Tomorrow will be a big challenge," Arthur said, looking at the people around him. "But we've practiced a lot, it will be fine."

Shiina smiled lightly. "That's right, we've prepared very carefully anyway. After the exam, everyone will have new opportunities and many benefits."

Kazu nodded. "But remember, not everyone will be able to pass the exam easily. Don't be too stressed, just do your best."

Fuyuki sat quietly in a corner, looked at the group, and said, "As long as we do our best, the results will come naturally. Don't worry too much."

Azama looked at the gun Arthur was carrying and smiled, "You've prepared thoroughly. Don't forget, whether it's a gun or a sword, what's important is your confidence and control."

Everyone ate, chatted, and encouraged each other. Although the atmosphere was quite relaxed, everyone could feel the nervousness, because tomorrow was the day they would face their first exam at school.

At the end of the meal, Arthur felt motivated by her friends. She knew that no matter what happened, she wouldn't be alone in this exam.

After finishing her meal, Arthur said goodbye to her friends and quickly returned to the dormitory. She decided to sleep early to prepare for the important exam day. Before going to bed, she walked out to the balcony and looked up at the sky.

A feeling of lightness rose in her heart as she thought about her parents and her hometown. Even though she had been here for a few months, she still couldn't help but think about her family, the people who raised and educated her. She knew that they would always support her, no matter where she was, and that had helped her overcome all the difficulties she had faced during this time.

Arthur stood there for a moment, took a deep breath, and told herself that she would not let them down. Tomorrow would be an important turning point, and she would do her best.