'Shit... am I still alive...?' Wain thought as he opened his eyes and rose.

He felt pain all over his body, but it was like a flame, burning yet warming with its warmth.

Wain turned around and saw Osvald sitting in the dungeon's center in a lotus pose.

"Old man...is that you?" Wain was surprised at how Osvald had changed. He was now a grown man, a real warrior, not an old man with a few years to live.

Osvald opened his eyes and smiled broadly, "Oh, you're awake. I thought you were dead. Hahaha."

"I don't think that was possible. You fixed me up pretty good. I take it I passed the test. Right?"

Osvald nodded, "Yes, you were able to amuse me. In return, I will help you. However, I will only give you a few tips. Everyone must discover their own Martial Essence. Help from others is pointless here."

"I understand. First, I want to know more about what Martial Essence is. Sven explained it to me, but his wording is as vague as ever."

"Huh, I agree. Okay, listen carefully. In my opinion, the most accurate definition for Martial Essence is that it is a fighting style that is unique and genuine. For example, if you were a swordsman of some clan and learned a technique, it can't be your Martial Essence since you didn't invent that technique, and many other people know it."

"Hmm, so I have to develop my fighting style?"

"Not really. You don't have to invent anything. You're a human, and in this situation, that's a big plus for you."

"What? Why?" Wain wasn't surprised that Osvald knew about his race. Given his strength and the fact that he owned a neutral zone, it was only natural.

"You can't absorb energy from your environment, which means before you became Second Chronicle, you went through more battles than any other representative of the Pillars. Your fighting style was already created naturally. You have to understand it and learn how to use it."

"Hmm? You're wrong. I fight a little differently every time. It depends on my skills, my items, and the opponent. My fighting style changes all the time."

"It doesn't. Every move you make has a Core, and it doesn't matter if you're fighting a mutated cockroach or me. Your fighting style created during hundreds of fights is already in your subconscious. You have to uncover it."

Wain pondered. Osvald's words sounded logical, but Wain still didn't understand how he could take the first step.

"Usually, this process happens intuitively, and sooner or later, everyone discovers their Martial Essence, but I'll help you get that power faster since you passed the test." Osvald uttered and jumped to his feet.

"When you and I were fighting, and I made a phantom dragon head with a blow of my fist, it wasn't a skill. It was my Martial Essence. It's called Dragon Hunter."

"Dragon Hunter? Sounds serious, but being a Second Chronicle creature, did you really kill a dragon?" Wain decided that the title of Martial Essence had something to do with what Osvald had done in the past.

"Hahaha, you overestimate me. Even a newborn baby dragon is equal in power to a Third Chronicle creature. Being on Second Chronicle, I didn't even have a chance to kill a dragon. Back then, I saw a mighty warrior fight a dragon from afar, and one day I wanted that kind of power, too. So gradually, step by step, my style emerged from one memory."

"I see. Sven advised me to use my Beyond. He said it should help in the process of becoming aware of Martial Essence."

"Yes, it does. Now I suggest you think about what is the Core of your fighting style and then develop that. Anything can be important, a memory like mine, a fight, a goal, or even a personality. Think about it, and when you find the Core, you can turn it into Martial Essence within hours."

"That fast?"

"Sure, but only for those whose Core is already fully created. You achieved this long before Second Chronicle through many battles. I can see it clearly. When fighting, do you use a sword? Is that your primary weapon?"

"I'm not sure. The sword is definitely my favorite of all the weapons, but sometimes I prefer to fight with my bare hands." Wain muttered.

"Great. That's something already, now think about how it can be connected to your Beyond. If you're always fighting combining these three variables, sword, hands, and Beyond, your Martial Essence will combine that."

Wain nodded and activated a Beyond. He figured he could unlock his Martial Essence pretty quickly, so he didn't leave the area. He didn't know if Osvald would let him in again or if this was their first and last meeting.

Osvald was helping Wain with tips and showing him how to use Martial Essence. He would create phantom dragon heads and describe his actions and sensations in detail.

This helped Wain, and he was slowly getting closer to his goal, but he was missing something. Osvald could no longer support him, for, at one point, his advice no longer helped his progress.

historical

Wain realized that he was the problem. He was missing one detail, and he couldn't figure out what the reason was for a long time.

'Sword, hands, Beyond...am I forgetting something?' Wain wondered. He decided that a fourth component was missing to solve the riddle.

He tried to find it, but the last part found it himself.

'Huh, how could you forget about us?' A mysterious voice sounded in Wain's mind.

'Blind Sorcerer?' Wain recognized the voice, for he had heard it before.

'Yes, it's me, though we all have the same opinion. Think about who we are and who you are. That should be the last part.'

Wain tried to talk to Blind Sorcerer, but he wouldn't make contact anymore. That was his limit.

'The forms, surely they are the last part? No... they come from the skill, and the skill comes from my Main Soul...'