This problem is what necessitated the need to converse with other people and read books. By hearing the views of others we learn and develop new ways of thinking.

[One with Sword] then proceed to explain. "Because of the soft iron, when the sword hits a hard object it bends, pure steel on the other hand crumbles or snaps."historical

Tsugumi then had an epiphany, just like how you can never cut apart water but can cut apart rock. If you are too rigid you will get slowly cut till you break. In contrast, as water accepts force the force and gives way. After the force has passed its reforms once more, allowing it to survive more than the rock.

The woman like an honor student gave her answer. "Aura is rigid and does not bend, thus when used it either overcomes or breaks. Spirit bends but has little to give it weight. By adding the flexibility of Spirit, Aura is able to withstand more punishment."

Like a proud teacher, the man made a wide grin and explained the next steps. "Excellent, now the next question. As a sword, if your purpose is to sever, how do you fight when there are enemies too large or too many?"

"Ask for help?"

"Indeed, what you cannot kill with one sword you use a thousand. What you cannot kill with your current one you create a larger sword to fit your purposes as you did with the construct."

"Then I can just create constructs like before."

"Doing so will quickly deplete you, I already explained right?"

Tsugumi who heard the explanations grew confused. 'You already explained? The problem with constructs is they break after use. Break? If they break because they lose form then is it possible to keep them if they don't break?'

The woman who grew wide-eyed started at the man in disbelief. She then asked. "Is that even possible?"

[One with Sword] chuckled as he spoke. "Yes, it is called Sword Intent, thousands of years of "swords" stored and unleashed when needed. You need to know why you make them thus they are called intent. This is what allows one to go beyond a Sword Saint. Once you start creating these formless swords, you temper you will, your Intent."

Amazed Tsugumi bowed and made a dogeza in respect to the man who showed her the way. "Thank you for your guidance teacher. I will follow your word and temper my sword intent. Please watch over me."

[One with sword] made a faint smile and walked away vanishing from existence. Tsugumi then opened her eyes upon returning only to see tens of Antlions corpses around her bringing a smile to her face. "Such a kind master. Thank you."

Excited Tsugumi then created a sword construct from pure aura. Then engulfed it in spirit allowing the energy to permeate the very foundations of the transparent weapon. She then saw an Antlion and had the floating sword skewer it.

After the insect got nailed to the ground, the sword didn't vanish, Tsugumi then willed the sword to float again and strike another. Next, she created another "sword" and had it attack in tandem with her first one. Then she experimented with storing them.

"Where would I put them in?"

The woman then remembered the room [One with Sword] spoke with her. Feeling the man intentionally lead her there to show her the room. Tsugumi imagined the sword constructs floating beside the large pillars. Her floating construct then disappeared from the world and appeared in the room which she imagined. She then willed the swords to come out of her Sword Intent and Manifest in the world once more.

They manifested beside her, guarding their master like reliable knights to a queen. Tsugumi then remembered how large and empty an area the place she wandered had. Smiling the woman cheerfully expressed her gratitude.

"Thank you, Master. Now watch your student kick ass!"

————

"Fuck! this is hard." Aurum cursed as his skin got corroded by the poison. Of the 20 Jormungandrs in his area he only managed to cut down one. The man didn't even understand how he managed to create it. He just remembers wishing to find a way and being extremely angry at these monsters.

Since then he mutilated Hercules Antlions and Desert Dragons using just his main skill [Noble Fencer]. This skill allowed him to perform parries while automatically countering with either an attack or skill. The good thing about his main skill is the passive protection like a six sense it granted.

By following this sense, he could know ahead of time if an attack would land. By combining [Noble Fencer] and [Harmony Swordsmanship] Aurum essentially turned into a parry tank. Despite the hundreds of Hercules Antlions that charged him, none could take him down.

Even as they came by two, threes, fives, tens even by twenties. [Noble Fencer] allowed him to never get overwhelmed despite always being outnumbered. Unfortunately, for all the strength of [Noble Fencer], it lacked utility for ranged attacks.

While the skill allowed him to know the projectile was coming, after blocking what then? He lacked the ability to counter ranged targets. Luckily the Hercules Antlions and Desert Dragons were melee fighters neither having the ability to hit him from range. The problem came from the Jormungandr.

They spewed venom in large streams and the acid was strong enough to melt metal. The monsters were huge assholes in that they waited for Aurum to get surrounded before spraying him and the ones around him in toxic venom.

Within seconds both ants and lizards died by the bucket. Aura due to Hiro's buffs did not die but almost went insane from the pain. As if ordered the lesser monsters protected the nineteen Jormungandrs while they used them as meat shields. Whenever Aurum tried to attack the large snakes, the other monsters would prevent him from doing so.

"FUCK, this is going nowhere! I wonder if Lars, Geo, or Lady Tsugumi can spare some help?"

Due to him having an average AGI, the son of standard knew what was going on with the others but lacked specifics. He felt the massive sky beam from Lars side the being that appeared gave him the shivers. Aurum then felt the figure get smaller for some reason.

Next, he felt a large explosion of an unknown caliber in both Geo and Tsugumi's areas. As their names still remained on the Party menu, no one should have died yet. From their HPs which fluctuated widely, it was hard to know what exactly happened.

Aware of his strength, Aurum knew he was specialized like a tank. He could bear a lot of punishment but lacked the ability to return it. While brawling with the small monsters, the snakes would slam their tales or bodies and flatten the ones around him.

"The only thing I haven't tried is getting hit with a tail and riding it." As the damage from the poison healed. Aurum tried to charge toward the snakes once more. They then started spewing venom in small globs, using [Noble Fencer] the son of Standar avoided or countered the ones coming for him.

Even with [Harmony Swordsmanship] the best he could do was smash them in the air. But since the globs broke apart mid-air he got splattered. No matter how he thought it was better to get showered a little bit than have the whole thing hit you. As the poison dissolved his battle suit he suddenly got an idea.