In the middle of swordsmans.h.i.+p cla.s.s, her relaxation was interrupted.

Fending off the strikes of ten different challengers while reading a book on continental politics, Tanya couldn't care less if her power seemed bizarre. In the end, she only displayed the strength of a [Warrior 10], which perfectly supported her ident.i.ty as the person that fended off the invading knights.

Even so, she did seem a little too skilled. It seemed much more evident when the challengers noted that she was not using an actual wooden sword, but a cardboard cutout.

'This is too much!' They could only weep on their knees while tearing the gra.s.s from the soil and rage because of their own incompetence. Tanya did not even have to look at them or use a real sword to fend them off.

"Are you all done yet?" Tanya asked as she shut her book.

"Yes…" The challengers left, all heartbroken at their crus.h.i.+ng defeat against Tanya.

"Serves them right. Daring to challenge you like that and still not showing any form of skill." Erina scoffed as she saw the challengers walk off.

"Erina, is there something you need right now? I thought you are doing well with your progression, no?" The question did not seem sarcastic, pressuring Erina over her self-conceived incompetence.

"Ah… I have hit a bottleneck at [Warrior 8]." Erina touched her two index fingers together and repeatedly tapped them, nervously waiting for Tanya to act.

"I see… work harder." 

"..."

Erina was speechless.

"I have tried working extra hard, I've even skipped sleeping on some days to give me more time to practice."

"Sleep is very important." Tanya sat down on the gra.s.s and looked at Erina with her enchanting eyes. As someone that was deprived of her sleep quite often, she understood its importance.

"Are you saying I should sleep normally?"

"That is a question that doesn't take an expert to answer." Tanya smiled warmly.

"Could you teach me how to sleep better? I really don't feel like I can fall asleep easily. I get tired but my mind won't drift off." Erina explained as she too sat down, next to Tanya.

"Just sleep." Again Tanya gave such a style of advice.

Sometimes, the most simple things required the most simple answers. Tanya knew this because she had lived long enough to obtain much wisdom. The likes of the grandparent down the street telling their grandchildren life lessons could not compare to Tanya.

"Could you teach me~? I think I forgot how to sleep…" Erina closed in on Tanya, seductively grinning at the latter.

"Practice your sword first. You are not even that strong yet. Sleep and practice. There is no time for doing naughty things unless you can already protect yourself." Tanya pushes Erina away, clearly not in the mood for such activities.

"Fine…"

"However, I will teach a simple skill that swordsmen can use to get an edge over others. This should help you improve by leaps and bounds in terms of ability. Please memorise this name and carve what I am about to show you into your heart." Tanya got up and picked up the cardboard sword, holding it like she was about to thrust it forward.

"[Sword Force]" A glowing crimson light surrounded the cardboard and rippled into the air like an unstable gas. After a brief moment, the instability halted and the form became as static as steel. Tanya had never used this skill in combat since she came to the world, feeling as though that such a basic skill should be left as a training utility. However, she knew very well that the skill had enormous potential.

She had once used [Sword Force] to kill an enemy General from a kilometre away. Tane shocked the world with this one move.

Now she treated the skill indifferently. There are better skills for her to use in actual combat. This skill cannot be used too effectively before the 4th ascension anyway.

"Do you understand? I have shown you the form, now you should be able to repeat it if you train hard enough." Tanya threw the cardboard to the ground and let out a sigh.

"I understand. Thank you for teaching me this skill!" Erina bowed her head in awe.

"It's nothing. A single skill won't shake the world. Just train faithfully and I trust that you will definitely break through to the second ascension before the end of the year."

Erina felt flattered. Tanya thought so highly of her and even entrusted her with a powerful skill that she had never seen before. Even if it was just a low level technique, its versatility could not be ignored.

She wanted to thank Tanya, but she knew that Tanya only wanted to see results. Therefore, Erina would show Tanya results. 

"If that is all, I think this will be it for today. I have important business to attend to, so please don't mind me." Tanya smiled as she patted Erina's shoulder, leaving the practice field.

The cla.s.s ended and Erina felt like she had gained more from this than she had in her entire life.

If Tanya were to learn of this, she would definitely have been unable to hold her laughter. The technique could only be considered as a beginner technique. Tier 1 skills are the only things Tanya could carry over from her last life, limiting her greatly. Although, she killed for the skills she wanted. 

Growth was not a big issue, rather the obtaining of her desired skills and spells were.

"I wonder if Alpha has finished already? I have given him more than enough time to eliminate a high value target…" Tanya pondered on this for a moment before remembering that she could not hold homunculi to the same standards as her.

As such, Erina trained harder.

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