Chapter [313] Training.

I followed the Sword Saint until we reached an empty ground.

Except for maybe dead bushes, there was nothing here, just the corrupted land below me.

"Do you have an Idea of the Demonic Continent now?"

"Pardon?"

Confused, I said.

"So you don't."

Master's words confused me. Just what is he asking?

I have a general idea of what the Demonic Continent is like...But it can't be that simple.

Master wouldn't have asked me such a simple question.

"You don't get it to do you...sigh."

Is he disappointed? What Am I supposed to say here?

It makes sense I'm confused. This is the first time I've been here and although yes the Demonic Continent is dangerous...but Master Arken is with me.

With him here, nothing will touch us.

So what am I supposed to answer with?

"Alan, do you see the ground?"

He said, as he bent down and dug up the dirt with his hands.

"Feel it."

I followed his instructions and grasped the Dirt below...

"..?"

Nothing? No texture? No smell? No...nothing?

"It's all dead. This entire continent is dead."

Master Arken explained.

"Alexander and Olivia had trouble adjusting to the corruption here..."

"But you're perfectly fine. That's good."

Is he complimenting me or questioning me? I wonder.

"But don't let your guard down Alan. Corruption will always come. It will attack you when you least expect it."

"Always be ready."

His words rang in my mind.

Always be ready...

Always be ready...

Master, Oh How I wish I could tell you how I am always ready. I have a b.a.s.t.a.r.d that constantly annoys me and is ready to manipulate me. He always makes me be prepared for things like this.

Speaking of him...his actions are weird.

He's gone completely silent. I haven't heard anything from him. This is weird.

very Weird. No Nightmares to haunt me, No headaches...No nothing to weaken my mental fort.i.tude.

Oh well, Let's just leave it.

Wai-

"Do you know what you lack Alan?"

Master's words caught my attention. I questioned in my mind but failed to come up with a suitable answer.

What AM am I lacking?

Maybe Rank? I haven't focused on increasing my rank for quite a while now.

"My rank?"

I answered. But I was wrong.

"No, for your age your rank is excellent. And besides your far stronger than what your rank entails."

He explained as he dropped the dirt he had in his hand.

"Take out the Ame-No-Sakahoko."

I did as he instructed. Master Arken held his hand out.

I gave him the Ame-No-Sakahoko. Master Arken held it for a while and looked at it with a sorrowful gaze. It was the weapon of his old colleague and Brother In Arms after all.

"It chose you."

He said.

"Yes."

I confirmed. The legendary spear, Ame-No-Sakahoko had chosen me, not the other's far stronger and worthier than me.

It had chosen me, despite the strength of the others.

"Do you know what that means?"

He asked. As he gazed at me. His eyes pierced through me. I felt like I could not hide anything from his profound gaze.

"...No."

But I didnt know why. I didnt know why the Ame-No-Sakahoko had chosen me. I knew it was not because of my strength. It did not choose me because of my potential...then why?

"Because you are similar to Hiroto Himself."

..?

I am similar to the Legendary Spear Saint. How so?

"Hiroto was just like you, He was cold, collected...But most importantly he had a heart."

"A heart which wanted to help. And wanted to be 'helped'."

....

His explanation was truly spot on. The latter part of it. I don't know about the former though.

"Hiroto...was complex, he was cold at first. He didn't hesitate to kill those who hurt him or others he cared for...but he had a heart. He could be the coldest person or the Kindest person.

He had a character that I failed to understand...but he was caring. He cared for those under his protection and truly fought for Humanity. He had a deep hatred for the demons.

But he was conflicted...Sometimes he wondered what his true purpose was..."

I listened to him quietly. I wanted to know what the Legendary Spear Saint was like.

So he was that kind of person huh...

"The Ame-no-sakahoko chose him when he was at his lowest. When he was...bad. When his heart was filled with evil I guess you could say?"

It seemed like he was questioning his own words.

"The spear of righteousness chose the spear saint when he was evil?"

I asked. When you took in the name of the spear and the fact that it was a weapon with a soul that could choose its master...why?

'Maybe because it saw the righteousness in

"It was because he saw the righteousness in his heart."

The sword saint completed my thoughts.

"It saw that in you as well. But..."

The sword saint stopped in the middle of his sentence, he pointed the Tip of the Ame-No-Sakahoko at my heart and continued.

"You don't know how to use it."

...I beg your pardon?

I don't know how to use the Spear.

"Yes. You don't know the Ame-No-Sakahoko."

...?

I was confused.

"But I've read the description and know how to accurately use the move set?"

"Alan. The importance of the weapon is not always in the effects in the Description."

He said. I thought about his words...The importance of the weapon is not hidden in the description. Doesn't the description say everything about the weapon?

"You have yet to hear the Soul of the Ame-No-Sakahoko."

[Supreme Dragon of Chaos Suleras agrees.]

[Supreme Dragon of Frost Lanesha Agrees.]

And now even those two are agreeing with him.

"I've asked Oliver to give you a leave until the end of the Year, until the Tournament between the academies at the Capitol."

His aura increased. I could hear the rumbling of thunder in the skies...

Master gave me the Ame-No-Sakahoko and said.

"I'm going to increase your proficiency with the Heavenly Spear art until you can hear the voice of the Ame-No-Sakahoko. Until the end of the year..."

I felt s.h.i.+vers run down my spine.

"???? ???????????????? ?????? ????????."

And with that my training began.