I caught my breath after training, my muscles aching. Sweat dripped from my hair as hurried footsteps pounded against the dirt.

  I turned to see my father rushing toward me, His black hair and sharp eyes mirrored my own. He stopped right in front of me, panting. “What's wrong, Dad?”

  "Soren, go to the Commander now! I saw enemy soldiers marching nearby in the forest—quickly," my father ordered, "They… have a rank 5 swordsman with them, this is really bad." He clenched his fists as he spoke.

  Who is planning to attack us? The kingdom of Elderat has many enemies; if they want to attack us, so be it but do they have to invade our Goldshire first?

  "I’m on it." Worries gnawed at me, but I had no time for questions—I had to focus on the task at hand.

  I sprinted toward the outpost, which was visible even from the Training Ground.

  Though my muscles were sore from training, I pushed on. The outpost served as a lookout tower, keeping watch over the town and housing the guards for emergencies such as this.

  Wouldn't we even be able to defend our town? It's not like the Commanders can handle the rank 5 swordsman.

  As I reached the outpost, I slid to a halt, swung open the wooden door, and took a moment to catch my breath, my lungs burning from running without catching my breath properly after training.

  I saw the Commander standing up, talking to a guard, and I quickly walked toward him.

  "Kid!" Commander Alex called out. "Why are you here? Is everything fine, Kid?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

  "I'm fine, but Commander my father saw enemy troops marching nearby in the forest," I said in a worried tone, "They also have a rank 5 swordsman; I don't think we can defend the village without reinforcements."

  "This is bad news, I'll try to contact the royal family for aid,” he said as he rustled his hair, “take the test for rank 1 tomorrow, we will take all the help we can get Kid, tell Reynard, I mean your Father to scout out the enemy numbers and report back to me," he instructed.

  The Commander's jaw clenched, and his expression grew tense. Without hesitation, he turned to the guards, ordering them to prepare for action; his grim expression said it all—he knew he didn't stand a chance against a rank 5 swordsman.

  I slumped down into a nearby chair, after a moment I trudged out of the outpost, my legs felt heavy from exhaustion.

  I noticed the bustling activity around me. Merchants waving around fabrics and trinkets at passing customers, the scent of meat and freshly baked bread through the air, making my stomach growl.

  Do these people even know what might happen to us if we do not manage to defend our town?

  Soon, I saw my house just as it always looked: a modest two-story home with a small garden. It was simple, yet it felt warm and welcoming.

  I stepped towards the front door and took a deep breath; I opened the door and walked in.

  Dad's probably out there warning the people about the danger; I need to relay the orders Commander Alex gave me to him, alas, I can only wait.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Hunger gnawed at me as I headed to the kitchen. Cooking something simple was the only way to distract myself. Soon, the scent of porridge filled the air.

  After I finished cooking, I put the bowl filled with porridge on the table and began eating the food.

  I wonder when Dad will allow me to take the test so I can get my rank 1 swordsman badge and help him.

  I heard the door creak; I finished eating my food as my father walked into the kitchen; he seemed quite exhausted from his duties.

  “The Commander asked you to go scout out the enemy numbers Dad,” I said as I stood up.

  “Alright, I will go immediately,” he said as if he was expecting it.

  “He also told me to take the test, Dad.”

  “Meet me in the training ground; I will be there as soon as I return,” he said as he walked away.

  So tomorrow, I will finally be taking the test; my father had stopped me since I broke through to rank 1 six months ago.

  I heard the door open again and then close; my father had left, and now that I was left all alone at home, I went to my room and sat down on my bed; I closed my eyes and began absorbing Mana from my surroundings into my Core.

  If this attack was caused by one of the three Kingdoms, then there will be a war. I must grow stronger if I don't want to die a useless death; I also can't just leave behind Dad and Commander Alex.

  Even Commander Alex wouldn't stand a chance against a rank 5 swordsman.

  When you reach a higher rank, not only does your mana core become stronger—allowing you to store more mana, but your Mana Growth allows you to channel your Mana faster, as if that alone wasn't enough, your Mana also grows stronger.

  After absorbing Mana for a few hours, I opened my eyes and stretched my body before I walked out of my house and began strolling towards the Training Ground.

  I saw my father and the Commander talking about something in the Training Ground.

  Dad's probably telling Commander Alex about what he found out as he scouted the enemy.

  I quickly picked up my pace and reached him, Commander Alex left before he waved his hand towards me.

  "What did you find out, Dad?" I asked, curious to know what he had found.

  "They have set up a camp in the forest, most likely preparing to attack us, and the bad part is there are quite a lot of them," he didn't seem very happy as he replied.

  Our country has many enemies, but why do they have to attack our town out of all of the places they can launch an assault, curses.

  "So, were they from the kingdom of Reinhart?" I asked as I stared at my father.

  "Yes, they were from the kingdom of Reinhart," He said with an annoyed expression on his face, "They are rallying up their troops to attack Goldshire, it will only take them at most a week to rally up, there are so many of them that even if reinforcement arrive we will still lose,” he said as he crossed his arms.

  The situation is worse than I thought; we all might lose our lives here.

  “It seems they want to invade the entirety of the Kingdom of Elderat, it simply doesn't make sense that they have brought three rank 5 swordsmen with them to conquer a small town such as ours…"

  Damn it… Three rank 5 swordsmen! This is even worse than I thought before; we stand no chance, and now our only hope is the Reinforcements from the kingdom.

  My father sighed before he spoke, "Soren, spar with me if you do not even land a single hit on me, I won't let you fight in this battle of life and death, you must escape at all cost, however, if you land a hit on me I will allow you to participate in this battle" his voice had a serious tone,

  "I won't let you take the test if you fail to land even a single hit.” he grabbed a wooden sword from a nearby rack.

  “Yes, Dad, I will make sure not to disappoint you.”

  Dad underestimates me a lot; I have been pouring blood, sweat, and tears into my training since I reached rank 1; if I can't even land a single hit on him, then I don't deserve to participate in the battle.

  I walked to a rack holding wooden swords; I grabbed one and walked toward my father, staying away an arm's length.

  I held my sword up and took a deep breath. Immediately, He charged straight toward me; he swung his wooden sword, aiming for my head. I raised my sword to block his strike; the impact from the strike was straining my arms.

  Before I could retaliate. He struck at my leg. I hit the hard dirt ground before I could even react, "Focus, Soren!" He said coldly.

  Damn it, how can he expect me to keep up with him when he is a rank 3 swordsman?

  I tightened my grip on my sword and stood back up. I need to be cool-headed; I must not lose my temper. I thought before we started sparring again.

  Our swords clashed over and over. I tried to aim for his ribs, head, legs, anywhere I could land a strike, but every time, he was faster and stronger than me.

  He stepped closer towards me and swung, his sword lashing out, aiming for my head but it was a feint, he quickly moved around and struck at my legs; I barely got my sword down in time; the impact rattled my arms, and my shoulder grew heavier every second, and my breath grew uneven.

  I must Use Swift Strike now, he doesn't know I can use it!

  I hardened my grip on the wooden sword as I used the only technique I knew—Swift Strike, a technique that empowered my sword strikes. Mana surged inside my arms and legs, amplifying my speed and strength.

  I lunged forward as fast as I could, my body on the verge of collapse. I pushed aside all the pain and clenched my teeth.

  He rushed to block my strike. He barely managed to block my strike in time; the impact from the clash sent him sliding back a yard; he seemed clearly surprised as to what happened.

  This should be enough to convince him to let me join in the battle and take the test.

  "You brat, since when did you learn to use Swift Strike?" he said as he smiled.

  "I kept practicing Swift Strike after you taught me the basics of it," A smile crept on my face, clearly feeling proud, "Can I now join in the war?"

  "Fine, but get your swordsmanship license first, and during the battle, you must stay with me." He said as he walked towards me, "Let's go back home now, it is late."

  He patted my shoulder. "Soren, you have become much stronger than I gave you credit for. good job you snobby brat," he spoke with a warm smile.

  Now I knew what I had to do. I had to become stronger, much stronger; even my father wouldn't stand a chance against a rank 5 swordsman; he is only a rank 3 swordsman; I must become stronger for his sake. I must protect everything precious to me!