William's current physical condition was leagues beyond what he had in his previous life. Human reflexes are guided by a series of processes, involving the spine, brain, muscle nerves, and more. The special feat granted to him by the mysterious space, Lightning Reflexes, enhanced not only his instantaneous reaction speed but also improved his coordination, making his swordsmanship training twice as effective with half the effort.
Many swordsmanship techniques and principles required just one demonstration for William to replicate them almost perfectly. If it were merely about rote memorization, William believed he could have managed it in his previous life as well, just like many quick-witted individuals. However, achieving precision in movement—where the eyes, mind, and hands work in perfect harmony—was no simple feat. This talent, William thought, likely surpassed even that of some professional athletes from his previous life.
Yet, as in his past life, the best athletes relied on more than just talent. It was the relentless, day-by-day grind of rigorous training that allowed them to fully realize their potential. Similarly, swordsmanship, while dependent on innate ability, offered no shortcuts to improvement. Even in a fantastical world, the path to enhancing physical prowess was still paved with monotonous, repetitive, and grueling exercises. Such training was not only a test of physical endurance but also a trial of willpower, especially for impulsive youths and children.
William's greatest advantage, however, lay in the mature soul residing within his youthful body.
That night, as William drifted into sleep, he once again found himself in the dream realm he referred to as the Plaza of Fate.
After days of toil, the plaza had undergone some changes. A path had finally appeared at one end, and like the plaza itself, this path was different from what he had encountered before.
The dirt road had transformed into a stone-paved path, the wooden signpost replaced by a stone stele. On either side of the path, wooden railings had appeared—though William doubted their usefulness. The low railings barely reached his thighs and could be easily vaulted over. What truly deterred him was the oppressive darkness surrounding the path, which seemed to repel any thoughts of venturing beyond.
At the entrance to the path, a thin yet impenetrable mist continued to block William's way.
He approached the stone stele to examine the newly revealed task.
[Sword Prodigy]
Reaching the pinnacle requires not only effort but also talent. There are many paths to pursue strength, and you have chosen swordsmanship. During your training at the dojo, elevate the skill feat "Basic Swordsmanship" to the next level.
Requirements:
Skill Feat: "Basic Swordsmanship"Background Feat: "Apprentice of Isshin Dojo"
Reward:
Special Feat: Zen Sword Arts
The absence of Threads of Fate as a requirement surprised William. He wasn't sure if this was unique to this task or if future tasks would adjust their requirements depending on the situation.
William had already obtained the skill feat "Basic Swordsmanship," but the newly introduced "Background Feat" left him puzzled. He had no idea how to acquire it. Nevertheless, the task aligned perfectly with his plan to spend time at the dojo honing his swordsmanship. Without even considering other potential paths, William leaned toward this one. He would have to figure out how to obtain the background feat or wait for other paths to reveal themselves before making a final decision.
In the blink of an eye, two months had passed since William and his companions began their training at the Isshin Dojo. During this time, aside from practicing swordsmanship, William had purchased numerous books on navigation and dedicated his spare moments to studying the art.
In this world, education was far less accessible than in William's previous life. Take William's small group as an example: of the four, only William and Aramis—whose families had once been well-off before their misfortunes—were literate. Recently, Edmond, who had been spending more time with them and seemed to be integrating into their group, was practically illiterate. He could only recognize a handful of common characters and often made mistakes, a situation mitigated only by his residence at the dojo. Given that his mother had passed away early and his father had disappeared at sea, there was no one to ensure he received an education.
From what William had observed, without mandatory education policies, only families that had solved their basic needs would consider sending their children to receive a basic education. Middle-class or wealthier families, with the resources and foresight, might invest in their children's training in specialized fields like navigation or medicine. Otherwise, such knowledge was typically passed down within professional families.
Under normal circumstances, individuals from such backgrounds wouldn't willingly become pirates. Even in William's previous life, navigators were considered skilled professionals. In a world dotted with islands and thriving maritime trade, navigators were in high demand and could easily find work on merchant ships. Some might even inherit family-owned vessels.
Navigators formed a vital part of the maritime economy, and those willing to become pirates were few and far between. Talented navigators were even rarer.
Understanding this context, it became clear why William, despite his exhaustion from daily swordsmanship training, still buried himself in hefty tomes to study navigation.
In ancient times, navigators who led fleets were held in high regard. Often, their status aboard a ship was second only to the captain. In an era of limited scientific understanding, the seemingly mystical art of navigation endowed them with a certain aura of authority. They sometimes doubled as spiritual leaders or counselors, soothing the crew's anxieties.
Whether for their indispensable navigation skills or their role in maintaining morale, navigators wielded significant influence among the crew. A captain seeking to maintain control over the ship needed the support of the navigator.
Though this world allowed individuals to fight entire armies single-handedly, unlike Earth, where a captain's personal combat prowess often sufficed to maintain order, the navigator's influence was still undeniable. After all, in the vast, unforgiving seas, no amount of strength could save you from starvation or thirst.
By mastering navigation, William would be well-prepared for his future—whether he founded his own pirate crew or infiltrated and took over another.
With swordsmanship to arm his body and navigation to arm his mind, William would be better equipped to survive and thrive on the seas.
After all, in the pirate trade—an industry that could be aptly described as a "red ocean"—there was no room for complacency.
Pirates on these seas not only had to contend with the Marines' relentless pursuit and bounty hunters' schemes but also had to guard against betrayal and competition from their peers. Danger lurked everywhere.
William's experience with the Danton Pirates had taught him that in this line of work, a crushing defeat didn't just mean losing your livelihood—it could very well cost you your life!
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