As the days passed on the western mountain range, the routine of training and sparring with Yato became an integral part of my daily life. The snow-coveredndscape bore witness to the continuous evolution of my martial skills.


    On the 9th day since our arrival, Yato''s acknowledgement of my progress brought a sense of aplishment. His words resonated with a reassurance that went beyond the physical aspect of training.


    "Well, even I have to admit it now, you''ve been making rapid improvements. Your breathing is correct, your stance is more refined, and your other bad habits are now almost negligible. Good job," Yato praised, his silver hair contrasting with the wintry backdrop.


    Despite the acknowledgement, a hint of doubt lingered within me. "You say that, but all I''ve been doing for the past twelve days is getting my ass kicked by you," I remarked, a yful smirk forming on my lips. "It makes me wonder if I''m truly improving."


    "Trust me, you are," Yato reassured. "By the end of the second week, you''ll be twice as strong as you were beforeing here."


    I just nodded my head and stood up on my legs.


    Grrrr-!!


    Upon hearing a growl emanating from somewhere nearby, Yato''s ears perked up and he looked towards the woods.


    "Hmm? Was that a beast?" he asked aloud, frowning.


    But how could that be a beast? Every single one of them is too terrified by Yatoo''s presence to even approach the area he''s in.


    "No! That was my stomach!" I snapped, frustrated beyond reason.


    "Oh, so you''re hungry?" Yato pped his hands together in understanding. "But how is that possible? You have eaten one cup of noodles every day sinceing here."


    Someone tell this idiot that eating one cup of noodles means nothing when I have to train this very hard every day.


    While I eat only cup noodles he eats meat, cake and anything delicious.


    discrepancy between our diets was a constant source of annoyance, but I knew better than toin openly. Yato''s calm demeanour and asional teasing only fueled my determination to surpass him not just in martial arts but also in culinary indulgences.


    Ignoring my grumbling stomach, Yato said "How about I reward you for your patience?"


    Upon hearing the word ''reward,'' anticipation surged within me. What could it possibly be?


    A sliver of red velvet cake? Some leftover chicken soup? Thest piece of beef jerky? Heck, at this point, I''m even willing to eat leftover chicken bones!


    "I allow you to now use mana while training and sparring," Yatoo dered.


    …Huh?! That''s it?!


    For reference, after I grasped the basics of Mana Coating and began my training with the sword, I was not allowed to use mana at all.


    "Huh?! How is that a reward? If you want to give me something then just, for the love of god, give me something to eat!"


    "Not happening, and if youin I would not give you even cup noodles." Yato shed an amused smile in my direction before he got up. "Come on, let''s start today''s training."


    …Oh, yeah. I''m going to die. Just wait for me a little more Grandma, I''m on my way to you.


    ***


    I gave it my all during the spar with Yato, but even after tapping into my mana, he ruthlessly wiped the floor with my ass.


    I now found myself in the same defeated position I was in before the training— lying face-t on the ground.


    "Good job," Yato''s voice reached my ears. "I didn''t expect your mana control to be that impressive."


    There was nothing too good about getting my ass kicked out of him! I wasn''t even sure if I should feel proud or embarrassed about my mana control being praised after a thorough defeat.


    "Can''t we focus on the fact that I can''t defeat you even with mana now?!" I grumbled from my spot on the ground.


    Yato chuckled, offering me a hand to help me up. "Defeating me isn''t the only measure of progress. You''re adapting to mana usage quickly. In time, you''ll learn how to incorporate it into your fighting style more effectively."


    I sighed, epting his hand and pulling myself up. "Easy for you to say. I feel like no matter how much I train, the gap between us is still enormous."


    He nodded, a serious expression crossing his face. "The journey to mastery is long and challenging. Don''t let temporary setbacks discourage you. Use them as stepping stones."


    His words resonated, and I couldn''t deny the truth in them. Yet, the frustration of being consistently outmatched persisted.


    "Alright, let''s try something different," Yato suggested a mischievous glint in his eyes. "How about we have a mock battle where you get to use mana to its fullest? No holding back."


    The proposition caught my attention, sparking a flicker of determination. "You mean... a real fight?"


    "Yes. Test your limits, and explore the extent of your mana control. It''s time to break free from the constraints."


    The air was charged with anticipation, and my nerves were a mix of excitement and trepidation.


    The sh began, and this time, fueled by mana, Iunched into the fight with newfound vigour. The air hummed with energy as our swords met, creating sparks that illuminated the darkening mountain.


    Despite the intensity of our exchange, Yato effortlessly countered my every move. It was as if he anticipated my actions before I made them.


    "Use your mana more dynamically," he advised, parrying a strike. "Let it guide your movements, don''t force it."


    I absorbed his guidance, attempting to synchronize my mana usage with my swordy. The battle continued each moment as a test of my evolving skills.


    Then, in a surge of determination, I unleashed a concentrated burst of mana, coating my sword in a shimmering glow. The de cut through the air with newfound speed and precision.


    Yato''s eyes widened slightly, acknowledging the improvement. "Good, Lucas. Now, maintain that focus."


    The mock battle raged on, a dance of steel and magic under the vast mountain sky. As the sh continued, I could sense a subtle shift—a glimmer of progress, a step closer to bridging the formidable gap that separated us.


    And in that moment, I embraced the challenge, knowing that each swing of the sword and every surge of mana brought me closer to the mastery Yato spoke of.