"Today, we will spar again," dered Yato.


    "Again?" I frowned in displeasure.


    We have been engaging in sparring sessions almost every single day since we came to this ce.


    Though I learned so many things from sparring against him, his skills are on apletely different level than mine.


    Fighting him feels like trying to climb a wall that I know I can''t ever climb in a lifetime.


    Going against him, I couldn''t help but feel inferior. And I''m not good at dealing with inferiorityplexes since I don''t feel it much.


    Maybe Yato noticed my thoughts as he let out a sigh and said, "I can see you don''t like losing much, but as I''ve said before, martial arts can only be honed inbat."


    …I guess he has a point.


    "Alright," I relented. "Let''s get started then."


    "Good," Yato nodded. "And don''t worry, I will go easy on you this time."


    ''Like that, you went easy on me before.'' I remarked inside of my head and followed Yato outside to take another beating from him.


    The mountain air felt colder as we stepped outside, and the ground was covered in a thinyer of snow. Yato, everposed, assumed a stance with his ck sword at the ready.


    I readied my sword, taking a deep breath to focus my mind. The spar began, and Yato''s movements were a blur as he effortlessly countered my strikes.


    Despite knowing that he was going easy on me, it was still a struggle to keep up. Each swing of his sword felt like a lesson in humility, a reminder of the vast gap in our skills.


    "Haaah!" I lunged forward, attempting a series of quick strikes. Yato parried effortlessly and countered with a precise move that left me off bnce.


    He stepped back, giving me a moment to recover. "Lucas, your attacksck conviction. You hesitate, and that hesitation bes a weakness."


    I nodded, absorbing his feedback. It was true; there was a lingering doubt in my strikes. Perhaps it stemmed from my awareness of the vast difference in our abilities.


    "Again!" Yato''s voice cut through the quiet mountain air, and the spar continued. I focused on implementing his advice, attempting to infuse my attacks with more certainty.


    15 minutester…


    Thwack—!!


    A forceful kick mmed into my chest, propelling me back in the air until I collided with the ground, tumbling and rolling beforeing to a halt.


    "F-Freaking hell," I stammered, cursing softly under my breath.


    I gathered myself and rose to my feet, directing my gaze towards Yato. "I will go easy on you this time, my ass!"


    Yato stifled a chuckle, his tone filled with amusement. "Believe me, this is me going easy."


    I rolled my eyes, frustration building within me.


    Gathering my strength, I charged forward with my sword poised for an attack.


    As soon as I closed the distance between us, with swift precision, I swung my sword towards Yato.


    Cling—!!


    However, Yatoo effortlessly deflected my assault with his sword, skillfully pushing me onto my back foot.


    "Arghh!"


    Gritting my teeth, without missing a beat, Iunched a rapid session of sword swings at Yato


    Cling, Cling, Cling—!!


    But once again, Yato deftly parried every one of my strikes, relentlessly forcing me backwards.


    Despite my determined efforts, Yato''s expertise proved insurmountable. Each party felt like a calcted dance, and I found myself caught in a relentless storm of precise counterattacks.


    Sweat dripped down my face as I struggled to maintain myposure. Yato''s movements were a symphony of efficiency, his sword a seamless extension of his will.


    "Your form is good, Lucas, but you need to anticipate," Yato advised, his voice calm amid the sh of des.


    I nodded, absorbing his guidance, but frustration lingered. Anticipation felt like an elusive skill, a distant goal that remained just out of reach.


    As the spar continued, Yato''s strikes became more intricate. He seamlessly weaved between offence and defence, leaving me with little room to react. Each time I thought I saw an opening, it closed faster than I could exploit it.


    Thwack—!!


    A swift strike to my side sent me stumbling. I gritted my teeth, refusing to sumb to the mounting weariness.


    Yato paused, sensing my exhaustion. "Remember, Lucas,bat is not just about physical prowess. It''s a mental dance. Predict your opponent''s moves, and you''ll find the openings you seek."


    His words resonated with me, and I refocused my energy. The mountain wind carried the echoes of our shing des, a testament to the ongoing struggle between student and mentor.


    With newfound determination, I adjusted my stance, attempting to anticipate Yato''s movements. As he lunged forward, I side-stepped, narrowly avoiding his attack. Encouraged by this small victory, I counterattacked with a quick session of strikes.


    Cling, Cling, Cling—!!


    Our swords exchanged with each other a few times but I''m sure that he intentionally let me strike, if he wanted he would defeated me hundreds of times in these moments.


    "Tsk!" Frustrated, I clicked my tongue.


    Fwoosh—!


    To make some breathing space, I hopped a few steps back to safety. I refused to get kicked by him again.


    And I can''t keep on attacking him blindly.


    I need to devise a strategy to gain an advantage, even if victory against him seems to be elusive– far from my reach.


    I have to find a way to seize the upper hand.


    Alright, let''s calm down and think. There has to be something I can use on him.


    Yato stood poised, his sword at the ready, calm and collected aura surrounding him.


    Anticipation, he emphasized. If I could predict his moves, and find the rhythm in our dance of des, perhaps I could turn the tide in my favor.


    I analyzed Yato''s movements, searching for patterns or subtle cues. He advanced with measured steps, each strike calcted. The snow-covered ground beneath us served as a canvas for our duel, a silent witness to the struggle between mentor and student.


    "Alright, Yato," I muttered to myself, narrowing my focus. "Let''s see if I can catch a glimpse of your next move."


    As Yato approached, I steadied my stance, determined to break free from the cycle of being forced on the defensive. I took a calcted step to the side, attempting to preempt his strike.


    Cling—!!


    Sess! I managed to deflect his attack, surprising even myself. A spark of confidence ignited within me.


    Yato''s eyes gleamed with approval. "Good, Lucas. You''re beginning to grasp it."


    A small smirkes to my face.


    "However, you are too immature if you think you can defeat me right now,"  Yato said the next moment as my eyes widened in surprise.


    Swoosh—!!


    "...?!"


    Before I could understand my current situation Yato appeared before me out of thin air!


    My eyes widened in disbelief as he unleashed a powerful horizontal sh with his sword, aimed directly at me.


    Thwoosh—!!!


    Reacting quickly, I raised my sword to block his attack, but the sheer force behind his strike flung me in the air, tumbling to the side.


    Performing a mid-air backflip, I managed tond on my feet, stumbling a few steps before regaining my stance.


    I looked back at Yato in front of me, my eyes still widened in shock.


    Swish—!!


    In an instant, Yato appeared before me once again, his presence both startling and disorienting.


    "You think too much," he stated inly.


    "...?!"


    Before I could even react, he thrashed his knee into my abdomen, causing me to crumple to my knees.


    Consumed by intense pain, I started to cough fitfully.


    "Khuuk! Khuaaaak!!"


    Observing my agonized state, Yato tossed a healing potion in my direction and took a step back.


    As he moved away, he began to speak.


    "Your mind is cluttered with strategies, endless possibilities, and tactics. To anticipate, you must clear your thoughts and feel the flow ofbat," Yato exined, his voice calm amidst the aftermath of our intense sh.


    Still recovering from the impact, I reached for the healing potion, hastily downing it to ease the pain in my abdomen. Yato''s words echoed in my mind, urging me to reassess my approach tobat.


    As the healing potion took effect, I pushed myself back up, focusing on Yato''s teachings. Clearing my mind, I sought to feel the rhythm of our duel rather than overthinking every move.


    Yato observed my efforts with a discerning gaze. "Combat is a dance, Lucas. Let the movements guide you, trust your instincts, and you''ll find the openings you seek."


    Nodding in acknowledgment, I reset my stance, ready for the spar to continue. Yato, everposed, resumed his position, the ck sword gleaming in the cold mountain air.


    The sh resumed, but this time, I approached it with a newfound mindset. Instead of getting lost in the myriad of strategies, I focused on the ebb and flow of our movements.


    "Haaah!" I lunged forward with renewed determination, my strikes bing more fluid. Yato countered with precise moves, his de a symphony of calcted strikes and effortless blocks.


    As we exchanged blows, I felt a shift in the atmosphere. The spar transformed into a more synchronized exchange, our des meeting and parting in a harmonious rhythm. Yato''s nod of approval hinted at progress.


    The mountain wind carried the echoes of our duel, a testament to the evolving dynamics between us. The snow-covered ground beneath us bore witness to the struggle, our footprints marking the dance ofbat.


    Minutes turned into moments, and the spar approached its conclusion. Yato, with a subtle smile, delivered a final strike that I barely managed to block. The sh lingered for a brief moment before he stepped back.


    "Well done, Lucas. You''ve shown improvement," Yatomended, his expression conveying both satisfaction and encouragement.


    Panting, I acknowledged his words, grateful for the guidance that pushed me to evolve in the art ofbat.