Lucien laid in bed, completely drained. Every muscle in his body ached like he'd been crushed under a mountain. He couldn't even lift his arms. Still, the smile on his face wouldn't leave.
He'd done it. He finished the thousand swings.
But as he relaxed into his soft, oversized bed, reality came knocking again. There was a limit to what he could do, and he hit it hard. Literally. He couldn't move for now.
With a sigh, Lucien whispered.
"System, show me my status."
Ding!A familiar transparent blue panel appeared in front of his face, hovering in the air like a magical hologram.
Status Window
Name: Lucien Graycliff
Age: 17
Race: Human
Title: [Useless Prince]
Class: Swordsman
Level: 1
Skills: None
Trait: Phantom Edge
Mana: 13/13
Stamina: 0/12
Status: Alive (Tired)
Lucien stared at the numbers.
"Zero stamina... yep, feels accurate."
Then something caught his eye.
"Thirteen mana? Is that... good?"
He had no idea what the average was, but thirteen didn't sound like much. The real problem was stamina. He needed to swing a sword. Right now, he couldn't even swing a stick.
"Hey system. How do I increase my stamina? Is there a shortcut? Skill points? Perks? Some busted feature?"
Ding!
No. To increase stamina, host must train consistently. There are no shortcuts. Body must grow stronger through effort.
Lucien groaned again, louder this time.
"So I have to actually work for it? Ugh."
There was no cheat code, no instant upgrade button. Just pain and sweat. Great.
With nothing left to do, he collapsed back onto his pillow and accepted his fate. Today, he'd rest. But tomorrow?
He was going back out.
Next Morning
Lucien opened his eyes to warm sunlight. His body still hurt, but it was manageable now. He stretched slowly, wincing, but noticed something strange—he didn't feel like collapsing anymore.
"System, show me my stats."
Status Window
Name: Lucien Graycliff
Age: 17
Race: Human
Title: [Useless Prince]
Class: None
Level: 1
Skills: None
Trait: Phantom Edge
Mana: 13/13
Stamina: 8/12
Status: Alive (Sore but stable)
"Eight! That's way better. Maybe I can actually try the technique today."
He had spent the entire night before going over the scroll in his mind. The Newbie Form of Blood Sword Technique wasn't long, but it had strange flows and precise control techniques. It focused on syncing his breathing and sword movement to draw out the hidden power of the Blood Sword.
He wasn't a genius, but he wasn't dumb either. He got the basics. Today, he'd try it out.
But first—breakfast.
At the dining hall, the mood was different.
His mother, Queen Elizabeth, looked at him with clear concern.
"Lucien, are you alright? I heard you collapsed yesterday."
Lucien gave a small smile.
"I overdid it a little. But I'm fine now."
His younger sister Anri, usually cold, gave him a brief nod. She didn't say anything, but her eyes weren't as distant. His older brother Aldric, the beast tamer, just kept chewing with his usual laid-back energy.
But it was Ran who surprised him.
The eldest brother—the sword genius, the heir to the throne—was watching him closely, silently.
Not mockingly. Not judging. Just… observing.
Lucien could feel it. Ran had noticed something. Maybe he didn't think Lucien was useless anymore.
Even King Otto, his father, spared him a few more glances during the meal.
No one said anything directly. But the atmosphere had shifted. Just a little. And that little was enough for Lucien to eat with a bit more confidence.
After finishing his breakfast, he stood and excused himself.
"I'll be heading to the training ground again."
His mother blinked.
"Again?"
Ran smirked.
"Don't break this time."
Lucien chuckled, then walked out.
Training Ground
The sun was higher in the sky when Lucien returned to the field. Unlike yesterday, there were fewer people here. Just a few knights training and a couple of instructors watching over the newer recruits.
Lucien found a quiet corner and pulled out his Blood Red Sword from his system inventory. The blade shimmered as it appeared in his hand, humming like it was eager for action.
"Alright, Let's see what you can really do."
He took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and remembered the scroll—the flow of the stance, the angle of the wrists, the breath control.
The First Form: Blood Vein Slash.
This form wasn't about speed or brute strength. It was about harmony—feeling the sword and letting it guide your movement, not the other way around.
Lucien took his stance. Feet apart. Sword low. He inhaled slowly and—
Swing.
A deep, flowing motion. His body moved in sync, just like the scroll described. The sword sliced the air, leaving a faint red arc in its wake. His hands buzzed from the energy transfer.
"Whoa…"
He felt something. Not just physical movement—connection.
Again.
Swing.
He started repeating the motion, slower this time. Trying to imprint the feeling into his body.
On the fifth swing, something strange happened.
The air shimmered for a brief second.
Lucien blinked. "Was that...?"
Ding!
Host has begun syncing with Blood Vein Slash. 7% Mastery.
A grin broke across his face. "Let's gooo."
He kept practicing. Each swing drained his stamina just a little, but he didn't care. He was doing something real. Something cool. And for once, he didn't feel like a disappointment.
An hour passed. His swings weren't perfect. But they were improving.
More importantly, his body was moving better than it ever had. The pain was still there, but it was manageable. It felt earned.
By the time he dropped onto a bench, drenched in sweat, he felt amazing. His hands trembled, but not from weakness. From excitement.
Status Window
Name: Lucien Graycliff
Age: 17
Race: Human
Title: [Useless Prince]
Class: None
Level: 1Skills: Blood Vein Slash (Beginner – 12%)
Trait: Phantom Edge
Mana: 8/13Stamina: 2/12Status: Alive (Motivated)
Seeing his first skill appear on the chart made his heart beat faster.
He actually had a skill now. A real one.
Lucien leaned back on the bench and stared at the sky, panting softly.
"I'm getting somewhere."
No one had praised him. No one had clapped for his effort. But for the first time in his life, he didn't need it.