During the week that passed since Neo's conversation with his parents, he spent a considerable amount of time at the library. He delved deep into the history of this new world and studied the intricacies of power progression.
In Angbotain, the very first planet of the universe, it is believed that God, the father of all angels, created the universe using a vast amount of his power, but has not fully recovered even after millions of years. Over time, various races emerged on Angbotain, but no demons were seen until Lucifer, the son of God and once the strongest angel known as a seraphim, fell from grace. Lucifer believed that he should rule the universe instead of his father, who he deemed inactive in overseeing his creations. This led to a war, called the Battle of the Eternal Day, which lasted 200,000 years. Eventually, Lucifer was defeated and most of his powers were sealed in hell.
Neo wonders why the history of Angbotain seems is similar to some religions of earth but couldn't fin a answer. He furthermore learned that there are three paths someone can take to reach the peak.
The first path to reach the peak involves strengthening one's body and using aura, similar to Neo's father. This path consists of twelve stages, with the strongest knight of humanity being Fuxi, who has reached the 7th rank. Neo's father, a third rank knight, is also considered relatively strong. This path is commonly followed by humans, giants, dwarves, and beastmen.
The second path to reach the peak is through magic and mana, which is based on an individual's affinity towards certain elements from birth. However, talent for using mana is rare among humans. Neo discovered that his mother is a talented second heart water mage. The ranks for mages are called "heart," and they evolve their hearts through the twelve stages to handle more mana. Among the magical races, dragons are the strongest, with every single dragon being born as a ninth heart mage.
The path of Dao is the third and rarest path, and it doesn't depend on one's race but on their individual talent to comprehend and connect with the world around them. This path is considered to be the strongest of them all. There are four types of Dao: Lesser Dao, Grand Dao, Heavenly Dao, and Supreme Dao. The mastery of Dao requires a deep understanding of the laws that govern the universe and the ability to harmonize with them. Many top-tier powerhouses are knowledgeable in several Dao's, which allows them to achieve extraordinary feats and transcend the limitations of their physical bodies. In some ways, the concept of Dao is similar to the Eastern philosophy of Tao, which emphasizes living in harmony with the natural world and achieving balance and enlightenment through self-cultivation
Neo discovered that no human had ever managed to master a grand dao, let alone complete it. Therefore, he knew that attempting to connect with a dao was a goal that he could only pursue in the distant future.
Neo made his way to the training grounds where his father had informed him he would begin his knight training that day. As he approached the area, he noticed a group of around fifty soldiers warming up under the watchful eye of a stern-looking lieutenant. It was impressive to see the level of discipline and dedication that these soldiers showed in their training.
Neo's father held the rank of Mayor, and he had a captain, five lieutenants and a hundred soldiers under his command. As Neo made his way towards the lieutenant supervising the soldiers, an old soldier by the name of Max approached him. Everyone called him "Old Max" due to his advanced age. Despite his age, Max was still in great shape, with long gray hair and a beard, and a muscular build. His intimidating appearance was further enhanced by a long scar on the right side of his face.
"Lord's son Neo, I presume?" asked old Max in a bored tone as he approached him. "A little young to be playing around here, aren't you?" Neo felt a wave of nervousness wash over him in response to Max's oppressive aura. "Nice to meet you, sir. But I'm not here to play; I'm here to train and become stronger!" he exclaimed, trying to keep his composure. Max smiled, impressed by Neo's determination. Most kids would break down and cry when faced with his bloodlust. "You'll be training under me from now on," he said, his smile fading. "And you should know that even grown men can't handle my training easily." Despite the warning, Neo was elated that his training was finally beginning. "I'm happy to give it my all, sir!" he replied with a determined grin.
As they entered the armory, Old Max began his lesson by emphasizing the importance of a weapon for a soldier, explaining that it is their lifeline. Neo listened intently as he scanned the room filled with various types of weapons, some familiar to him from Earth and others that he had never seen before. After contemplating for a while, he ultimately chose the sword - not the fastest nor the strongest weapon, but the most versatile. He had learned from a history book that swords were the first iron weapon created and were the ultimate killing machine. Neo shared his decision with Old Max, who then went on to plan Neo's training schedule that would commence the following day.
Neo's training schedule was rigorous and demanding. He was required to wake up at 6am sharp and have a quick breakfast before starting his physical exercise from 7am to 9am. Afterwards, he had to attend mandatory lessons for nobles, covering topics such as history, math, politics, culture, and language. The classes ended at 1pm, and he would then have a three-hour training session with old Max on swordsmanship.
After a 30-minute break, he would learn other types of weapons from the soldiers around, ranging from bows to spears. At 6pm, he would join his family for dinner, followed by a sparring session with his father. Despite being his father, he did not go easy on Neo, and the match would often end quickly. From 7pm to 9pm, Neo spent time in the library, learning more about the world and magic. Finally, at 10pm, he went to bed as he was still growing and needed adequate sleep.
The next day Neo started his first swordsmanship lesson with Max. Old Max smiled and said, "You have come to the right place, my boy. I will teach you everything I know about swords."
He led them outside the cabin and into the nearby woods. There he showed them a small clearing and asked Neo to stand in the middle. Old Max then drew his sword and said, "Watch me carefully, and try to do the same."
He then began a series of fluid sword movements, swinging his sword in various directions and angles. Neo was amazed by the way Old Max moved and tried to follow his movements.
However, his movements were clumsy, and his sword felt heavy in his hand. Old Max observed his struggles and said, "Don't worry, boy, it takes time and practice to master the art of swords. Let me teach you some basic techniques."
He then showed him how to hold the sword correctly, how to move his feet to avoid attacks, and how to block an opponent's strike. He also taught him how to use different parts of the sword, such as the tip and the blade, to deliver different types of attacks.
Neo listened attentively and tried to follow every instruction. He swung his sword again, and this time, his movements felt smoother and more controlled.