Chapter 58: Breaking the Form
His stance was firm, grounded, but there was a sharpness in his eyes—a silent push for Orion to think deeper. He took a step forward and gestured for Orion to attack him. Hesitant but obedient, Orion swung the Khopesh in a standard diagonal strike—only for Varun to barely shift his stance and let the curved edge slip uselessly past him.
The Chokuto Orion used in training with Kieran, in contrast to the Khopesh, was a weapon of precision—an ancient straight-bladed sword designed for decisive, clean cuts. It lacked the curvature of Khopesh, making it less forgiving in fluid combat but unmatched in delivering direct, linear strikes. It was a weapon that demanded absolute control, rewarding those who mastered its discipline with devastating speed. Unlike the Khopesh, which manipulated angles and leverage, the Chokuto thrived on efficiency—every movement had to be deliberate, every attack a calculated execution.
"Wrong." Varun's expression remained unreadable, he exhaled through his nose, the briefest hint of expectation in his gaze.
Another attempt. A horizontal slash—Varun stepped in, and suddenly the angle of Orion's strike worked against him, putting his own balance at risk.
"Again." Varun observed him, his fingers flexed slightly, as if considering a correction before deciding against it.
A downward cleave. This time, Varun caught the motion early and twisted his wrist against Orion's, using the curve of the weapon against its wielder, almost disarming him in an instant.
"The Khopesh is not a duelist's sword," Varun said, his voice flat. "It's a soldier's weapon. It's not meant for flashy duels or delicate cuts. It's meant to break formations, to slip past shields, to hook and tear armor apart."
Orion tightened his grip, staring at the weapon with new eyes.
"If you treat it like a saber, you'll die."