Reincarnation of the Last Magus Emperor

The years of stagnation had left Merlin with a deep sense of regret, but they had also given him an unyielding determination to rebuild himself from the ground up. With his newfound breakthrough and power, he understood that raw strength alone wouldn't suffice. To rise to the heights he now aspired to, he needed to refine his foundation.

He began with a rigorous review of the fundamentals, revisiting techniques and drills that he had once dismissed as too basic. Now, with Myrddin's memories as his guide and his own experience as a filter, these basics revealed depths of nuance he had never appreciated.

Sword Techniques

1. Attacking Angles

• Merlin practiced the eight basic angles of attack methodically, carving patterns into the air with his saber.

• Straight up and straight down: These strikes taught precision and power.

• Diagonal strikes: These helped him focus on fluid transitions and finding weak points in an opponent's guard.

• Horizontal strikes: These emphasized balance and rotational strength.

2. Slash, Stab, and Chop

• He alternated between slashing sweeps for speed and precision, stabbing thrusts to improve his reach and timing, and chopping blows to maximize force.

• Each movement was repeated until his body moved without hesitation.

3. Deflect, Block, Parry, and Riposte

• Merlin trained to deflect incoming blows with the flat of his saber, redirecting energy rather than resisting it head-on.

• Blocking taught him to absorb force while maintaining his stance.

• Parrying and ripostes became his favorite combination—swift and decisive counterattacks to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes.

4. Feints

• He spent hours crafting deceptive movements, learning how to bait his opponent into exposing themselves.

• "A good feint," he realized, "isn't just a trick—it's a story your enemy believes until it's too late."

Physical Conditioning

To ensure his body could keep up with his techniques, Merlin incorporated rigorous physical exercises:

1. Shadowboxing

• Moving with an imagined opponent, he practiced saber strikes and footwork, enhancing his coordination, balance, and control.

• "The mirror never lies," he reminded himself as he refined every motion.

2. Agility Drills

• Using ladder and cone drills, he honed his ability to change directions rapidly, mimicking the movements needed in real combat.

• Quick feet drills forced him to stay light on his toes, a crucial skill for a duelist.

3. Lateral Shuffle 

• He practiced sidestepping and circling movements to ensure he could control the flow of battle and avoid being trapped or flanked.

Mana Integration

As he trained, Merlin incorporated mana into his exercises:

• He infused his strikes with lightning mana, practicing how to time the burst of energy for maximum effect.

• Each movement became an opportunity to refine his control, ensuring his mana flowed seamlessly into his actions.

Day after day, Merlin pushed himself relentlessly. The monotony of drilling the basics gave way to a profound understanding of their importance. Each slash, step, and strike felt sharper, stronger, and more precise. The techniques he had once seen as rudimentary were now the bedrock of his growth.

Merlin's determination burned like the lightning coursing through his veins. With every swing of his saber and every bead of sweat that fell to the floor, he reaffirmed his promise to himself: He would be ready—not just to face the demons of his past, but to carve a new path for his future.

As the days turned into weeks, Merlin's focus on the basics began to transform him. What had once seemed like simple drills and repetitive exercises now became integral to his very being. Each angle, each attack, became a part of his muscle memory, flowing seamlessly into his everyday movements.

He began to notice the changes in how he carried himself. His steps, once heavy with the weight of years of stagnation, grew lighter. His posture, once hunched under the pressure of self-doubt, became straighter and more confident. His body was no longer just a vessel—it was a weapon, honed through countless hours of practice.

The 8 Angles and Attacks

Merlin's understanding of the basic attacks expanded beyond just technique. He started to apply the principles to his daily routines, making them part of his natural movements.

1. Straight Up:

When lifting or reaching for something, he imagined an upward strike, ensuring his body was aligned and his movements were purposeful. This translated into an unshakeable core, helping him maintain stability when under pressure.

2. Straight Down:

Whether chopping firewood or cleaning his weapon, he perfected his downward movements with precision. This attack embodied both power and control, ensuring that no action was ever wasted.

3. Diagonal Up and Down:

These diagonal strikes became his go-to for cutting through obstacles, both literal and metaphorical. As he trained, he applied these movements to his daily chores and even his walking, ensuring his movements were always aligned with the flow of energy.

4. Horizontal Left and Right:

Every time Merlin moved, he imagined slashing horizontally, turning a simple shift in direction into an opportunity for defense or offense. This gave him the fluidity and flexibility necessary to face any challenge that might arise.

Slash, Stab, and Chop

Merlin's body began to move with an unconscious grace, slashing through the air with an effortless fluidity that matched his mental clarity.

1. Slash:

When reaching for his belongings, his hands would cut through the air like a saber, making every movement deliberate. This carried over into his combat technique, where a simple slash could deter an enemy without hesitation.

2. Stab:

Whenever he came into contact with something, whether a door to open or a piece of cloth to pin, he imagined the thrust of his saber—an efficient, controlled motion that allowed him to focus his intent in a single, focused strike.

3. Chop:

The downward chop motion became so ingrained in his daily life that when chopping vegetables or even striking a surface, Merlin applied the same controlled power that would crack an enemy's defenses.

Deflect, Block, Parry, and Riposte

These defensive maneuvers began to flow into his actions as naturally as breathing. Every time he moved, Merlin imagined counteracting an attack—redirecting it, absorbing it, or turning it into an opportunity for a counterstrike.

1. Deflect:

In the marketplace, when someone jostled him, he'd deflect the impact with subtle grace, never losing his balance or focus. His ability to deflect wasn't just physical but mental, enabling him to handle interruptions without losing his calm.

2. Block:

Merlin used the idea of blocking in mundane tasks as well. When facing difficult decisions or challenges, he mentally blocked distractions, narrowing his focus until only the most essential remained.

3. Parry and Riposte:

Whether it was a playful challenge or a conversation, Merlin would parry an argument with wit and riposte with sharp insight, always staying one step ahead, ready to strike when the moment was right.

Shadowboxing and Physical Conditioning

His exercises evolved into something more than mere drills. Shadowboxing became an internal dialogue with himself, a way to confront his own weaknesses and refine his responses to imaginary opponents. Each parry and counterstrike allowed him to tap deeper into his psyche, confronting the mental barriers that had once shackled him.

The agility drills had an equally profound effect. As his feet moved quicker, so did his mind. The footwork drills allowed him to maintain composure and speed under pressure, not just in battle, but in his daily life. He became more fluid in his movements, shifting with ease between different tasks, whether walking through the market or navigating crowded spaces.

As he continued to embody these concepts, something began to change inside him. His mind cleared, and his spirit became sharper, more focused. No longer burdened by the stagnation of the past, Merlin felt his potential unfolding like a blade being honed on a whetstone. The basics had become his foundation—unshakable, solid, and true.

It was as if every strike he made, every movement he took, was an echo of the legacy of Myrddin Wyllt, a legacy now reborn in him, ready to take on the future.

And with each passing day, he knew that his true battle was just beginning.