Clyde looked down at the shackle in his hand. If he really has to wait for a month, isn't that all too long?
He wouldn't be able to hold back the tightness in his chest that was pushing him to do something as fast as possible.
Clyde tried to summon his Character Information again. But all he saw was a blurry Window. However, there is something a little different.
The letters in his Character Information are not as blurry as before. The letters still couldn't be read properly, but there was a visible change from a few minutes ago.
Before, Clyde only see the writing that was so blurry, like a pencil writing on paper that had almost been erased, now the outlines of the letters became clearer.
Even though it was still unreadable, Clyde already knew what was written there.
"Can I use it already?" Clyde wondered.
He glanced at his Character Information and concentrated. However, all he felt was exhaustion because it was pointless. It was like reaching for the light at the end of the tunnel that was getting farther away the closer he got.
"Well, I guess not."
With that, Clyde dropped his head again. Even though he still couldn't do it right now, he was sure that it wouldn't take him as much as a month to actually be able to achieve the level of strength he needed.
In just a few minutes the Character Information looks better. Maybe, he just has to wait a few days or weeks.
~~~
Three days later Samuel removed the shackles that were entangling Clyde's legs and arms.
Clyde finally got a taste of freedom. He rubbed his wrist and ankle several times to relieve the itchiness he had been feeling for a long time.
"Since you are an exception, then I will allow you to come to train with us now," Samuel said.
"Oh, finally," Clyde replied.
Within three days, Clyde was able to read his Name in his Character Information. As he had expected, the power of his system would most likely return with time.
"Where are my clothes?" Clyde asked.
"Oh, about that." Samuel looked guilty. "We have to get rid of it."
Clyde looked at him and frowned. "Why?"
"To erase traces. World Masters... ah, I mean the beings in charge of your Selection Stage, will be able to trace the stuff you are wearing."
Clyde just heard about it now. He thought all his stuff was just being stored somewhere until he retrieve it back.
"Does that mean you also destroyed my sword?" Clyde asked with anxiety starting to rise.
"Fortunately, your sword is different," Samuel replied. "We can't destroy it so we just keep it and seal it in a special room."
Hearing that, Clyde heaved a sigh of relief. He couldn't imagine how much regret he must have felt when he found out that his sword had been destroyed.
"However," Samuel said. "You cannot retrieve that sword for now. The risk is too great for the World Masters to track it down."
Clyde was indeed disappointed. But he also will not take that risk.
"Alright," Clyde said. Although he didn't know when he would be able to get the Elderglass Sword back.
After that, Samuel took Clyde to change his clothes. Once again he chose a black shirt and black trousers.
Then they went through the portal and entered the vast plains where many people practiced their fighting skills. Samuel also did not forget to bring his red spear.
"Since your weapon used to be a sword, how about we try a sword first?" he asked.
"Sounds like a good idea," Clyde said.
They drew closer to Wayne and Lahn who were sitting on the grass. As usual, they continued to train without stopping.
Next to Wayne were several swords lying around. It seemed that he had learned from his mistakes and prepared more swords for practice.
"Do you mind lending one of your swords to Clyde?" he asked.
"No. You can have it," Wayne said, smiling at Clyde. "I didn't forge the swords myself after all."
So Clyde took one of the swords at random.
"Thanks," said Clyde curtly.
"Let's try it with me." Samuel spun his spear.
Clyde nodded. "Okay."
And so they walked away from Lahn and Wayne. They both stared with excitement clear in their eyes as Clyde and Samuel walked away.
"Samuel will beat his ass," Lahn said with a mischievous smile.
Wayne snorted. "We don't know about that yet. You know what Clyde's reputation is, right? He can kill that Outer God replica."
Lahn recalled how terrifying the Outer God replica was. She couldn't even imagine how Clyde could kill that horrible monster.
"Maybe he just got lucky," Lahn said.
Wayne snorted again as if what Lahn said was something funny. Then said in a sarcastic tone. "Yeah, right. Lucky."
The wind blew around them, making the grass dance in the same direction. Clyde felt how to grip a sword again like before when he was still in the Selection Stage.
'Can I still use a sword without that [Skill: Weapon Mastery]?'
Clyde felt doubtful and uneasy. The reason he was able to fight and dominate his enemies back then was because he had that Skill and the Elderglass Sword. But he doesn't have either of them right now.
'Hmm, whatever, I'll just fight my hardest to see what I'm capable of now.' Clyde nodded to himself.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Yes," answered Clyde.
Samuel formed a stance. "Here I come."
Samuel dashed towards Clyde. So Clyde also immediately approached him.
A moment later they were face to face in very close range. Clyde immediately swung his sword as hard as he could.
Samuel thought that he wouldn't have to put in so much effort to block Clyde's attack. However, he couldn't be more wrong.
*CLANG!*
"Urgh!"
Samuel felt so much pressure from Clyde. He was pushed backward into the air and landed a few meters behind where he was originally standing.
Samuel, Lahn, Wayne, and even Clyde were shocked by what had just happened.
~~~
