"So, before you even start learning the Chaos Sword style, you need perfect control over your domain," Oliver said. "Right now, you can’t even cover your weapon with it, can you?"

Cassian looked a little embarrassed and shook his head. It couldn’t be helped—his domain currently hovered just around his body, only extending an inch above. When he reached the second circle, he would be able to include weapons within his domain, but even then, it wouldn’t extend much further than a few inches beyond his body, only enough to cover the weapons he was holding.

To send part of it outward—embedding it into an opponent through attacks—one need to reach the third circle. That explained why there were so few ranged circle warriors: they had to embed part of their domain into arrowheads or other projectiles to deal maximum damage, and reaching the third circle that way was far from easy.

"Well then," Oliver continued, "let me first teach you about fighting technique. You know the principle every fighting technique is based on, right?" Cassian nodded.

And Cassian answered, "The Righteous Sword, the Heavy Sword, the Confounding Sword, the Swift Sword, the Flowing Sword..."

Oliver nodded. "A fighting technique—or style—based on just one of these principles is considered third grade. The one you use, the gale whispering sword, draws on more than a few of these principles, making it second grade. First grade techniques, meanwhile, use all the principles and also let the user elementize their domain based on the element or subject they’re tied to."

He smirked, eyes glinting. "As for Chaos Sword..." Oliver opened his freezing domain, and a cold gust swept over Cassian, making the hairs on his arms stand on end. He waved his hands, and the air seemed to crackle, both freezing and on the verge of shattering.

"Techniques like this are superior grade," Oliver continued. "Here, the principles don’t matter—the user manipulates the elements the world itself is built on. Every slash can be heavy, swift, or confusing, depending entirely on the wielder. But that’s not why they’re called superior grade..."

He paused, noticing Cassian’s surprised eyes, which had already guessed the real reason behind the being superior grade.

Most techniques, like the Gale Whisper Sword Style, couldn’t really be fully integrated into a domain. Sure, he could cover himself with it and gain some boosts, but the domain itself didn’t do much beyond the basic benefits—strength, endurance, and the abilities of a circle warrior, sometimes enhanced by mana circulation techniques. Those made them near unstoppable, walking powerhouses that no normal human could dream of beating. But even then, a domain couldn’t be perfectly merged with a fighting technique; it required a deep understanding of both for the domain to fully respond to the technique.

Fighting techniques alone were strong, and domains alone were formidable—but when matched together, amplifying each other, they could create miracles. Cassian had sensed this before, watching Julius, but now it was confirmed. He could have done it with the Gale Whisper Sword Style, but only when he reach fifth or sixth circle warrior. Seeing it done by a third-circle warrior made him realize the true potential—and how much farther he still had to go.

With this sword style, he could feel the domain responding almost playfully, pulsing with a raw energy that he didn’t yet fully comprehend. As a first-circle warrior, much of it was still beyond his reach. The bald man’s mastery over his domain—the way it flowed at the slightest flick of his hand—reminded Cassian of Julius, the seventh-circle warrior whose control was so fluid it made even the most skilled practitioners seem clumsy, no matter how precise their own hands or feet were.

"You seem to get it," Oliver said with a smirk. "They’re called superior grade because they actually make use of domains. Control depends on mastery—you might only manage a few movements or forms at first. Otherwise, even some high-circle or mid-circle warriors can’t handle it. But my control over my domain is stronger than quite a few fourth- and even fifth-circle warriors, which lets me beat them despite being only third circle."

"Can you explain a bit more?" Cassian asked, though he already had a rough understanding. Learning a sword style made your domain respond to it—a feat far from easy. Domains could extend to other parts of the body, but getting them to resonate perfectly with a fighting technique required countless hours of practice. Perhaps the Chaos Sword demanded the same, but if it could be effectively controlled at the third circle, there had to be something more to it.

Oliver’s eyes glinted as he waved his hands, a faint smirk on his face. "Simply put, the Chaos Sword style teaches you to make your domain resonate better with the style itself. You gain control—but not universally. You’re only really syncing your domain with this sword style, not others. Though, of course, a genius could push the limits. Me? I can manage a little with some other styles, but only somewhat."

He demonstrated, sending three blade-like extensions, no longer than a finger, shooting toward a massive boulder. They moved at a terrifying speed, cutting a chilly path through the air, freezing the ground as they went. Just before impact, they shifted midair, slicing in different directions to hit other stones scattered around, each strike precise and devastating.

This wasn’t the work of a mage, nor a ranged circle warrior—it was a third-circle warrior, specializing in close combat, executing a maneuver most wouldn’t even attempt until far higher circles. Extending a part of his domain that far, while maintaining exact control over its trajectory, was no small feat at Oliver’s current level.

Cassian’s eyes widened, admiration lacing his voice. "So that’s why they call you elite—able to beat people stronger than you."

Oliver chuckled, letting his fingers linger in the air as if to savor the demonstration. "Exactly. Control isn’t just about strength or skill. It’s finesse, timing, and understanding every subtle pulse of your domain. And mastering this at the third circle? That’s what separates the ordinary from the elite."

Oliver smirked. "Not stronger than me. If they’re stronger than me, I can’t beat them. The right way to put it... I can take down higher-circle warriors than myself, to some extent." He then pulled an old, leather-bound book from his space ring, its cover worn with age. "And I’ve heard you can too—and with just a second-grade technique. I’m excited to see where you go once you learn the Chaos Sword," he said, handing the book to Cassian. There was nothing written on the binding, but Cassian didn’t need to know what it was. The system’s voice echoed in his mind:

[Chaos Mana detected]

[Please allow the system to absorb it in exchange for appropriate reward.]

Cassian smirked, but this time he didn’t let the system claim it. The system, though not as powerful as the domain shapers or the mages of the Arcane Realm, was still strong—and Cassian wasn’t about to let it take something precious. Training points could be earned another way.

"Is this... the Chaos Sword style’s manual?" he asked, eyes gleaming with excitement as he flipped it open.

"Yeah, but it’s incomplete," Oliver replied. "It only has the first two forms out of six that a slave like us can learn without higher-up permission—plus the footwork." He opened the book to a specific page, pointing it out. "Since you have experience with wind-based fighting techniques, start with this one: Gale Shatter. But first, master the footwork to a beginner level."

"How many have you learned?" Cassian asked, closing the book. Even though he was itching to dive in, this wasn’t the time to start just yet.

"The first one I learned was Tidal Rend," Oliver said. "My master recommended it since I have an icy domain, as you can see. I’ve reached a decent level of mastery, though it’s far from perfect. The second form of Chaos Sword I learned is Gale Shatter—both of these are in the manual I gave you. The third, Inferno Spiral, I’m only at the beginning stages." He sighed.

"Not many can make it past the first four or five forms of the six," he continued, a shadow of doubt crossing his face. "I’m afraid I might be one of them." Then he shook off the thought. "But where there’s a will, there’s a way—I’ll find it. You should give it your all too. That said, don’t ignore learning other fighting techniques. It’s always best to have different perspectives; you might catch something you’d otherwise miss."

"I’ll keep that in mind. Once I get through some of this, can we spar again?" Cassian asked.

Oliver nodded. "You’ve got a week at most—I’m heading back to the main base with my liege. But in that time, we can spar as many times as you want."