Nameless King

The minds of humans and those of weapons were different, so if Gladius needed it he could slow his consciousness to almost infinity which allowed him to talk quietly to Vexa while sparks flew sideways at turtle speed in the real world.

"What are you going to do...?" Vexa's eyes went wide as she took a few steps back.

"Nothing bad, though I think you'll hate me at first." Gladius shrugged exhaling a puff of smoke, "It doesn't fuck me either way. Gisle was just beaten by Wain to get a chance to make contact with you, so now it's your turn."

"Agh...?" Vexa got goosebumps from Gladius' cold stare, "What's the point? What are you going to teach me? I'm already doing everything I'm capable of! I'm fighting you with Gisle's hands!"

Gladius grinned taking the cigarette out of his mouth, "Exactly, you're supposed to be helping him, not just being a katana in his hands. He might as well pick up a stick from the ground and not feel the difference."

"What!?" Vexa was indignant clenching her fists tightly. She wanted to attack Gladius but realized that against someone of his level, she didn't stand a chance.

"Listen to me carefully. Obviously, Wain is holding back, but he's still attacking much faster than Gisle can defend himself, it's not that he can't keep up, he just doesn't have the ability to notice everything. You have to help him with that." Gladius said seriously, changing his cigarette.

"In what way?" Vexa asked.

"Well, you can easily communicate your senses to him, thus guiding him in the right direction. If the two of you watch out for attacks and try to fend them off, your chances of success will increase, but you have to be in the fight yourself first." Gladius said, lighting a cigarette with a red flame lighter and looking at Vexa, "Get ready, it's going to hurt, but if you stand up to it you'll both be stronger."

Whoooooooosh.

The next moment Gladius' silhouette disappeared as he appeared next to Vexa, aiming his foot at her stomach. Vexa reflexively put a block out in front of her as Gladius' leg collided with her arms, throwing Vexa back a few meters.

They were both weapons, yet they had no weapons themselves which made Vexa feel strange. It was her first fight on her own, so it was hard for her to understand.

'Damn... What was that...? I feel like a strong fire burned my hands, but it was a simple kick, then why am I so hot?' Vexa inwardly muttered looking at her hands which had scratches on them from Gladius' attack.

"Can you see? This is only a small part of how Gisle felt taking Wain's blows. That was only the beginning, I will continue to attack and I will gradually make it stronger and stronger." Gladius said calmly exhaling a puff of smoke.

Vexa didn't want that, but he knew she had no choice since Gladius was here and he was serious, so she asked, "Fine if this is what it takes to make me stronger I'm willing to endure the pain for Gisle's sake. However, I want to know what will be the indication that I passed your test?"

Gladius remained silent until he held up one finger and said, "I want you to have time to repel one of my blows. Not dodge, counterattack, or block, but repel. Because that would mean you have time to react to my punch and figure out which way to attack."

Vexa gulped, but she nodded as it was too late to go back now. The terms sounded simple, but Vexa knew it was bloody difficult if her opponent was Gladius.

"Given that this is your space and I won't use energy, you're actually immortal but not invulnerable, so get ready for the most painful fight of your life." Gladius grinned as he stepped forward.

Vexa nodded as she got into a fighting stance. She watched every movement carefully, trying to anticipate what Gladius would do until she blinked and found that he had disappeared.

'What...? How could this have happened?' Vexa was puzzled as a chill ran down her back.

Crackling.

Gladius suddenly appeared in front of her and at the same moment Vexa's face twisted in pain as Gladius' fist slammed into her stomach.

"Weak. Very weak, now you're really useless." Gladius said arrogantly, grabbed her hair, and kicked her in the face with his knee from all his might, literally breaking her nose, "Well, well, has Gisle suffered so much for you? Don't you want to live up to his expectations?"

Whoooooooooooosh.

Gladius knocked Vexa to the ground as he threw her aside with a palm strike. Normally Vexa would have easily regained her balance in the air and landed on her two feet, but the last three blows were the worst she had experienced in her short life.

"You know, the mind of a weapon is like its owner, it's true, however, we are just as different as, after all, we are separate beings with our own feelings, thoughts, and plans." Gladius said quietly smoking a cigarette, "I can say of myself that I am kinder than Wain, but I am also sterner."

Vexa struggled to her feet while her wounds were recovering quickly due to the strength of her space. She looked disdainfully at Gladius and uttered, "Are you kind? Hah, you are insane. Does this look like kindness!? You fucking turned me into a meat chop in a minute and didn't even blink!"

"Hahaha, yeah, I'm actually kind. As that's what it takes to make you stronger. Answer me one question." Gladius smirked, shook his head, and stared at Vexa, "Do you really want to be that useless? Think of Gisle, he gave you tons of energy, time, and effort, even though he could have found another weapon with a higher Rating. It was all about awakening your mind, so show us what we can do."