Three Swords of Mastery

I'm done for... What should I do...?

Wait... You must be our friends from Endfield Industries.

See that small sword pell behind me?

This is part of the "Three Swords of Mastery". It literally breaks people!

I'm trying to pass the "Three Swords of Mastery"... It's an ancient rite of passage of the Bureau of Swordmancers.

Once you activate the sword pell, its pressure plates light up in a set sequence.

Only a firm, decisive strike will activate the pressure plate.

That's "Jin". Not just strength, but the pulse that breathes life into steel.

Only by activating all pressure plates in the exact sequence they lit up will the sword pell finally rise.

And this is "Shi". Not just force, but the flow that shapes steel like a river shapes stone.

Yet my Jin isn't even strong enough to light a single plate… Let alone chain them into Shi.

Hah! You? Really? You look as flimsy as me, and even less trained.

But step forth! Yan's adage whispers: "Let worthy hands shape the steel's soul."

How did it go? No need to beat yourself up...

Waitwaitwait... You— The pell actually rose?!

May I ask for your esteemed name, honored one?

Endministrator?! So the stories are true… Guess making the impossible look easy is part of the job description. I can't believe I was so rude to you!

Truth be told, after joining HS.Swords as an apprentice, I spent years buried in research. Top of my class in theory, flawless manuscript recitation…

Turns out being book-smart doesn't stop you from face-planting in actual trials. Who knew?

Ugh, get with the times! HS.Swords' Tianshi have been using automated forges for years. Who even hammers swords by hand anymore?!

Look, fate obviously sent you to fix my life. So! Wanna transcend tradition with me?

Two more pells to go. We need to activate their pressure plates in the correct sequence, just like before. This … is the trial of "Ren", the tenacity that tempers a true blade.

Raise all three pells in harmony, and bam! The central pell of the Bureau ascends! That's my graduation ticket.

Endmin, my future's in your hands now!

It's rising! I'm not hallucinating am I?

YES! Knew you could do it, Endmin! If you ever need backup or, uh, theoretical sword knowledge — just call! ... Please call.

Now I can finally graduate! And now, we wait...

TIN! INGOT!!! HS.Swords' eyes see ALL! You better pray I'm feeling merciful.

Ever since you tried tampering with the pressure plate data last time, you've been on my special watchlist!

Raising the central pell embodies the very "Yi", the resolve to forge ahead through adversity. Tempering not just steel, but oneself!

Three strikes and you're out! Next time, your theoretical scores get scrapped too! Back to the training yard. NOW!

Wha-?! No, no, nooo...!