The corrupted leapt forth and barraged Kaito with a flurry of slashes, able to swing the massive weapon with unnatural ease.

Facing the onslaught of attacks, Kaito was forced to divert his aura into purely enhancing his speed and reflexes, leaving him no opportunities for a counterattack.

"Where's that gusto you hit me with earlier?! You can't keep running forever!"

Ducking under one of the corrupted's swings, Kaito retreated to create a fair distance between the two of them.

Seeing this, the corrupted suddenly halted. With a displeased tone, it grunted, "Oh, you're one of those types"

It lifted its sword and pointed the tip directly towards Kaito's head.

"The kind who lacks strength, trying to rely on wit and strategy alone. I bet you're even trying to analyze how to get past my blade right now"

Kaito didn't reply.

"It can see right through me... battle experience, no doubt about it. However, it's a fatal mistake to underestimate the strength I have in my body"

He lunged forwards with both arms at the ready.

"Oh?! Did that finally rile you up?!"

The corrupted brought its sword upwards before swinging it directly downwards over Kaito's head with tremendous force.

In a swift motion, Kaito clasped his palms together over the flat sides of the blade, attempting to completely halt its momentum, yet, a flash of unease washed over his body.

"Really now? What were you expecting to do there?"

The tip of the blade continued and nicked Kaito's forehead before he quickly pulled away, a small trickle of blood now dripping down. 

The ground where he stood just moments ago was now utterly crushed.

"What was that...? I should be mostly used to this body by now... so why couldn't I move how I wanted to..?"

In reality, Kaito's aether still had a long way to go before being able to acknowledge the home it now resided in. The true power of a key, or even just a fragment of one, remained unknown to Kaito due to his lack of knowledge and experience. At the moment, what was happening was due to the fact Kaito had acclimated to his physical body while still not completely assimilating with the key's aether. Still viewing and treating his body as a foreign residence, it was as if a distinct line drew a border between the aether at the core of his being and the aether that made up his body. Ultimately, the resultant effect was a delayed control over his aura that acted after his physical motions, which, in crucial moments, meant his full strength couldn't be summoned when he needed it most.

"I really am quite disappointed. Here I was, hoping to finally have an enjoyable battle, but you're just as much of a letdown as those adventurers..."

"Adventurers..?"

Kaito suddenly recalled that the inkeeper mentioned a shortage of adventurers coming into town.

"So that's what's been going on-"

Corrupted energy suddenly began pouring out from the corrupted's body to the point it began to physically condense into small, rising wisp-like tendrils. 

"It's time to end this. If you're worth anything more, then show me now"

"There's no way- It was going easy on me for the fun of it..?"

***

[Meanwhile]

With the corrupted's sights now set on Kaito, Yukiko scrambled into the remains of the cart, which now lay tipped over on its side. After finding a specific sack, she procured a strange, disk-shaped device with intricate lines and runes engraved on its surface.

This device was a mana-based communication device, which, when infused with one's aura, could allow the user to project information and messages from their own mind into designated targets. Yukiko had originally obtained it through careful negotiations with the Steel Guild after they completed a massive overseas trade, intending to use it for battles in upcoming times, but decided that if Kaito wasn't able to win here and now, they'd both die and her plan would end in futility.

"Please... quickly", she muttered as she poured her faint white aura into the device, the runes now beginning to glow.

The runes flashed three times, indicating the device was now active and that three instances of "conversation" remained.

"Yes... alright, let's get started"

A female voice suddenly emerged in Kaito's head.

"Listen closely, my name is Yukiko. I'm the head secretary of the Snow Guild, and right now, I'm communicating my thoughts directly into your mind using a one way magic device. Right now, the situation is dire and if you can't defeat that corrupted, neither of us will make it out of here alive"

Kaito quickly glanced in Yukiko's direction, intending to signal that he received her message.

"No! Don't lose focus. Pay me no mind. Only absorb the content of my words. It's quite easy to tell you're the strategist type, but right now, I need you to heed the words of that corrupted and abandon that compulsion. Use instinct and impulse alone to avoid its attacks, don't strike back yet, and for now, focus your attention on the information I'm about to impart"

Despite usually being one to obsess over perfecting strategy and analyzing openings in combat, Kaito forced himself to listen to Yukiko's advice. His body began to loosen, no longer utilizing the tense stances he previously used while trying to find an opening in the corrupted's full-powered assault.

"The corrupted you're facing right now, his name is Gramek, the sub-chief of the Ezirok Clan, which resides a relatively short distance to the Northwest of here, beyond the canyon. Previously, this clan had been dormant, but after my work spying on them, I've discovered that they intend to take aggressive action within the next two weeks against Synoria. Their path of destruction will lead through Synoria Outlook, and Gramek's original purpose was to scout the routes and gather intel. However, Gramek's personality is unsuited for such tasks, which I believe you've already caught onto. He relishes in the fight and desires only combat against strong opponents, leaving no thoughts for actual strategy and planning. You seem to have a balance between both strength and wit, but for now, I'll take over the role of tactician while you utilize your abilities to defeat him"

Kaito began to worry with the role Yukiko had placed upon him.

"She doesn't know I can't fully control my aura right now- Fine. I'll have to improvise. If I can't handle using my aura as I'd like, then I'll focus the mana I'm wielding down to the finest threads. I'll be able to control that precisely, at the least"

Once again, Kaito quickly retreated to create distance between himself and Gramek. Taking a deep breath, he narrowly focused down his aura, which quickly transitioned from a cloak of azure flames into floating, intertwining spectral threads that encircled his body.

"Yeah, I can feel more control over myself now"

Unbeknownst to Kaito, the true reason for his increased control was simply his state of mind. No longer focusing on the relationship between himself and his body, he only saw one goal in mind, mastering mana control to defeat Gramek. Convincing himself that these thinner strings of mana were easier to control, the aether he inhabited naturally responded to create such an outcome. For now, Kaito still remained unaware of the potential he held.

Noticing Kaito's determined demeanor, Yukiko moved on to the next phase of her plan.

"Alright. Gramek's weakness: when he fights an opponent he takes interest in, he develops a nearly blinding tunnel vision that makes it as if he can only see his opponent. We're going to use that and our environment to our advantage", she stated with a smirk.