The new training was to slash and pierce twenty gray trunks at once. Heero encountered trouble here because this was different from the beforehand training. He must cut and pierce the gray trunk in one slash and stab.
He could not use the same way as before. Heero held his chin as he fell into deep thought.
"I manage to cut the gray trunk after mastering the basic of Ki Comprehension. This means the key is Ki."
There were many ways to use Ki. He had to master all of this and applied it on his sword to achieve what the man did inside the sphere.
Getting the answer, Heero stood and gazed down to the cliff. What he could see only clouds. Based on his Master's words, he was at the peak of Nebraska Mountain. This meant behind the cloud was Nebraska City.
He wanted to go to the city badly, but he remembered his Master's words. He could only descend the mountain after he got strong enough. He needed to pass the test before he could descend.
"I have to work harder!"
After saying those words, he went back. Even though Saint said he could take a day rest, but Heero did not plan to take a break. He wanted to learn more about Ki.
He went back and took lunch. After that, he shut himself inside his own room. He opened the book of Ki Comprehension given by his Master. There were many ways to use Ki. He could even change Ki to flame, lighting, or to the others. One even could make his own weapon with Ki.
Just like this, Heero spent his time mostly on training. There was no friend in his age he could talk and play with. But here, he had seven mothers who also spoiled. They spoiled him until made his Master jealous of him. Despite spending most of his time on hellish training, Heero led a happy life here.
Another three months passed by, but he still could not cut the gray trunks as the man inside the sphere. He could only cut three gray trunks at once and pieced two gray trunks. This was a big improvement but also slow at the same time.
If this continued on like this, it would take another seventeen months before he could achieve it, cut twenty gray trunks at once. He had to think of another way to use Ki. He reinforced the sword with his Ki, but he only managed to cut three gray trunks. Ki made his sword sharper and it did increase his power.
Heero needed to think of a way to increase his strength, especially his arms. If he had enough strength, maybe he could cut three or even more grays trunks.
"Hoho, you make a little progress here. But it's still lacking!"
Heero looked toward the voice and found his Master was walking toward him.
"Try hit my chest. Hit with your full strength." Saint pointed right at his chest.
"Are you sure?" Heero however hesitated. Maybe his strength was still lacking, but…
Looking at Heero who hesitated, Saint grinned, "Just do as I say!"
Hearing the confirmation, Heero nodded his head. He gathered his full strength on his left arm and launched a punch toward his Master's chest. He was left-handed which also meant his left arm was stronger than his right arm.
When the punch landed on Saint's chest. It did not have any sound. The punch landed perfectly on Saint's chest. However, it was as if nothing, Saint still grinned toward his disciple who had his face turned red.
Yes, as soon as Heero's punch landed on his Master's chest, his face reddened.
"Arghhh!"
Heero let out a pained groan as he rubbed his left palm. Yup, that was right, Heero was in pain though he was the one who hit his Master. He felt his Master's chest was a hard metal.
Saint's smiled even brighter and wider as he saw his disciple pained face.
"Now try with your sword, " Saint did not bother to explain. He pointed his bare left arm, indicating to hit his left arm with the sword.
"Master, are you sure?" The same as before, Heero did not dare to do it.
Before, it was a fist. Though he did not know why his fist failed to hurt his Master and it was him who hurt. However, this time it was no joke, it was a sword, not a fist.
"Stop being wishy-washy, just do as I say!" Saint replied his disciple firmly. It was as if he did not care about his left arm.
"With your full strength!" Added Saint.
Heero picked his sword, but it was clear that he was still hesitating. This was no joke, this was a real sword. Even though he knew his Master must have a way to block his sword, but still…
However, looking at the confidence look on his master's face, Heero threw his hesitation away. He held his sword with his both hands and slashed it down toward his Master's left hand.
Clang!
The sword bounced back. It was as if the sword hit a hard metal, but not human flesh. Heero lost his grip on his sword and numbing pain assaulted his palm.
He remembered this feeling. This was the feeling the first time he hit the gray trunk. This was the same feeling he experienced a few months ago. The difference was the target, it was his Master hand, not the gray trunk.
Heero looked at his Master's left arm dumbly. He just could not believe what he experienced.
Saint however grinned toward his dumbfounded disciple. He had his face closer to Heero and said, "Do you understand?"
"Do you understand?" Hearing no response from his disciple, he repeated once again.
This time, Heero gave his response by nodded his head. Indicating he understood, yes, he found the key why his Master's left arm was as hard as a metal.
It meant, he could use Ki to strengthen the part of the body. Saint was telling him that Ki could be used on the body, not only weapon. This meant, he could also use the Ki to increase the power of his swing. Saint was telling him he could use Ki to increase his power with Ki.
Of course, he knew he had to increase his power physically as well.
Getting the answer, subconsciously, Heero licked his lips. He found now enjoyment of the training each time he solved an issue after issue he encountered in the training itself.
Heero dashed toward the house and went inside his room. He had to learn how to use the Ki on his own body.
…
Seven days passed and today Heero managed to slash eleven gray trunks and pierced nine gray trunks at once.
It was a leap of improvement, remembering before it took him three months to slash three gray trunks. Heero delighted with his improvement.
He learned a lot in the past week. He found Ki would naturally make his body stronger, but he could use Ki to make his body even stronger. Enforcing Ki into his skin and flesh, it was his Master did when he slashed his sword to his Master Hand.
Moreover, what was more wonderful when he reinforced Ki to his eyes. With that, he could see what he could not, Ki itself. He found Ki was blue in color and blending in with the air.
Heero experimented many attempts of using Ki. Now, he could even make Ki explode with his fist. For the first time, Heero enjoyed so much his training. Now, he felt as long as he did not give up and continue training, it would not be impossible to be a Hero even for a talentless man like him.
"... but before that, I have to cut this damn gray trunk!" Heero grinned as he looked toward his sword. The grin on his face was similar to his Master. A grin which made others misunderstood him.
Yes, if the others who did not know him well. One would take Heero was mocking that person. This grin was similar to his Master's.
…
"Oho, you are doing well here!" Saint came looking for Heero.
He looked at the gray trunk which cleanly being cut, then a satisfied smile appeared.
"It seems it will not take a long time until you cut it all! Let's go the next step then!"
Hearing this, Heero's eyes shone. It meant it was a new training. He jumped up and stood, "Let's do it!"
"Good spirit!" Saint praised his disciple and added with his trademark grin, "Stand! Stand as long as possible!"
"Eh!?" Heero confused. He did not understand at all.
"Standing!? Is there even needed to train to stand? I am not a baby…"
Then, suddenly he felt his body was falling down. Yes, his body was in the air, his feet were not on the ground.
Bugh!
Heero's body fell down to the ground. He felt nothing at all. There was no touch or hit he could feel. He was knocked down without knowing how and who did this to him.
"Eh!?"
Then, Heero found his Master vanished. He turned back and saw his Master was there. He finally understood it was his Master who knocked him down. However…
"How!??"
Yes, how? He could not see or feel it. How did Master knock him down?
Saint grinned at his disciple, "Get up! You have… No, you must! You can't let anyone, human, beast, or even specter knock you down, it will be your death anniversary if that happens. Especially, for you!"
You want to be a King or even Legendary Hero, right? You have to kill King Specter and Emperor Specter or even God Specter if you want to be a Legend! At that time, if you down before them, it will be your death! So, stand! You have to stand if you want to beat them!"
Get up! Let's continue!!!"
That day, Heero could not even pass three breaths to stand. He could not see Saint's movement at all. He kept falling down to the ground right after he stood.