(*A/N: Here goes 3/6 chapter of this week. Please Enjoy.)
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Primis: One more thing, unlike before when you need to constantly update your status, you don't need to do that.
Ais: Why, My Lord?
Primis: Because when you will gain Excelia, your stats will automatically rise. In other words, you will become strong even when you are fighting. I only need update your status when you will be about to level up. Do you understand?
Ais: Yes.
Primis: Good. What I want you to do now is that instead of increasing your stats, you should focus on increasing your skills rank.
Ais: My skills.
Primis: Even though you have all the knowledge of your new skills, your body is still not used to it. So, go and get yourself used to them.
Ais nodded and got up. She walked away for some distance and re-equipped her "Sword Princess Armor" and "Lambent Light". She then took a deep breath before moving.
Ais: Ha…
Ais moved. She attacked like a stabbing motion in front then she took a full 360 degree turn and swing her "Lambent Light" from left to right Horizontally. The moment her attack ends, she took another 360-degrees turn, this time in reverse. She then thrusted three times in front, jumped back and launch a strong stinger in the end. It may appear slow but in truth Ais completed these attacks of her in less than a second.
Ais paused for a moment before continuing. As time went by, her movements are becoming more and more smooth. More and more refined. Not only that, but wind was also dancing all around her. Making her even faster.
Sheng Ming: Little Sister is getting more and more used to her new skills. She is becoming more flexible and nimbler.
Primis: Both her skills "Ventus Fury I" and "Wind Manipulation I" complement each other. It is extremely difficult to combine two or more skills. Especially when both are high level ones. But since they both have same fundamental i.e., Wind, she was able to combine it 'unconsciously'.
Sheng Ming: Husband, you mean she is so focused on training that she herself hasn't realized it yet.
Primis: Yes. Ais has very deep desire of becoming strong. So, whenever she trains, she become completely emerged in it.
Sheng Ming: No wonder.
Primis then got up. He put the Ophis who was sleeping on the chair gently, making sure she won't wake up before walking towards Ais. Ais was so emerged in training that she didn't notice Primis. When Primis came near, he called her via telepathy.
{Primis: Ais.}
Ais stopped her action. Then confusion appeared on her face as she started to wonder whether she was hearing things in her head. She then turned around and saw Primis standing right behind her.
Ais: My Lord?
{Primis: Yes, it was me before. I can talk to you and your other sisters like this. You will get use it.}
Ais: Oh… Ok.
Primis: Anyway...
SSH!!!
Primis drew out his Elucidator from its sheath then pointed it at Ais.
Primis: A Spar will help you to get use to your new skills faster.
Primis could fire flickered in Ais eyes when she heard spar. She jumped back to take some distance. Then she took a stance. Primis kept on observing her so that she could prepare herself. Since Ais had fought Primis before, she knew that the difference between them is that of Heaven and Earth. But she didn't care. Once she was ready, she stomped on the ground before taking a great stride towards Primis.
STOMP!!
When Primis was within her range, she attacked. Primis deflected Ais's attack to left when it was about to hit him. Ais used the momentum and took a whole clockwise turn before attacking Primis from right. But Primis took counterclockwise turn and dodged it. And that was not the end. At the end, he also countered by kicking Ais from left. Ais blocked it by bringing her left arm in front.
BAM!!
STEP!!
STEP!!
STEP!!
The force behind the kick made Ais took three steps back. After holding her ground, she attacked again. This time, she attacked with consecutive strikes. Primis dodged all of them by just the breadth of a hair. This shocked Ais. Because of this her next attack became slightly slow. Primis didn't let go of this opportunity. He used his free left-hand to grab Ais right-arm. After grabbing it, he pulled her towards him. Ais stumbled a little when she was pulled. Before she could correct herself, Primis knee hit her abdomen.
POW!!
Ais: Argh…
The attack hurt Ais as she was pushed back few meters. But she didn't have a bit of time to stable herself because Primis was already in front of her. He attacked Ais with his Elucidator who also brought her Lambent Light in front to stop it.
CLANK!!
BOOM!
A shockwave spread all around when their swords collide. But Primis didn't stop even for a moment before using his left-leg to kick behind Ais right-knee. Since Ais put all her strength on her sword to block Primis attack just now, she didn't put much weight on her footing. Ais fell. When her body was parallel to the ground Primis next attack came.
CLANK!!!
FWOOSH!
Ais brought her Lambent Light in front at the last moment. But since she failed to put her full strength to stop that blow this time, she was launched few meters away. After being launched for some distance, Ais finally landed on her feet. Her gaze then turned to Primis who was still standing from where he threw Ais away. This time he didn't continue with follow-up attacks.
'Ais: My Lord, is not using his full power. From those exchange, I could tell that he is using the same strength I possessed. Neither more nor less. Then why I am on losing end.'
As if seeing through her thoughts, Primis opened his mouth.
Primis: Ais, you need to change your way of fighting.
Ais: Huh?
Confusion appeared on Ais's face.
Ais: My Lord, what do you mean?
Primis: You are overly reliant on your stats. I told you that spar can help you improve your skills. But during the whole fight, you didn't use your skills even once.
Ais: ...…
Ais eyes wide opened. She then started to recall their previous exchange. As a result, she also came to same conclusion. She didn't use her skills at all.
Primis: Practicing your skills or implementing them in fight are two different things. It doesn't matter one bit how much you trained your skills if you can't use them in fight. Your way of fighting is same as when you were still part of Loki Familia.
Ais: ...
Primis: Brute Force. That's all you have been using. It's true that brute force can help you to break through many obstacles. But if someday you fought against those who have higher stats than you then brute force won't help you.
Ais: ...
Primis: Ais, throw away your previous way of fighting. You are different now. You are no longer part of Loki Familia. You are no longer Level 5. You no longer have your previous skills. You no longer have your previous body. Since your whole being is new now, it's now time to embrace new fighting style.
Ais: ...
Primis: The skills you have are of high order. They complement each other. Let alone your skills even your new sword, "Lambent Light" is created especially for these skills. The way you are right now, you can't bring their true potential.
Ais remained silent and looked at Lambent Light in her hands.
'Ais: Skills and Sword, that are made for each other. It's unheard of.'
Primis: Listen, Ais.
Ais turned her gaze back at Primis.
Primis: If you change nothing, nothing will change.
PANG!!!!!!
Ais felt that she was struck by lightning when she heard Primis words.
'Ais: If I change nothing, nothing will change.'
Then she fell into daze. Countless thoughts started to pass through her mind. She fully understood what Primis means but still, letting go of past is very difficult. But since she wants to become strong to fulfil her goal, she needs to take that step. No matter how hard and painful it is. Ais then looked up at the sky while still deep in her thoughts. After some time, she closed her eyes and a single tear fell from her left eye.
Ais: Thank you for all your guidance till now Finn, Gareth and Riveria. It's time for me to take my own path.
BOOM!!!!
WAIL!!!!!!
WHIZ!!!!!!
WOO!!!!!!
A Burst of wind magic was released from Ais. It then made a hurricane around her. Lambent Light in her hand released a faint light before fading. It was a proof that it finally Awakened. Lambent Light provide Ais with additional increase in 25% attack and movement speed. But as Primis said before, if she didn't embrace her skills "Ventus Fury" and "Wind Manipulation I" then Lambent Light also won't provide anything to her.
[JUST HOW?]
'Primis: Ais had been taught by the three leaders of Loki Familia namely Finn, Gareth and Riveria since she was kid. That's why even though she became my permanent member, there teaching was still deeply rooted. Only by letting go of that teaching, can she embrace her new path. That's why it was extremely difficult for her.'
[I see. But still the power she is releasing is just too much. Why is that?]
'Primis: Ais strongest skill "Ariel".'
[Ariel?]
'Primis: Ariel was a wind magic enhancement. This means it was a part of Wind Manipulation. Now instead of getting another skill which is part of Wind Manipulation, she has entire Wind Manipulation skill.'
[You mean she recreated "Ariel"?]
'Primis: Not only that. She took it to new heights.'
[Awesome.]
'Primis: Well, I can expect nothing less from the one who was chosen by the very "Will of the World" as Heroine.'
[Right. It is the birth of new "Sword Princess".]
Ais opened her eyes at this time. The wind gathered around her. It's the same way how her "Ariel" surround her but this time it is more controlled. Has more power. Has more defense. She then turned her gaze at Primis. They both looked in each other eyes. She felt like she was falling into boundless illusion while looking into his Sharingan as her eyes started to get blurry. But still, she didn't try to look away. Determination was visible in her eyes.
After a second which felt like eternity passed, Ais body started to shiver. She reached her limit and can't look in them anymore. But she kept on trying. A smile appeared on Primis face before he closed his eyes.
'Primis: Not bad.'
Ais took a sigh of relief when Primis closed his eyes. She used her everything just to look in his Sharingan for a second. Why only a second? Because Primis didn't hold back and release the full power of his Sharingan. Takemikazuchi Familia only looked in his Sharingan only for a moment and they all fell into illusion. It is an achievement for Ais to be able to look directly into them even for one second. After Ais calmed herself down. Primis opened his mouth again.
Primis: So, what is the name of this skill?
Ais: Name?
Confusion appeared on Ais's face.
Primis: Since this is the new skill you created. You must have name it, didn't you?
Ais tilted her head cutely while thinking about name. The wind around her settled down by now.
Ais: New Ariel?
Primis: ...
Ais: Ariel Reborn?
Primis: ...
Primis kept on looking at Ais with deadpan expression.
'Primis: She really sucks at giving name.'
[Agreed.]
Ais: Which one do you prefer, My Lord?
'Primis: I prefer my foot.'
[...]
Primis: I also thought of one. Do you want to hear?
Ais hastily nodded her head few times.
Primis: Since this is upgrade version of "Ariel", how about "Arielle"?