While stat increases also were exciting, skills were the most important kit of every hunter. I know several hunters that would give half of their stats for New skills. While high stats were important for us skills were just more versatile. A skill opened more ways for a hunter. For example, if I had 5 more strength stat, my arrows would be stronger. However, that wouldn't change how I fought. On other hand, if I had skill that can make my arrows explode in contact, I would change my fightning style.
"Even though your stats didin't increased much, it is still good. This means that I am not going to accidentally kill you while training you."
"Wha.."
Before I barely reacted to his absurd claim, he was front of me. Seeing his sword closing to my neck, I jumped back.
"Good. Keep staying alive and you should be able to learn something."
I gulped as I looked at his sword. It had a Blue energy covering it. Mana Blade is what I thought first. But I quickly decided that it wasn't it. İt looked weaker than what Ayla used. And no way in hell Sword Saint Edward Walker's Mana Blade was weaker than her.
"Don't be suprised now."
I dodged another swing. I pulled the sword he gave to me.
"This is just a basic application of Mana. Every hunter can do this."
I didn't understand if he was mocking me or just had high standards. Probably both.
"İt is called Mana Infusion. While some has it as a skill..."
"Arghh!"
He spoke casually while attacking me. When I blocked his casual swing my entire arm hurt. İt wasn't that I was a crybaby. His attacks had some serious punch behind them. His face and tone was relaxed while targeting my vital points. On the contrary, I was fightning for my life. He was a Sword Master while I was a Sharpshooter. I had to create distance between us. Barely blocking his attacks, I retreated. Creating some space between us, I was about to observe his stance. But a sharp pain hit me in my stomach. Doubling over in pain, I threw up. He closed the distance before I saw him.
"This is called Mana Burst."
Even through my barfing, I could hear him clearly.
"İt allows you to speed or power up in short bursts. Now get up. I only hit you with my hilt."
Still feeling the pain, I got up.
"Shouldn't I first learn how to circulate Mana?"
He scuffed.
"I am teaching you how to run. You want to learn how to walk?"
His logic was... stupid.
"Shouldn't you first learn to walk before trying to run?"
What I told sounded more logical. He was deep in thought before speaking.
"No."
I rolled to dodge his blade. Give me a break!
"You dodged the blade. However..."
His kick nearly threw me off the roof we were in.
"You are a first generation vampire. You have no reason to walk."
"I have no idea what the fuxk that means!"
His kick sending me flying created distance between us. Pulling throwing knives from my beltt, I launched them. To nobody's suprise, he casually blocked them. But my target was never hitting with those knives. Running full speed with my sword in hand I swung it full force. He was wide open.
"Uff."
When his hilt was slammed to my forehead, I fell down to my ass. World around me spun. I tried to get up but I lost balance.
"That wasn't bad. But you know what was your mistake?"
"You gave that opening to bait me."
"Correct. Can you stand?"
I rubbed my forehead. While I couldn't see it, I was sure it was red with his hilts shape.
"Give me a minute."
"No."
I rolled around as His sword once again tried to cut me down.
"Seriously?!"
"Did he waited for you?"
I felt the hairs in back of my neck stand up. I wanted to retort but my throat was blocked with a lump.
"No? I guessed so. After all if he waited for you, other hunters wouldn't have died a dogs dead."
He was trying to provoke me. İt was common insulting trainees in military. Even I did it to rookies. İt served two purposes. One was to tough them up mentally. By being pressured constantly during training, they would learn to be more stoic and calm. Other one was something I didn't really liked. We would try rookies to work and train harder by making them angry.
"Too far."
"Only thing too far is you. You stayed alive. You , as the leader survived while your underlings died. Shame."
"I wasn't even the team leader! If I was-"
"You would have easier time of blaming others."
"Rargh!"
I charged towards him. I was angry. Yet I controlled it.
"Watch him. How he uses it."
I said in my mind. If it was like he told me. If I could really learn how to use mana, then I had to learn from one of the best Hunters in the world. I swung my sword. When it hit his sword, I felt recoil travel across my entire body. He felt like a rock, no a huge boulder. His sword didn't moved an inch.
"I thought you at least knew how to handle a sword. I was wrong."
He hit my hand with side of the blade. I dropped it to ground with a huge clank. He lifted his sword. I guarded my head with my arms. His hilt slammed to my forearm. Pain was so intense that I thought I broke my arms. I also was thrown away with a strong kick at my ribs.
"Get up."
He didn't had any mercy.
"It feels like you are just using me as a punching bag."
I pulled my knives. While He blocked them, I rushed to get my sword. Just as I reached my hand, it was stepped on by him.
"You are worthless as a punching bag."