"Drip, drip."
My sweat covered the ground beneath me. How long we were doing this? If it was just enduring the pain of my bones being carved, it would be somewhat manageable. But I also needed to control my mana in specific ways.
(Magic Circuits are formed. Magic Circulation(Night) is being assessed.)
(Magic Circulation(Night) A+ is acquired.)
A+? Holy shit!
"This feeling… It is like omnipotence."
Elizabeth breathed deeply.
"Finally, it is over. I am not doing this ever again."
She looked at me.
"But looks like it was worth it."
I circulated mana around my body.
"It feels like my body was expanded."
(Due mana quantity and quality increasing your skills are ranking up.)
(Hawkeye(Darkness) ranked up to A-.)
(Sharpshooting ranked up to B+.)
(Blood Reinforcement ranked up to B. You can now use skills up to rank B with Kıyamet.)
(Domination ranked up to C+.)
(Blessing of Martial Arts ranked up to B-.)
(Sword Aura ranked up and evolved to Mana Blade C.)
Wow. Just wow. I trained until my bones cracked but I got stronger with a pace of a snail. And now… I tightened my fist. Leyla… Doğukan…
"I will be strong enough to avenge you soon."
"You seem content."
I nodded.
"Of course I am. I can probably easily defeat Will Talbot now."
Elizabeth shook her head.
"I wouldn't bet on it."
I tilted my head.
"Why?"
She signed me to walk with her.
"Every werewolf can transform. You already know it. When they transform, their power rises considerably. However, stronger and older werewolves can transform more than once. Pack members like Wolfgang can transform 3 times. If Will Talbot is someone as important as to greet someone from my family, he can probably also transform more than once."
"So, he was just messing around with me."
"Probably."
We passed through the gate.
"Let's see. Want to spar again?"
I looked at the golem. I nodded.
"Swordplay of a Gifted from previous era… I want to surpass it."
"She" was my senior in a weird way. She may be a rebel and dictator but it didn't mattered me right now. She was strong. Perfect practicing doll for me to test my abilities!
"3, 2, 1, Go!"
Elizabeth snapped her fingers and without any delay, it was in front of me swinging her sword.
"This time it looks like it is slower!"
I jumped to air. Mana Blade covering my sword shone brightly. Resonance happened and Kıyamet grew in size. With just one jump I was able to jump to back her neck. I struck to her neck.
"Blocked it?"
I bounced off from its guard. I rolled on the ground and avoided its attacks. With Hawkeye ranked up, it felt like I could see the future! I could even see the tiniest imperfections on its sword. I could see where blacksmith created it hit it a second late when it was forging it!
"Your balance! Attacks! I can see all of them!"
Not only that but with mana fully supporting my body, I could also block it head on. I wasn't just limited to parries and dodges!
"With more options, comes more opportunities!"
Sword Art. A technique that created from perfect harmony of martial skill and mana control. Blood red mana covered the entire room. As I swung my sword, they changed direction and moved like gentle winds. But my intentions weren't to put a show. I manipulated my mana in a certain direction. My right leg stomped the ground and my sword was thrusted front.
"One Step: Purgatory Thrust!"
As my sword struck, it was able to guard it. But its sword broke and I created a hole on its chest.
"ARGH."
My body felt tired. I barely stopped myself from falling to my knees. When raised my head…
"It can still move?"
Its fist was coming down on me.
"Still to slow!"
I jumped back. My body felt like it was filled with lead. I tried to pull more mana from my body but failed. My failure suprised me so much that I couldn't dodge incoming kick. I was thrown, once again to a fucking wall. Elizabeth snapped her fingers.
"It was pretty good."
"Good, my ass."
I complained as I pulled myself out from the wall.
"You just learned how to control mana correctly for the first time. If you were able to defeat the golem I created, my pride would have gotten hurt."
I dusted myself off.
"I am probably on A rank. Heh!"
I remembered the talk I had with Edward. One year! My ass. I became A rank in nearly 4 months! If Lazarus didn't put his nose, I probably could have joined the Excalibur, Sword Saint Edward Walker's guild.
"Come to think, naming your guild after your main weapon…."
I know that Excalibur was already a legend but… It seemed a little bit arrogant.
"Hey, Elizabeth. How strong is this golem? Is it strong as the hunter you defeated? The one who was around 80 percent of Edward?"
Elizabeth put her hand to her chin and thought for a moment.
"Hard to say. Probably slightly weaker."
This time I put my hand to my chin and thought.
"What percentage you would give compered to Edward?"
"With Excalibur? Around 20 percent most and even that's overstating you."
"He is that strong?"
I remembered my dream where Edward was defeated easily.
"Yes. Edward is probably in top 10 strongest humans of all time. He is that strong."
Wow. I felt strong as fuck but to think I was still that far away? I felt a litte bit hollow.
"Too bad he has 40 years left to live at most."
Elizabeth tried to keep her voice as disinterested as possible. But I felt like she felt bad about it.
"40 years is not a short amount of time."
She smiled.
"If you lived centuries it is. Enjoy thinking like that when you can. After some time… It becomes impossible."
I gulped. Elizabeth looked very sorrowful. I couldn't help but to doubt the person front of me was the same person who talked about killing as if a game.