[ Abyss Tower, still on the 6th Floor ]
After the events happened, Ragna is training diligently with Galen, for he taught many things Ragna needs to know about martial arts, especially teaching how to use his different-conditioned body.
After learning the
" Now after you learn the first steps, it seems it would be a great time to teach you the techniques I've learned. " Galen tells Ragna as he sees his progress.
" Now, the first technique will be the technique I shouldn't even practice. "
" Called... "
" [Demon Martial Techniques]. " Ragna asks Galen for he tells him that Ragna Twelve, 69, and 100 had already told him about what Galen is going to teach him in the first place.
" Oh, so they already spoilered it for you? " Galen asks Ragna feeling outsmarted after his 'disciple' seems to know more before the lesson even started.
" Yes, but they only tell me the names. "
" Like the [Demon Martial Techniques], [Heavenly Stinger Techniques], and ... "
" I know, I know... let me continue the lesson please, Ragna... "
" Okay, please... " Ragna tells Galen to continue as he explains everything he learned from his clan before he left*.
Galen speaks that his clan had stored many copies of the ancient scriptures, texts regarding those martial arts, and the techniques banned by the Divine, for it is known to be so dangerous during the Holy Wars.
After telling Ragna the whole 'origin' thing, he continues to teach Ragna the basic teachings of the techniques, showing Ragna at first glance about it.
"( Such a brutal display... )" Ragna says as he sees Galen performs the [Demon Martial Techniques], the technique based on brutal fist-fighting, empowered using the Ki, in order to crush the opponent's body fatally.
While seeing it, Galen then tells Ragna that the [Demon Martial Techniques] is the first technique that Ragna will learn from him, for it requires less movement but had effective strike and damage for its purpose is to bring 'effective destruction' in combat.
" [Demon Fist Strike] " Galen performs a normal but powerful fist attack, an attack filled with so much Ki in one punch, which can be used to destroy a powerful foe in one strike.
" [Demon Fist Clap] " Galen performs a powerful clap, using the Ki in one clap, creating a large shockwave that destroys the surroundings with its power for it's meant to destroy multiple opponents at once.
Seeing this, Ragna felt amazed, never thought that there will be powerful techniques like this before.
"( This is great, I thought martial arts techniques will require a lot of movements from me than before. )" Ragna says, seeing his vulnerable feet.
Despite it's already quite shaped due to his training, it will still not be enough to help him move for in extreme fights, unlike the ones he had before entering the Abyss Tower which he won using his weapons and items, but this time.
"( I need to master these Techniques ASAP, time is ticking fast. )" Ragna says as he asks Galen to perform again while his feet step on his shadow.
"( I'm sorry if I had to do this, Galen... )"
"( I know this is cheating, but... ) " the [Twelve Eye of Time] activated while Ragna performed one of his new Black Shadow Skills.
< Skill: [Black Shadow Absorption] -- LVL.1 >
< Using the Shadow's true nature to absorb another shadow. After the absorption, the Player can gain a copy of the target's physical skill set, save it into the System, and gain the skills by touching and absorbing the target's shadow. >
< But, for now, this skill can only absorb one physical skill set into the System. >
< Cost: 500 AP >
< [Black Shadow Imitate] in progress. >
"( 'Feel the shadow's energy flowing into you', that's what 69 said to me before I left. )"
"( I can feel it, I can feel Galen's shadow being absorbed to my very foot that steps over it. )" Ragna says as it happens.
< Absorbing Target [Galen Earson (Stinger)]s shadow. >
"( I'm sorry Galen... )"
"( But... )" Ragna says in his mind while remembering what he was advised earlier inside the System Space.
...
( Back then.)
[ System Space ]
< Congratulations, you unlocked a new skill! >
" You want me to absorb Galen's shadow using this skill? " Ragna asks as he sees the skill on the System Window Screen.
" You bet, after all, it's better to copy things with high speed and accuracy rather than learn them slowly step-by-step. " Ragna 69 answered.
" What's that mean, 69? " Ragna asks, he didn't get what his 69th Timeline version of himself just said.
" He means that sometimes cheating is better than learning! " Ragna 100 says, telling that it's basically like having a school exam.
Where in those times, students often gained greater results using cheats rather than learning things from zero based on the books given by the teachers. In this case, the two wanted Ragna to absorb Galen's shadow in order to gain access to all of Galen's martial arts techniques set.
" So I can just copy and perform it like Galen did, just by absorbing his 'Shadow'? " Ragna asks, still unsure about this, probably feeling sorry for Galen too.
" Yes, Current One! "
" This is the greatest opportunity you could have. " Ragna 69 encourages Ragna.
" Really? but... ? "
" I thought martial arts needed to be trained in order for our body to get used to it. " Ragna argues, telling that he is not certain that the idea given to him will work for he is still feeling guilty about the whole thing.
" Just follow what we said, Ragna. " Ragna 100 says.
" I know from Twelve that your grandma and teachers always taught you not to cheat before. "
" Hence why sometimes, you limited yourself from making necessary decisions and actions. "
" But things are different... "
" This time, no one will be angry at you when doing all of the injustice, especially doing cheap injustice acts like cheating and plagiarism. "
" Really? "
" Of course, look where you're at right now, you're inside the 'Abyss Tower'! "
" There's nobody here that will punish you for doing such a minor crime, nobody! " Ragna 100 says, continuing to tell Ragna about his current condition, for he is trapped in a place where the only law that exists is to kill or be killed.
Despite the calm, for now, Ragna 100 still reminds Ragna about the coming storm, the storm that will wipe him out if he doesn't do anything necessary to brace himself from the impact.
" Just do it, Ragna... "
" Even if Galen founds out later, I assure you... "
" That he wouldn't mind about it... " Ragna 100 assures Ragna.
...
( Return to the present. )
" Fuh hah... " Ragna felt so full after he absorbed Galen's shadow, hence he was given a great amount of information from his shadow absorbed as the System immediately informs that there's a great amount of entry in its archives.
< (!) Message (!) > < (!) Message (!) > < (!) Message (!) > < (!) Message (!) > < (!) Message (!) >
< (!) Message (!) > < (!) Message (!) > < (!) Message (!) > < (!) Message (!) > < (!) Message (!) >
< (!) Message (!) > < (!) Message (!) > < (!) Message (!) > < (!) Message (!) > < (!) Message (!) >
"( I..., I did it! it worked! )" Ragna sees all of it.
" You okay? " Galen asks, for he sees Ragna having some awkward behavior at the time.
" Oh, it's... "
" Are you finished doing whatever you did? " Galen asks which made Ragna shocked.
"( Oh shoot! )"
"( Did he know? )"
"( I know!!! )" Galen says as he suddenly can hear what Ragna is thinking inside his mind.
"( What the... )" Ragna was shocked to hear it.
< Subject [Galen] is using [Mind Transmission] right now to communicate with the Player. >
< It was activated 35 minutes ago. >
"( What...!!! )" Ragna is so frightened after knowing Galen had already been aware of what he did just now.
As he reacted, Galen didn't show any disappointment to Ragna or even anger towards him, instead.
"( Don't worry, I already knew it before you did it. )"
"( I won't be angry at you since I also don't like to teach things slowly due to our condition here. )"
"( So please, don't be shy to use it. ) " Galen explains as he then decides to perform another one in order for Ragna to learn more of it at once.
" You, Galen..., you... " Ragna stutters.
" You didn't object to me using the skill during your teaching? " Ragna asks.
" After all, I... "
" No, since that should speed things up, I think a speed learning session is necessary, no matter how we achieve it. " Galen tells Ragna, thanking him for saving his time to teach the instructions.
" So start absorbing my shadow even more, for I will continue to show you the [Heavenly Stinger Techniques] after you fully absorbed the [Demon Martial Techniques] during your first take of my shadow. " Galen says as he then tells Ragna that after he did absorb all the techniques, he ordered him to perform as he wants Ragna to practice it based on what he absorbs.
__________________________________
Extra:
*Galen's Clan story starts from Chapter 97: Proposal
...
I know, I know, the MC gets a huge game-changer skill to quicken his training, right?
But it's not that OP enough, Ragna may have absorbed the knowledge of it into the System through the Black Shadow, and still, it has some limits, for there are many of the absorbed techniques and skills that Ragna couldn't perform in his current state right now.
And don't forget, the Shadow Absorption only absorbs the physical skills not absorbing the superpower abilities from the target, so the skill is powerful against a martial arts user who relied on the physical abilities rather than those who had superpowered Gifts, or Magic or whatever.