Pike...
such an underwhelming name for a guy who called himself the sky shaker. But Michael did not have the heart to complain. The guy is clearly powerful and he wants to train him. So Michael willingly accepted it.
Pike holds up his wooden spear and swings it around. The spear looks like it came alive and acts as another limb for Pike. His movement is aggressive and primal but it is filled with purpose and power.
pah!
The spear spin and tap Michael in the chest. From the motion it looks like a light tap but, in reality, it sends Michael flying quite a distance with pain far worse than he could imagine. If he had four life he would lose all of them right here.
Cough cough
His body reacts by spitting out blood but, in the dream realm, there's no blood. Only pain. His mind went numb from that hit. A sound keep ringing in his ears and his instinct tell him that there was no way in hell he could survive the hit.
What is more impressive is Pike looks like he doesn't need to do anything at all to achieve this result. His movement looks like a light tap with the butt of a spear. However, it hit like a 3-meter-tall monster charging at him.
Why did he get beat up again? Michael doesn't even know at this point.
"Get up, I'll only teach this once. So listen carefully." Pike change his stance and thrust his spear into an empty space. A sharp and quick attack sends a breeze onto Michael. However, there's no air in here.
"The first thing that I want to teach you is technique. It's essential to use any weapon and doesn't require you to have a powerful body unless you're using a big weapon."
Come to think of it Michael realized that despite Pike's large and sturdy body, the man doesn't use a heavy weapon that could easily deal more damage to the monster. So he asks.
"Why did you use a spear?"
Pike looks at a wooden spear in his head with a nostalgic look "Let's say that monster is not the only thing you'll be fighting."
"..." Michael under stand what Pike said since he just got chased by that mad pirate. He still can't sleep soundly without glancing at the front cave. In case that woman survives a battle with the Apex while in the water. No matter how unlikely it is Michael has a feeling that she survives.
Let's hope he's wrong.
"It's also easy to use and quite versatile. That's why in my opinion, it is the king of weapons."
"What about Great sword and hammer?"
"The Boniha people really did a good job educating their people into using those weapons. Not every tool fits every job and has its use. Like the fishing rod used for fishing, similarly, a great sword and hammer fit a different role in hunting monsters. What I'm saying is that in my opinion, Spear is the best weapon in terms of versatility. It deals ok damage but, you could use a spear in most situations."
Micahel could see Pike's point.
"Thus I chose a spear as my main weapon. And I'll teach you the best spearman-ship you'll ever learn in your entire life. My personal style is the sky impaler. Used to kill the sky dragon!"
"Umm... What's a sky dragon?" Being in Boniha village all his life Michael didn't know what a sky dragon is. Pike smiles and answers the question with pride.
"You'll know in the future but, before that, you'll have to thrust a spear 1000 times. Don't ask questions"
"but..."
"Am I not clear?"
"I...I don't have a weapon."
"....."
Pike tosses his wooden spear at Michael. The spear travels through the air and is caught by Michael. However, when he touches it his body also got dragged by gravity together with the spear. It's too heavy!
The weapon that pike has been holding with one hand requires Michael to hold it with 2 hands. even then Michael still had to put in all his strength to make one meaningful full thrust. The seemingly normal wooden spear is too heavy.
"How can..."
"That's your problem. However if you've not done a thousand thrusts by the end of the day, I won't teach you anymore. Good luck"
"What!?"
before Mciahel could ask. Pike already disappear into thin air. gripping a spear in his hands Michael starts slowly thrusting. The best quality of Mcihael is his persistence however after losing to Graha, he stops training. He stops trying. It's just like Pike said to him, he has lost his flame.
3 hours later
Michael finishes thrusting the spear into nothingness. The first hours are fine for him but from that point onward the spear felt a solid rook that weighed his arm down. It had to pull out all its willpower to finish a thousand thrusts that had been assigned to him.
"I've finished..."
Michael's body collapse from exhaustion. The dream realm prevents him from getting hurt but, it doesn't prevent him from feeling tired. Pike's body forms from a red light and looks at Michael after he finishes the exercise. His expression reveals a mix of surprise and happiness.
He summons his wooden spear back to his hand and shatters the whole space.
------
Michael heard a faint sound calling him. His eyes push open slowly. It felt like something is pushing his eyelid close. His mind is numb from the dream realm.
"mi...."
"MIch...."
The sound starts to get clearer as time goes on.
"Michael!"
A sweet voice echoes in the cave waking Michael up. Still not fully awake Michael scratches his face and clears up his eyes. Revealing a dark cave he's staying in. By now he realizes that Layla is calling him.
"What is it?"
"Thank god! I... Thought you died"
"What!?"
"No matter how much I call you. You wouldn't wake up." Michael could see some red in her eyes. It also looks a bit watery. "Don't leave me here alone OK?"
"O..K?..." Michael didn't why she act like this. The Layla he knows wouldn't have cried if he died... Michael doesn't know what to think about this.