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Chapter 25 - Imperial Grim Art Of Breaking

In the abandoned warehouse, Mercedes was training through the techniques that the old man had demonstrated to her. Caesar, on the other hand, had already left. According to him, the lord of the fortress city called upon his help.

While it was annoying since Caesar wanted to carefully guide Mercedes. As a paragon, it was his responsibility to respond to the calls for help from the citizens of the Imperium. Of course, it depends on what he hears. He might agree or disagree with their call.

Anyhow, Mercedes kept demonstrating the techniques over and over again.

The Imperial Grim Art of Breaking. Each of the techniques that dwelled within the Art of Breaking was simple to follow yet difficult to properly perform. Most of the techniques followed a simple concept of anvil and hammer.

To explain the concept, Mercedes must manipulate her body to become an anvil for which the enemy would be hammered. She uses her legs and arms to increase the pressure of the bone, which in turn makes it susceptible to any substantial outside force.

At first, she used the dummy and performed the techniques. However, it was hard to see its effects as the dummy was barely reacting to her. It didn't matter if she slithered around the body as the dummy wouldn't react to it.

She knew that there were weaknesses within the techniques. And to find the weakness, Mercedes must find an enemy that would naturally defend themselves.

Anyhow, it has been a couple of hours since Caesar left the abandoned warehouse. Cold sweat dripped from Mercedes's pale body as she heavily panted out her fatigue. A sweet fragrance emanated from her body for some reason, though she didn't notice it.

"It would have been better if the old man was right beside me. I could have tested my techniques on him. *Sigh...* But I doubt that it would be effective."

After training with Caesar for a couple of days ever since she entered the fortress city, Mercedes realized that the old man was a monster. He was too strong to be a human being. He was faster, stronger, and better than any humans she had seen.

"The Imperial Grim Art needs a live target. However, a dangerous and dirty technique wouldn't be good to use in a spar. Only the old man could do such a thing. Anyone would be feeling the dread of such a technique." Mercedes murmured to herself.

She took a short rest and leaned on a dusty pillar of the abandoned warehouse. Glancing at her belt, Mercedes had thoughts passing through her mind. The utility belt was something she bought to equip herself with weapons.

Mercedes understood the danger of the fortress city. There were too many criminals rampaging without even any care of the authorities. Although, Mercedes couldn't fault them as the authorities were incredibly corrupt in their ways.

As long as criminals pay them enough money, they'll be free no matter what kind of crimes they have committed. Of course, she didn't believe that the authorities in her world were entirely good people. The ones at the top of the echelon must have been as corrupt as these bastards.

'The court of justice in my world runs the same concept as the one in the fortress city. However, it is a bit more complex with the combination of money and connection. That meant that normal criminals with wealth wouldn't be enough.'

'Such criminals would need connections. So that they won't get persecuted by the so-called court of justice.'

Mercedes decided not to think much about it. She wasn't a hero of some sort, though she also wasn't a crazy maniac or a cold woman who lost fate on humanity. The reason why she was even training with Caesar was only a means to an end.

She wanted to protect her family. Whether they're criminals or the authorities, anyone who dares to hurt her family will meet their end. Otherwise, who knows what might happen.

Mercedes had already perceived the darkness of the world. The slums were enough for her to see the evils that humans would partake in without the reminder of consequences. Obviously, she wanted to help people when she saw injustice for the first time.

Nonetheless, Caesar gave her a reality check by beating her up. She couldn't stand up against him that day and was made aware of how incapable she was. How could she help others when she can't even help herself?

Mercedes sneered to herself after being reminded that day. After all, even the victims themselves would become no less different than the criminals who hurt them. It must have been the trauma that has been inflicted on them that they wished to hurt others.

But it wasn't a justification, as even the criminals that hurt the victims might have the same trauma inflicted by other bastards.

After a couple of minutes, Mercedes concluded her resting time and started to continue her training with the Imperial Grim Art of Breaking. But instead of only using the Art of Breaking, she also included the Art of Dislocating in her training regimen.

The Art of Dislocating and the Art of Breaking weren't separate from each other. They were part of the Imperial Grim Art, so training them together instead of independently sounded good for Mercedes.

And she was right.

"I see... So that's why I feel a little bit slow when using the Art of Breaking." Mercedes realized something important when performing the two arts. It was the simple fact that the Art of Breaking connected to the Art of Dislocating like a perfect puzzle piece.

'The Art of Breaking is merely a continuation of the first technique. They aren't separate at all.'

'Now that I think about it, that old man didn't tell me to only train in the Art of Breaking. He just wanted me to train myself in my own guidance. There were no rules that the two arts were exclusive from one another. So why did I subconsciously separate them?'

Mercedes gave a questioning thought as she wondered to herself why she separated them for no reason. Especially, when there was nothing more but one continuous technique. Even currently, she separated them through names. The Art of Dislocating and the Art of Breaking.

"I should avoid this problem." Her eyebrows furrowed as she continued to connect her learnings to slowly complete the entirety of the Imperial Grim Art. Mercedes's movements became faster, and time passed by quickly for the young lady.

Three hours had passed since Mercedes had a realization about the Imperial Grim Art. Her growth was slowly showing itself as she was able to break the dummy's limbs. Of course, she was careful since each dummies was incredibly expensive.

Mercedes didn't really aim to destroy it. However, the dummies were beginning to wear down from her days of training. It seems that she'll have to buy a couple of them from the store. But when thinking about this, a problem arises.

"That old man said he won't be buying me anything anymore."

"These dummies were the limit, and I must buy them myself if I want to continue training. But is there even a job for me in this fortress city?"

She wondered while glancing at the entrance of the abandoned warehouse. It was late afternoon, and the sun was starting to set. Her expression softened as she thought that it was time for her to return back to the in.

But before she could do so, Mercedes noticed something strange.

'Footsteps?'

Mercedes swiftly hid amongst the shadows of the torn-down walls. She slowed her breathing while silently gazing at the entrance of the abandoned warehouse. This was private property, and the gates were supposed to be locked.

So, the emergence of the footsteps meant one thing.

Trespassers.

'Bastards have trespassed a private property. But I guess their actions are somewhat understandable from a certain standpoint.'

'The standpoint of a criminal, of course.'

'The abandoned warehouse is the perfect location for them to start their criminal operation. Whether it be human trafficking, a drug factory, or simply a den for a gang. This place has some potential.'

Mercedes quietly thought to herself and continued hiding herself from the trespassers. Numerous thoughts passed through her mind, wondering what she was supposed to do in such circumstances. What does the old man want her to do?

It was nothing but a simple question. However, Mercedes found it hard to answer. While she had killed a criminal before, Mercedes was far from a bloodthirsty human. She desired to increase her strength, but that doesn't mean she loved killing.

"Though, I must protect the abandoned warehouse. I just can't leave it to some criminals. The old man would beat me to a pulp if he ever heard what happened to the warehouse he had bought."

Mercedes muttered before gulping to herself. Just imagining the old man trying to beat her was enough for Mercedes to make a move against these bastards. After all, She didn't want to be punished for their actions.

"It looks like I'll have to kill them. But before that, I must gather information regarding their numbers and strength. I'm not so arrogant to think that I could handle a group of people with weapons."

Mercedes then saw the group of bastards finally entering the abandoned warehouse. From their appearance and behavior, she understood that they were part of a gang. They seemed to be loving this place from the looks in their eyes.

'Now that I think about it. That was my last dummy, right?'

'I was wondering if my techniques are effective against humans.'

'I guess I was given some test subjects by destiny.'

The edges of Mercedes's crimson supple lips rose as she faded into the darkness of the warehouse.