Chapter 75: BFO-style Combat Training
"Mmm..."
Soft sensations and a warm body temperature. My eyes woke up to a scent tickling my nostrils. The sky had only just begun to turn white.
I was sandwiched between two figures in sleepwear, like a body pillow.
"Mmm... Good morning..."
"Good morning, Ashley."
"Yes..."
As I made a slight movement, Ashley greeted me. Our gazes met with the deep color reminiscent of amethyst.
However, it seemed like Ashley hadn't gotten enough sleep yet. After briefly opening her eyelids, she closed them again. She leaned her cheek against my shoulder and breathed quietly.
Before falling asleep, she had a reassuring and content smile. I felt that Ashley trusted me, but our arrangement remained the same, like a body pillow.
Lately, whether it was Grace's recoil management or Ashley's circulation training, we had been doing these things before going to sleep in the main bedroom. It was necessary for both Grace and Ashley, but it sometimes made it feel like we were spending time as three people, including me. So, I decided to increase the time we spent relaxing in the bedroom.
Both of them seemed to find comfort and peaceful sleep in it.
During the summer, I used magic to lower the room's temperature to create a conducive sleeping environment. This often resulted in situations like today, where we woke up in a body pillow configuration.
I had learned from experience that the more extensive the area and time I spent applying circulation training, the more significant the effects were. Ashley's movements during sparring with Sheela and Rosetta had noticeably improved. However, I refrained from excessive physical contact for reasons of personal restraint, but it was a dilemma because considering diving into the labyrinth, I couldn't hold back too much.
As for my own issues, ultimately, whether or not I could endure was a problem beyond simply relying on self-control. Lately, I had been handling it by using sleep magic on myself. Relying solely on self-control wasn't always the best approach.
"Hehe."
A small voice came from the opposite side.
Looking over, Grace had also slightly opened her eyes, wearing a serene smile.
"Good morning, Teo."
"Yeah, good morning. Did I wake you up?"
"Even if you wake up early, I can still enjoy watching the two of you sleeping."
She said with a squint in her eyes. Well, I wasn't sure how to respond to that.
"You're used to my face by now, aren't you?"
"I like it, Teo. The feel of your hair, the color of your eyes..."
She gently ran her fingers through my hair.
"I'll prepare breakfast soon, so please rest a bit longer."
She said that, but with Ashley's body against my arm and her fingers playing with my hair, it was quite impossible to fall asleep from this point.
"No, I'll wake up too. I woke up early, and I thought I might do some morning training in the garden."
Carefully pulling my arm from the sleeping Ashley, I lightly touched her hair and left the house, with Grace seeing me off.
Training, huh? It was fine up to the point of sparring with friends using surplus beginner-level magic wands, but in that case, with my excessive attack power, I ended up just defending without counterattacking. My defensive skills were improving due to training with Ashley and the others, but the reverse was becoming a problem.
Moreover, since I fought in close combat while controlling magic, I couldn't use magic in the wands during sparring, which meant I had to leave my magic processing capacity unused.
So, as an alternative training regimen during times when I wasn't exploring the labyrinth, I had come up with something. If it worked well, it could also be used for training with Ashley and the others.
"Create Golems."
I created earth golems roughly the same height as me. I wondered if four would be enough for now? Their movements weren't very agile, and they couldn't perform complex commands. Their actions were a combination of pre-set patterns and real-time control by me, making them somewhat predictable. But that was okay; I had an extra trick up my sleeve.
Now, let's begin training from this surrounded position. I attacked them from all sides, synchronizing and desynchronizing my strikes while dealing with their attacks.
Coordinated attacks that required some degree of skill to counter, but since I was controlling them myself, the Golems couldn't anticipate my movements.
I dodged a Golem's arm approaching from behind, leaning my upper body forward and countering with a thrust. It had a satisfying impact. After the thrust, I swung my staff like a windmill. I knocked down the head of one Golem coming from the left and used the same motion to strike another from below, slightly delaying the timing.
The Golems lost their form, were blown away, but reformed and rejoined the battle. It was a repetitive cycle.
It was great that I could attack to my heart's content, but it still felt insufficient. It was essentially like combining shadow boxing with a promise match.
However, occasionally, I mixed in Caduceus's attacks, which changed the dynamics of the training. Attacks like thrusts and whip-like strikes with rounded tips flew between the Golems as I weaved through them. Snares and traps were set as well.
Although they lacked killing power since they weren't solidified, they were sharp attacks. Caduceus performed these movements just by following my orders, making it an excellent familiar. It could also perform defensive maneuvers using the Magic Shield. This was the kind of training we needed.
By having Caduceus provide support at opportune moments, I introduced unexpected movements. In essence, it was close combat training with four Golems controlled while fighting alongside Caduceus.
It was a combination of magic control abilities and close combat skills. Caduceus's combat experience came into play as well. All in all, it was a comprehensive training regimen.
Firing. Dodging Caduceus's strike, hidden behind the shadow of a Golem bullet, by tilting my head, but also sensing Caduceus's thrust approaching from behind, piercing through the Golem's abdomen, at the edge of my field of vision.
This is unexpected. There's no space to avoid when the Golem becomes a wall, and I stand leisurely on the ground. I thrust my staff into the ground and perform a somersault, detaching my body from that spot.
The movement of the Golem itself has become more optimized, refined, and the difficulty is gradually increasing. I can go further – I believe I can.
"Again... doing unbelievable things."
As I gradually find it more interesting and lose track of time, Sheila and the others arrive. They're wearing prototype aerial equipment that has just been completed in the workshop – they must have come out with the intention of training this morning.
"Good morning."
"Yeah, good morning."
"Is what you just did... a new form of training?"
Irmhild tilts her head.
"I just came up with it. With this, everyone can train in group combat."
By reducing the density of the Golems or changing their materials, we can reduce their lethality. Since it's not real combat, unlike in the labyrinth, there's no need to consider safety margins. Grace should also be able to participate in training without worrying about her opponent.
The implications of this are significant.
For example, it should be possible to handle attacks that push the limits or brutal cooperation. It's a win-win situation as I can train everyone while honing my control skills.
"Are we going to do that too?"
Perhaps she sensed something from my smile, Sheila's expression becomes strangely contorted.
"Well, I'll adjust the difficulty and the number of Golems. With Aqua Golems, you can fight in the air without getting dirty, without getting injured, so it should be safe."
I won't make this training too harsh. It's meaningless if we can't keep it up. With my circulating ki and Ashley's healing magic, we won't leave any physical fatigue behind.
So, until Grace comes to call us for breakfast, I let them have special training in aerial combat with the new training menu.
"It's impossible. That time-delayed attack is impossible."
"Try closing the distance boldly. Stick to the opponent who's approaching first like a shield."
"How do you dodge that? And what about Aqua Golems? Isn't it like you're making Theodore pretend to be beaten?"
"Ilum's bow can channel magic through the vibration of the string, right? It interferes with my control, so it's quite effective. If we can make it faster and carry more weight, it will make a difference, I think."
"Well, I'll work harder."
...Well, considering the assumption of a demon battle and the various tough experiences I had in BFO's PvP, I think it became quite a dense time. As we continue, their movements improve, and I feel like I can provide feedback on Golem control when I train.
Real combat in the labyrinth. Exploring the limits in training. I plan to proceed with both of these wheels.