Three years have passed since the beginning of Adall's intensive training under Orion's supervision.
His first task at the start of it was to break his own magic circle that he had formed in his core. The reason was that he needed a robust body capable of surviving the transplantation of the matrix that could make him a primordial. Something he naturally couldn't achieve with the classic training of magicians.
So he broke his first magic circle, even if it was against his will.
He then learned from his ancestor the mana gathering method used by warriors, and it was now the doctrine he followed.
"Are you already so tired with this little exercise?"
As Adall, lying on the ground, slowly regained his strength following his morning endurance exercise, he heard a familiar voice addressing him.
It was one of the few people living in this forest with the young boy and his ancestor.
"Is that you, Fercyn? Where were you when we were supposed to train together today?"
Adall immediately responded to his interlocutor while remaining lying down.
He was a bit worried not to have seen him while he completed his morning routine, knowing that the latter would never miss a training session unless there was a good reason.
"I went to town to buy a few things for our benefactor."
Adall felt reassured but also curious to know more about the alleged purchases made on behalf of his ancestor. However, he knew that it would be pointless to ask his current interlocutor.
He would never tell him without Orion's permission. This unwavering loyalty was part of his elven nature.
Indeed, Fercyn was a dark elf. His pointed ears, bronzed skin, and jet-black hair were more than enough to justify his belonging to this race, which could be described as new as it had appeared recently.
"So, are you recovered enough for a training match?"
"You have a lot of questions this morning, Fercyn!"
A green energy began to seep from the young boy's body at these words, and the next moment, he was standing up with no trace of fatigue on his face.
This phenomenon was due to the fact that Orion had sealed the life pearl in the young boy's body at the beginning of their training.
It was a method that sacrificed the artifact forever because it was irreversible, but it optimized its effects. One thing was clear: as long as Adall was not dead, he would heal in seconds from his wounds and fatigue whenever he wanted.
This method of using the pearl also had the advantage of bringing out the latent physical abilities of the body in which the artifact was sealed, making it very favorable for learning martial arts.
As soon as Adall got up, he headed, like Fercyn, to the collection of training swords displayed nearby and chose one.
Both then took a combat stance the next moment.
Adall, who was carefully observing his opponent, was surprised not to find any openings in the latter's defense.
After 3 years of training, Adall had become a 3-star warrior, but his opponent was an accomplished 6-star.
It was normal that he couldn't find any openings in his defense, but usually, the latter would leave him one or two to not take away all possibility of attacking.
It was like a handicap he gave himself, but apparently, that wasn't the case today.
While Adall was pondering the sudden change in his partner's habits, the latter made the first move of the game.
Even if he limited his physical abilities to be at the same level as the young boy, his footwork coupled with his natural dexterity was enough to surprise the young boy by appearing in a flash in front of him.
Sword strike!
Adall managed to stop Fercyn's first attack, but it still made him retreat 3 steps back and left his two arms numb. A sensation that automatically disappeared the next moment, following the manifestation of a green light around his body.
("Why is he so aggressive today? Is he really limiting himself to the power of a 3-star swordsman?...")
A ton of questions crossed Adall's mind after this first exchange of blows, but he couldn't take the time to develop them, as his opponent was already charging at him for a second exchange.
Sword strike! Sword strike! Sword strike! Sword strike!
In less than a minute, the two warriors exchanged dozens of sword blows.
In reality, if one had to describe in one sentence the combat during this last minute, it would be: Fercyn was attacking, and Adall was defending as best he could.
After realizing that he couldn't break through Adall's defense and inflict significant damage on him by limiting his physical abilities and playing only with his sword as he did, Fercyn jumped a few meters back to create distance between him and his opponent.
He then adopted a special posture that did not go unnoticed by Adall.
("Don't tell me he plans to use his martial style! But what's wrong with him today?")
The martial style was to the warrior what the elements (fire, water, wood, wind, etc.) were to the magician. The techniques born of these styles were as elaborate as magical spells.
("The martial style of the battlefield murderer!")
Adall couldn't help but murmur these words as he watched his training partner's posture.
It was a martial style consisting of 5 techniques designed for warriors specializing in assassination. Fercyn only mastered two techniques for the moment, but they were powerful and special enough to allow him to completely dominate a warrior of the same level as him.
Using it, even with his abilities limited to those of a 3-star warrior facing Adall, meant only one thing: he was taking their fight very seriously.
Adall, who had recognized at first glance the adoption of a martial style by his training partner, did not fail to do the same.
« Heavenly Demon Martial Style - 1st Technique: Sword Wave »
He automatically launched the attack as soon as he finished getting into the right position to use his martial style and, by extension, his technique.
Having seen his friend and training partner's battlefield murderer at work several times, he knew more than anyone that the best way to defend against him was to go on the offensive and never give him a break.
Unfortunately, even if Adall had made the best decision at the time, he made it one second too late.
« Battlefield Murderer Martial Style - 4th Technique: Mirage »