"Alright Elspeth,today we're going to focus on your weaponry skills. There's quite a selection for you to master so take your time." Luke said as the two were outside in an open courtyard free from obstructions. "I'm pretty good fighting with spells rather than actual weapons." 'So the mage build.' "In that case feel free to make your advances on me and don't hold back cause I won't." Knowing how powerful he really was she went with a tier four attack spell which focused on the element of ice. The attack sent countless projectiles of ice shards buzzing through the air at incredible speeds towards Luke.
He countered this with his sword blocking every single shard with deadly accuracy emerging unscathed and Elspeth a little disappointed. "You prefer magic over utilisation of weapons which could prove rather troublesome in some circumstances. Say if your opponent uses a nil barrier." Elspeth was left speechless as she realized that she would be left powerless to do anything in such a situation. "Your form of attacks is too direct for one to block making you easier to read during combat. You should try distracting the opponent." He said assessing Elspeth's performance. She had already risen to upper C rank but he wanted her to be at least in lower B rank during the final test.
"Even though I hate using mana, I'll give you a demonstration." He threw his sword to the ground impaling it there and put on a small smile. Elspeth put her guard up expecting his attack which left her a little shocked. He charged up the attack but he didn't fire it,only waiting for who knows what. 'Is he waiting for me to deplete my reserves like this?' "Hello." She heard a voice behind her and caught off guard looked only to see no one there. Looking back he noticed that Luke had fired not the ice rather a tier five fire spell straight for her and the ice straight after making the two combine forming mist and water vapor clouding the place.
Still standing in a defensive stance with a small barrier surrounding her,she noticed someone approaching her and to her surprise,it broke the barrier in a single punch and the two started exchanging blows before she found herself in a disadvantageous position so she made a small explosion to gain ground away from him. No matter how hard she punched he would take it on as if absorbing it. Looking closer she realized it wasn't him rather it was a humanoid made out of water with Luke's body she was fighting but it felt like she was fighting the real thing. With distance made,she jumped back to witness another humanoid shape sculpted out of fire and caught off guard as the lookalike held a sword of fire right in her head and in synchronization with the water,the two fired at each other causing another fog to manifest but this quickly dissipated forming icicles of various lengths each sharp ready to make Elspeth's body riddled with holes.
She couldn't move as she was surrounded from all angles making her immobile. With the fog gone,he saw Luke floating above him as the icicles got closer to her with some prickling her soft skin before they all turned to water. "Too easy." He said as he made his descent onto the ground. "That's not fair. You have mastered fire,ice and water to an expert level. How was I supposed to fight back with two of you and constantly dodge your attacks?" He replied ,"That's your problem. Expect the worst so have as many good cards to play Incase of any circumstance. If I fight unfavorable for swordsmanship,I can use mana and vice versa. However you are rooted to one side."
"If you find yourself unable to use magic and the opponent is better than you in close combat then you're done." Learning her mistake she saw the reason why he usually used that sword even in the forest. Mastering one four tier spell on an element was impressive but three was something monstrous. He could have earned more points if he used mana not his sword and yet he still gained more than her in the end and that's with his help. "What weapon do you think is best suited for me?" She asked in a small voice. "Any weapon could be mastered if you'd like but we don't have time for me to teach you a new weapon. We'll have to focus on your techniques for now."
"But that doesn't mean that mean in other planes." He added. 'What did mean by that?' He snapped his fingers and appeared on a plane which seemed distraught devoid of any life. The world order was devoured, time seemed nonexistent, it's essence dwindling at a rapid pace and seemed that it could collapse in on itself at any moment. It was the seventh dimensional plane. Why it was in such a dire state,well he was simply annoyed with the principles of this plane and it's inhabitants. Elspeth was taken aback by this scenery nothing she had ever imagined. Naturally she wouldn't even exist her for a microsecond before she was crushed to death but Luke covered her with a protective barrier shielding her. "Here,you can make as much faults as you wish. Time here is nonexistent so don't worry about how much time we spend here. Now let's get to it."
...
It felt like eternity for her but she now had full proficiency of every weapon she wanted to learn. A sword from Luke's taste, daggers for close combat and a bow and arrow for long ranged attacks. She could have learnt more but she didn't feel comfortable with the rest. And the two also focused on her techniques sharpening them and unbeknownst to her ranked up but from the pressure she felt,she didn't feel it as he would slowly withdraw it to make her more familiar with it strengthening her body and increasing her stamina.
"That should enough." He said and before snapping his fingers,some beings descended into this plane. "What lowly creatures still exist here?" One of the two boomed through the void threatening to shatter it. "Only pests that is." The other responded. Naturally erasing these two beings was easier thought than said but he wanted to know who they were. "Who are you and why are you on my plane?" He nonchalantly asked assessing the two. 'Eighth dimensional beings.' Well descending was allowed in the higher planes,but after the establishment of the prime echelon,there were some planes that were deemed out of bounds for all with this one there.
"Are those third dimensional beings? How did they wind up here?" One of the two asked. Elspeth was scared witless seeing the two beings above her. She could barely breath of the palpable fear on her face but seeing how calm Luke was she found it strangely reassuring. She saw him summon a small mask which was rather strange and put it on wondering what it would do to help but to her surprise,the two indignant and proudful beings shook in fear and made a full kowtow infront of him. "What are you doing here?" He asked with disdain.
"We here on a mission issued by our master to conquer this dimensional plane." "I'm not up for chatter so I'll keep this short." He said and brandished the sword gifted by his future self. In a single slash he ended their lives as their bodies contorted in space collapsing in black holes,their souls absorbed into the golden black hole and golden blood into the red black hole.
He took a small sample and gave it to Elspeth indicating her to drink it. For her that event happened in the blink of an eye shocked by his speed but she drank it and felt her body undergo an abstract form of transformation. For her,she could feel her understanding of her techniques increasing rapidly and the flaws within them. Her body went under refinement as black foul stench substance was expelled from her body till the process was over.
[{Elspeth's proficiency has increased to 85% from 60%}]
Luke had the full privilege of making sure her body didn't explode during the whole process. The difference was too vast and could have resulted in her death instantly the moment she tasted it but he made the situation more bearable for her till she was done. To see her progress,the two engaged in a spar which couldn't be compared to her first with Luke as she had a better understanding of her skills,better coordination and sharper senses but against Luke she still lost in the end and she knew that the outcome would be so. "You may be B rank but your proficiency is way higher than that of A ranker so don't show off too much. Just enough."
She gave a small laugh before she asked ,"Why did those two individuals bow before you? Are you really that strong?" He wore a slight smile look. "Here,the order is governed by dimensional planes and ours is the third, nothing but a speck compared to the rest above. There are a hundred dimensional planes and we're on the seventh,those two were from the ninth dimensional plane so take a guess where I'm from." She paused for a moment before responding ,"Twentieth." He shook his head in dismay. She kept going up but the response she got was a head shake till she guessed ,"The hundredth." He said with an amused smile ,"The ninety ninth." His shadow materialized behind him before it disappeared out of sight. "Let's go back. That's enough for today." Snapping his fingers they appeared back on the courtyard.
"With what you know, you'll attract too much attention so keep a low profile till your promoted. Go take a shower cause you reek." He told her as he was walking away before adding ,"After your done, we're going out for lunch." The black ooze had a repulsive odour to it and she took a bath right after before wearing one of the dresses they had bought. A red dress that brought out her curves nicely that stopped at her thighs. She coupled this with with elegant red heels further bringing out her charms and elegance making any man stop and take her beauty in for hours.
[{
She wanted to look her best for Luke as he clearly didn't have to go overboard with what he did but still he did. With looks that would make any man fall for her at first glance,she made her way outside with her glistening white hair cascading over her shoulders amplifying her beauty. Even the servants were stupefied by her transformation because at first,she looked like a peasant but now she looked like fine royalty now understanding why Luke put up with her earlier. "You look splendid my dear." Luke complimented her adorning a blue and black suit complimenting his devilish charms. Giving a light blush she locked her hand with his and the made their exit from the place heading towards the most distinguished place to unwind and relax. The spring breeze cavern.
To get a reservation to such a place would be hassle for even nobles as it could take days with it's ever so mesmerizing beauty. The commonfolk would take even longer but the royal family had a special table reserved for them Incase they decided to grace the place. Thanks to Horace's expansive networks,he had full ownership of this place and could grace this place to what extent he liked. He took Elspeth to the most beautiful view of the cavern which had a majestic waterfall cascading down as it crashed on the rocks below causing a soothing yet relaxing sensation to ones nerves.
"What a breathtaking sight." She said absorbed in the moment of it all. The servants brought their meal as requested and savouring their meals the two had a lovely chat with her asking questions and Luke answering her before talking about other topics such as the final phase of the test and about Elspeth's family. A member of staff came up to Luke's ear before whispering something and leaving right after. "What is it?" She inquired. He gave a small exhausted breath ,"It's the royal family. A little problem but nothing to worry about. They are on their way here as we speak."