A week had passed since Constantine's return to the Outcast base after their climactic battle with Lucius, and a lot had happened. Thankfully, Darryl had recovered, and he was taking it easy for now. Kento now rotated shifts with Marcus outside Constantine's – no, Vicky's – apartment, to give him peace of mind, even though they were both sure she was safe now.
Constantine had no idea what the accords they talked about were, but he wanted to play it safe. Jane has been withdrawn and quiet; this was her first real battle and she had frozen; if Kento hadn't saved her from that shadow tendril, she could have died. As for Constantine, he had thrown himself into his training zealously, trying to push the thoughts of Vicky forgetting him to the back of his mind. Now, as he faced off against Kento in the sparring ring, he felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins.
The two combatants circled each other warily, their movements slow and calculated. Constantine's attacked first, with overwhelming aggression while trying to keep his every movement precise and deliberate; he was starting to solidify his combat style and most moves had become instinctive by now. He launched a flurry of strikes at Kento, each blow aimed at a vital spot. Kento, on the other hand, relied on his speed and agility, dodging Constantine's attacks with ease and countering with swift, calculated strikes of his own.
His movements were graceful yet deadly, turning Constantine's attacks against him and exploiting every single opening with perfect timing. His extensive training and combat experience were evident, but Constantine was determined to finally get a win over him.
As the spar continued, Constantine pressed the attack, driving Kento back with a relentless flurry of blows, abandoning defense and focusing on delivering a barrage of strikes. For a moment, it seemed as if Kento was being pushed back and Constantine pressed the attack, feeling like victory was finally within his grasp. However, Kento, was simply biding his time. He focused on dodging and sidestepping the attacks, knowing Constantine would run out of stamina soon. He smirked; he actually thought he had a chance against him.
Deciding to school him, he waited until he saw him falter and lose his rhythm. He immediately dropped to a crouch, extending and rotating his leg to sweep Constantine off his feet – literally. As Constantine went airborne, ready to fall, Kento sprang up and extended his leg upwards, bringing it down on Constantine's abdomen with punishing force, knocking the wind out of him and sending him crashing to the mat. "The audacity." he said sardonically, looking at him wheezing on the floor.
However, Kento had noticed the newfound strength that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere ever since Constantine unleashed that strange lightning. It made him suspicious, wary of the sudden progress he had made. So, he decided to keep a closer eye on Constantine. Something told him that there was more to this sudden surge of skill than met the eye, and he was going to find out what.
As Constantine and Kento concluded their spar, Marcus entered the training area, his gaze assessing the scene before him. With a nod of approval, he approached Constantine, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"Impressive display, Constantine," Marcus remarked, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "Your skills have improved by leaps and bounds in such a short time." Deep down, he was also suspicious of the changes, but he decided to believe in Constantine and nurture him. Kento was paranoid enough for the both of them anyway.
Constantine's beamed with pride at Marcus's praise. "Thanks, Marcus!" he replied, a grin spreading across his face. "I've been giving it my all."
Marcus nodded, his expression serious as he continued, "It's time to take your training to the next level then. Time to start with weapons training."
Excitement coursed through Constantine's veins at the prospect of learning weapon combat. "I can't wait!" he exclaimed.
Kento stepped forward, his demeanor serious. "Choosing the proper weapon is crucial." he interjected. "Your entire fighting style will be built around it."
Constantine nodded, absorbing Kento's words with a nod. He knew he had to take this seriously. As they delved into the discussion regarding the right weapon for him, however, Marcus and Kento offered contrasting perspectives.
"Considering your unique ability with lightning, Constantine," Marcus began thoughtfully, "I believe a light weapon that allows for extreme speed would be most suitable for you. It would complement your natural agility and enhance your speed to extreme levels.
Constantine mulled over Marcus's suggestion, recognizing the simple and solid logic behind it. However, Kento had a different perspective to offer.
"On the contrary," Kento interjected, his voice somewhat amused, "I believe Constantine should wield a larger weapon with good reach. It may seem unorthodox but hear me out. Based on what we've tested about his Element Reversal, Constantine's lightning has the trait of manipulating the velocity of everything it envelops, which he mostly uses for increased speed. With a larger weapon, he could deliver devastating blows with even greater speed than a lighter one."
"What do you mean?" Marcus asked.
"It's a principle I learned from Damien," Kento continued. "Mass increases force, force increases velocity and, in turn, velocity increases mass further. His attacks would become unblockable by any conventional means."
Marcus arched an eyebrow skeptically at Kento's proposal. "It lacks finesse." he remarked, but the idea is interesting to say the least. Elaborate." He said.
Kento shook his head, a confident smile playing at his lips. "Constantine's fighting style already revolves around overwhelming his opponents with speed and aggression," he said. "A larger weapon would only serve to enhance his strengths, allowing him to strike with great force and speed and end fights quickly; it plays perfectly to his strengths, and his powers can make up for his flaws in fighting until we… refine him further." he concluded with an expression that made Constantine shiver.
Constantine had listened intently to the debate, both perspectives having merit; Marcus' approach was rational and realistic, exactly what he expected; however, Kento's idea was very intriguing. After some consideration, Constantine found himself swayed by Kento's arguments. He trusted Kento's fighting instincts and believed that this unorthodox approach was promising. Constantine wasn't the most refined fighter, but he was, arguably, the most savage when needed. Besides, there was something satisfying at the idea of swinging a massive weapon around.
"Alright, I'll trust your judgment, Kento," Constantine declared. "Let's go with a larger weapon."
Kento nodded in approval, his expression reflecting satisfaction. "Good choice." he affirmed. "But be mindful, choosing a weapon that is too cumbersome could be detrimental to your speed and agility."
Constantine nodded in understanding. "So, what do you suggest?" he asked.
"A blade will have less air resistance. A bastard sword or a lighter greatsword would be suitable." Kento replied, his tone confident. "They offer good reach and striking power without sacrificing too much speed."
Constantine loved the idea. With a nod of agreement, he turned to Marcus.
"Okay then, let's head to the weapon's room." Marcus replied.
The weapons room was like stepping into a treasure trove. Shelves lined the walls, packed with all sorts of weapons, old and new. Swords, axes, spears, and daggers filled the space, gleaming under the soft light. Across the room, there were racks holding guns, like rifles and pistols. They looked slick and shiny. The room was bright and smelled a bit like oil and metal. It was clear people spent a lot of time taking care of the weapons here. In the middle, there was a big table with tools for fixing weapons. Nearby, there was a desk with scrolls and books about weapon arts.
Constantine's eyes widened in awe as he took in the sight before him. "Wow, this place is incredible!" he exclaimed, excited.
Marcus chuckled softly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I'm glad you like it." he said. "By the way, there's something I forgot to mention, Constantine," he added, his smirk widening.
"What is it?" Constantine asked.
With a dramatic flourish, Marcus gestured at the weapons racks. "Outcasts use cursed weapons," he declared with a wide grin.