"What exactly do these thieves have planned...." Gale looked down at the Raiders who had paved a way for a shaggy looking figure to walk towards the barrier.
The fierce beasts that were roaring at the Shelter were hushed with a wave of his hands. Such control over these well known feral beasts only made this shaggy man all the more dangerous in Gale's eyes.
"Friends it would seem there's been a misunderstanding. How about you come down and we talk it over a cup of wine?" Zooman shouted out towards the shelter but his gaze was fixed on Gale.
Through his captives he knew he was the leader of the shelter. This shelter was just way too fortified. If they tried to violently attack it they would rake in heavy losses among their men even with the beasts. Those canons would tear through his horde like a hot knife through butter. If he could get the girl without having to undertake such losses he would be very pleased.
Gale narrowed his eyes and just when Don was about to nastily respond to Zooman. Gale nodded and started descending the walls. Don wanted to call him back but he knows just how shrewd Gale is. He wouldn't take a loss just like that so he kept quiet and focused his attention while keeping his body primed in order to be able to make a move when necessary.
Gale walked out the gate but he didn't go beyond the barrier. He and Zooman were separated by the barrier and although they could hear each other just fine, it would be difficult if Zooman sought to attack him like this.
Gale may not know much about Evos but he has never heard of an expert who had control over different aspects. Since this man seemed as though he were able to control beasts then he shouldn't have any direct combat ability or at least nothing too exaggerated.
However, although Gale's logic applied in this part of the Outland, there would be variations to everything nothing is absolute and even Gale himself thought same but he could only take this risk. If this conflict could be solved without them having to make any sacrifices them that would be for the best.
"It would seem we have the same intention." Gale started the conversation with a cold tone. The grizzled middle aged man was not welcoming to these invaders in the least.
"Haha I like talking with smart people. You're right. If your shelter were weaker then we would naturally run it over but it would seem you lot have benefited quite a bit during this period. Such 'good fortune' huh..." Zooman said with a smile that seemed to not be a smile.
Gale was already having his suspicions but he could only keep mute. The more he said the easier it would be for his enemy to find a weakness. Zooman didn't seem bothered by his silence and kept on talking.
"Here's the thing. My brothers and I have been keeping an eye on a particular Dawn Flower but due to some unfortunate circumstances it seemed to have ended up with you and I believe that expert on the wall is a result of using it. I won't make things too difficult for either of us, those two lads you saw back there told us about a very interesting girlie you have over here. You hand her over and we'll act like nothing ever happened and we'll be out of your lands before you could say...kill. Its a win win for everyone, you got yourself an expert and we walk away with a nice lassy to play with" When he said the word 'Kill', an overflowing killing intent poured out but his face quickly changed as he put on a smile as all the killing intent faded away as though it were never there.
Gale narrowed his eyes but then suddenly smiled. "I see, so your target is the girl. Unfortunately I can't hand her over so you might as well give it up, naturally if you're unsatisfied with this, my Northwind Shelter will happily entertain you."
"Hmph. Don't get cocky, you're shelter may not be bad but it's only not bad. If I were to get serious, I'd break it in with a puff." Zooman had had enough of this fellow, how dare he talk to him like that.
Gale laughed and without saying another word left towards the shelter. Zooman roared out and the beasts behind him roared in unison before charging at the barrier. Gale was unbothered and continued heading back at his own pace.
The barrier would easily hold the beasts off while his men shot them down from the wall. Just as he was running various battle scenarios in his head, a loud boom sounded out. Zooman had tossed a weird looking grenade at the barrier, a look of reluctance showed as he threw it but when he thought of the rewards he gritted his teeth and went along with it.
As the weird grenade exploded a small crack appeared in the barrier and a couple of beasts quickly rushed in. The crack had closed almost immediately but 4 beasts had already broken in and were charging at Gale with murderous intentions.
Zooman laughed as he saw Gale's face turn pale. He had already imagined him being torn apart by the wild beasts but suddenly a wooshing sound spread out and the once vibrant beasts slowly split apart.
At some point, a figure had appeared beside the grizzled middle aged Gale and was lowering his knife as he looked at Zooman with derision in his eyes. However at this time a soft sword suddenly extended out from the corpse of one of the beasts and while Don was gloating towards Zooman it snaked towards his neck from the sides.
Gale noticed and immediately shoved Don and himself out of the sword's path but the sword turned with a weird twist like a snake meandering through the grass and shot straight for the kill. Don however was able to react this time and he swung out his Knife forming Knife shadows that clashed heavily against the sword forcing it to retreat.
Only then was the wielder of the soft sword revealed. A tall lanky figure stood straight as his squinted eyes focused on Don. 'What a swift knife, he swung his Knife once but at least 5 or 6 shadows were formed and I even caught him by surprise. He must have a martial technique but it shouldn't be above 3rd class which can only mean that just like me his ability matches well with it allowing him to use the technique like a 2nd Class martial technique. That's the only thing that can explain his strength.' White Snake opened his eyes and got a good look of this uncle looking figure and realised he wasn't so simple.
Martial Techniques were unique methods of fighting that allowed it's user to execute profound battle skills. They are generally divided into four grades namely 3rd Class, 2nd Class, 1st Class and the mythical Divine Class. Only Evos could use Martial Techniques to its full ability, in the hand of normies it would only make for a better fighting technique.
A 3rd Class Martial Technique would make an Evo unrivaled at his level of evolution so far as he doesn't clash with someone with a 3rd Class Martial Technique or a very powerful ability.
A 2nd Class Martial Technique can allow an Evo easily fight one level above their evolution under the condition that their opponent not possess a 3rd Class Martial Technique as the battle would become a test of skill and if the opponent practised a martial technique of a higher class then it would be a sure defeat.
A 1st Class Martial Technique can allow an Evo fight one level above its evolution even if their opponent had a 3rd Class Martial Technique while if they had a 2nd Class Martial Technique it would be a battle of skills. If they similarly practised a 1st class technique then all would be lost.
It can also allow, under the conditions that the opponent not practice a technique of a higher level than 3rd Class, the Evo to fight 2 levels above his level of evolution. Meaning someone at the 1st Evolution could battle someone at the 3rd Evolution and as long as he fought well could win.
However all of this Martial Techniques would not allow their wielders to fight across water shed levels. Like in a scenario where a 3rd Evolution Evo had a 1st Class Martial Technique, at most he would be able to take a strike or 2 from a 4th Evolution Evo even if the 4th Evolution Evo doesn't practice Martial Techniques before being utterly defeated. Other water shed levels were the 7th and 10th Evolution.
Naturally, even though Martial Techniques are powerful they are not the end all be all. If another Evo had a powerful item or a very strong ability or a mind blowing gift then regardless of Martial Techniques they would still easily claim victory. However it doesn't mean the value of Martial Techniques were undervalued as such figures weren't so common.
But there is one exception to all of this, one exceptional grade of Martial Techniques that allowed one to be truly unrivaled across 3 levels above their evolution level regardless of what technique or ability or gift or item they had as unless those things were extremely powerful they would still fall to this class of Martial Technique.
Divine Martial Techniques, even water shed levels can be fought against as long as one had this technique but it would only work against the watershed and the levels after that would be seeking death. Therefore a 3rd Evolution Evo with a Divine Class Martial Technique could fight a 4th Evolution Evo but cannot fight the successive 5th and 6th Evolution Evo.
The fighting manual used by the Northwind Shelter's hunting team turned out to be a 3rd Class manual. When Don became an Evo, he was able to bring out the full might of this technique even able to use it effectively enough to raise its strength to a 2nd Class martial technique.
Martial Techniques in truth have no real division. This is due to the fact that if a martial technique resonates well with the Evo using it either due to their ability, gift or even character, the Evo is able to use the Martial Technique at its full strength. What would be a 3rd Class Martial Technique in others hands would become a 2nd Class or in extremely rare cases 1st Class Martial Technique in their hands. Even a 1st or 2nd Class Martial Technique can become a Divine Class Martial Technique in another's hands.
Martial Techniques are actually graded according to how it relates with the average Evo. As it is too difficult to take in to account these unique individuals that resonate with the technique.
Don's awakened ability is Swift Knife. As long as he held a Knife then it would have 100% attack speed as well as increase it's cutting ability. The Martial Technique the shelter practised focused on knives and is called Shadow Knife as it allowed it's wielder to create knife shadows.
Before, the technique at most made their knife strikes faster than normal but Don even before being awakened had practised up to the level of releasing 2 Knife Shadows. Once he broke through, his Knife skills coupled with his ability made him bring out the best of this Martial Technique. Even another person with only his ability but not the skill would not be able to do same.
White Snake practised a technique known as Meandering Snake. It is a complied technique that includes a movement skill, a hidden weapon skill for needles and a soft sword art. The Martial Technique's main requirement was flexibility and with that being his ability as well as his nature resonating well with it he was similarly able to bring out the best of his technique.
The two stood against each other as their battle intent shot to the skies. Gale wisely retreated back to shelter in order not to hold back Don. Zooman had a grim look on his face as he realised that the other side's awakened was so strong. He turned to look at the red iguana like lizard at his feet and let out a sigh.