Aldric returned to the familiar darkness of his palace through the shadow portal, the weight of his most recent encounter with the rogue mages still fresh in his mind. He had crushed their summoning ritual with ease, but the lingering question of who had hired them gnawed at his thoughts. Still, he knew he had plenty of time to uncover the truth. His shadow network would already be working tirelessly to find answers.
For now, though, there was something else calling to him—something that had been pulling at the back of his mind since his return to the palace. It was time for another Sign-In.
Aldric had come to rely on the Sign-In System for his rapid growth and evolution. Every day, it had given him something new—something that pushed him further ahead of anyone else in this world. From the power of the Void Dragon to the unmatched abilities of the Shadow Monarch, each gift had shaped him into an unstoppable force.
Tonight would be no different.
---
Sign-In: Martial Arts Mastery
Aldric stood in his private chambers, the cool night air drifting in through the open window. He closed his eyes, focusing inward as he activated the Sign-In System once again.
The familiar rush of power filled him, but this time, something was different. Rather than the surge of raw energy or the awakening of a new ability, Aldric felt his mind opening—like a floodgate had been lifted, and with it, a torrent of knowledge poured into his consciousness.
[Sign-In Successful: You have received the complete knowledge of all martial arts.]
In an instant, Aldric's brain was flooded with information—thousands upon thousands of years of martial knowledge, techniques, and forms from every corner of the world, all transferred directly into his mind. It was overwhelming, yet exhilarating. He could see it all, understand it all—everything from the most ancient combat styles to the most advanced and lethal techniques.
His body tensed as he processed the vast amounts of knowledge. He felt as though he had lived through countless battles, trained under every master of every fighting style in existence. His muscles, his reflexes, everything seemed to shift as the instincts of a martial artist took hold.
He was no longer simply a swordsman, relying on brute strength and magic to overpower his enemies. Aldric had become something more—an ultimate martial artist who understood the principles of combat on a level that surpassed even the most skilled fighters in the world.
A smirk curled on his lips. The system had once again granted him an unimaginable gift.
---
Practicing Martial Perfection
The first thing Aldric did was head to his personal training grounds. This was no ordinary space—it was a vast, shadow-infused arena deep within the heart of his palace. Shadows lined the walls and ceiling, swirling constantly in response to Aldric's presence. It was a place designed for him, where he could train without limitations, free to push his body and abilities to their fullest potential.
As he entered the training grounds, Aldric could feel the martial knowledge flowing through his mind. Every movement, every stance, every strike was now second nature to him. He knew the intricacies of every fighting style, from the fluid and graceful techniques of Aikido and Capoeira, to the devastating power of Muay Thai and Krav Maga. He understood the precise timing required for counterattacks in Wing Chun, the bone-crushing locks and holds of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the swift, lethal strikes of Jeet Kune Do.
Aldric's fingers twitched slightly as his mind processed each style, as though his body were itching to test its newfound abilities.
He stepped into the center of the training grounds, rolling his shoulders to loosen up, and dropped into a low stance—one of the core forms of Karate. His muscles coiled like a spring, ready to strike, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to slow.
Then, without warning, Aldric launched into motion.
His movements were fluid, almost too fast for the eye to follow. He switched between stances seamlessly, flowing from one martial art to the next. One moment, he was striking with the devastating power of Muay Thai, delivering swift, crushing blows with his elbows and knees. The next, he was shifting into the precise, linear movements of Wing Chun, using rapid punches and deflections to create a whirlwind of offense and defense.
His footwork was impeccable, grounded yet light, allowing him to change direction in the blink of an eye. He spun into a high kick with the grace of Taekwondo, then transitioned smoothly into a low sweep, his body moving like a predator stalking its prey.
But it wasn't just the physical techniques that had changed. Aldric's mind was sharper, more focused. He could predict how an opponent would react before they even moved, allowing him to counter or strike first with deadly accuracy. His reflexes, already enhanced by his One For All quirk and his Great Divine Eyes, were now unmatched. Every feint, every dodge, every block was calculated to perfection.
As he continued to move, Aldric summoned a series of shadow constructs—warriors created from the darkness itself. These shadow soldiers mimicked the forms of real opponents, attacking him with a variety of weapons and combat styles.
Aldric smiled.
This was exactly what he needed.
---
Battle Against Shadows
The first shadow soldier lunged at him, swinging a curved blade with precision and speed. Aldric didn't hesitate. He sidestepped the attack effortlessly, using his newfound Judo techniques to redirect the soldier's momentum and slam it into the ground. Before the soldier could recover, Aldric was already on the move, striking the next shadow with a brutal roundhouse kick to the chest, shattering its form into wisps of darkness.
More shadow constructs emerged from the walls, surrounding him, each one wielding a different weapon—swords, spears, daggers. They attacked in unison, their movements fast and coordinated.
But Aldric was faster.
He ducked beneath a spear thrust, his hand flashing out to grab the shaft before yanking the construct forward. In the same motion, he spun and delivered an elbow strike to its head, dispersing it in an instant. Another soldier swung a sword at his back, but Aldric twisted out of the way with a graceful sidestep, countering with a rapid series of punches to its midsection, destroying it before it could even finish its strike.
Every movement was calculated, every attack perfectly executed. Aldric's body moved as if guided by instinct, each strike, block, and counter flowing seamlessly into the next. His enhanced abilities made him a blur of motion, a deadly force that the shadow soldiers couldn't hope to match.
But the training didn't stop there.
As he fought, Aldric's mind constantly shifted between martial styles, testing them in various combinations. He alternated between the precision of Kung Fu, the fluidity of Capoeira, and the raw, explosive power of Boxing. He was a master of every form, and he was quickly discovering new ways to combine them into something entirely unique—something that no enemy could predict or defend against.
Minutes turned into hours, and still Aldric pushed himself further. The shadows reformed each time they were defeated, giving him an endless stream of opponents to fight. But even as the battles grew more intense, Aldric felt no exhaustion. His One For All quirk kept his body energized, and his mind remained sharp, processing each encounter with a level of focus that only his enhanced Great Divine Eyes could provide.
By the time the last shadow soldier fell, Aldric stood in the center of the training grounds, his body calm and controlled, not a hint of fatigue showing on his face.
---
Master of All Combat
Aldric breathed in deeply, the cool night air filling his lungs. His mind buzzed with the endless possibilities of his new knowledge. He had become a master of every martial art known to this world—and more importantly, he had learned how to blend them seamlessly with his magic, his quirk, and his Shadow Monarch abilities.
As he looked around the training ground, surrounded by the dissipating shadows of his defeated constructs, Aldric knew that he had reached yet another pinnacle of power. No enemy, no matter how skilled or powerful, could stand against him in combat now.
With a satisfied smile, Aldric turned and walked back toward his chambers, the shadows parting before him as if bowing to their master.
The world wasn't ready for what he had become. And soon, they would know the full extent of his power.