Luther was now sparring with a humanoid robot under the supervision of Borini.
'Now that I think about it, your combat awareness is rather low; you can't even throw punches properly! Wrong, your posture is just wrong!
I must draft another Limit Breaker hand to hand combat training for you,' Borini complained.
Luther nearly lost his footing. 'Another Limit Breaker plan? Are you serious?!'
Borini nodded solemnly. 'Yes! Focus on your fight. Open the First Gate!'
Luther increased his cell activity to 100% instantly, gaining the first physical boost in power. He had named the enhancements he gained from each power up collectively as Eight Gates.
He had gotten that stroke of inspiration from that saying of a carp leaping through the dragon's gate, as that was how he felt.
The highest enhancement he could currently give to his body was 800%, so Luther had decided to have the lowest at 100%.
Thus, 100% was the First Gate, 200% was the Second Gate all through to 800%, the Eighth Gate.
As part of his training, Borini had incorporated training how quickly he could open the 'gates' in combat and how he could handle the immense boosts he received.
Now on par with the robot in terms of ability, Luther instantly became comfortable, trading blows with ease.
Five minutes later, Borini ordered; 'Open the Third Gate!'
*BOOM!
Luther's bodily enhancements leaped to 300% and now he began to pound the robot around the training room.
Despite that, he felt it difficult to handle the sudden increase in strength, making some of his punches and kicks and miss but still, the robot was suppressed under the onslaught of attacks.
Borini didn't wait for him to adjust though.
The moment he noticed Luther was about to fall into a comfortable rhythm, he ordered; 'Close all Gates!'
'Was that even necessary?!' Luther whined but obeyed.
Due to his divided attention and the sudden drop in power, the robot instantly capitalized and knocked him off his feet, sending him to the ground.
Not even giving him a moment of respite, the robot was on the attack again, smashing a vicious scissor kick on the ground.
It barely missed his balls and Luther's back ran with cold sweat.
Had it not been for his quick thinking, he would be doomed to be a eunuch! It would be temporary though as there were healing capsules on the spaceship, and even his power could regenerate crushed balls… probably.
Still Luther didn't feel very pleasant.
As if that was not enough, Borini activated three other robots to join the fray.
'Open the Fourth Gate!'
'At least he still has a conscience… that's if robots even have conscience,' Luther heaved a sigh of relief and did a kip up to his feet, boosting his body to 400% simultaneously.
Despite the Fourth Gate being open, Luther realized that he was actually being suppressed by the robots.
The robots were only the lowest level, being at the Awakened stage.
Technically speaking, the Third Gate was more than enough to lay waste to them. After all, Luther was at the Energy Condensation stage.
Every two gates ensured that he crossed a minor level; thus, with Four Gates open, he was currently a Mid-Stage Energy Condensation Esper!
'It's because my fighting skills are still barely passable. Sigh, I never wanted to be a frontline fighter; AOE spells are still the best,' Luther sighed.
Like Borini had said, his fighting skills were subpar.
If not for his Super status and power which allowed him to enhance his body to insane heights, the robots would have handed his ass to him and wiped him on the floor down flat!
Luckily or unfortunately, he had an instructor like Borini who was good at drafting Limit Breaker plans.
Luther had to admit that if he did follow Borini's training plans, it wouldn't take long for him to become a lean, mean swashbuckling war machine.
'Open the Eighth Gate! And don't close it till I tell you to!'
'Fuck, this tin man just decided to kill me now,' Luther 's eyes bulged out of their sockets.
Sure, he was rearing to beat down the robots but he wasn't ready for the agony which came with opening the Eighth Gate.
Opening the Eighth Gate meant he was actually pushed to the next stage; Energy Core Formation!
*BOOOOOOOOM!!!
Luther's aura surged to Initial Stage Energy Core Formation and his body turned red, emitting wisps of steam!
One punch sent the robot flying more than a hundred meters away. In fact, the remaining three's attacks felt like mere tickles!
It would have felt good if not for the pain he felt; his skin tearing and healing in a vicious cycle.
Borini didn't disappoint and instantly activated dozens of robots to swarm Luther. The whirring of machines filled the room, punctuated with the impact of flesh against steel.
Despite being surrounded by close to a hundred robots; Luther wasn't losing out!
Every casual punch and kick sent robots flying like rag dolls but Luther was in no mood to celebrate.
With each passing second, blood accumulated on his skin and the pain was becoming increasingly unbearable.
How long was Borini going to let him hold on?
'AAAAAARRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!'
With a thunderous roar, Luther blasted away all the robots.
Just the mere shockwaves created by his fists directly incapacitated the horde of robots, sending all of them flying around the room.
Unable to handle the strain, Luther tottered dizzily on his feet and thankfully Borini gave the call.
'Time! Close all Gates!'
Luther immediately complied and fell to the ground from exhaustion and withdrawal.
The sensation of all that power instantly leaving his body made him feel immensely weak and strangely unhappy.
Borini looked at his stopwatch. 'Good work. You lasted 24.315 seconds. We'll see if before the week ends we can increase it to 30! Let's end here.'
There was no response, only panting, from Luther.
As usual, robots had to carry Luther out of the training area to his room as he couldn't move.
'I can't casually open the Eight Gate in battle. It's not always I'm going to have robots carry me out of the danger area,' Luther made a mental note to himself.
As this was training, he could let himself go, knowing that he would be carried to his room but if he ended up in a real live battle, someone could attack and kill him in his moment of weakness!
'I have to be careful…'
…
Three days later, Borini led Luther to a room he hadn't entered before.
'This is the Virtual Training room. Once you get into the training capsule, it will send you to a Virtual World no different from reality which replicates all powers and sensations at 100%.
This is how I'll help you perfect your hand to hand combat. The best way for you to learn how to use your power is through battle!'
Luther nodded and looked at the huge white contraption which flickered with blue light.
'Does this count as me playing a VR game?'