The night was quiet, with the moonlight filtering through the small windows of the airship, casting a silver light over the environment. The tranquility was only punctuated by the occasional noises coming from the walls, the sound of the airship moving smoothly through the sky.
It was during these moments that Styg and I, far from the curious eyes of the academy servants, could really train without being disturbed.
"So, what do you think, Styg? Have we rested enough, shall we go back?" My voice broke the silence, and I turned to him, still gazing out at the outside, where the soft light illuminated the contours of his figure. I didn't want to risk being seen during the day when the airship was fuller of curious onlookers, so I took advantage of these quiet hours, away from attention.
Styg looked around, taking in the stillness of the surroundings.
"Yes, just one more time! I don't want to go back late and end up meeting those academy servants staring at me." He couldn't hide the irritation in his voice, which made me laugh quietly. He knew our friendship wasn't well regarded, but I always threatened to tell everyone on the airship if he didn't obey me and help me.
"After this round, I'll return this axe to you!" I said, already preparing for the final training session of the night.
Styg, distracted in his own thoughts, took a moment to respond, but when he did, his eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Have you finally finished using it?"
When the previous owner of my body came on this journey, he didn't bring any weapons. No sword, no dagger. Maybe he thought carrying weapons was a burden, something that would restrict his movements. And I, as much as I had my reservations about this decision, couldn't help but feel a slight frustration.
It was when I saw Styg, the friend of the other Eclivel, after I had woken up in this new body, that I had the idea to ask him for an axe to train with. At first, he seemed reluctant, but it didn't take long before he gave in.
When Styg raised the two-handed sword, the blade gleamed with a cold light that reflected the intensity of his determination.
"Let's go! This time, I won't hold back!" I said firmly, already planning the sequence of movements that would follow.
"Laboratory, set task!" I ordered mentally, feeling the instant connection.
The virtual lab sprang into action, analyzing data and processing everything in a fraction of a second. The familiar voice echoed in my mind, a mix of efficiency and coldness.
["Task received."]
["Beginning analysis."]
The mental screen in front of me began to fill with data, and blue lines formed, connecting points and creating images of Styg preparing to strike. It was almost as if I were seeing a replica of the future, a real-time simulation of everything he was about to do.
"Yes!" I responded, accepting the assistance. Styg's figure became clearer, his movements predictable, each one traced with precision. When he made the first move, attacking my leg, I already knew what to do. My body moved before my mind, as if the fight were a rehearsed choreography.
"Leap with a strike!!" I shouted with a challenging smile. Not only did I avoid Styg's strike, but I also executed my own attack in a calculated manner, the blade of the axe cutting through the air with a force that made the wood of the airship creak. I heard Styg shout, a mix of frustration and surprise.
"If you're not attacking, then I'll counterattack!" My voice came out sharp, like a blade. Styg looked at me with a nervous expression. He knew the fight had already turned. He was no longer in control.
And without waiting, I charged. The blade of my axe pierced the air, an exact movement, meticulously calculated. Styg tried to dodge, but the virtual lab had already given me the exact answer. The horizontal strike I landed nearly cut him.
Sweat now covered Styg's face. I could see he was starting to tire. Every time he tried to counterattack, I anticipated his movements and blocked or dodged.
But then, like thunder, Styg made a desperate move. He swung the sword with all his might, a massive blade cutting through the air with a roar. He put everything he had into that strike, a brutal attack aimed at knocking me down.
The impact was tremendous. Styg's sword collided with my blade with such force that it almost made me lose my balance. A piece of silver light broke off from the blade and fell to the ground, penetrating the wood. Styg was panting, his large sword trembling in his hands. He had wagered everything on that strike, and now, the victory was in my hands.
I raised the blade and pointed it toward Styg. "You lost!" The words came out with a certain satisfaction.
Styg looked at me with a sigh of defeat, but soon his words were filled with genuine curiosity. "Indeed! I lost! How did you do that?"
I took a step back, allowing the tension of the fight to dissipate. I looked at him, still with a playful smile. "Actually, it's very simple. After training with you for so long, I remembered the sequence of your movements!"
He furrowed his brow, not immediately understanding. "The... sequence of my movements?"
"Yes." I paused, gathering the remaining energy in my body. "To put it simply, everyone has a habit when attacking. As long as you can remember them, it's easy to set a trap based on your enemy's habits. I used the same trick on you!"
Styg let out a long sigh of relief, perhaps relieved not to have been defeated by something completely unbelievable. "Phew! Now I get it."
However, then he looked at me with a respect I hadn't been expecting. His eyes sparkled, and his voice became more serious: "Your skill with the axe technique is absolutely the best I've ever seen! If you're not chosen to be an Acolyte Mage, I definitely recommend you go for the Imperial Warriors' Throne in the capital of the kingdom!"
I couldn't help but laugh, a bit cynically, hearing that. "The Imperial Warrior's Throne, huh?" I knew what that meant. The Imperial Throne was the pinnacle for warriors, an institute where only the best were accepted. Many, including Styg, would come from that elite line. But for me, that was never the goal.
"As I said before, I intend to be a legendary mage, one who will dominate the skies and conquer the world..."
Styg raised an eyebrow. "Why, no matter what you say, I feel like that was something a bard would say?"
I laughed, almost not realizing the joke, and of course, I couldn't say I was from another world, destined to reincarnate into a parallel version of myself. "Haha... the reason I ended up like this is because my father sent me for private lessons with bards!"
After saying that, suddenly, Styg moved closer to me, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
"Eclivel, you don't have a fiancée, right? Why don't I introduce my sister to you? She's still a virgin Goblin and is famous for her beauty..."
I rolled my eyes, already expecting something like this from him. "No, thank you!"
Silence fell between us as the moonlight illuminated our faces. I could see Styg giving me one last glance before saying goodbye. "Good night, Eclivel."
"Good night, Styg!" I replied in a neutral tone.
A few more months had passed since Styg and I started training secretly, and then I handed the axe back to him, and soon, I was alone again.
Calming his emotions, he said, "Virtual lab, show me the statistics of my body!"
"Beep!"
["Status"]
["Name: Eclivel Rustel."]
["Sex: Male."]
["Age: 15 Years."]
["Strength: 1.5"]
["Agility: 1.6"]
["Vitality: 1.4"]
Now, the state of my body had not only reached the level of the young people my age but I had even surpassed some. Against Styg, I had hidden my true strength, which led him to misestimate my ability.
"Not bad! I should continue with today's cultivation!"
I set a good posture and entered the cultivation state. This was the daily homework. According to the virtual lab's instructions, after training at night, I should practice the breathing technique again to achieve the best effects.
After 10 minutes, I was completely soaked in sweat, but the amount of black impurities I expelled was clearly less than before.
"Wow!"
I opened my eyes and looked at my body. I spoke with slight exasperation:
"The effect of the breathing technique has diminished, which is logical. According to the lab's estimate, even after it's fully optimized, the Rustel family's breathing technique will lose its effect once I improve my body's stats to 2. That's the realm of Beginner Warriors. After that, I'll have to rely on my own power and the external stimuli of near-death experiences to try to stimulate vital energy. Only then will I be able to improve again..."
Thinking about it, I took a black root from my pocket. It had some black spots on the surface, making it look horrible.
I placed it directly in my mouth, then grabbed an herb root, chewing them together.
["Beep!"]
["The host's body is slowly recovering from fatigue."]
["It is possible to continue with another round of the warrior's breathing technique!"]
The lab's voice echoed.
"This is great!"
These herbal mixtures were created by me in the last month after countless experiments using the lab. This combination could reduce my fatigue and, consequently, increase the number of times I could cultivate the breathing technique daily.
With the addition of some body-strengthening medicines, the quality of my physical body was improving at an extremely fast rate.
...
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