"You can sense an individual's aura, but it requires specific practice in the Insight skill, which is closely tied to mental ability. For example, when I look at you, I don't sense any mana aura. But when you held the sword earlier, I felt an unfamiliar aura emanating from it. It's subtle, but it was definitely there."
DK's brow furrowed at her words, filing the information away for later. But before he could respond, Lucy moved. With a sudden burst of speed, she dropped into a split on the floor and performed a sweeping kick. The kick wasn't ordinary—her leg ignited in a trail of fire that surged toward DK's knees.
Instinct took over as DK leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the fiery wave. But Lucy was already prepared for this. She smirked and fired a weaker firebolt toward the spot where DK would inevitably land.
However, DK wasn't so easily outmaneuvered. Years of playing MMORPGs had honed his ability to predict patterns and feints. He had anticipated the follow-up attack and put extra power into his jump, soaring higher than Lucy had expected. The firebolt passed harmlessly beneath him while he remained mid-air. What's more, DK had angled his jump to land closer to Lucy, closing the distance between them.
As DK descended, he focused on an observation he had made during their spar. Whenever Lucy launched an attack, she barely moved her feet, relying on her upper body for precision. That meant her movement patterns had blind spots—especially on her left side.
Landing softly, DK wasted no time. He darted to her left flank, exploiting the brief moment she was resetting her stance. Before she could react, he thrust the blunt tip of his wooden sword into a critical point on her body, just below her ribcage. The faint blue aura surrounding her softened the impact slightly, but the strike still delivered enough force to send a shockwave through her body.
Lucy gasped, her muscles locking up momentarily as the shock disrupted her balance. The blunt strike to her mana nexus node had caused an unexpected ripple through her body, almost mimicking a full-body seizure. She stumbled backward, her face a mix of pain and bewilderment.
"You just attacked my mana nexus node... accurately," she managed, her voice trembling slightly. "How did you even know where to aim for that in the middle of a fight?"
DK blinked, lowering his sword as his mind raced. "Mana nexus node? I don't even know what that is," he said earnestly. "I just aimed for what I thought was a critical joint to disrupt your movement. I'm sorry if I hurt you."
Lucy waved a hand, regaining her composure. "Don't be sorry," she said, straightening herself and rolling her shoulders. "That was a perfectly executed strike. I'm just surprised you managed it. It's something only experienced fighters or seasoned mages would even consider. I may have underestimated you."
Her expression softened, her tone growing more thoughtful. "I shouldn't have treated this like a spar with someone recovering from a coma. Clearly, I've been looking down on you, and for that, I apologize."
DK nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. So the mana nexus nodes are in the same locations as the pressure points. Interesting. If that's true, understanding the body's physiology could be the key to bridging the gap between physical combat and mana use.
"I need to speak to Healer Nam," DK said aloud, half to himself. "He might have more details on the body's nexus structure."
Lucy raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Are you planning to study combat anatomy now?"
DK shrugged, his grip tightening on the wooden sword. "It's the only edge I have right now. If I can't use mana, then I need to understand every weakness and strength this body can exploit."
Lucy smiled faintly. "You're relentless, I'll give you that. But I think you're onto something. If you can master even the basics of combat physiology, it might make up for what you lack in mana control."
DK and Lucy continued their sparring for nearly an hour, the tension in the training hall growing with every exchange. After the initial shocks of DK's unorthodox fighting style, Lucy began to adapt. She studied his movements, adjusted her tactics, and eventually gained the upper hand. Her mana-infused attacks became more precise, and her ability to disengage DK's relentless offense allowed her to counter effectively. Each fire-infused strike left stinging trails across DK's body, the heat seeping through even the protective gear.
Though she held back enough to avoid causing serious harm, the sting from her fire attacks accumulated. DK's reflexes, while sharp, were not enough to keep him unscathed against Lucy's increasing tempo. Finally, after Lucy landed another clean hit, DK stumbled back, raising his hand in surrender.
"I give up," he said, panting heavily and clutching his knees. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his entire body felt like it was on fire. "I can't do any more. I need a cold shower before I start smelling like grilled chicken."
Lucy laughed lightly, though she too was breathing hard, her own exhaustion evident. "Don't sell yourself short, Master Aiden. You pushed me harder than most sparring partners ever have. I've never had to fight this physically before—it's usually all mana from a distance."
Despite her victory, Lucy couldn't ignore the toll the spar had taken on her. Her limbs felt heavy, her chest heaved from exertion, and her mana reserves were significantly depleted. It was a type of exhaustion she wasn't accustomed to, and she found herself respecting DK even more for his tenacity.
"Well, thank you too, Master Aiden," Lucy said, offering him a small smile. "I've learned a lot today. You've shown me how effective physical attacks can be, especially in close combat. Honestly, it's a shame you can't use mana. With your skills, you could easily reach level five—maybe even higher."
DK straightened, still catching his breath, and gave her a knowing look. "About that... I'm planning to do something about it. Repairing or restarting my mana pathways. I'll need your help."
Lucy's expression shifted from tired amusement to alarm. "What?" she exclaimed, her tone a mix of surprise and skepticism. "Repair or restart? Master Aiden, your family has spent years—and a fortune—trying to rebuild or repair your mana pathways. None of the most advanced techniques worked. Are you saying you've figured something out? How?"
DK shrugged, leaning on his wooden sword for support. "I wouldn't say I've 'figured it out' exactly," he said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. "But I have a theory, and it's worth exploring. Let's just say I've been thinking a lot about it—comas give you plenty of time to reflect."
Lucy crossed her arms, clearly unconvinced. "Master, this isn't something you can just brute force. If there was a way to restart your pathways, don't you think the Lin family would have tried it by now? What's this theory of yours?"
DK hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "I've been reading about ancient methods. Techniques that were used before augmentation centers existed. They're risky—dangerous, even—but they might work. I just need to push my body and my nexus core to their limits."
Lucy's eyes widened. "You mean those old rituals? Master Aiden, those techniques were abandoned for a reason. They're unstable, unpredictable, and most people who tried them didn't survive!"
"I know the risks," DK said firmly. "But I don't have a choice, Lucy. If I go into the Trials like this, I won't last a second. This is the only way I can close the gap."