Crudel trailed off as he saw Aldrich’s eyes and retreated as Aldrich threw a strike to his neck. Aldrich picked up another sword and he stood there, two blades in hand. He charged towards Crudel, a flurry of attacks ensued. Crudel was taken aback by Aldrich’s ferocity but regained his composure, matching Aldrich’s energy as he increased his effort. Aldrich’s blows had a new strength behind him as he was utilising more mesmer more efficiently than usual. This still did not prove capable of overpowering Crudel who deftly defended against each strike. Aldrich’s stance seemed to loosen, relax, his body moved lower and each sword was positioned by his hip. He took a deep breath in and as he breathed out, a small cloud of steam came out.

In an instant he disappeared, the sound of his swords being blocked echoed through the hall but after every strike a loud, thunder like sound would follow. Crudel laughed,

“Now this is entertaining!”

Aldrich did not respond verbally but responded by increasing his speed. Crudel grinned,

“You are utilising the technique quite well but this is how to use it.”

He disappeared reappearing several meters away, right after a sound of thunder came and Aldrich was blasted away into one of the hall’s walls, his swords shattering as he attempted to block Crudel’s attack, an explosion of rubble and dust followed. Crudel was in the middle of repairing the damage around the hall when he heard a sound he had eventually become familiar with, Aldrich’s bands started rotating rapidly, assisting him in making the calculations for a specific technique. A glow came from the dust and out came Aldrich propelling himself with jets of fire from his hand and feet.

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He reached in front of Crudel and threw a punch after another, each blow creating an explosion. He utilised a martial art known as Volatalis, it is an offensively oriented style. Crudel was effectively dealing with Aldrich’s attacks but he was getting pushed back slowly but surely. Aldrich stamped on the ground raising a cloud of dust obstructing Crudel’s view, the next thing he knew, he had received a blow to his shoulder by an explosive axe kick from Aldrich. Crudel for the first time in a sparring match with Aldrich, he was brought to his knees. Aldrich flew to the lofty ceiling of the hall and blasted himself downwards, spinning as he flew down preparing to execute an axe kick more devastating than the one before. Aldrich landed with a more fierce detonation.

He hung upside down in a deep, glowing, hot crater held by the foot. Crudel stood still holding the boy by his leg with a crackling and candescent gauntlet, chuckling. He stopped and let him go, Aldrich was getting ready to throw another attack when Crudel cleared his throat and uttered,

“Sleep Boy!”

Aldrich fell to his knees, stunned unconscious.

Aldrich was stunned by the show of power he had demonstrated but expressed his inability to control himself in that state or how to even effectively use his ocular ability. Crudel in a cheerful manner told Aldrich that he would teach him, after all he learned much from his experience fighting alongside Gaelen, infamous for his use of the Oculux, he was known as the Crimson Ignis. Crudel warned of how arduous Aldrich’s training would be, Aldrich replied with enthusiasm,

“It wouldn’t be as gratifying if it was painless.”

“I will hold you to those words lad, don’t cry and say I never warned you.”