Chapter 6 The Elemental Swordsman.
"Hey you!"
The instructor drawing his good looking smile from the beginning, approached Myriad.
"What is it?"
He didn't even gaze at him, he solely concentrated on hitting the scarecrow and the instructor didn't take this pleasantly. He even took off his smile.
"Hey, this is important you know!"
After making sure to give one last strong hit he looked at him and repeated his words. He had all of his time but he didn't really want to waste it on nothing.
"What is it?"
"Well, you know. Are you sure that you don't want to have fun slaying monsters and all? I mean, you're barely uh, let's see…. 12 years old maybe?"
So that's what it was, the very fact is that this man came near him numerous times while he was training and he always spoke to him alone. Well, the reason for it was probably that there weren't that many students that were participating in this scarecrow smashing, it's maybe because this city is known for it's magic. Then, he finally popped out with this question.
"I don't need it."
A curt answer, that's our Myriad. It seems to have affected him as well to the point of him watering up his eyes.
"Are you serious! Can't you answer me with something positive please!? Every single time I come to you you always do this. Take for example the other time I brought you food you just told me the same damn thing! Can't you show me some pity!?"
He stared at him for a while and then continued slashing the defenseless object.
"Damn you! Oh well, i guess I won't give you this quest that may or may not give you some super rewards. Oh that's too bad!"
Anticipating a reaction, he smiled, sadly it was just to see Myriad breaking apart a scarecrow.
"Damn it all!"
Crying away his tears as a adult, isn't he ashamed?
"Fuuh, can you at least take the quest?"
"Tell me more about it."
"Oh! That's nice, finally a reaction."
"..."
He started explaining.
"Let's see, where to start… Well, you already know that this city concentrates more on magic then on the sword so I thought about something. Now here's my concept, to make it so that the sword may be more popular I have devised a plan to make it so that the sword uses magic! Sadly, the problem starts now, you have to first show that you are capable of using the sword in which most people don't even care about… So, are you willing to accept? Keep in mind that I usually don't give this quest so easily but since we have a shortage of applicants it resulted that I had to do it this way!"
Receive special training from the instructor
Difficulty Level: F
Quest requirements
Show that you know how to use a sword.
Quest rewards
Hidden Class
When he earned Infinity he didn't receive any fighting skills. The time when he earned Ena and the class he didn't receive any ability has well. Though, it most likely after he receives an orb that he will receive a skill but if he doesn't have any skills it would be increasingly difficult to cut through monsters easily even with an overpowered weapon like Ena. Especially if he's going to get stuck on level 1 abilities. While learning this doesn't harm him, but is it really worth the reduction in stat that he would receive if he had continued his training instead of the special training? Even if he could accept it just like that, would it really strengthen him?
"Sure."
But Myriad simply doesn't care.
[Young Master… Are you planning on forsaking me?]
Ena could understand that this was a hidden job, but she thought that Myriad would refuse, since he already had one, or so she thought.
"Don't worry."
She took some time before replying, clearly showing her unease.
[I understand.]
"Let us begin the training!"
For the first time in a while, the instructor showed a serious face.
"Follow me! I've heard that you adventurers sometimes went off without anyone knowing so let's hurry!"
Speaking about that, we haven't really told you about how his real life went by... Well, that would be for another time. Myriad just closely followed him behind.
After 25 minutes of running they reached a forest, the instructor began speaking.
"Yeah, this is the place. Let me explain, for us to apply magic in our swords we first need to make it so that there would be a great variety of elements around us for easier use."
Confirming his nod, he continued speaking.
"The special training regimen is simple, imagine an opponent and duel him until I tell you to stop… Let's see, this spot seems nice."
He gave him a sword and just stood guard there. Myriad simply did what he always did. Training! Though, why would he tell him to do shadow fighting so early? Well, Myriad didn't mind so he proceeded on imagining Ren.
For a little backstory, Ren is basically his brother who is very very strong in sword fighting. Before he was adopted by his family, he was always fighting against delinquents with a bamboo sword. His parents approached him and let his talents prosper in a actual dojo. He received many rewards and was one of the many prides of his parents.
When he imagined him, a blue light came out of his head and flew towards a wooden doll who had a sword.
The moment the blue light entered it, it got up easily and walked right in front of Myriad.
He took one breath, two breaths, countless breaths before he was ready.
When Myriad took a fighting stance everything started, he first dodged the strike that came from his head with a small leap to the side and he then attacked on his stomach which was blocked easily by Ren.
He jumped backwards and then rushed forwards aiming for his leg, but then he did a small spin and aimed for his side, as a result, Ren easily predicted it and reflect it.
Numerous times he attacked, numerous times he lost his health points.
"……"
Ren was simply too strong, every time Myriad tried another pattern, he would simply block every attacks.
He continued giving his all dodging and attacking, he continued trying to thrust his vital areas, but to no avail the doll continued blocking them.
"Ooh"
Seeing him fighting such a spectacular opponent was quite a view,
Myriad already knew techniques from a dojo he went already, so there were few complaints that he could give.
The battle went on very quickly, there was no time to rest, he could barely dodge the attacks and counter them, it was a priceless battle to view. Even if the result at the beginning was that Myriad kept getting hit every 30 seconds or so, he kept improving his results even if it was by a fraction of a second.
Though, it's already been three hours, the result? Not a single hit penetrated him.
"Alright stop, It's time to up the training, you can rest for 25 minutes. That's amazing though, where did you learn those techniques and who did you think of? It had unheard skills..."
"Someone I know from a place I train sometimes."
Saying this he departed to a tree's shade and sat there.
Using this time to cast his abilities, he rested as well as he earned experience, there was no time to waste.
He looked at the instructor that was coming with a creature next to him and got up.
"Time's up, here's the training, touch this elemental spirit using only your hands."
In front of him was a seemingly humanoid wind spirit, if one could describe it properly it would be a tornado in a human form.
"You only need to touch it 50 times. Ready? Go!"
When the spirit heard this it quickly started to go away, though if he only needed to touch it, what was the reason of using the sword...
It ran away very quickly, but Myriad was also quick, albeit weakened by exhaustion he could still catch up to it.
And he did, his fist pierced through him but the wind spirit didn't falter, it continued on it's track a bit faster then before.
"What are you waiting for? There's still 49 times."
He sprinted and once again caught up to it. He touched it again, and again. The more he touched it the more it became quicker, but every time something would enter in Myriad's body.
Was this it? Absorbing the elemental inside of him?
It wasn't easier as before though, when he sprinted he could only barely catch up to it. It was still the 23th try.
There was also another problem, it could never stagger, it was the very embodiment of freedom never letting any shackles inhibit it.
That made it even harder though.
At the 28th hit, he earned 7 agility, making it seem a lot more worthwhile then it may seemed.
But it was too much, he couldn't even dream catching up to it, after the 28th touch he had to find a way to encircle it and it was a lot more time taking then simply catching up, now he reached the 30th touch.
"Let's end it here, I must say that I am indeed impressed… The most one reached while chasing it, was 25 times, you just did a new record!"
Did you expect him to show an happy expression?
For the record, it took him over 2 hours to touch him that frequently.
"…"
"You can rest here if you desire."
"No need, I'll be back after roughly 8 hours if that's okay?"
"Yeah, sure."
After this they parted their ways.
[Young master, you didn't really explain what are you going to do when he will offer you the class.]
"……"
He thought for a while silently and thought if he should tell her, but he finally though that it wasn't worth hiding and that he could at least tell her some details.
At this he started explaining a few things, mainly concerning how he got the Infinity Class that let him absorb the other classes, he spared the thoughts of telling her the reason why he was in such a high levelled location.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
[T-that's amazing… I never dreamed that such a thing existed! That's awesome!]
"Well, it's nothing special."
[No no it is something special! I must say Young master, that is quite something to hide… I never expected you to have something like this hidden. Why didn't you tell me earlier?]
He didn't answer, there was never a particular reason why Myriad never told her, he just didn't.
For now he just went deeper in the forests and after a while he saw a waterfall, he proceeded to take off his clothes(he still had his shorts of course) and sat to bathe for a while. While he was doing it, he casted a Aqua Bubble.
"As I thought…"
[What is it?]
"If the elements here strengthen my masteries of infusing elements on the sword or rather the body, it could be possible that if I used a spell that was nearer to the so called element, there would be a set of advantages."
[Which are?]
"Namely, experience, power and casting time. There might be other advantages that I have not decreed though."
[I see, I'll interrupt you no further, you may concentrate, but aren't you going to sleep?]
"Don't worry, I have the way of never sleeping."
[?]
After this the conversation ended, Myriad just continued using Aqua Bubble all over him, thanks to this he increased his skill to Intermediate 2 and 1/25 of the experience remained to level up to 3, keep in mind that he was still Intermediate 1 and that he has a delay in learning. but time was up and he had to go train.
A while later.
"Oh, you're early aren't you, alright without a delay let's continue. First, the spar training."
It seemed that he was actually looking forward to it, the instructor that is, he didn't expect Myriad to be able to perform this much.
"Well, if there aren't anything distracting you, you may start."
At this, Myriad went a go once again.
Three hours later, he practiced his magic a little bit and then something new happened.
"Follow me."
They walked for over 15 minutes before entering a cave where inside there was a quite a grandiose rock golem.
"This time, it's quite simple. Just get hit by it 50 times and don't die. Simple right?"
"Yes."
Once again, Myriad showed proof of his expressionless behaviour.
"Good! Now move here and after I say go, endure the attacks."
He positioned himself and at his sound the golem started wrecking punches on him, like the other one, every time it would get stronger and stronger. Though, even then Myriad would show no expressions.
After the fifth hit his defense increased and he earned a new stat.
New stat : Endurance
Endurance :
Reduces physical damage inflicted by the enemy, and increases the user’s life by a small amount.
Decreases stamina usage.
Every strike, something would enter his body. Like the time with the wind elemental.
It seems that the instructor was getting stressed.
"H-hey, you know… This is painful right? This is the 24th strike and you still don't show a single frown, are you really human? Are you not actually wearing a mask?"
It was true that the elemental hurts a lot, and by a whole lot, it's worse then hitting your little toe on the table.
And thus, yes it was a rather bizarre sight to see a giant rock elemental hit a young boy and that he didn't show a single frown, let alone a tear.
"I'm not particularly wearing a mask though.."
He said this as he took on another hit.
"By the way, can we stop? I only have 1 health point left."
"W-wah? Stop, stop!"
At his command, the rock elemental stopped.
"You could had told me earlier!"
"I had a feeling that I wouldn't die. Is the training finished now?"
"Y-yeah, see you after 10 hours?"
After hearing this, he simply departed, this time he went on another direction though.
The instructor kept looking his back while he was going, he was simply speechless. But, Myriad just departed without hesitation.
Reaching a certain area filled with stones, he started casting Rock Budge.
In actuality, Rock Budge had to be one of the least popular skill used lately, he still levelled it up to intermediate but there was just no use in a area devoid of stones.
"Rock Budge"
He moved a huge rock way up the sky and smashed it down with power from altitude, the result? A huge crater. Also, the rock got destroyed into many pieces, now let's look at the skill's description.
Rock Budge Intermediate 1 (7%): A spell that moves stones.
The size and numbers of rocks can be increased by levels
The area can also be increased by levels
The maximum size is approximatively 20 square meters
The maximum numbers that can be manipulated are 10
The maximum distance that can be reached is 10 meters
The mana used depends on those matters
Now this is what he thought, what if he kept doing the maximum amount of everything of the above. In a area filled with stones, there was bound to be rewards. After all, this place was made so that people would have an easier time infusing the elements. He simply needed to spin the rocks on a circular manner.
"Rock Budge"
He levitated every ten rocks and tried to push it to the very limits. The result being that even if he couldn't control more rocks, he could still move it farther away and levitate larger rocks with more powers.
With this he confirmed it once again, being in a environment that support your abilities also supports your strength.
He sat in a cross-legged manner and commenced his series of Rock Budge.
He continued levitating them to the very limits until he was depleted of mana, in that case, he meditates.
Thus ten hours passed just like that, sitting on that very position for oh so very long.
He stretched for a while and then walked over the same place, there he encountered a smiling man.
"Hello~! I'm so glad you didn't give up yet!"
"I'm beginning my spar."
"Alright! I'm looking forward to your 'fight'."
He fought once again against him for three hours.
"What's next?"
"Huh? Oh, right."
He beckoned him to follow until he reached a waterfall, the very same kind where he trained Aqua Bubble.
"This time, it's going to take a lot longer then the other ones, but it's a lot easier."
"What do I need to do?"
"Undress and head over that waterfall, just sit there and let the water flow, this time you should be able to succeed it the first time, knowing you of course."
"Time limit?"
"3 hours."
"No problem."
He undressed himself and jumped straight in the water.
He swam until he reached the huge waterfall, a spectacular view from nature was instilled upon the very eyes of Myriad. The beautiful colours of the water was simply extraordinary.
He sat under it and closed his eyes.
"Ah, you can't meditate okay?*
Why? Though Myriad didn't question it, he simply obeyed.
*BAM*
A rock fell and hit Myriad hard, a bulge came out of his head.
"And this is the third trial, while closing your eyes, try to feel the water's movement and try to predict where it will come from."
'…'
"No problem."
He answered easily.
There were no real tricks into predicting the water's movement, it took him a little while but he easily managed to fend off the falling projectiles.
The key was simple, do not think, only feel.
And thanks to that, for over three hours it was a smooth ride.
For the whole duration, he felt something entering him and for the first time it has made him learn something.
New Skill: You have learned Water's Movement: Due to you accepting the water elemental, you have earned a part of its power.
Water's Movement 1 (1%):
Incorporates into your movements fluidity and flexibility
Can dodge more easily
Increases your dexterity and intelligence when used.
Consumes 20 mana per minute.
One of the four basic element.
As expected, when you get a skill, you can't help but try it out, Myriad did exactly the same wondering if this skill would be useful in the future battles.
"Water's Movement.."
He took a stance and began using his weapon.
The result? It was amazing, it repaired the smallest crooked and stiff parts of Myriad attacks and defences and made it so that it would increase his stats, it was determined, this class was incredibly worth it.
"It seems that it worked, don't be shocked the other elements have man- Oh right…"
Nothing was plastered on Myriad's face except for his blank look.
"Well, we'll continue after 3 days, it's important to take a rest sometimes!"
'I guess I should connect off the game…'
Next chapter, real life! Who would had thought he had one.