Hey guys this is my third chapter of the day! I'm feeling really, really, really, inspired as you can tell. I hope you are enjoying my mini writing marathon. I hope you are enjoying reading this story. While you read please feel free to leave a comment as well as rate and review.
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Chapter 39
Hiro opened his eyes and the light was blinding. He blinked his eyes a few times to get his eyes to focus. He saw a figure in the distance.
“Who is that?! Who are you?”
“You have forgotten me already? Shame on you” said the famillar voice.
Hiro continued to rub his eyes and blink them as they began to focus and the figure in front of him became clear.
“Oh it’s you.”
“Yes I’m the God of this world. I see you have listened to my words and are getting much stronger.”
“Yes I have gotten stronger but I still have a long way to go.”
“I came to tell you that your training speed has to increase as your time before the “Dark Lord” returns grows short. You must prepare yourself faster so that you are ready to conquer the evil that he will try to bring into this world.”
“I understand. I will push myself even harder to protect all of the people in my town and the world.”
“I knew I chose well when I picked you. When you complete your training with Matsuro I will visit you again with something special for you.”
“Thank you. I will see you then. I would like to return to my training now if it is ok?”
“Yes you may. Simply close your eyes.”
Hiro closed his eyes and immediately he woke up. He was lying on the ground. As he stood up on his feet he realized that he was outside of the cave where the waterfall was. As he looked around he saw Leo lying near him sleeping soundly. The sun was barely over the horizon and Hiro could see something flashing in his HUD. He touched it and it showed all of his status screen that he had gained from his previous day’s training.
You gained 25 points wisdom
You gained 2 level in sword mastery
You gained 2 levels in endurance
You gained 1 level in iron skin
You gaine 50 points to strength
You gained 35 points to your speed
You gained 1 level in mana manipulation
You gained 1 level in shadow clone
You gained 1 level in healing
You gained 2 levels in power breathing
You gained a level in martial arts training
The training continues to improve my stats but I still have been able to survive an entire night under the waterfall. I guess I will just have to trust Master on this and believe that my training will allow me to pass that test.
For the next few weeks Hiro’s training continued. He ran with the weights, swung his sword, took the blows from his teacher, and finally stood under the waterfall. At the end of the 3rd week He finally made it through an entire night under the waterfall.
“ I did it!” screamed Hiro.
“Yes, you did apprentice. You have succeeded where I had failed in my time. My skin was never strong enough to spend an entire night under the falls.”
“Really?! This is awesome! I actually surpassed you in a part of my training?”
“Yes, you did. You have also far surpassed me with the weighted cuffs. You did not notice but each day had increased the weight. Over the last 3 weeks I have increased it from 10 times gravity to 35 times their normal weight.”
“What!? You mean…. I exceeded my own goal?”
“Yes you did. You work ethic and perseverance have helped you to gain the fundamental strength, speed, and endurance to learn the Lightning Blade Style of Sword Play.”
“YEEEESSSSS!!”
“Tomorrow we begin with me teaching you swordsmanship. I will teach you technique then we will spar.”
“But Master, you said that your stamina is gone due to the poison. How can you spar with me?”
“That is why I told you to bring the potions. Each day I will take one and then we will spar. I will train you until they run out. Once they are done then your training with me will be over.”
“Will that be enough time?”
“Hiro it took me 5 years to get to the point at which you are now. You reached it in about a month. Then it took me another
5 years to master the swordplay skills. So it should take you about another month.”
“I see and we have about 40 potions so we should be fine. I will take full advantage of your training master.”
“You will continue your basic training with the sword swings and running but instead of taking sitting beneath the falls you will learn swordplay and spar. If you choose you may go out hunting at night as well. You are still forbidden to use your ki or magic while you go out hunting.”
“Yes Master.”
“Go rest you will need it. I will also continue to increase the weight on the the cuffs as long as you can handle it except for during our sparring.”
“Yes Master” Hiro said as he bowed and turned away.
Hiro ran back to where Leo was resting and lay down.
As I ran back here I didn’t have to stop once and Master said I was at 21 times their normal weight. I can’t even imagine how fast I am without these weights.
Hiro laid down on the ground next to Leo and began looking at the stars. The sky was full of stars and there was a cool breeze blowing. Hiro stared at the stars as his eyes grew heavy. As the air began to cool, he huddled himself closer to Leo’s warm fur and began drift off to sleep.
Early the next morning, Hiro arose to the sun shining in the sky. It was already hot. Hiro was sweating heavily as he got up off of the ground.
Wow! What’s going on? Last night it was freezing cold and now it is hot like fire.The weather here is crazy.
Hiro summoned his clones. Now there were 6 of them. Each of them was to work on one of his skills. 1 would do bare handed fighting skills, 1 will work with swords, another with spears, 1 with meditation, 1 with spells, and the last one will work on crafting new armor from the skin of the plains constrictor. All of the clones began working on their individual tasks while Hiro began his running. The heat was unbearable. He was sweating profusely moments after he began jogging.
I need to step this up and try running as fast as I can with these cuffs on.
Hiro picked up his pace until he was running all out. He was moving fast. Matsuro stared in awe as his pupil continued to make tremendous strides in his training. Hiro ran until he was exhausted, then he paused to catch his breath. As soon as he regained his stamina he began running again. He continued this way until he finished his laps. He speed and stamina had increased dramatically as he now finished his laps in 1 hour. Now he ran to the hut and grabbed the sword so he could begin his practice his sword swings.
“This time you will follow me and my movements as you swing your sword.”
“Yes master.”
“Give me the sword you use in battle.”
“Hiro handed him his Wildfire Sword”
“This is a good sword. You have an affinity for fire too” Matsuro said as the blade became engulfed in flames.
“Whoa! Master you can do that too?!”
“Yes boy. I am far your superior when it comes to combat experience and skill. I have learned to manipulate my ki to wield all sorts of weapons.”
“I’m sorry I just thought that because your were called the Matsuro , the Lightning Blade, that your skill was lighting not fire.”
Matsuro laughed loudly and said, “ Boy I am called the Lightning Blade because of my speed not because of what magic affinity I displayed.”
“Oh I see.”
“This is a good weapon for a relative novice but it is far too weak for you to attack something on the level of a dragon. You will need something stronger if you want to go after that dragon that poisoned me. With this blade you would not be able to pierce his scales even with your monstrous strength.”
“Well I will definitely make sure I upgrade my weapon before I continue on my journey.”
“That would be a good idea. I wish I could give you my old weapon it is passed down from master to disciple as the torch is passed in the lightning blade style, but it was lost during my battle with that poison dragon.”
“I would have been honored master”, Hiro said as he bowed.
“Anyway, back to your training Hiro. The Lightning Blade Style is about your ability to predict an enemy’s movement and then attack him before he gets to make his move. For that you will need to make your movements faster, sharpen your reflexes, and make your eyes capable of seeing the slightest movement of your opponent’s muscles or ki fluctuation.”
“Yes Master”
“Alright enough talk. Follow my movements with your sword”
“Yes Master”
Matsuro drank one of the potions Hiro had given him. Once it was empty, Matsuro gave Hiro his the empty vial. A moment later Hiro could sense his master’s ki rising. His strength was amazing. A pale white aura surrounded him.
His ki is SO POWERFUL!! It is even stronger than it was that day in his shop. How much have I grown that I can stand here nearly unphased by this incredible strength?
“Thank you Master for helping me attain this level of strength. Now I will show you what you have created.”
“Hmph! You insolent little whelp. You think just because you have gotten stronger that you are a match for me. I see I will have to show the difference between our battle powers. “
“Yes please instruct me Master!”
“This form is called Lightning blade style roaring clouds”
“Oh so the Lightning Blade Style had more than one form?”
“Yes it has a 5 forms they can be adapted to those who wield any type of weapon whether it is a single sword, dual swords, daggers, axes, whatever you choose.”
“Master do you mind teaching them all to me?”
“The adaptations you will teach yourself. I will teach you the fundamentals using my weapon of choice a greatsword”
Matsuro grasped the sword of wildfire with both hands and held it in front of him. He spread his feet so that were should with apart with his left foot in the front. Hiro mirrored his master. Next Matsuro went through a series of steps and strikes as Hiro tried his best copy his master.
Amazing! It is like he was water. Everything flowed together. There was almost no energy expended in all of those powerful strikes.
“Let’s do it again” said Matsuro
They both went through the movements of the Dragon’s tooth again. Hiro struggled mightily as the weight of his cuffs and the weight of the sword made his movements awkward and sluggish. Once they finished the movements the second time, Matsuro stopped and drove his sword into the ground. He then turned around and faced Hiro.
“Now do the movements as I watch you. I will help you correct the mistakes in your form. On my count. 1!”
Hiro stepped forward with a downward slash.
“Breathe when you strike so that you can use your full strength. Relax your shoulders so that you don’t show your intent before you strike. 2!”
Hiro stepped sideways and used a horizontal strike.
“No! Push off your left foot to move to your right and breathe! You are showing your enemy too much of your intent before you make your move! 3!”
Hiro stepped back and used a sideways high block as if someone was attacking him with a vertical slash.
“Better, but push off your front foot in order to get a strong dash backwards and breathe!”
His master continued to critique his technique as Hiro complete the form. Once he finished about 15 attempts at the form, Hiro was panting heavily and sweating profusely.
While Hiro was starting to gather his breath he noticed a blinking sword icon in his HUD. He touched it then a message appeared:
Lightning Blade Style Master 5%
As you gain proficiency in this form all of your weapon attacks will be faster and do more damage.
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
Faster and doing more damage. That is great! This style is amazing.
“Moving slowly and using all of your muscles is extremely stressful on your body. Take a few minutes to recover, Hiro. After you have rested we will begin sparring.”
“Yes master.”
Hiro walked over to the well and pulled up some water. As he drank it, the cool refreshing water helped him to cool off some. The water also helped him recover some of his stamina. After about 10 minutes or so, Hiro’s breathing had returned to normal and he had stopped sweating. Now he decided to get up and retrieve his sword as his next task would be to spar with his master.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes master.”
Matsuro removed the magic from Hiro’s cuffs. As the magic was removed, Hiro felt light as a feather.
“Now take a few moments to get used to your strength as your movements may be a bit different without the cuffs.”
Hiro stretched his muscles then tried to jump. He bent down and exploded with his strength. He shot up into the air like a missile. He was going higher and higher, so high that he was almost out of sight. When he stopped he was a few hundred feet in the air.
This is insane! I didn’t know I was this strong but… what is going to happen when I come back down?
Hiro looked down at the ground. His master was so far away he looked like an ant. His ascent ended and then he started to go back down to the ground. As he hit the ground a large crater was created.
How strong is my body now? I didn’t even feel any pain as I landed from that high in the air.
“Not bad! You got almost as high as me. Next time use your ki to soften the blow when you hit the ground.”
“Yes master. I did not realize you had helped me to gain this kind of strength. Thank you master.”
“I don’t think you will want to thank me just yet. Take your fighting pose.”
Hiro matched his master’s pose with his sword gripped in both hands with his arms pulled near his heart. Both of their feet were shoulder’s width apart and they moved subtlely.
He has no openings its like he is a fortress. How should I attack him? No need to over think it. I just need to do it. Here I go!
Hiro charged at his opponent. He opened up with a horizontal slash from the left. Matsuro evaded the strike by the smallest of margins. He ducked under the blade mid swing and hit Hiro in the leg and arm with the blunt side of the sword. Hiro quickly fell down to his knees. Matsuro followed with a swing to his throat but Hiro blocked the blade with his own. The clash of swords caused sparks and a loud metal clang. Hiro regained his footing and jumped back to create some space.
Man what happened he avoided and attacked so quickly. Wait that’s it I must have had to many excess movements in my swing so he knew what was coming. I’ve got to be more compact and faster.
Hiro dashed at Matsuro again. This time he feinted with his eyes that he was going to try to cut Matsuro on his left side; however, his true plan was to slash at Matsuro from above. The feint with his eyes worked Matsuro moved towards his right to avoid the attack but Hiro quickly changed the path of his blade so that it came down near Matsuro’s head. Matsuro blocked with his sword.
YESSSSSS!!! I actually made contact. That must be it my movements were simple with no feints so it was easy to avoid his attacks.What’s this? He’s gathering his energy?
“Not bad my apprentice. Your battle instincts have definitely been well developed on the field of battle. It will take more than some feints to beat me”, said Matsuro
As soon as he got his last word out, Matsuro dashed at Hiro at an incredible speed. The sword strike was incredibly fast but thanks to his energy sensing ability he could sense where his opponent was. Hiro could see prediction lines but there were too many of them. Hiro backed up to create some room but it was too late. Matsuro unleashed a slashing attack that Hiro was able to block but the force behind the attack was so powerful that knocked him off his feet. Hiro began flying and Matsuro pressed the attack. To Hiro it seemed like Matsuro just disappeared. Then all of a sudden, Matsuro repapeared behind Hiro and he smashed Hiro in the back with a knee. Hiro gasped in pain. Spit poured form mouth. The pain was incredible. Matsuro followed up with a downward slash from his sword which he imbued with the fire element.Hiro was hit across his chest with a massive slash.
“AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!”, Hiro screamed out in pain.
The attack left a deep wound across his chest. The wound instantly cauterized due to the flame element. Hiro was breathing heavy.
“Your body has gotten really tough apprentice. That strike would have cut a normal man in two.”
“Thank….Hufff…..Pufff.. you Master” said Hiro as he was trying to get back to his feet.
Hiro was dizzy and the pain was unreal from the wound his suffered. The strain on his body was incredible but he man to ready his sword and take a fighting pose. Hiro looked closer at his master.
I have to concentrate. His moves are to fast for me to read with my natural eyes and his energy is so feint it is hard for me to follow it. What can I do? That’s it I’ll move ki to my eyes, then maybe my perception will improve and I will be able to follow him.
Hiro concentrated and began moving his ki towards his eyes. As he did his vision became sharper. He could see the lines in his master’s face more clearly showing his age. As he moved greater amounts of ki Hiro was able to perceive the paper thin layer of ki surrounding his master.
This is great I can sense him more now. I need more though.
Hiro continued to pour ki into his eyes. Suddenly, his eyes started to change. The pupils became smaller and his normally brown eyes changed completely green.
What is happening?! My vision… I see…. I see… everything. I can see his ki, his breathing, even his muscles tensing and relaxing beneath his clothes. This is amazing.
You have developed a new ability warrior’s eye.
By increasing ki flow to your eyes they will improve you visual perception. As you improve this ability you will be able to perceive even more minute details.
A sly grin appeared on Hiro’s lips. He clutched his sword tightly and readied himself for his master’s next attack. Matsuro came at him like a flash. This time Hiro could see the attack as it came. It was as if time was slowing down. Matsuro was moving extremely fast but his eyes were now making it so he could recognize the movements. Hiro charged in and began attack of his own. Their swords clashed with a thunderous roar.
“Ah you have awakened a new ability in your eyes I see”, said Matsuro as the two pressed their swords against each other.
“Yes now I can see you when you move.”
“I guess you do have potential. It took me more than a year to learn that but you only have the beginner level. Let me show you what a real master’s eyes look like.”
Matsuro kicked Hiro in the leg bringing him to one knee and then pressed his advantage by pressing harder on Hiro’s sword. Then Hiro looked up and saw his master’s eyes change. His eyes went completely purple with golden pupils.
“You see these eyes Hiro? These are the pinnacle of perception. I can see your ki flowing, your muscles moving, even the veins in your body pumping blood. Nothing can escape my sight.”
Hiro struggled to push back his master and regain his stance. As soon as he got to his feet Matsuro moved to attack again but this time as Hiro followed Matsuro used a feint. Hiro raised his sword to block the feint, but Matsuro was no longer on that attack path. He slashed at Hiro again. This time, he struck Hiro’s arm. Blood gushed forth from the wound. Hiro fell to his knees and screamed out in agony. His arm was nearly severed from his body. Hiro’s healing ability was working but the wound was serious.
I guess my skin is not strong enough yet to stop a sword slash.
Hiro composed himself and cast his healing spell. The wound quickly began to heal. Then suddenly Matsuro began coughing. Hiro looked over towards his Master who was leaning on his sword for support. Hiro rushed over ignoring his pain.
“Master are you ok?”
“Yes I’m fine. I got a little excited because it has been so long since I was able to fight. I may have over done it a little and nowthe potion you gave me is wearing off. Just let me catch my breath.”
“Yes sir!”
Hiro looked at his master and watched as he caught his breath. Matsuro stood up and handed Hiro his sword. Hiro released the ki flowing to his eyes and they returned to normal.
“Hiro, you did well today.”
“I did!? It just looked to me like I got my butt kicked.”
“No stupid apprentice. You still do not understand. Your body has gained a tremendous improvement in all of your physical attributes. Even today as you learned to improve your perception you have improved. What has not improved and will take time to do so is your mind!”
“I don’t understand.”
“Your mind has not gotten comfortable with all of your body’s new abilities. Your movements are not smooth. Your new massive amount of strength and speed are not easily controlled. In short, you mind cannot control your body yet. It will come you just need to keep sparring.”
“Yes master. My skin still is strong enough to take your attacks though. I want to keep training my skin. Will you continue giving me the slashes with the sword?”
“Yes I wish to see the point where the slashes no longer pierce your skin.”
Just then one of the clones came up. In its hand it was holding some clothes.
“Are these the ones you made from the plains constrictor?”
“Yes. It was so big that I tried something new. I made each piece in 2 layers. The inner layer is flexible to allow movement and the outer layer is thicker and more rigid to protect your incase you are hit.”
“Thanks but after learning from Master Matsuro I will no longer be wearing armor.”
“What?!”
“Yeah, today in our spar he slashed me with the my own sword and it did not sever a limb. So instead of wearing armor I’m going to develop my ki and physical resistance to its max so that I don’t have to wear restrictive armor. “
“Ok. Then I will reshape it so that it protects Foria.”
“That sounds like a great idea.”
“You are learning my apprentice.”
Hiro and Matsuro went into eat dinner. After dinner it was quite dark outside. Hiro’s clones walked up towards him and he dismissed them. As they disappeared in a cloud of smoke all of the acquired skills, knowledge, practice flooded into Hiro’s body.
“What just happened?” asked Matsuro
“I didn’t know it at first but as my clones train, I gain any strength, knowledge, experience, and skills that they acquire. So as I work with you they train my other skills.”
“Hmmm… that is an excellent training method.
“Thank you sir!”
Hiro went out and found a quiet place to lay down in the grass. He pulled out blanket from his inventory and looked to the stars.
I wonder what Leo is doing now? I haven’t seen him all day.
Hiro’s exhaustion throughout the day built up and he finally fell asleep.
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Thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed it. The next chapter will be the end of the training arc. I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave you questions, comments, and opinions in the comments.
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