Very quickly, everyone went to their own respective training with a new motivation etched in their minds: to grow even more powerful. However, this wasn't just because they had to prove themselves in the upcoming Magus Games.
Just before the group split up, they had the opportunity to see Emery's current stats and what they saw left them at a loss for words. Some of them, more precisely, Julian and Thrax turned and looked at Emery with a complicated and intense gaze.
Emery had been showing his abnormal strength during their second year; they knew for a fact his power had improved even further when they saw how he beat the elite class' best acolytes in succession.
Even so, the number that was shown in front of their eyes still managed to dazzle them into oblivion.
[Emery Ambrose]
[19 years old]
[Battle Power: 104]
[Fist Strength: 20.550 kg]
[Speed: 328 m/s]
[Spirit Force: 904]
[Spirit Core of Darkness – Stage 5]
[Spirit Core of Nature - Stage 5]
[Acolyte Rank: 8]
[Bloodline Gene - Fey Wolf]
[Gene Classification - Legendary Bloodline]
[Bloodline Limit: Rank 6]
[Current Rank - Rank 4 - The Fey Shaman]
Thrax was evidently brought into silence when he saw Emery's battle power that was much higher than his. Furthermore, he and the others knew that number could be further increased, as Emery still had his transformation ability.
This still didn't consider Emery's spirit force, which was honestly beyond the common boundary of their expectations. Other than Klea, who Emery had informed about this personally, and Chumo, who had his special eyes, his two other friends didn't even imagine in their wildest dreams that his spirit force would be almost twice as much as the known genius in their group.
The comparison was mind-boggling to say the least.
There wasn't really much to say as they saw Emery's stats. Emery could see his friends seemed like they had a lot of things to say, but no idea how to express them. In the end, they silently went to their personal training, leaving Emery standing there with his master, Magus Xion.
Now that there were only the two of them, Magus Xion quickly beckoned Emery to follow him to the arena. Arriving at the location, Emery saw his master take out a sword from his storage ring.
Seeing his master holding a sword brought a smile to Emery's face. He was quickly reminded about what his master had promised to him last year.
"Master, I have reached rank 8 and last year you promised to teach me your sword skill." Emery said with a wide smile.
Magus Xion, however, didn't say anything and just threw the sword in his direction. Even though he was surprised by what his master did, Emery could still react and catch the sword flying toward him with one hand.
The moment his eyes landed on the sword he just caught, Emery immediately knew what it was. It was one of Magus Xion's self-created dark blades. He wanted to tell him he still had the one Magus Xion gave before, but he noticed that his master seemed not in the mood to talk, as he immediately drew his own sword and took his fighting stance. He was ready to fight.
Emery turned serious. Unlike the previous training he went through, he realized there would not be any pleasantries, nor even a seat to enjoy some hot tea. This time, it was serious.
"Let's see if you can beat me first." Magus Xion said calmly.
Emery didn't even have a chance to complain about how his master once again withholding his own promise, as the latter already charged toward his direction. He had to deal with his master swiftly and precisely, unless he wanted to be sent flying through the air to the ground.
Clankkkk!!!
Emery positioned his sword in front of him, parrying the downward slash Magus Xion threw at him. The attack managed to send him backwards skidding across the ground half a dozen steps.
"Show me your sword skill!" Magus Xion sternly said with a serious expression on his face.
Upon hearing that, Emery took a deep breath and thought to himself. "Alright. I'll definitely show him my best!"
He knew his master would match the strength he exerted with the amount he had for this fight. In addition, it seemed any buff skill he used wouldn't be able to overpower his master. But then, Emery understood that in order to really show the other party his best swordsmanship, he would need to be in his utmost prime condition.
[Immortal Gate - stage 5]
[Fey Transformation - stage 1]
[Battle Howl]
Emery activated every skill that could increase his prowess, whether dramatically or slightly.
These buffs were more than enough to allow him to showcase his pinnacle strength, and with it, Emery quickly launched his retaliation and struck back.
Clankk! Clankk!!
Magus Xion only gave Emery a short time for warming up as his actions gradually intensified. Several minutes into the fight, Emery could now feel that every strike his master threw at him was increasingly much stronger than the latter.
Spllaaattt!!
Emery lost his focus for a second and he immediately found his shoulder receiving a cut. It was a shallow one, but a wound nonetheless. Several drops of blood slowly seeped out the wound. If he didn't know better this was a test, he might even think his master was trying to kill him right now.
Realizing his current power was still not enough, Emery quickly utilized his [Dao Divine Technique] to fight Magus Xion. A remarkable divine skill that allowed him defeat the level 7 combat puppet.
Clank!! Clankk!!
Following the activation of the skill, Emery began to feel and move in an unusual state of flow. If one took a closer look, they would realize he was fighting Magus Xion by not clashing directly in strength and redirecting the attacks away or back to the latter.
Alas, this method seemed to only work for a few minutes as Magus Xion quickly changed his pace and approach as well and once again overwhelmed Emery with his astonishing advantage in swordsmanship, pushing the latter to a literal corner.
It looked like Emery had forgotten the fact his master was as much renowned as a swordsman as he was as magus instructor. It wasn't a wonder that his expertise was far beyond the masses.
Spllaatt!!!
Emery once again received quite a wound on his body. By this point, he really thought his master had indeed gone insane.
"More!! Is this all you've got?!!" Magus Xion shouted, as if he was possessed.
Realizing Magus Xion seemed to ignore his wounds, Emery quickly took out his own sword. He now wielded two swords in both hands and once again focused on deploying his technique to fend off the storm-like relentless attacks coming from his master.
The Dao was all about balance. Emery would have to once again concentrate on his master's movement. He would feel the flow of his strikes and counters.
Clank! Clank!
But then, Emery quickly realized he was still unable to follow his master's steps at all. He understood where he should go, but he couldn't move fast enough and would always be stopped by his master.
When he was finally forced to resort to using [Blink], Magus Xion decided to show his true power and struck him hard.
CLANKKK!!!
Emery's body basically shot into the air like a bullet before landing heavily on the ground. A cloud of dust was raised to the air, as Emery could feel his body receive another batch of bruises.
Seeing Emery lying on the ground, Magus Xion retracted his sword back and stared at him as he spoke. "Whatever you are showing just now… it's not a sword technique."
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Written by Avans, Published exclusively by W.e.b.n.o.v..e.l,