Rui spent quite a while training the feint, unfortunately, he didn’t make as much progress as he’d hoped.
“It’s to be expected. Usually, this technique takes a long time to fully master.” The supervisor reassured.
Once Rui’s training session ended, he consumed several rejuvenation potions before heading out, gathering his thoughts on the Mirage Dive technique
(‘It’s a powerful technique that is most effective when the target isn’t aware of it.’) Rui thought. (‘Still, it can be effective even if it is known about as long as it’s used cleverly. In fact, if my opponent is aware and cautious of it, I can use their caution against them to set traps.’)
All in all, Rui was quite satisfied by this technique. It served its purpose as bolstering his offense and grappling options quite well, better than he’d initially expected.
“Alright the next thing I should do is head out to check out the training regimes for the remaining techniques I’ve picked.” He estimated.
The remaining techniques were Shifting Silhouette, Binding Lash and Flowing Canon.
The technique he was most interested in next was Flowing Canon. This ability would give him more potent striking options, increasing the power of his offense. It also gave him a finisher, something he was sorely lacking with Vital Pressure alone.
“I wouldn’t have had to deal with Milliana the way I did if I had these techniques.” His strategy against Milliana was not easy to find or execute, if he had these techniques against then he would have been able to pull off a better and less risky strategy.
He made his way to the offensive striking technique training facility. This was a more familiar environment to him.
“Flowing Canon is indeed a good pick, you’ve come to the right place.” The supervisor nodded, turning her gaze to Rui. “Alright, let’s begin if you’re ready.”
Rui nodded in affirmation. “Yes mam.”
“I presume you’ve read up and comprehended the principle and mechanisms behind the Flowing Canon technique?”
“I have.”
“Alright, explain it to me in your own words.”
“Flowing Canon requires the user to build up momentum and kinetic energy by speeding up, then once the user approaches the target, the user converts all the built-up momentum and kinetic energy into striking power, delivering a blow much greater than the normal physical limits of the user. The amount of power of the technique depends on how proficient the user is at the technique and how much energy and momentum the user built up prior to the usage of technique.”
The supervisor nodded in return. “Good explanation. Before we begin talking about the training regimes and methodologies, I’ll give you a demonstration. Come”
She took him over to a large punching bag, one that was greater than any he had ever seen. She nodded, before taking a distance of three meters away from the bag.
“I could go further behind to deliver a stronger impact, but this should be enough for a show of effectivity.”
She took a wider stance with both hands balled into fists, pointing towards her target.
“Fuuu…” She exhaled before charging.
BAM
Rui’s eyes widened at the sight, the strike was truly powerful.
The large punching swung beyond ninety degrees and almost did a perfect one-eighty.
“That’s how it looks.” She explained, using one arm to stop the swinging punching bag. “That was close, anymore and I might have broken it.” She murmured, glancing at the bag.
The power of the strike resembled one of Fae’s palm attacks, what made the technique much inferior was that each time it was used required the energy to build-up momentum and energy, whereas Fae could spam this level of attacks thanks to Outer Convergence.
“That’s impressive.” Rui murmured with honesty.
“It’ll allow you to deliver powerful strikes every time your opponent puts some distance between the two of you.” She explained. “Alright, if there’s nothing else, we can begin with the training methodologies.”
Rui nodded. “Please do.”
“The technique is relatively straightforward. Building momentum just requires good old running, so that doesn’t require any training. You even use certain Apprentice-level maneuvering techniques to generate more momentum and energy so that the Flowing Canons trike ends up being more powerful.” She explained. “What does require training is converting all that momentum and energy into striking.”
Rui nodded, absorbed into her words.
“There isn’t a discrete absolute way to learn how to convert travelling momentum into striking power, it’s just something you get better at by repeating. That’s why you’ll have noticed the scroll of the technique doesn’t specify any training regimes with any equipment, we haven’t devised any training equipment or technology that can aid with this technique. There are certain instructions I can give you.” She mentioned, before continuing.
“Firstly, you need to get rid of your instinct of slowing down your travelling speed when you’re about to reach someone. This is a normal human instinct. After all, nobody wants to crash into another person and end up hurting themselves and their incidental victim. But in this case, that instinct is detrimental. Slowing down will only kill and get rid of the power you built.”
Rui nodded, this made sense. There was no point in killing momentum when using a technique that used momentum to function.
“The first step is to not slow down with your feet when you’re about to hit your opponent. The second step is to slow down by striking your opponent.”
Rui caught onto what she meant. This was a relatively simple matter to someone who had a background in Physics.
When a person jumped off a wall and landed on their feet, they reduced their momentum to zero by applying force on the ground when they landed. This was essentially the principle behind Flowing Canon, you begin moving very fast, then when you reach your opponent, you apply all the force on them you can and end up slowing down, by doing this you have converted all your momentum into striking power that your opponent will have to withstand.
Just like how jumping from the top of higher walls resulted in more powerful impacts when you hit the ground, moving faster and striking your opponent with all you have to come to a stop also results in more powerful impacts. This is how Flowing Canon allowed the user to transcend their limits for a brief period of time.