Preparing for the Impending Crisis 2

“But how do you know Heclaeus’s style, Senior?”

Hearing Doyun would teach Heclaeus’s style, Lei wondered if he was being mocked. He remained silent only due to his master’s instructions.

Without a word, Doyun turned to Duke Noir, who barked sternly from afar:

“You idiot! Learn it first instead of questioning!”

Lei flinched.

He meant no disrespect towards his teacher. If Duke Noir himself vouched it as the genuine Heclaeus’s style, how could he doubt it? He had simply asked out of curiosity.

Unable to inquire further, Lei could only speculate that Doyun obtained it from Sir Enoch’s relics.

“Well… I’ll explain when the time comes.”

“Y-, Yes…”

Lei pursed his lips and nodded reluctantly.

Before beginning, Doyun received Duke Noir’s concerned telepathic message:

[But… is this truly possible? I was under the impression that Heclaeus’s style is too violently reactive for anyone to learn…]

[You knew about that as well?]

[It’s recorded in the scriptures. Lord Heclaeus apparently sought disciples late in life, but found none capable of withstanding his martial art.]

He seemed to have researched all available historical materials relating to Enoch.

His words rang true, yet certain adjustments had now become feasible.

While Lei’s physical specs were extraordinary, Vitality 7 fell short of withstanding the fiery Heclaeus’s style Doyun employed.

But Doyun could now remedy that limitation.

He examined the trait created alongside his newly acquired [Răzvolnic Style Swordsmanship] skill.

[Martial Founder]

You are the originator of a new martial art.

Your understanding and mastery of the ‘Răzvolnic Style Swordsmanship’ you created increases. The ‘Răzvolnic Style Swordsmanship’ will evolve more rapidly.

The Răzvolnic Style – the culmination of innumerable geniuses’ martial arts Enoch had studied and refined over 200 rebirths into an optimized style solely for himself.

At its core lay Vuskar’s swordsmanship and Heclaeus’s pugilism.

His enhanced Răzvolnic Style comprehension directly translated into greater insight into Heclaeus’s style.

Thanks to this, Doyun could adapt it into a form tailored to Lei’s talents while reducing its violently reactive force to bearable levels.

Hearing the explanation, Duke Noir’s face brightened.

“Then let’s begin immediately. First, the importance of ‘will’…”

After a brief primer, a practical demonstration followed – Heclaeus’s motions without force, as Doyun’s current Vitality could not withstand its full power.

However, as Lei watched the demonstration blankly, he suddenly muttered:

“The War Emperor…?”

Doyun froze, his gaze turning towards Lei.

“What did you say?”

“Ah… It reminded me of the War Emperor’s pugilism techniques. But of course, it must be my mistake. There’s no way… It’s been so long since I fought alongside that old man…”

“Elaborate.”

“Pardon?”

A casual remark, yet Doyun’s demeanor grew solemn – he seemed aware of Lei’s implication.

“Um… It felt powerful and weighty like the old man’s, yet simultaneously deeper and more refined… more complete.”

More profound, refined and complete than the War Emperor’s.

‘The Heclaeus’s style the War Emperor employs is incomplete?’

Pondering Lei’s testimony, Doyun fell into contemplation before refocusing on instructing him for now.

After hours of training, Lei began properly learning the adapted Heclaeus’s style.

Already amazed by Doyun’s unexpected expertise, when exposed to Heclaeus’s style, Lei could only gape in awe – any lingering doubts vanished.

Lei’s claws sliced the empty air.

Shrikaak-!

A sound far more vicious than during his earlier attacks on Doyun – the very air itself rent asunder.

The piercing recoil transmitted through his fingertips made Lei’s body tremble violently.

Simultaneously, his pupils quivered with rapturous tremors.

‘In-, Insane…!’

Merely a glimpse of Heclaeus’s principles infused into his claw techniques. Just hours of instruction, yet the transformation proved utterly dramatic.

‘This… is Heclaeus’s style…!’

Such murderous destructive power imbued into instinct itself!

Doyun gestured for him to speak his impressions.

“Well?”

Turning his tensed neck towards Doyun, Lei’s eyes brimmed with ardor as Doyun smiled faintly.

He had merely offered a taste of Heclaeus’s rudiments. Yet that alone enraptured Lei.

“…Senior, would you stay at my home? I’ll treat you well.”

“Why bother? I heard you could only spare two days a week.”

“Ah… Actually, I don’t think I’ll be that busy. I can probably manage daily. It’s such a waste going back and forth, so please just stay over. Okay?”

Doyun chuckled wryly. So typical of the young – his attitude shifted on a dime.

“I have periodic arrangements with Lady Brunhilde, so that’s inconvenient.”

“Ah…”

Lei visibly deflated with disappointment. Understandably so – Doyun’s instruction was truly superb.

Imprinting martial arts into one’s instincts proved immensely challenging and abstruse. Yet whenever Doyun pointed things out, the obstructions melted away effortlessly.

No disrespect to his master, but it felt like Doyun taught even better. Though surely an exaggeration – their teaching styles simply meshed well.

Having tasted Heclaeus’s style, Lei burned with an ardor for learning not felt in ages. He yearned to learn from Doyun as extensively and frequently as possible.

Already fond of Doyun, Lei’s admiration rapidly deepened.

‘I should ask Dad to set up a warp gate.’

Over the next few days, Lei grew increasingly awed by Doyun daily.

Several days later, Lei witnessed a system notification – the growth acceleration from Doyun’s [First Guildmaster] trait.

+++

Two weeks passed.

“Come.”

With a slight nod from Doyun, Lei swallowed hard.

In the split second before lunging, Lei’s torso leaned forward as his talons raked the earth and leg muscles tensed explosively.

The instant his feet left the ground, the training floor burst apart.

Bang!

A scale-clad fist thrust out – not a proper stance or technique, but a feral strike imbued with draconic combat instincts and Heclaeus’s principles.

Lei’s fist collided squarely with Doyun’s figure.

Thwack-!

An impact like striking steel plates, yet merely the shockwave of displaced air.

Doyun had barely sidestepped, reminiscent of two weeks prior.

However, Lei’s adapted response now proved utterly vicious.

That clearly destructive lunge defied its own inertia as his fist curved. Lei’s elbow and shoulder shifted with feral sounds, instantly transitioning the straight punch into a hook.

Fwooosh-

His draconic physique and combat sense displayed an uncanny flourish as the hook chased Doyun, only to detonate another weightless shockwave.

Tensing his tail, Lei pondered:

‘I’ve grown much faster and stronger. Far more skilled in martial arts too. Yet…’

He still could not hit Doyun.

But Lei realized this was not due to any shortcoming on his part.

‘Senior Doyun’s movements have changed.’

He sensed it undoubtedly.

‘How?’

Reading Lei’s bewilderment, Doyun realized:

‘His mental cultivation remains quite lacking.’

Had he unintentionally disrupted his composure?

It was understandable. Even to Doyun, his movements now differed vastly from two weeks ago.

After experiencing that previous war, his mana control had subtly evolved.

‘Willpower serves as the greatest driving force behind mana manipulation.’

The willpower-enhancing [First Răzvolnic] trait combined with the System’s accelerated growth – these changes transcended mere status window numbers.

Undergoing that trial of will within the hellfire, he found mana manipulation within his body grew far smoother. His willpower had solidified further.

For Doyun whose forte was localized acceleration control, this signified monumental growth.

Greater mana efficiency in that instantaneous physical reinforcement technique resulted in comprehensive enhancements to his speed, explosiveness, and overall output across the board.

Lei raised his leg, bulging thighs aiming a skull-cracking ax kick at Doyun’s head while his thick tail simultaneously stabbed at his lower body in a needle-like strike – a simultaneous high-low combination. At such close quarters, evasion bordered on impossible – forcing the opponent to guard while seizing the momentum.

Unlike deliberate techniques, this instinctive optimal skill impressed even Doyun as he warily tracked its trajectory.

Two weeks ago, at least one strike may have grazed him.

However, just as Lei had grown, so too had Doyun diverged from his prior self.

Doyun leaned his torso slightly forward, shifting that weight into a vicious snap kick aimed squarely at Lei’s midsection.

The tilted upper body evaded the high kick as Lei’s tail plunged into the space formerly occupied by Doyun’s right leg.

The instant Lei’s instep sliced the air and his tail buried into the floor:

Fwooosh-!

Kwaaaang!

Doyun’s sole slammed squarely into Lei’s solar plexus.

Gurrrk-

“Kuhah!”

Lei’s body folded backwards, crashing into the training hall’s walls.

Kwaaaang!

“Nngh…”

Extricating himself, Lei clutched his midriff gingerly.

Thanks to his draconic durability, the damage was not severe. But:

‘If imbued with King Strike mana, would that have killed or crippled me?’

Shudder. He had lost count of how often he had ‘died’ these past two weeks.

Watching the disheveled Lei emerge, Doyun nodded in satisfaction.

“Good. You’re truly gifted.”

“Hearing that from a freakishly talented human senior still stings, you know.”

Doyun chuckled – Lei no longer felt awkward addressing him as ‘senior’.

In just two weeks, Lei had grown tremendously at an astonishing pace.

Ordinarily at his level, growth stagnated severely.

Yet with his suitable talents, a paramount martial art, an elite mentor and supplemented by systemic buffs, Lei soared like a fledgling breaking free of its eggshell. A miraculous rate.

Naturally, he still could not touch Doyun – but that owed to Doyun’s own unforeseen self-improvement rather than any lacking on Lei’s part.

Lei understood this, fueling his reverence towards Doyun.

‘This monstrously powerful senior…’

The stronger he grew, the more he comprehended martial arts, the more vividly Lei grasped Doyun’s sheer inhumanity despite being, well, human.

For a half-dragon like himself to humble himself before a human – that alone spoke volumes.

As Lei readied his stance again, Doyun stated:

“Let’s call it a day.”

“Huh? Why? I’m just getting fired up.”

“I have something to attend to.”

“Something?”

He nodded with anticipation.

‘The Dragon Heart.’

Finally, it was time to ingest the Dragon Heart.