His staunch belief began to waver as he saw Soverick improve visibly. Soverick’s odd clumsy movements became more refined and sublime. The spear shifted around him like an old friend or an intimate lover. But what was more shocking is that Soverick had completed the 10 trips. He did not tire, he did not fail, and he was determined and unwavering. The small success wasn’t even enough for him as he continued to refine his spear form.
“How?” NOBELLES senior asked.
“What is going on?” SYNCLAIR asked too.
“Impossible” JUST_EVILNESS exclaimed.
They were the only ones that could voice their inner shock. The other two were too stunned to talk. Their attention was also transfixed on Soverick.
SQUARESKULL shook his head in pity. He felt regret now. Maybe he shouldn’t have called his students over. They wouldn’t have witnessed Soverick’s progress and have their worldview shattered. Hopefully, they will learn good things from this experience and be inspired to greatness.
The possibility of their life taking a downward spiral is very low due to their willpower. But they might spend some time in depression. It is the time that they will lose during this depression that will be the price they have to pay for what they saw today.
Time passed and hours went by until Soverick began to descend to the central plain. It was only then that his five students snapped out of their stupor.
“He is coming.” SYNCLAIR whispered.
“That was more than 10 trips.” NOBELLES senior also whispered.
“I counted and it was 31 trips.” JUST EVILNESS added.
“He not only completed it but he did it three times.” NARGOTHROND said still in shock. He wasn’t laughing anymore.
They were whispering in the temporary mind network they had created. SLEEP DEPRIVED DEMON did not join them but was watching Soverick make his way to them.
SQUARESKULL shook his head again. He wondered why they were whispering. It is not like soverick can hear them from such a far distance if they were to shout. They were also using their divine sense, so they should be safe no matter the volume of their communication in the mind network.
‘This is how normal people behave. Not like Soverick, who shocked them into losing their common sense.’ SQUARESKULL thought to himself.
Soverick descended to the plain and he accelerated towards their little group. He stopped in front of Karak.
“I’ve completed the exercise. I’m sure I performed satisfactorily. What’s next?” He asked.
SQUARESKULL considered for a while before he replied. “Your performance was satisfactory. But you were not supposed to attempt so much in a go. You were supposed to get a feel for the spear form with repeated efforts. During that time, I’ll give you more exercises that will enhance your affinity to the spear. Their combined influence will then ingrain the spear form into you.”
Soverick shrugged. “That plan doesn’t seem bad. But it is useless now. So we move on. What’s next?”
“You do not understand. It is a carefully tailored and comprehensive training regimen endorsed by the authorities of the battle academy as the best approach to fusing technique and instincts. The aim of our training is to achieve one with the spear but that can only be acquired if you fuse technique and instincts. Our aim isn’t just technique or instincts. You were not supposed to learn the spear form right now. What you have achieved has separated spear form as an instinct, away from the adjoining technique. It will make it very difficult to fuse them back in the future.”
The seniors that were listening would have snickered at the thought that Soverick could achieve one with the spear if they hadn’t witnessed what they saw today. The first step is required to beat the 13th milestone fight. Only the 12th milestone fight is required to graduate and it was what they were aiming for.
They have spent years in training and yet, they are all far away from that point. The best of them is SYNCLAIR and he is around the 200th position, still a far way from that. He had been preparing to face the ninth milestone fight at the 200th position instead of challenging someone close to him.
The milestone fight is the most important thing, not the individual ranking. The individual ranking is more of a thing of glory. It is an avenue for the trainees to release their pent-up stress. They can challenge and beat each other up. Battle sage monkeys can be very crazy about battles and the Ghastorix family can be extra crazy. So they need an opportunity to battle, plus the battle is also training.
It is sobering to realize that your junior is someone aiming for the 13th milestone and even worse is that he seems capable enough to achieve it.
Soverick tilted his head. “I see. What’s done is done. What’s next?”
SQUARESKULL was getting frustrated with Soverick’s nonchalant attitude. Not for Soverick’s sake but for his own sake. He didn’t want to botch Soverick’s training. “Do you think yourself infallible? Do you think you can just overcome everything that comes your way so easily? Yes, you have done something incredible but do not let it get to your head.”
Soverick just chuckled. It was the first time his mouth made a sound since he met Karak. “I’m I infallible? No. Can I overcome everything that comes my way? Maybe. It depends. But things on this level of difficulty? Yes, and very easily too.”
Then his eyes became frosty and his voice cold. “Don’t lecture me about pride. I came here to learn about the spear. You are my teacher. You teach me what to do and how to do it, but I’ll master it myself. That’s your job. Now, I’ll ask again and I hope for the last time. What’s next?”
SQUARESKULL bristled. To be spoken to like this made him very angry. But he reined in his emotions. Partly because Soverick was right and mostly because he knew he was being watched. Someone else spoke before he could answer.
“How did you do it?” SLEEP DEPRIVED DEMON asked.
Soverick considered this person a little before answering. “Do what?”
“How did you acquire the spear form so easily?”
“Did you not sit here and watch me do it? That should have been enough for you or else you have just wasted your time.”
SLEEP DEPRIVED DEMON rephrased the question. “I want to know what you were thinking as you were doing it.”
“I am not under any obligation to tell you that. Since I am not, then I’ll tell you it’s none of your business.”
Soverick turned to SQUARESKULL, content to let the conversation end there. He didn’t mind the presence of these people. They can do whatever they want. But if their action is beginning to hinder him then he will lash back at them. And right now, this person, male or female, whatever and whoever they are, is hindering him from moving on with his training.
“I propose a trade, an equal exchange. You tell me what was going through your mind and I’ll get you any mana weapon you want. Spear or whatever.”
“I’ll pass.” Soverick rejected the offer.
He could get an Origin weapon if he wanted to. He didn’t need to make a deal with this person for one, he certainly didn’t want to make a deal for a mana weapon.
SLEEP DEPRIVED DEMON took his rejection seriously. “You cannot reject me. I am someone of considerable influence. Think about my offer again.”
“I’ll pass.”
His second immediate rejection infuriated the second senior.
“Who do you think you are? Do you think you’re a genius? Do you think your talent in the spear is better than mine?”
Soverick just ignored the questions. He looked at SQUARESKULL as if to say. “See what you’ve caused. This is all your fault. I didn’t want them here.”
The second senior then said. “I SLEEP DEPRIVED DEMON, daughter of Ulfir, the Origin god of eternal battle, declare that from today henceforth, we will be rivals.”
‘Oh, so she is a female. I wouldn’t have guessed.’ Soverick thought. Then he said. “You are beneath me. You are not worthy enough to be my rival.”
SLEEP DEPRIVED DEMON fumed. “I wish I could impale you right now but you are obviously a spear novice. It will not be honorable to attack a weak opponent. I’ll wait until you have acquired a decent skill with the spear.”
Soverick pointed at her and an earthen bolt of mana, a fist-sized but very heavy rock, smacked into her face. She was knocked out and she slumped down to the ground.
Soverick examined her before nodding his head. “Better. Some people just need to be silent for them to become tolerable.”
The people watching their little spat from the side widened their eyes in surprise. Their second strongest had been taken out with a single spell. The earthen bolt of mana is a very difficult spell to cast. It is because earth mana is very slow and difficult to shape. For Soverick to cast it at a moment’s notice means he either was an expert with the spell enough to cast less than a second or he had mastered delayed casting. What was more impressive is that none of them noticed him casting it, except SQUARESKULL.