Chapter 154 - Finishing the First Day of Lessons (1/2)
The first morning of lessons had proceeded without any problems. Hei and the others went to the canteen to have lunch, and then they rested for a couple of hours to digest. After their lunch break, all of them returned to the training grounds where Song Yazhu was waiting for them.
”Excellent, you all arrived on time. It will now begin the lesson on the Elemental Laws. However, unlike before, it won't be conducted with the whole class. But it will be performed individually or in groups of two at most. As for the beast tamers, you can bring along your spirit beasts inside, but you will still be considered as a single entity. So if two tamers want to team up with their spirit beasts, that is possible.
Earlier I told you that hand-to-hand techniques and dexterity in using your weapons are essential for us martial artists. But even more important than those are the knowledge and ability to use the Laws. Laws are the essential characteristic of a martial artist, regardless of what type they belong to or what style of combat they use. You may even be a spirit emperor, but if you don't have a strong knowledge of the Laws, you will be nothing but trash for those of your own rank.
The spirit power you have fortifies your body, but it still represents only the amount of power you can exercise in combat. It is evident that the more spirit power you put in, the more powerful your attacks are. However, the damage amplification effect will never be as much as that derived from the Elemental Laws. For the same amount of spirit power, the techniques that use pure spirit power won't be up to those that have been imbued with the Elemental Laws.
Precisely for these reasons, you must exercise maximum discretion when it comes to training in the Elemental Laws. Remember, you are all academy companions here, but at the same time, you are rivals. There will be tests in the future during these three years, and in each test, you will be rewarded according to the results obtained. The stronger will get better resources while the weaker will get inferior resources. So the Elemental Laws represent your secret card to play on those occasions.
In war, the search for information is essential for victory. If you know the main characteristics of a martial artist, with proper preparation, you can increase your chances of winning. So this is also a test for when you will have to fight for real. Hide your secret cards and, at the same time, discover those of your opponents. You can use any tactic you want as long as you always respect the rules imposed by the academy.
Lastly, as for the supporting martial artists, chef, musician, and medic categories, they will come with me. Given your unique characteristics, you will practice in a more suitable environment than a simple training ground.”
Then Song Yazhu clapped with both hands to signal students to start moving. Quickly, the martial artists who didn't fall into the categories mentioned by Song Yazhu entered the training grounds' complex.
”Apparently, we have to split up. Actually, I expected such a thing.” Mareo commented, a little disappointed.
”Well, our main task is to support the troops from the rear. More than improving in combat, we must practice improving the use of our laws according to our techniques.” Haruno commented as well. But he too was a little sad for not being able to stay with everyone else.
”Oh well, it's not a big deal. Why make those long faces? Classes end late afternoon. So we can meet for dinner anyway, can't we?” Lilian said thoughtlessly, bringing good humor back to everyone.
”For me, there are no problems. So we will all meet for dinner, okay?” Mia intervened immediately afterward in order to seal Lilian's proposal.
To that proposal, all the others accepted willingly. Then, Lilian, Mia, Mareo, and Haruno followed Song Yazhu to the structures where they would train.
”What are you going to do? Will you train separately or in pairs?” At one point, Leon asked who was left of their group.
Hei, Lian, Leon, Lang, He Fen. Besides them, there were also Ye, Xing, and Fenrir. Since spirit beasts were considered one with their tamer, there were currently only two couples while one person should have been left alone.
”Lian and I will enter together, and we'll bring Ye and Xing,” Hei answered quickly.
”I will train alone with Fenrir.” Lang, in turn, gave her answer. Now only He Fen and Leon remained.
He Fen was silent for a moment and replied, ”If you want to train with me, it's okay. But Song Yazhu's words are correct. Even if we are companions, we are also adversaries.”
At He Fen's words, Leon thought for a while before giving his answer. ”No, it's okay. Maybe it's better to train each one on our own. Then, I'll see you directly at the end of the lesson, I suppose.”
With this, the five of them and the three spirit beasts following them entered the training grounds' complex according to the arrangement they had previously agreed. Hei and Lian, therefore, entered with Xing and Ye into one of the various fields there.
The training ground, which was also called the cell, was like a vast bare room. There was nothing inside except the walls that bordered the cell. The only unusual thing there was the ceiling, which was transparent and allowed outside light to illuminate the entire cell.
”Lian, can you take a look at the cell's formation? Leon said it was possible to create a personal code. Also, did you figure out if there are hidden monitoring features?”
”There are none. Unlike the external walls, the formations used here are simple, although the structure of their whole is complex. However, there are only two functions - managing the cell walls and damage resistance. There are no other hidden functions, at least from what I managed to analyze. What do you want to do?”
So Lian turned to look at Hei. Over the week, Hei had asked Lian to begin studying the formations used in the various structures of the academy, including the training grounds. Unfortunately for them, the formations used in the castle were too complicated for Lian, and she couldn't analyze them. Those of the external structures were simpler, especially the training grounds. However, the internal part was still missing, and only today, Lian was finally able to finish her analysis.
”All right. I trust your skills. If you say that there are no monitoring functions, that's fine. So... Ye, Xing!” Hei turned to his little sisters who were rolling on the ground. ”It's time to train seriously. Lian and I will be your opponents. But be careful because we won't go easy. You have to do the same, okay?”
'Hehehe, the big brother and Lian want to challenge us? If we win, however, you will have to allow us to sleep more tomorrow morning.' Ye and Xing brightly said as they took on their true size.
”Okay, but if you lose, then you will eat less tonight. Keep one thing in mind, though - you don't just have to use your physical attacks. Since we can fight at will for several hours, you have to use your elemental techniques to the full, or else it won't make sense what we are doing.”
At that point, Hei and Lian headed against Ye and Xing at full speed. As Hei had said, he and Lian decided to get serious from the start, and to avoid losing their loved food, Ye and Xing adapted accordingly, fighting to the maximum of their strength.
*
Hei didn't know exactly how long they had been fighting, but in the end, they heard a kind of metallic sound ringing everywhere - it was the alarm that signaled the end of the lessons. Hearing this, Hei got up from the ground battered - all his clothes were tattered, and his spirit power was practically running out. The same was true of Lian, who pulled new clothes for her and Hei from her space ring.
Regarding the two small divine beasts, instead, Ye and Xing were lying on the ground and had returned to their petite form. A rumbling sound was coming from their bellies. Fortunately, however, they had won the challenge against Hei and Lian, and for that evening, they would be able to eat without limitations.
”Get up. It's time. We have to go.” Hei said to his little sisters as he put on the robe Lian had given to him.
'I don't want to. I am tired and hungry. '(Ye)
'Yes. We have won the challenge, so the big brother should reward our hard work by carrying us on his arms.' (Xing)
At the words of his little sisters, Hei smiled and spoiled them as they asked. After taking them in his arms, Hei motioned for Lian to come out of their cell. Once out, from the long central corridor that divided the cells into two sections, they could see their classmates coming out one by one. Only a few people had chosen to train in pairs.
”Hei, Lian!”