Chapter 463: Stages of Martial Prowess?
Martial Arts was a key concept for those embarking on the path as a Mage. In this world, not only did it embody the meaning of the existence of Combat Style, but also the meaning of combat itself.
No one in this world could survive on their own if they didn’t know some form of defence, be it through hot weapons like firearms or cold ones like swords.
And like most things in the world, there would always be certain divisions for people to fall into—otherwise known as the stages of a person’s level of physical martial prowess.
This ranking system was called the Combat Realms and was divided into five individual realms:
Peasant, Soldier, Knight, Martial King, Martial God.
The Realm of Peasant was for those without any sort of ability to defend themselves, thus needing to hide behind those who could. However, this level could also refer to those who had trained themselves enough that they would be able to survive the most minor of battles.
For those in the Soldier realm, they were the ones who had trained themselves in the arts of combat to the point where their skills would benefit in large-scale battles, allowing their respective nation to use them as troops.
Knights were a cut above those belonging in realms below them, for unlike them, they were capable of comprehending Combat Styles and putting them into practice—possibly even to the point where they could bring out the Expressions of their techniques.
The Realm of Martial King was reserved for those with in-depth knowledge about combat and true masters—their skills so largely imposing, to the point where anything in their hands could become a deadly weapon that could slay even an entire army.
A common toothpick? Such a thing could be used to kill a dozen soldiers with a simple swipe!
It takes years and possibly even decades if you weren’t talented enough to reach this stage. It was even more likely that no one would be able to enter this Realm.
Unless you were on the same level as them, it would be nearly impossible for you to win against them. And even if you did, you would be left on death’s door afterwards.
Lastly...
You had Martial God.
Those on this Realm were considered deities by themselves... A legend! Upon reaching this Realm, they would be granted a heavenly boon for their efforts.
They would be granted senses beyond any human’s comprehension, putting them on the level of demigods, as their spatial awareness of their close surroundings could only be compared to nigh-omniscience.
Even the most shallow and gentle of attacks from them would leave Martial Kings gasping for air.
However, only a handful of Martial Gods can exist in the same era, and only 0.00001% of the world’s current population has the chance of becoming one.
Currently, Lillian was entering the level of Knight. But if she were to cheat using her gauntlets, she would be considered around the midstage of that level... Depending on who she was copying.
This Realm was also where the Captain currently was.
CLACK!
Lillian awoke from her thoughts, flinching at the sound of another clash between the Jungle Lord and the Captain. It seems that the Wendigo’s martial prowess was only further increasing the more he battled the Captain...
’I can’t say I’m not surprised...’
Due to the Jungle Lord’s [Weapon Mastery] ability, his sense of how to wield weapons and the art of combat were heightened—putting him on par with even geniuses.
And considering that this was his first time learning about the existence of techniques, Lillian was sure he was even more keen to learn about them and integrate them into his own fighting style.
’His swordsmanship is also dramatically increasing...’
Lillian watched as the Wendigo’s mastery with the Captain’s technique began to show as the Expressions behind his attack materialised with much stronger foundations compared to before...
Could it be... Could it be that because the Wendigo was sparing someone who was using a weapon as well, his skills were becoming refined before her eyes?
Lillian clicked her tongue.
Even her own monster had more talent than she did in this field!
’At this rate... It would reach the midstage of the Knight level before me!’
CLACK!
The Captain sidestepped a stab in the form of a harpoon, amazed by the Wendigo’s swift progress in the mastery of the technique.
He then slashed his sword and watched as the Jungle Lord parried his wooden blade before disappearing into his blind spot.
This was his Riptide Reversal!
Reappearing behind the Captain, the Jungle Lord held his wooden sword low before making a swift upwards slash at his back.
However.
Swish.
The moment he did that, the Captain disappeared and was replaced by a soft breeze.
His glowing hollow eyes flickered for a moment as he looked straight up, managing to track the man’s movements and found the Captain rapidly slashing his sword through the air consecutively.
The Jungle Lord’s eyes flickered in confusion, wondering about the reason for such pointless actions.
But then.
"[4th Technique of the Deep Sea Hunter: Drowning Net]!"
The Jungle Lord was met with a large, illusory fishing net over his head.
He... He hadn’t encountered this technique yet.
Raising his wooden sword, the Jungle Lord tried to defend against the attack, but found himself ensnared by the illusory net and forced to the ground.
DUM!
The net sliced deeply and bluntly into its body as it shoved its entire body ruthlessly into the ground, causing the area underneath it to crater and explode out in a dust cloud.
And not only that, but the edges of the crater were decorated with deep slash marks.
The Captain landed back on the ground before looking down at his wooden sword, noticing it had become cracked and terribly damaged.
He used too much power accidentally in his attack.
After walking over to the crater to check on the Wendigo’s condition, the dust cloud that lingered over it bursted outwards with the appearance of the Jungle Lord, who rushed in to attack with an overhead swing.
The wounds that had been inflicted on its body had already been wrapped over by vines and hidden.
Right as the Captain was about to raise his sword in defence, Lillian shouted out for the Jungle Lord to stop, causing him to immediately cease his charge.
Seeing as the spar was now over, the Captain lowered his sword before taking in a deep breath. He then wrapped his arm around the Jungle Lord’s neck and cackled loudly while patting his shoulder repeatedly.
"KAHAHA! What a mighty fine monster yar had acquired yarself, crewmate!" He said to Lillian before turning to everyone else, "I hope yar all had learned something from this!"
As everyone responded to the man, Lillian was in deep thought, analysing the battle that had unfolded before her eyes. But not only that, she was also analysing her own skills.
What set her apart from the Jungle Lord besides his [Weapon Mastery] ability...?
’People have their own sets of talents and what they are good at... But what else...?’
Before Lillian could come to the conclusion, the Captain had forced them into another round of endurance and weight training. Luckily, Lillian’s body was quite resilient to these sorts of activities.
After summoning enough drinking water for everyone, Lillian continued to think deeply about the thought she had in mind earlier...
’People are good at different things than other people, leading them to learning faster than them in those topics...’
But what linked these together?
...
"I got it..."
’Everyone has their own way of learning things, which are usually the way that allows them to learn the quickest!’
What was it that allowed her to learn the quickest? Could it be that she found it easier to study the theoretical sides of things first before attempting them?
She remembered that was what she used to do in the past...
’No, no...’ Shaking her head, Lillian knew that sort of method wouldn’t work for her, not with her deadline at least...
So, what could it be?
As she was thinking deeply about this, she caught sight of the Jungle Lord passing by, riding on top of the Beetle as they surveyed the surroundings.
An hour ago, she had summoned the Beetle out so that it could familiarise itself with the Jungle Lord a bit.
They seemed to have grown quite close, although it was hard to say...
Lillian settled her gaze on the Jungle Lord and remembered their first meeting, which was in the form of an intense battle.
If she recalled correctly, she felt as though her mind and body performed best under an intense amount of stress in battle...
As Lillian was thinking this, a memory flashed through her mind.
The memory was like a compilation of several different spars she had engaged with a certain Assassin, mainly ones where she died by her hands...
Could it be that... she learnt things faster when her life was at stake?!
Did Marionette condition her this way without her knowing!?
Lillian’s face paled as her hands tightly gripped into fists. Her lips trembled for a moment before curling up into a crooked smile.
She relaxed her hands and raised her right over the side of her partially sweaty face before brushing her hair upwards.
A glint flashed through her eyes, followed by a glow in her sparkly, blue eyes as her crooked smile gradually transformed into a crooked grin.
Lillian then whispered in a tone of disbelief, yet acceptance:
"Ah... Turning me into a masochist without me knowing? Well ain’t that nice of you, Marionette..."