As Lassim arrived back at his cultivation cave, he felt a surge of excitement coursing through him, eager to begin. .
Using the jade bracelet, he activated the entrance spell, allowing him access to his secluded training grounds. Inside the cave, the air was still, and the only sound was the gentle drip of water echoing from the distant walls.
Settling down, with the two tomes in hand, he entered his meditation chamber, the familiar surroundings and increased elemental energies in the air comforting him as he prepared for the intense memorization he'd need. Lassim sat on the jade prayer mat and focused his mind.
He spent a couple of hours meticulously memorizing the contents of the books, absorbing every detail of the lightning and water cultivation techniques. He visualized the pathways of the elements within his body, tracing their movements and connections with each passing moment.
With the knowledge firmly implanted in his mind, he stored the two books inside of the jade bracelet's inner space and began to practice the techniques.
Starting with the [Thunderstorm Formation], he moved slowly and deliberately, allowing the energy to flow through him as he performed the required movements along his pathways. The static charge of lightning crackled around him.
But as he continued, he felt a strong imbalance between his spirits, they reached out through the mental connection with a complex emotion that he couldn't quite understand, sending shivers down his spine. It was as if they were trying to convey something to him, a message hidden within the depths of their connection.
Quickly, he switched to the [Tidal Wave] technique, hoping to find a better balance between the elements. Yet, once again, he felt the same imbalance, the same message, yet now with the conflicting energies threatening to overwhelm him.
Suddenly, without warning, the spirits took control of the energies, rotating them simultaneously within his body. One spirit practicing the [Thunderstorm Formation] and the other [Tidal Wave]. Both techniques erupted without his control inside his body, a clash of destruction inside him, causing a surge of pain to shoot through his veins. He grit his teeth and pushed through, determined to regain control.
Listening carefully to the hints and emotions from his spirits, he focused his mind, searching for a solution to the chaos raging within him.
And then, with a flash of lightning energy bursting through the entirety of the cave's gathered elemental energy, mysteriously, like a strike of lightning from the heavens touching the mental connection between the spirits and Lassim, an epiphany occurred.
With a sudden burst of clarity, he adjusted the pathways of the elements, redirecting their flow with precision. A surge of elemental energy erupted from his core, filling the cave with a blinding light. The air crackled with electricity as a literal storm began to brew overhead.
Water droplets condensed in the air, swirling around him in a frenzy, a dark gray cloud overhead, while bolts of lightning struck the ground with ferocious intensity. The newly created technique had easily generated a storm in a split second after gaining control and using the new channels with both elements combined.
Breathing heavily, Lassim had stood up from the prayer mat in the center of the meditation chamber, his body charged with raw elemental power. A sense of pride swelled within him as he gazed upon the storm he had created around him.
With the storm raging around him, Lassim knew that he had been guided to this answer by something powerful.
"Famthar," Lassim muttered with suspicion and pause.
Another quick flash of lightning blinded him for a moment, charging through the elements as if having heard his muttering.
The words of this powerful cultivation technique appeared in his mindー[Storm Bringer].
Calming the storm and slowing the raging energy circulation of the cultivation technique, Lassim was exhausted from the possible near death he experienced a moment ago. One small slip-up and the energies could have made him explode to pieces.
Thankful for the divine intervention, Lassim took a moment to study the technique in his head. Yet, he was even more shocked to the core when he noticed inside of his heart world was an ancient looking tablet floating in a ball of lightning. It was the [Storm Bringer] technique, but it appeared the crisscrossing of the web of lightning was preventing the bottom portions of the cultivation steps from being read.
Attempting to peer into it's mysteries as it was clearly a technique not meant for just the Spirit Incubation to Spirit Growth stage. He suspected it might take him much further beyond that after noticing that only the first few diagrams and lines were visible. There was still a further 98% of it completely unreadable!
"Well, at least that solves my problem of the cultivation techniques. Wish you could've given this to me sooner so I didn't waste a token." Complained Lassim, eyeing the room. The lightning energy didn't seem to react this time, so it was time to move on.
"Now, how to combine this into a halberd technique." He pondered, scratching his head in deep thought.
As Lassim moved out to the courtyard area to avoid damaging the meditation room, he began brainstorming. He paced back and forth, deep in thought, trying to visualize how he could integrate the [Storm Bringer] technique's elemental pathways with the move set of his family's [Fire Halberd] technique.
Slowly, he took a strong stance and forced his halberd forward, he channeled the power of the storm within him, feeling the crackling energy surge through his veins. The clash of lightning and water within him was chaotic yet exhilarating, and he struggled to find the perfect balance between the two elements and the foundation he had built that was intended for a fire elemental user.
As he experimented with different combinations of energy levels and intensity, he made mental notes of how each move changed and reacted. Over time, the [Fire Halberd] technique seemed to begin to dance with the power of storm, each strike imbued with the quickness of lightning and the fluidity of water.
After hours of trial and error, he finally felt a breakthrough. With a surge of inspiration, he completed what he would call his first moveー[Storm Bringer's Thrust].
In this move, he channels the swirling energy of the storm into the tip of his halberd, down the shaft, forming a crackling sheath of lightning-infused water. With a powerful thrust, he releases the energy forward, unleashing a devastating thrust that whistles through the air with incredible speed and force.
As the lightning and water strikes, it creates a deafening roar, illuminating the courtyard with its blinding light. It sent cracks through the nearby wall. The sheer power of the attack was enough to send shockwaves rippling through the air as it struck, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
"Nice." Lassim grinned from ear to ear.
"Thrust is complete. I'll still need to adapt Pierce, Sweep, Slash, Slam and Block to complete the set, but at least I can finally utilize my own power in the Spirit Incubation ranks. I feel more confident now for the spirit grass gathering mission if we run into any wild beasts. That Night Mind Tiger from the trial wouldn't have even lasted half a second against me if I had known [Storm Bringer]'s Thrust at that time."
Exhausted from the extended training session, he checked his jade bracelet for tomorrow's schedule.
"Oh, the academy's training grounds? Battle Mastery class, huh. Sounds fun." He was eager to show his new found comrades his increased power and show off a bit.
"Oh shoot, just a few hours away. I better get some rest."
Lassim then took a quick shower to wash away the sweat and grime from the day's training. The warm water felt soothing against his tired muscles, and he let out a contented sigh as he washed away the day's exhaustion.
Afterward, he settled down in his bed, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over him. The events of the day replayed in his mind, and he couldn't help but replay the earlier lesson where he witnessed a hologram of the Dragal for the first time and the minions of the abyss. These terrifying foes would be his enemies on the battlefield sooner or later. He hoped that he could at least be strong enough in time for whatever Famthar and the other gods foretold was going to happen.
As he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, he felt a sense of unbridled confidence that he would at least prepare step by step until then.
In his dream, Lassim found himself standing on a vast battlefield, surrounded by allies clad in armor, their weapons gleaming in the dim light. The air crackled with anticipation as they faced off against a seemingly endless horde of demonic creatures pouring forth from the depths of the abyss.
With a resounding cry, his comrades rallied behind him, shouting his name, "THE STORM BRINGER!" Their voices echoed across the battlefield, filling him with a sense of strength and determination.
With his halberd in hand, he charged into the fray, the power of the storm surging through him. With each swing of his weapon, waves of lightning and water energy rippled outward, cutting through the enemy ranks like a scythe through wheat.
Minions of darkness fell before him in droves, their twisted forms rent asunder by the force of his attacks. Even as they multiplied and surged forward, he stood firm, his resolve unwavering.
In the midst of the chaos, three towering Dragals emerged, their roars shaking the very earth beneath his feet. But he did not falter. With a fierce battle cry, he met them head-on, his halberd flashing like lightning in the darkness.
With each strike, he carved through their thick scales, sending arcs of electricity dancing across their bodies. The combined might of his elemental energies proved too much for them to withstand, and one by one, the mighty beasts fell before him.
As the last of the enemy forces crumbled to dust, Lassim stood victorious amongst the wreckage of battle. The cheers of his comrades rang out around him, their voices a chorus of triumph and gratitude.
As the dream faded and he woke, he couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration. He also felt a bit silly for having such a dream of grandeur after only mastering one single cultivation technique and battle movement. Shaking his head at his own naivety, he set off to begin his second day at the academy.
Sorry for the slower releases! I'm having a bit of writer's block on how exactly I want things to move forward in the chapters later. I am also getting busy with my work the next two weeks. I'll potentially only be able to do a chapter a day for now. My readership is slowing down too, so I might have to repost my story down the line when I have more chapters built unfortunately. Oh well, I'm trying my best and will keep writing! Thanks for reading all <3.
Lassim's second day at the academy began after awakening from a unique dream that left him feeling both exhilarated and a bit silly. He quickly shook off the lingering sense of grandeur and got ready for the day ahead.
After a refreshing shower, he dressed in his blue and gold academy uniform and made his way to the academy's training grounds. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the courtyard. He arrived early, eager to get started and show off his newfound power.
As he approached the training grounds, he noticed that there were already around 50 students gathered, more than the class the previous day where there was only the top 20 students of the first year grade, all chatting excitedly amongst themselves. he recognized a few faces from his orientation the day before, but most of the students were new to him.
He found a spot near the front of the group and waited patiently for the class to begin. As the minutes passed, more and more students arrived, until there were around 200 in total. Lustria and Sirium both arriving soon after, greeting and standing near Lassim. The courtyard was buzzing with energy as everyone eagerly awaited the start of the class.
Finally, the instructor arrived, a stern-looking man with a no-nonsense attitude.
He was a tall, imposing figure, with a stern expression that seemed to be etched permanently onto his face. He had a commanding presence that demanded respect, and his piercing gaze seemed to see right through you.
His hair was a deep shade of gray, pulled back into a tight bun at the nape of his neck. His face was weathered and lined with age, but his eyes sparkled with a fierce intelligence that belied his years.
He wore a simple robe, dark blue in color, with intricate gold embroidery along the edges. Different from the typically dark blue and silver lined robes of the elders Lassim had witnessed so far.
He had a golden 'G' just above the academy sigil on robe's chest and back, signifying his position was that of a guardian of the academy. Equal to the headmaster in protection duties, a category of it's own when compared to the regular elders.
He was powerful and the natural pressure he radiated pressured the students with an unseen weight on their shoulders. A silver locket hung from a chain around his neck, glinting in the sunlight.
His imposing figure stood before the assembled students, his posture statuesque and his gaze sharp as a hawk as he surveyed the crowd. His voice carried with authority as he addressed the eager young warriors before him.
"Good morning, students," he began, his voice deep and commanding. "I am Guardian Kale, your instructor for this Battle Mastery class. You can call me Master Kale for your duration of your enrollment at the academy."
His words were concise, his demeanor no-nonsense as he wasted no time in outlining the objectives of the day's lesson.
"Today," he continued, "we will begin with duels between students of similar rank. These duels will allow me to assess your combat capabilities and determine potential leaders for our combat formations."
There was a ripple of excitement and nervous energy among the students as they absorbed Master Kale's instructions.
Master Kale's steely gaze swept over the crowd once more, his expression unreadable as he assessed each student in turn.
"Pair up with the person directly below you in rank starting from our number one student, Lassim, and prepare for your duels," he commanded, his voice brooking no argument. "Remember, this is not a fight to the death, but a test of your abilities. Show me what you are capable of."
With that, the students began to pair off, their anticipation palpable as they readied themselves.
Lassim was already standing near Lustria, so the two of them paired up and found an empty area to conduct their battle.
Lassim and Lustria faced each other, their eyes locked in determination. This was their first spar, and neither knew the full extent of the other's abilities. The anticipation was palpable as they readied themselves.
"Ready?" Lassim asked, his voice steady.
Lustria nodded, her expression focused. "Let's do this."
With that, they both assumed their fighting stances, their bodies tense and ready for action. Lassim gripped his halberd tightly, while Lustria held her bow with confidence.
The first move was Lassim's. He lunged forward, aiming a swift strike at Lustria's side. But she was quick to react, dodging to the side and countering with a series of rapid strikes of bolts of darkness in the shape of arrows.
Lassim parried her attacks, his movements fluid and precise. He could feel the energy of the [Storm Bringer] technique coursing through him, enhancing his speed and strength. A light mist started gathering around him into the air above with each wave as he swept his halberd.
As the duel continued, Lassim and Lustria traded blows, each one trying to outmaneuver the other. The air crackled with the sound of their weapons clashing, the mist turning into a cloud overhead with it beginning to grow darker and darker in color. It's area started at a mere 5 meters in width, but over the course of just a minute it had grown over 20 meters and was beginning to draw attention from the nearby duels. The ground beneath them shook with the force of their movements of cat and mouse as he chased Lustria around.
Lustria had begun to emit a darkness that was somehow blurring his perception of her. The darkness being provided by the cover of the cloud was starting to give her an advantage that made his accuracy even worse.
'Since she wants to show off her new [Dark Veil], I might as well show off too.'
With a smirk, he channeled the power of the storm within him and from the brewing storm around him, focusing it into his halberd. The cloud struck down with a sudden burst of torrential rain and two strikes of lightning aimed directly at the grip of the elemental halberd. The runes along it's blade's edge charging fully in a mere instant.
With a powerful thrust, he released the energy forward, unleashing a devastating attack that whistled through the air with incredible speed and force. The lightning and water strikes created a deafening roar, illuminating the courtyard with its blinding light. The nearby duels all stopped in hesitation to watch.
Lustria barely had time to react before the attack connected, sending her tumbling backward, coming to a rest on her back 15 meters away and burns on her school's robe. In pain, but mostly just sore and annoyed at the burnt fringes of the robe, she looked up at Lassim, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Good fight," Lassim said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, offered a hand. "Sorry about your robes. I hope it didn't hurt too bad?"
Lustria, annoyed at being defeated so abruptly, she at least took his hand to stand back up.
"I'm tougher than I look. I'm just frustrated by how quickly that happened. Your power also seems to be too much for just SI1." Lustria looked at him suspiciously.
Lassim didn't comment but merely scratched his head with a smile. "I'll pay for your desserts at the school's cafeteria next time."
With that, they both turned to face Master Kale, waiting for his assessment of their performance.
After a moment, he nodded, acknowledging their efforts.
"Both of you have shown great skill and determination," he said, his voice carrying across the courtyard. "Lassim, your technique was impressive. I'm surprised by how quickly you've developed something that can merge both of your elements so quickly. Also, your power is a bit... high." He eyed Lassim suspiciously for several moments.
Lassim nodded, a sense of pride swelling within him, but also a sense of worry.
'This might be a chance for me to ask about my cultivation. I'll need to see if I can speak with him after the lesson. It seems he might already know.' He thought to himself.
After the stare down, "Lustria, your agility and speed were commendable," Master Kale continued. "You have a natural talent for combat, and with more practice, you'll become even more formidable. Lassim is just a bad match up for you since he uses lightning. You can use the darkness of his cloud to generate [Dark Veil], but you still need to gain more distance. We'll work on your distance and control abilities throughout your time in the academy."
Lustria smiled, her eyes shining with excitement from the praise. She had always loved the thrill of battle as a member of the Alisone family, and she was eager to continue honing her skills.
"Both of you have the potential to become great warriors," Master Kale said, his tone serious. "But remember, true strength comes from discipline and dedication. Lassim, after the lesson please follow me to my office."
With that, Master Kale returned his attention to the rest of the students. "Continue with your duels."
After a few more minutes, Sirium defeated his opponent easily with his newly acquired [Whirlwind Step] that left his student in a daze with his mesmerizing movements of the wind element. Lassim and Lustria eye'd the other student's students, but none were overwhelmingly exciting to really draw their attention.
Master Kale continued to give advice and suggestions for each student's areas of focus to improve upon. After each duel was finished, Master Kale announced that he would suggest the students begin taking hunting missions to obtain more techniques that would compliment the suggestions he provided.
"In our next lesson, we're going to begin an exercise regimen to get your general athletic ability up to par. Your body may be enhanced slowly over time by your elementals slowly awakening and sharing their power with you, but if you can't grow strong enough by the time you hatch then you can't fully enjoy the maximum potential that their hatching can do for you. Your body will evolve the moment they awaken from their mote egg, so your body must be ready to be the perfect vessel to receive such evolution bringing power. For today, consider my suggestions. Class dismissed. Lassim follow me." Master Kale ended and began walking off.
"See you guys later!" Lassim said quickly before heading lock-step with the guardian towards the building near the training grounds.
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