Chapitre 15: Tristan vs Gato, Breakthrough, Invitation and the Real Purpose
Afternoon
In the forest near the border of Station 92, Tristan and Beldum are engaged in battle with the local beasts. Beldum is taking the lead in the fight, as Tristan seems uninterested in battling these seemingly weak opponents.
It has been two weeks since Tristan's meeting with Major Anderson, and during that time, Beldum has quickly advanced beyond its infancy stage and has already begun its training last week. Tristan has observed with amazement the incredible speed at which this little guy progressing in just a few short weeks.
[Pokemon: Beldum (Shiny)
Level: 9
Abilities: Clear Body ⇔ Light Metal
Height: 0.5 m
Weight: 95.2
...
Bases Stats: 300
HP: 40
Attack: 55
Defense: 80
Sp. Atk: 35
Sp. Def: 60
Speed: 30
...
Skill: Tackle]
Beldum's statistics have now reached the normal range for its species which exceeded his expectations, having reached the standard weight and height for its species. It is now able to compete with other normal stage levels of "E" and on rare occasions, it can be able to hold its own against those at proficiency level "M", although it is typically defeated in most encounters.
Beldum possesses a Tackle skill that can match that of beasts at proficiency level "L", however, it is only a draw. Beldum is still struggling against beasts at proficiency level "M" and uses up nearly 40% of its strength while using this skill. The problem with this skill is that the beasts quickly become aware of this technique once it's used for the second time.
Of course, Tristan has not been idle in his training either. After the incident, Tristan has made a concerted effort to improve his swordsmanship, focusing particularly on the three swords style and the one sword style.
1 Sword: Beginner (77%)
2 Sword: Intermediate (43%)
3 Sword: Beginner (99%)
After the incident, Tristan's improvement in swordsmanship was relatively modest compared to the progress he made before the last invasion. Despite focusing more heavily on the three-sword style, his progress in both that style and the one-sword style was relatively equal. This might be because Tristan's three-sword style has reached the upper limits of the beginner level and requires more intense training to break through that bottleneck.
Whiing Whiing
Tristan observed as Beldum successfully defeated a Monkus of proficiency level early stage, and rushed over to it eagerly, expecting to be praised for its accomplishment.
"Okay, okay you've done a good job, we will go back now" he patted its head and praised it. In a simple action, of course, he can still understand it.
Whiing Whiing
(System!)
[It said it wanted to eat gold ore after going back]
"Gold ore?" Tristan exclaimed in distress, slapping his head as he remembered when Beldum first started its training last week and defeated its enemy. He had wanted to celebrate the victory by spending money on it, but he hadn't expected Beldum to like gold ore. The problem was that gold ore was a rare commodity in the region, and most of it was in the hands of beasts.
While Tristan was known to act impulsively sometimes (mostly), he was not foolish enough to rush into a situation without a plan (That's not true). The thought of going on a dangerous mission to obtain gold ore, only to discover there wasn't any to be found, and then getting surrounded by powerful beasts, gave him pause.
Obtaining gold ore wouldn't be impossible for Tristan, but the rarity of it in the Black Region made it more of a challenge.
"I will look into if it's available in the store, but I have to warn you not to have high expectations since it's quite rare in this area," Tristan said to Beldum.
Whiing Whiing
[It said, it didn't mind]
"Alright, you must be exhausted. Why don't you rest for a bit?"
The Beldum nodded in agreement, as it was feeling tired as well. It desired nothing more than to close its eyes and rest. With a smooth motion, Tristan activated his summoning technique, causing the Beldum to disappear from sight.
After a few seconds
Drip, drip.
"Oh no, it's starting to rain." He feels a droplet of water drip down his neck, reminding him that it's currently the rainy season. In Artheran, there are only two seasons per year, unlike other countries that experience three to five.
"I must go back!"
A few minutes later, while trudging along, he stumbled upon a flowing river. He noticed some beasts perched on the riverbank, warily keeping an eye on him. But he didn't pay them any attention. Tristan scooped up some water in his hand and took a sip. As he did, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the water. He noticed that his skin had taken on a tanned hue and his hair had grown down to his neck, a stark contrast to how he looked two years ago.
As he gazed around, Tristan reached into his pouch and withdrew a small, sharp knife. He then proceeded to cut his hair, something he always did every month. Having long hair was a hindrance to him while fighting in the forest.
As he felt the rain starting to come down heavily, he quickened his pace towards the border of Station 92. He quickened his pace and made his way to the canteen.
...
September 29, NE176
City of Katrinidad, Station 92
Somewhere in Training Field
"First form: Flame Sweeper"
"Three Sword Style: Demon Slash"
Shwing...
Two combatants, one enveloped in blue elemental energy and the other in red, collided their weapons with great force.
"Second form: House of Destruction!"
"Three Sword Style: Tornado"
Fwhish...
"First form: Flame Sweeper"
"Three Sword Style: Demon Slash"
Shwingg...
"Third form: Death Ember Thrust"
Clang
The three sword wielder guy quickly parried the attack, but still retreated a few steps due to the impact.
The red-haired individual, donning a green combat suit, panted as he held a spear aloft. Across from him stood a black-haired individual, sweating and with slight burns on his skin, but maintaining a calm demeanor as he brandished two swords and held a third in his teeth.
In the distance, a young teenager observed the two combatants as they fought.
"Huh... Hah... Huh... You really... You really deserved to be called the infamous "Black Swordsman" ... This is my last move, I can feel it now, I think I can do it"
Tristan did not say anything but simply nodded at him. He had intended to improve his proficiency with his three swords, but found that fighting beasts did not seem to help much. The last time he had made significant progress seemed like a coincidence, possibly because he had pushed himself too hard that day. Now, his progress had returned to its normal pace.
As a result, Tristan altered his approach and sought out opponents to spar with. Coincidentally, he discovered that Gato was also at the threshold between beginner and intermediate mastery. He proposed a fight with him, and to his surprise, Gato had recently broken through to the senior (L) level. Tristan realized that he may not have been the only one who had benefited from that chance encounter and that Gato too, had his own way of progression.
Tristan also observed that Gato was a gifted individual, only 22 years old. He couldn't help but feel that it was a shame that at that age, he would no longer be considered for acceptance into a university.
At that age, one's first prime of growth as a warrior has typically already ended and many were near or had already graduated.
According to Tristan's understanding, a warrior's growth is divided into three primes. The first prime is between 18 and 22 years old, the second prime is between 23 and 35 years old, and the third prime is 36 years and older.
Though Gato may have missed out on his first prime, Tristan did not underestimate him. Gato had already reached peak beginner-level mastery with the spear. Tristan understood how challenging it was to improve weapon mastery, and Gato's achievement was not insignificant.
The Mastery Stages of a warrior is widely recognized to consist of five levels: Entry, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Master. However, it is believed that there may be additional stages beyond these, though they remain unknown or hidden. Despite the importance of mastering the various skills and techniques within each stage, many warriors choose to focus their efforts on Elemental Mastery, as it is considered the most efficient and easiest form of training.
Warriors may also choose to divide their time between mastering different skill sets, though this can be time-consuming and may cause them to fall behind their peers. There are also older warriors who have devoted a lifetime to mastering their craft. This is more common among average warriors, who may struggle to balance their training. However, there are some talented individuals who are able to train and master multiple skills simultaneously, but they are only an exception and not the norm.
Tristan, however, was an exception to this rule. He had been using the training field to develop his mastery of lightning and had already reached the beginner stage, despite the fact that it did not appear in the system as it was not related to it.
Tristan was well aware of the power of the intermediate mastery stage, as many of his acquiantance such as Jigo, Ded, Ade, Thompson, and some Master Sergeants were already at this level. It was daunting to think that even at the young age of 20, Tristan had already achieved such a high level of mastery, when many others who were much older had yet to reach this point in their training.
Most of the players in University D and C cup teams were only at the Entry and Beginner stages of mastery, and it was a rarity for someone to reach the Intermediate level. This level of mastery was more commonly found among players in S and A class Universities, but even then it was considered a rarity and often the players who had achieved this level were considered to be the trump card or core members of their team.
A person with high mastery in a particular skill is incredibly skilled in their use of that particular skill, and in some cases, they may be able to match the abilities of 2-3 people with lower mastery at the same stage of rank. This is why one should not underestimate Gato, because once he reaches Intermediate mastery, he will no longer be considered an underdog in the Senior (L) stages. However, it is unfortunate that he is located in this particular region, which might hinder his growth and development.
As Tristan reflected on his past, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret for the precious time he had squandered. The thought of having lost two years of his personal development filled him with a sense of hesitation, making him question whether or not he should consider Major Anderson's proposal.
And back to the scene.
"Spear Genre: Flame Destruction... 4th form:"
As Tristan sensed the intense heat emanating from Gato, he quickly adopted a defensive stance, ready to counter the oncoming E-energy attack.
"Three Sword Style:"
Gato immediately shouted:
"Demolition!"
"36 Pound Slash"
Vooohhhoh
Shwingggg
Vhoooom
The two clashed, with Gato overpowering Tristan's defense and launching a swift offensive. But Tristan, unflinching in the face of danger, expertly parried the attack and stood his ground.
Clang
Bhang
Tristan was sent flying by the impact, the searing pain of burns covering his body as he coughed up a small amount of blood. Gato's special ability, known as "Burn", had taken its toll on Tristan's body, causing significant damage.
In an instant, Tristan's eyes blazed red as a surge of pain coursed through his body. Though the sensation was intense, he had endured worse, and he stood unflinching, his gaze fixated calmly on the kneeling and gasping Gato before him.
"Breakthrough?" He calmly asked.
"Hu... Hu... yes, this... Thank you!" Gato smiled embarrassingly, feeling a tinge of excitement. Though he was exhausted, the excitement overshadowed his fatigue and he couldn't help but feel pleased with his progress.
Spear Intermediate Mastery!
"Senior, congratulations!" Ted also approached Gato and cheered happily.
"Haha, it's nothing!" Gato humbly said but you can see in his eyes that he was proud and happy.
Tristan offered his congratulations coldly, but inside he felt bitter. He had been the one to invite his opponent to work on improving his three-sword mastery, but he never expected that his opponent would break through while his own skills remained stagnant. He felt like he had become nothing more than a stepping stone for someone else.
Tristan felt ashamed a little bit and plan to use his Two Sword Style to return his face but then...
Clap... Clap... Clap
"What a splendid fight!"
Tristan, Gato, and Ted heard a clapping sound and looked to the sides they saw a brown-haired middle age female standing on the other side.
"Who are you?" Tristan felt pressured by the aura of the woman in front of him. This dangerous aura he only experienced when he met Major Anderson. This woman could It be... a Crown...?
"Good fight, peak beginner stage, and intermediate stages, at your ages. Hey boy, what's your name?" The middle age woman ignored Tristan and looked at Gato and asked him.
"Me... Gato" Gato hesitated but when he felt the aura of this woman he was scared.
"Your Full Name!"
"G....Gato San!"
"Age?"
"22"
"Hmm.." The woman suddenly walked toward Gato and touched her chin and looked closely and felt a little familiar with this face.
Also, a fire Elementalist but not a wand user, but this face...Maybe it's her hallucination.
"Who's your master?"
"I'm an orphan, I have no master, but I have a senior, maybe my senior can be considered my master, and he's already dead"
"It's a pity for an intermediate mastery like you, but... I can give you a chance, boy, do you want to be my disciple?"
"Disciple?" Gato and Ted were taken aback. They may not have known who the woman was, but her demeanor made it clear that she was no ordinary person.
"Yes"
"Who...Who are you?"
"Here" The middle age woman showed her ID card.
Dark Blue and Black colored card... wait, Black Card, that... isn't that...
Instructor!
A University Instructor!
Kuh!
Gato's mouth widened and his eyes almost popped out.
"Senior, what is it?" Looking at the reaction of his Senior, Ted was confused and asked.
Tristan's eyes widened as he read the title on the card and said, "A University Instructor!" He was surprised to learn that an instructor from a university would be in this region and had taken Gato as a disciple
"What, you... you are?" When Ted heard this, he was also shocked then looked at the woman
"Do you want?" The woman ignored her and asked again.
"Thi...this... I'm sorry, I can't" Gato hesitated a little bit then bowed his head and apologized.
Hearing Gato's answer, the woman looked at him with surprise. She didn't expect a person in this region will reject her, does he know how rare this opportunity is?
Tristan and Ted were also surprised by his answer and looked at him.
"Can you tell me why?" The woman asked.
"This... I'm sorry" Gato gripped his spear tightly, hesitated, and bowed his head to her.
Ted looked at his senior and seems to know the reason and asked "Senior, it is because of me?"
"Thi...a... sigh, yes, I can't let you alone here" Gato hesitated to say and sighed. He knew how dangerous this region was, especially for a rookie orphan like Ted. He also experienced that and was just lucky to survive among the orphan, he also met a good senior who taught him how to survive in this place.
Gato didn't think Ted will be the lucky one to survive if he left him alone here. His previous junior was already left, and he will not let another junior die. He (Ted) was his responsibility.
"Actually, I can rely on myself now, sometimes I always asked you or Senior Black a bit of advice about survival here. If you and senior Black can survive, I think I can too" Ted knew how rare the opportunity to have a master's as a university instructor is, it is just a one-time opportunity and you must not miss it, it's only the way that can change your life. He will not let his senior miss this opportunity, and he also thinks he can survive alone here.
"No, you can't, I will tell you now, it's almost impossible" Gato shook his head and said, he saw many tragic scenes here in this region and knew how dangerous here. He knew Ted and another orphan was an orphan coming from Yellow Region which is a little bit safer compared to here, that's why this kid was a little bit ignorant even though he experienced a devastating incident before.
Tristan shook his head in agreement with Gato's words. He was aware of the harsh realities facing orphans who were transferred to this region and knew that very few of them survived. He also believed that without his help before, this guy would have met his end without even knowing what had happened.
"I can take him but not under my name but yours, I can ask your Major here" The woman said.
When Gato and Ted heard this their eyes lit up "Really?"
"Yes. Now, do you agree?" The woman was touched by this guy's dedication, he can felt justice in the eye of this guy. Just like that guy.
"This... Yes! Yes, Of course" Since his junior will be with him, of course, he will not hesitate to agree.
"Yes!" Ted was also happy and jumped.
"I'll go," Tristan said, relieved that the woman posed no threat. With nothing left to do in the area, he was eager to leave as soon as possible.
Eh...
Gato and Ted were also surprised and remembered that Tristan was still there.
"Senior Black... can he..." Ted hesitated and speak with a low voice.
But as they watched, Tristan merely waved his hand while walking away.
"Wait! Are you Tristan Black?" The woman called out.
Startled, Tristan stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her.
"You see, you were my actual purpose for coming here," she said.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone