章 89: The Path of Endurance in Battle
My combat card data was somewhat more substantial, allowing me to exchange nearly two months of time on Skull Island, despite the bald instructor's original stipulation of only one month's worth. According to Horus, if I failed to comprehend the Warrior's Heart within these two months, he would not bestow upon me the title of Demon Island Warrior. However, with less than a month before school commenced, I had no time to squander with him.
How to grasp the Warrior's Heart eluded me completely, no matter how hard I pondered. Yet amid the grueling training, I gradually forgot this dilemma; my strength was increasing, and as long as I could manage the challenges ahead, the title of Demon Island Warrior became inconsequential. Under Horus's tutelage, my abilities surged remarkably. When my goal shifted to facing a towering knight mounted on a skeletal warhorse in a distant plain, my unnamed martial art finally soared to the fifth level.
At this stage, the power of the unnamed martial art began to manifest. With every movement, an intense, chilling aura accompanied my strikes, capable of instantly freezing lower-level skeletal warriors. The Platinum Glory, an extension of the unnamed martial art, also reached its third level, gaining the unique ability to mend bodily injuries. I had also gleaned insights from Horus's combat techniques; even when confronted by more formidable skeletal knights, I could balance offense and defense, remaining composed in the face of overwhelming foes.
I learned to constantly seek out the enemy's vulnerabilities, maintaining a calm demeanor, and never allowing the enemy's power to cloud my judgment. This was all I had absorbed. However, for reasons unbeknownst to me, Horus forbade me from slaying any skeletal warriors, intervening whenever I struck too forcefully. Consequently, despite my extensive training on Skull Island, I had yet to accumulate any combat achievements. "If I encounter the voodoo master again, relying solely on martial prowess may not suffice. Should he employ the Blade Demon's curse, combined with his lightning-fast swordplay, my chances of victory remain uncertain. However, in a few days, once I reach a hundred percent progress in the fifth level of my unnamed martial art, I can shift my focus to mastering the formless sword energy of the Transformation into Great Freedom. Then, better days will surely come."
Having just vanquished a squad of skeletal knights, I bore some injuries and seized the opportunity to restore my strength and heal. Horus stood quietly beside me, seemingly harboring a deep connection to Skull Island, reluctant even to disturb a single stone. The unnamed martial art could heal internal injuries and restore stamina, while the Platinum Glory could repair physical damage. These two abilities complemented one another, freeing me from reliance on healing cards. Although self-healing was less convenient and swift, it significantly enhanced my endurance for pain, allowing me to fight without being hindered by injuries.
All of this fostered a profound respect for Horus, this little old man. A kilometer away, a new aura of death gradually intensified, and my mental acuity detected a fresh enemy. Taking a moment to breathe deeply, I paused my self-healing and whispered to Horus, "I have made significant progress during this time, and I am immensely grateful for your guidance. I am ready for battle now; you need not direct me this time. I believe I can manage."
Horus nodded but then added, "You still have not grasped the Warrior's Heart, yet your mastery of strength and combat is among the most exceptional I have taught. Next, I will instruct you in the Path of Endurance in Battle, which is even more challenging than the previous lessons on effectively wielding power."
"The Path of Endurance in Battle!"
"Indeed. It is about teaching you how to allow your body to rest during combat. Now, throw a punch to test it out!"
Upon hearing this, I immediately swung my fist, producing a sharp crack as it struck the air before me. I was pleased with both the force and speed of my punch. Horus, without even glancing my way, mirrored my action; though his movement was identical, it exuded an effortless grace. After delivering his punch, Horus quietly remarked, "Do you know the difference between my fist and yours?"
"Well, I can't articulate it, but I sense that your punch possesses more variations and seems remarkably effortless."
Horus looked at me with mild surprise and approval. "I didn't expect you to notice. My punch utilized only half the strength of yours, but I applied my power solely at the moment of impact. You, on the other hand, tense your muscles throughout the entire motion. By conserving some strength, I can execute multiple variations, but the key point is that you can defeat your enemies with significantly less effort, extending your combat endurance."
"I understand."
Horus meticulously explained how to allocate power output efficiently during battle and how to conserve stamina. As I absorbed his teachings, I ventured to raise a lingering question: "You haven't yet revealed the secrets of conserving strength and varying techniques."
At that moment, a squad of skeletal knights clad in tattered armor charged towards us from the distant wasteland. Horus casually replied, "You should first master the Path of Endurance in Battle. Some combat techniques must be discerned through your own understanding; my teachings are not exhaustive."
Leaping from the high rock, I had no time to contemplate the implications of Horus's words. Among the skeletal knights was a leader, distinguished by flowing gray-white hair that billowed from his shattered armor, radiating an unmatched aura of murderous intent.
Even as a seasoned warrior, I felt a twinge of trepidation facing this skeletal knight. "Halt! This mountain is mine to claim..." My lackluster opening line failed to capture the attention of the skeletal knights. Their leader remained silent, directing his spear forward, poised for a charge without any intention of slowing his mount. "Do the dead truly lack a sense of humor?"
With the third level of Platinum Glory enhancing my physical form by eight hundred percent, combined with the unnamed martial art's fortification, I believed I could match the skeletal knights in strength, even without the tenfold power cards or the Long Blade of Ancient Moon to amplify my abilities.
However, under Horus's tutelage, I learned that engaging the enemy in a test of strength was a foolish tactic. Thus, I resolved to evade. With a light step, I leaped into the air, executing a swift maneuver that left a flurry of afterimages, targeting the decayed head of the skeletal knight leader with a powerful kick.
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