I shortened my stride, drew the sword from the scabbard at my left hip with my right hand, dropped the sword to the ground, then pulled the scabbard free and gripped it in my right hand.
Attacks poured in from all directions like a torrential downpour.
‘If they’re too difficult to block, I only have to move out of their path.’
Evading with Blink would have been easier, but magic was less efficient for those without the power of a Spirit, so I demonstrated with a movement technique instead.
[Moon Step]
CLANG. CLANG.
As I drove into one side, I targeted only the energy projectiles flying straight at me rather than those coming from above.
Without knocking them aside, I gave my wrist the slightest twist.
BOOM.
[Moon Step]
I deflected them toward the energy projectiles coming from above and charged straight ahead with my movement technique. The projectiles that had been aimed at me all showered down upon the spot where I had just been standing.
[Moon Step]
I sensed hundreds of currents of energy from the front, targeting my feet and both flanks, while magic also flew toward both ears.
Six people were charging straight at me with Bloom activated.
Was their method to attack from my blind spots while drawing my attention forward?
Dragons attacked with their tails as well, so such a formation tactic would never work on me.
I stepped on the leading knee of the man charging at me and used it as a springboard. I placed my left hand on his right shoulder and my right hand on his left shoulder, planted both hands against him, and vaulted higher into the air.
FWOOSH.
‘They’re pouring magic at me because it’s difficult to evade while suspended in midair.’
This is not bad.
I hurriedly curled up and performed a somersault with my body parallel to the ground, narrowly avoiding the attacks.
The moment I was about to land, a fist flew toward my face while magic came from behind at my lower abdomen.
I caught the fist with my left hand, turned my body, and used its owner as a shield to block the magic.
COUGH.
The man who took the magic in my place coughed up blood and collapsed onto the ground. At that moment, powerful energy began gathering in every direction.
Energy projectiles.
I quickly picked up the man who had collapsed and threw him forward, disrupting the formation that encircled me.
“Dodge!”
THUD.
This was my chance.
I charged toward the gap in their formation.
WHOOSH.
An energy projectile rapidly approached from directly ahead, but its power was pathetic, likely because its user had lacked the time to gather enough energy. I first turned my head and took half a step sideways. Then I lowered my body and kicked as though executing a horizontal slash. My instep struck their ankles, causing them to lose their balance and fall.
I leaned my body forward.
THUD.
Starting with those directly ahead of me, I struck their acupoints one after another and rendered them helpless.
THUD. THUD.
I had not struck their acupoints hard enough to make them lose consciousness, but they would be unable to move for a while. Energy projectiles continued to fly from every direction, so I pressed the acupoints of those ahead of me and twisted my body in the direction they fell, using them as shields against the incoming projectiles.
Magic possessed a strange and mysterious power, but their dependence upon it made them weak in close combat. A fist thrust straight ahead without a feint was easy to evade, no matter how fast it was.
One step to the left.
Then two steps forward.
TAP.
THUD.
After moving here and there while subduing them, only three remained before I knew it.
Footsteps came from behind.
Five paces away, perhaps.
As he charged at me, his balance was undoubtedly pitched forward, and the running start would have placed one foot ahead of the other.
Half a step to the right.
Then I spun around and hooked my leg around his neck.
WHIRL.
I brought him down with me in a breakfall and evaded.
I could not give the one firing energy projectiles from afar time to fire another, so I grabbed the nape of the man who had fallen with me and threw him from left to right.
Since I had charged while turning my shoulder to the right, the bastard would naturally evade to the left, gather his mana, and fire another energy projectile.
THUD.
As expected, the last remaining bastard fired an energy projectile toward my left flank. In that case, all I had to do was turn my body to the right and approach him.
STEP. STEP.
I slowly approached the last man standing.
WHOOSH.
Is the final one aimed at my right eye?
I turned my head to the left and avoided the energy projectile.
Haaah.
Just as I was about to thrust the scabbard at the last remaining man—
THUD.
He tripped over his own feet while backing away and fell.
“Good work.”
He answered between ragged breaths.
“You... as well.”
There was fear in his eyes at the difference in our strength, but awe was far more evident.
GROAN.
Those whose acupoints I had struck and those whom I had hit near their vital points with the scabbard lay sprawled on the ground, unable to control their bodies and at a loss for what to do.
“You did not attack me with killing intent, either. I also held back, so you will be fine in a little while.”
CLAP. CLAP.
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP.
I raised my head and looked toward the platform. Those exhausted by the physical fitness test and the children who had not yet undergone their Coming-of-Age Ceremony stared at me with bright, shining eyes and cheered.
Looks of awe…
In the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, their gazes held fear and jealousy rather than awe. This is gratifying.
I was in quite a good mood, but I did not let it show as I spoke.
“What do you think? Did I use the power of a Spirit or magic?”
No.
I looked at the Guardian Unit and Investigation Unit members sprawled across the training ground and spoke.
“Do not think there is no meaning in learning sword dances and undergoing physical training! If you rely only upon magic and only upon Spirits, you will become infinitely weak when you have no mana or are forced into close combat!”
I cleared my throat and continued while looking at those upon the platform.
“Physical training and basic martial arts training alone can readily surpass the power of a Spirit! Elder Bardi.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“If those who failed to receive the power of a Spirit opened their Mana Circles, would they not become every bit as strong as those who possess the power of a Spirit?”
“That is correct.”
“How does one open a Mana Circle?”
“The Mana Circle is sealed by something resembling chains. After channeling mana through every gap in those chains, one must connect the Middle Dantian and Lower Dantian, then release their energy all at once to break the seal upon the Mana Circle.”
“Correct! However, channeling mana through every gap in the chains requires a great amount of mana within the Lower Dantian.”
I looked at a member of the Guardian Unit who was panting upon the dirt floor of the training ground and asked him a question.
“How did you increase your mana?”
“It increased naturally as I underwent Ranger training.”
I turned back toward the platform and shouted.
“To increase your mana, you must enlarge the vessel that contains it, and to enlarge that vessel, you must undergo physical training every day.”
I slowly swept my gaze over those upon the platform before continuing.
“Beginning today, we will build our stamina, enlarge our vessels, and prepare for our great undertaking! Furthermore, as of today, the Covert Operations Unit, Supply Unit, and Special Operations Unit will be disbanded.”
At my words, those upon the platform began murmuring. I picked up the sword I had dropped upon the training ground, returned it to its scabbard, and spoke.
“As you heard at yesterday’s banquet, we will establish a Branch in the human lands. Therefore, those willing to work alongside me for the kingdom must listen carefully! In two weeks, we will begin accepting volunteers to serve at the Branch. Only those who failed to obtain the power of a Spirit will be accepted!”
I looked toward the platform and continued as I walked toward it.
“However, not everyone who volunteers will be permitted to serve at the Branch. Only those among the volunteers who pass the physical fitness test and mental fortitude training will be allowed to serve!”
I looked at those standing upon the platform.
“If you are selected and begin serving at the Branch, I will not promise to protect you. Instead! I promise to make you strong enough to kill the traitors who sold out the kingdom and the dragons!”
The moment I said that, most of those upon the platform looked at me with expectation in their eyes.
I continued explaining how the many forms of training ahead—including physical training, swordsmanship training, and Energy Circulation—would be conducted. Perhaps their interest had been piqued, because they held their breaths and listened intently to every word.
“A single flower cannot make a flower garden! But if each of you plants one flower, would that not become a flower garden?”
I spread both hands and slowly spoke.
“And I will plant the first one.”
Their reactions appeared favorable, but they merely stared at me without saying anything.
I looked at Elder Bardi and spoke.
“Elder Bardi.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“Have the Guardian Unit and Investigation Unit return to the training ground.”
“Understood!”
I turned my head and looked at the Investigation Unit members who had been incorporated into the Guardian Unit, as well as the Guardian Unit members upon the training ground.
“That is all for today’s training. Dismissed.”
Thank you for your hard work-!
I looked at those upon the platform and spoke.
“You are dismissed as well.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you for your hard work!”
I looked at Elder Yorite and used Sound Transmission.
[Elder Yorite.]
[Yes, Your Highness.]
[I will show you the physical training method. Follow me.]
WHOOSH.
Elder Yorite leaped down from the platform and walked toward me. I looked at him as he approached and asked a question.
“How long does it take to reach Lake Ellar from here?”
“About an hour and a half? I believe.”
Two hours made one double-hour, so that meant a little under one double-hour… Surely it could not take that long to reach the lake.
“How long would it take if you ran like a madman?”
“Without magic? Then… perhaps a little over thirty minutes!”
A little over half an hour…
Right. No one fills their stomach with the first spoonful. Their stamina will improve as they train.
Two weeks might seem like a short amount of time before we began accepting volunteers to serve at the Branch, but Elves were free of turbid energy and naturally possessed physiques well suited to accumulating Internal Energy.
They would likely fall short of the stamina I required, but depending upon how hard they trained, I would still be able to select those with outstanding grit and mental fortitude.
“You will have to lead the physical training beginning tomorrow, so use magic to keep up with me.”
After stretching once, I ran toward the lake.
THUD THUD THUD THUD.
After reaching the lakeshore from the training ground, I asked Elder Yorite a question.
“Did you not say there was a rocky mountain on the other side of the lake?”
“That is correct.”
“I will finish demonstrating what constitutes a single lap of physical training, so continue following me with Blink.”
I swam across the lake and reached the rocky mountain, lifted a massive rock and swam back with it, then finally carried the rock upon my back as I ran all the way to the training ground.
CRASH—!
When I set the rock down upon the training ground and looked at Elder Yorite, he stared blankly at me with wide eyes before glancing at the rock.
“This constitutes one lap. It will be their morning physical training, so seven laps before lunch should be appropriate.”
Elder Yorite tapped the rock I had brought back and spoke.
“Are you saying they must repeat this seven times?”
I lifted the rock as I spoke.
“From the second lap onward, they are to run while carrying the rock.”
“……Understood. Once they complete seven laps and return here, what are they to do with the rocks upon the training ground?”
I hoisted the rock high with both hands and held it over my head as I spoke.
“After lunch, the first exercise of the afternoon training will be to hold the rock as I am doing without letting it touch the head, with the knees slightly bent, and maintain that position for half a double-hour… no, approximately one hour.”
THUD—!
I set the rock back down upon the training ground and continued.
“Afterward, make them perform 3,000 repetitions of push-ups and sit-ups. Once the basic physical training is complete, summon Elder Bardi and have them learn basic swordsmanship movements rather than sword dances. Finally, tell him to teach them Energy Circulation.”
Elder Bardi looked at me with a flustered expression and spoke.
“Your Highness, what will we do if those who volunteered withdraw their applications?”