Chapter 743 (Patreon)

The following morning Ajax’s training with Lancel drew in a much bigger crowd, unlike last time however Ajax wasn’t sparring with the physical based champion but instead being trained on a few different forms. This meant that everyone watching could see more than just two shapes moving in a blur and hear the sound of metal clashing. 

“You have the best handle on your hammer.” Lancel praised. “For offense anyway, you have next to no idea how to use it defensively.” 

One thing that living for centuries and training yourself to the level of a champion meant that Lancel was more than just a little experienced with weapons. He didn’t favor the dual wielding fighting style that Ajax took advantage of with his [Mana Augmentation] but he did have a solid understanding of it and more than enough to train Ajax in it.

“Then maybe I should start with a shield?” Ajax asked, he was relatively sure on how to use that one.

“No.” Lancel was decisive on that topic. “A shield is easy to rely on, you can build good defensive habits with any combination of sword, axe and hammer even a spear used defensively can translate well but a shield warps your defense too much.” 

Going through the forms and transitions would be a little boring for most people but Ajax was used to it. He had never skipped on his training and while it may have been too basic to keep up with his power he had kept up with most of his weapons as could be seen from his high Skill levels. 

“A little spar to end it all.” Lancel said after a couple of hours. “Best way to get the training to stick is to try and put it in practice when it’s still fresh in your mind.” 

The spar that followed was even more one sided than yesterday’s bout. Lancel controlled the fight in its entirety but Ajax could feel himself integrating the proper forms and transitions into his style. He had specifically asked Lancel to try and accommodate as much as he could for freedom in transitions as he would add [Spell Direction] movements to it when it came to incorporating his casting but everything flowed much smoother for Ajax. The only downside was that this was still just one lesson in and Lancel as his teacher knew exactly what would be coming, his ability to predict Ajax’s movements during the spar probably exceeded even Xavier’s Legendary Skill at that moment. 

“That was some solid progress.” Lancel praised. “I’d say I’m surprised you already seem so comfortable with it but considering how young you are and how strong you are I have to say I’m mildly disappointed you haven’t yet gained a new Skill.” 

“Who says I haven't?” Ajax was baiting Lancel at this point but he also knew that he’d have a new Skill by the end of the week if this type of training continued, most likely a lot sooner than that. “But that’s enough weapons training for now. There is another training I could use your help with.” 

“What other training?” Lancel danger sense Skill wasn’t warning him but his intuition told him Ajax was looking to get a little payback for being treated a bit like a practice dummy for the last two days. 

The other training Ajax wanted to do was his practice with [Absolute Body Enhancement]. Ajax very much wanted to unlock the rest of his body reinforcement Skills and while Aurexion was probably the best partner for that considering just how durable the dragon’s body was and how high his physical stats were he could tell his bond was focused on learning shapeshifting. That he would get a little bit of payback on Lancel was only a small bonus to Ajax. 

“I’m looking to gain some body reinforcement Skills.” Ajax said. “But there is no equipment here that can put my body under enough strain to unlock them, I need someone to help me.” 

“Why didn’t you start with that?” Lancel let out a sigh of relief. “You had me worried there for a moment. Though we should probably move a bit away from everyone else for that.” 

“Oh we certainly need to do that.” Ajax smiled as he and Lancel walked away, under normal circumstances Lancel would be right not to be worried with helping Ajax put his body under the right kind of stress to unlock more Skills. The one thing he hadn’t taken into account was that Ajax’s Pseudo-Mythic Skill put more of the right kind of pressure on his body than anything Lancel could do. All he needed was someone to keep him engaged while he used it.

“Okay , what are you looking to start with?” Lancel asked. “Mucles, skin, bones?” 

Skin was one Ajax hadn’t yet gained but not what he was hoping for his next Skill. “None of those.” Ajax shook his head. “You also don’t need to worry about targeting something specific. I just need you not to hold back, don’t worry this training will only last for about half a minute.” 

“Half a minute isn’t enough to get anything done.” Lancel was a little confused but his danger sense was pinging him now so he entered a combat stance, one without weapons seeing as Ajax also didn’t have them. 

“We’ll just have to see.” Ajax smiled as he activated his Skill. 

To everyone else watching them including Duke Manashaper Ajax just disappeared. The distance between him and Lancel was only twenty feet but to them it looked for a moment as if Ajax was in two places at once as he appeared next to Lancel who was able to keep track of Ajax just enough to get his arm in a position to block the punch. The blow sent a shiver through Lancel’s bones as the vibration Mana followed through the punch. Ajax was specifically restricting the protection he got from the Vibration Mana part of the Skill since he was looking to put a strain on his body but that simply meant the power had to go somewhere else.

Ajax stepped to the side, did a full circle around Lancel forcing his body to change directions constantly before he moved towards him once more as soon as he thought Lancel had enough time to process the first blow he blocked. The second attack was a kick and one that Lancel had even braced for yet the blow had so much power he was still sent airborne, this time Ajax felt the bone break not only in his leg but also in Lancel’s arm at the moment of impact. His own leg healed in an instant of course but the same couldn’t be said of Lancel’s arm. 

Lancel flipped through the air impeccably, despite the broken arm and landed on his feet only to look up and see Ajax was already there waiting for him. 

“Prehaps we should have you wear your armor for this.” Ajax said as he started to heal Lancel’s broken arm and the bruise on his other arm from blocking Ajax’s first punch.

“That…” Lancel was still processing that the entire exchange had happened in about one second. He had assumed that thirty seconds wouldn’t be enough time to really put enough pressure on Ajax’s body but he could see how wrong he had been. Just how much pressure was Ajax putting on himself to move at such speeds? He was also sure he’d felt Ajax's own leg break on that second impact yet there was no evidence of it an instant later. “Would be smart.” 

Even with armor meant to help him withstand powerful physical blows Lancel felt more like a punching bag than an opponent after Ajax spent ten seconds moving around him and attacking him about three times a second. Even with the armor Lancel’s arms and legs were covered in rapidly forming bruises, his body hadn’t even had a chance to catch up with the damage it had taken blocking the physical attacks while Ajax was breathing heavily. [Absolute Body Enhancement] was a strain not only on his body but also his Mana and Stamina.

“That should be enough for today.” Ajax said as he spent another good chunk of his Mana using Life to help his healing spells heal Lancel’s strong body. Interestingly enough Lancel’s body was harder to heal than his own since his own body was only that strong thanks to multiple powerful enhancement Skills whereas Lancel didn’t rely on them being more of an endurance combatant who outlasted mages and even other warriors. “Same again tomorrow.” 

Lancel watched Ajax walk away while the phantom pain in his limbs disappeared after being healed. ‘At this rate he’s not the only one who will unlock body reinforcement Skills’ Lancel thought as he watched the young Duke walk away, a mixture of dread and excitement filling him as he considered the spar that would await him tomorrow. 

Ajax’s thoughts had already moved on from his weapons and physical training. Since he had run through most of his Mana and a good portion of his Stamina already he would spend the afternoon helping his family with anything he or they would have to do regarding the duchy and come evening he’d give [Elemental Avatar] another go, his Fire Mana was still locked from the evening training he did yesterday but it was finally time to try another element.