Chapter 255 - Martial Exchange Demonstration (1/2)
Zero didn't like the sly smiles everyone was giving him. It was the kind of ”I-know-something-you-don't” kind of smile. Baal would often give him this annoying smile when he was keeping secrets and the one thing Zero hated more than cliff hangers were secrets. If he knew they existed, it drove him crazy to not know what it was.
Qin Yun and Zero were the last to eat lunch and Zoe wasn't too pleased. Even as the zashikiwarashi fumed, she continued to heat up their lunch and refill their cups. Qin Yun did a debrief with Zero about his fighting style earlier on. It was clear as day that Zero wasn't a warrior. His movements may be nimble but his bloodlust missing. His experience was also sorely lacking and Qin Yun easily gained the upper hand because Zero wasn't sly enough to use tricks.
The fox spirit was quick to finish her food and excused herself while Zero got bombarded by the kids about his training session.
Out of hearing range, the warriors decided to gather up to discuss their surprise Martial Exchange Demonstration. Roovan was patrolling the area to investigate the disturbing waves of energy when he saw Qin Yun sparring with Zero. The boy looked like he was struggling so as experienced warriors, they wanted to help Zero develop his personal fighting style.
”What's the plan?” Roovan asked as he landed in the village square.
Ruth took a stick and started scribbling names on the soil, matching the matches and opponents.
”It would be better for Zero to observe real battles instead of teaching him basics from the book. He's rather smart but lacks experience,” Ruth told the eleven gathered warriors who agreed.
”We also wouldn't want to overwhelm him with too many styles so we're pitting the same type of fighting styles together. The first match will be between myself and Mitchnew as we're both archers.”
Mitchnew agreed with the Chieftess and asked if Zero would need to learn any long-ranged styles.
”I'm a sniper but Zenobia is an acrobat. She specialises in fast bow drawing but I specialise at accuracy.”
Ruth shook his head. ”It doesn't really matter because the tonfa is a mid-range and close quarter combat weapon. Still, I would like Zero to know how archers fight so he knows how to counter them in future.”
The vampire turned to the giantess and the new village chief warrior. ”The both of you specialise in close-combat so I will have both of you face off with each other. Fear not, we will be using this clearing after Lovina reinforces it with magic to avoid damaging too much of the village so feel free to go all out.”
Clowis grinned ferally and Camie laughed. As a giantess, she was always careful to handle everything in the village gently. If she went all out, it would be easy to smash the smaller people into pulp. She didn't know if Clowis would be able to handle her full strength but as the new village head warrior, surely he could manage somehow. The thought of actually having a good spar made both warriors happy.
Gerald wasn't too surprised when the vampire matched him up with Vrald seeing as they were the only two sword-users in the village. Likewise, Vishnu and Gweshr were paired up because of their transformation abilities even if the minotaur didn't need special conditions to transform.
”We will wait for a full moon,” Ruth told Gweshr who expressed his concern. ”It's only two nights away.”
Qin Yun didn't know what to think of her opponent. While Titor was also a spirit, he was nowhere near as powerful as her. The mother of all foxes asked Ruth if she should hold back. Titor didn't take any offence to Qin Yun's attitude. Deep down, he knew that he would never be able to win this ancient nine-tailed fox. Still, it would be an honour to spar with her.
”I will do my best to not let you get bored. Hopefully, we can inspire Zero to incorporate qi into his combat style,” the brown bear spirit descendant smiled.
Qin Yun grinned. She would fully make use of Titor to demonstrate the full extent to what qi could do. Titor stiffened and shuddered when he felt the fox spirit's bloodlust directed towards him. He sincerely hoped that Zero would be kind enough to patch him up by the time the match was over. He didn't know if he even stood a chance against such an overpowered opponent.
The last pairing for the Martial Exchange Demonstration was none other than Ruth and Roovan.
”Isn't it unfair for you?” the raven beastman asked. Ruth shrugged. ”As long as I get enough sunblock salve, I should be fine. We're demonstrating aerial battle. I will be partially transforming into a bat on that day and using weapons so feel free to do the same.”
Roovan grinned. ”We could do it at night if you want, no need to do it under the sun when it is clearly a disadvantage for you.”
Ruth thought about it and agreed.
Zenobia drafted the schedule for the Martial Exchange. There would be two matches each day starting tomorrow with two matches in the night.
”I think it will be nice to have Camie and Clowis' match tomorrow in the afternoon. Mitchnew and I will fight the first match in the morning.”
Nobody objected and Ruth volunteered for the night match on the second day.
”I guess we can go for the afternoon match on the second day?” Vrald looked at Gerlad who nodded.
”I have no objections. What about you? Do you want to go on the second or third day?”
Qin Yun smiled. ”I don't mind going on the third day. Gweshr and Vishnu have to go on the night of the third day because of the full moon. I guess we're done now?”
Zenobia grinned. ”This will be exciting. I wonder what kind of combat style Zero will develop.”
Ruth chose not to comment, the memory of that deadly axe heel drop kick still fresh in his mind. Mitchnew didn't look too sure either and pitied Ruth when he shuddered. The ex-assassin knew that even without a solid fighting style or experience, Zero was extremely dangerous. His raw potential could easily put seasoned adventurers out of business.
However, with power comes responsibility and if nobody taught Zero how to control them, it could very easily become a tragedy.
”It's decided, we make the announcement tonight at dinner. I'm sure everyone wants to spend as much time as they can around Zero. There'd be another feast tonight,” Zenobia sighed.
Qin Yun laughed. ”Our young doctor has stocked up on hangover medicine. I think he's getting better at understanding us.”
Her statement made the warriors laugh. It was true. Zero had come a long way since they first saw him as Hua Tuo's puny student. His weak first impression and the shock he gave everyone after using Divine Magic was certainly a game-changer. Zero spent months missing after Lord Baal took him away to recover and returned as a teenager, much to everyone's surprise. Still, it was easy to recognise Zero. Other than his height, nothing much has changed on the surface.
As the warriors went their separate ways to prepare for the Martial Exchange Demonstration, Ruth decided to check on Seff. The baby vampire was growing up quickly according to Olaf who was loitering in the village and harassing Schaf whenever he could. Lucifer was still livid about his stolen books and for one period of time, Ruth heard that the dragon got dragged back to hell for his punishment. It only lasted for a few weeks before the dragon returned to the village.
The vampire neared Karris' hut when he heard Seff. The boy was now a gorgeous chubby infant of two years old even if had only been about a month since he was born. Karris measured his growth spurt several times a day and Mitchnew was finding it challenging to keep up with the new clothes she had to make for the baby. Seff proved to be extremely intelligent and was able to understand common language now. He still had to feed on dark magic and Lovina has been diligent in feeding him three times a day if not more. Seff can now eat and drink things so Karris and Lovina have been trying to get the boy to drink dark mana potions from a bottle instead. Ruth didn't think they did very well because Seff toddled over to him and started sucking on his finger.
The Roth vampire allowed it and patted his godson's head. Who knew that half-bred vampires grew up faster than full-blooded vampires? Also, Zero did a check-up yesterday and noticed that Seff had no allergies to sunlight thanks to his human genetics. Ruth envied that a little and sighed. Nobody knew if Seff could feed on human food when he got older but for now, everyone was glad that Seff didn't need to drink blood to survive.
”Hey, you're not hungry anymore so let go!” Ruth shrugged the kid off when the pink eyes turned back to silver. Seff pouted playfully and huffed.
It turns out, the kid was also a glutton and Ruth didn't know if that was thanks to Zero's influence. Leon had been telling him stories about their village head and his incredible feats and Seff simply idolised the young doctor, wanting to be like him. Vrald told the half-vampire that he had to eat a lot to grow big and strong so the child has taken to becoming a glutton.
Karris was knitting some new pair of socks when Ruth carried the boy inside.
”Hello,” he greeted and the human smiled. She looked slightly tired because of how Seff didn't need a lot of sleep at night. Moona could only entertain Seff for so long in the night before the child got homesick and wanted to see his mother. Ruth had been caring for the child whenever he could for the past few weeks while Zero was with Hua Tuo cultivating in Trigression Falls. The kid has grown attached to him and Ruth wondered if this will always be the case for the next hundred years.