Chapter 224 - The Massage (1) (2/2)

Nik's smile soon faded when Rei activated her breathing technique.

”Don't activate your breath of fire.”

Nik broke his stance and walked towards Rei with a serious expression, his hands instantly clutching onto her right wrist and pulling her arm forward unceremoniously.

”The more we use the breathing technique, the longer the effect lasts. Aoi has just started so she can keep on using the technique with a higher frequency but shorter duration.

The opposite is true for the more experienced ones. See this?”

Nik's right index finger traced the thick vein popped out of Rei's forearm, stretching till her bicep and flicked his fingers.

”Continue the technique without any rest and your veins will be damaged.”

This was something Shigure trained him in until his body accepted the entirety of the technique. Meanwhile, Rei's eyes grew dark and she instantly tugged her arm back with a snort.

”I can still activate it and I don't feel pain. Let's just spar.”

”You will feel pain after the adrenaline stops rushing throughout your body. Believe me, damaged veins are hard to treat even with Hamon.” Turning his head towards the silent Aoi and Kanao staring at the situation, he smiled and instructed, ”You two should start ahead with the spar.”

”And Rei, just come at me without your breathing technique activated.”

”That won't be of any use.” Rei countered with her tone laced in dissatisfaction and urgency.

”Exactly, this spar is supposed to relax the accumulated tension in your body. Rushing in for success would lead to damages that may reduce the chances of the said success.”

”But—”

With a glimmer in his eyes, Nik cut Rei in between and replied with a straight face.

”There is another method, of course. Way effective than simply sparing until your body calms down before enduring the pain—”

”What is it?!”

Rei instantly burst out, once again attracting the attention of Kanao and Aoi, who were in the middle of the spar as Nik looked at them shook his head, hinting them to continue before matching Rei's glimmering pupils with a frown.

”It's a massage. But I have a feeling that you won't be willing for such a treatment. So, let's not waste our time and spar.”

Nik took a step back to create a little space between them to enter their combat stance more comfortably. Well, at least, Nik entered the stance while Rei continued standing without moving a single inch, her eyes focused on Nik's face with a troubled look on her face.

”W-what kind of massage?”

With the fish reeled in, the fisherman Incubus wouldn't be damned if he ruined the entire bait with a smug grin. Reigning in on his smile, Nik stood straight once again and spoke softly.

”We should discuss this somewhere else... if that is what you truly want.”