14 Chapter 14 - Feeling the Effects (1/2)
After visiting with Alice for an hour or so, it was five in the afternoon. Gustavo and the girls were due back in two hours, just in time for dinner. Before then though, I could feel the sparring field calling my name. Spending five hours being constantly beat made me want to take out some aggression. I had warned Alice when I left, just in case I got too carried away, but I honestly didn't feel worried. The training yard was empty as expected, so I crossed straight over to the nearest ring. I picked my usual opponent, the unarmed golem, and faced off against him while maintaining my 'human' form.
The golem patiently waited for me with its feet spread apart and a hand raised in front while the other was a fist, ready to strike out. I let out a deep breath as I stirred my bloodline. I felt my talons grow and my eyes changed, but for the first time, I felt like I could push it further without fully transforming. My hands and feet were covered in a layer black scales nearly reaching my elbow. I tightened my fists and channeled a bit of my mana through them. Every single one of One's attacks were filled with Chaos Lightning and, although this was my first time using it, my body remembered it which helped me find the right frequency quickly. I grinned devilishly as I watched the crimson sparks of electricity jump across my scales.
I jumped forward, throwing myself faster than I thought possible. It wasn't to the level of One's speed, but I was faster than when I pushed my transformation near me second form. The golem didn't have the time to react as my fist collided with its head, cracking it, as it was thrown out of the ring. Two of the idle golems caught the unarmed one from flying further and returned it to the ground. I chuckled as I rubbed my knuckles and watched the golem return to its position. Although it seemed like an impressive display, when I was in my 'human' form, the golems would default to the second level of strength.
”Golem, advance to rank four,” I said.
The golem would normally not allow a jump of two levels, but its nod of conformation meant my strength warranted it. It took its familiar pose and I once again, dash forward. I was still faster than the golem, but it was able to make up for it with technique, parrying my fist with a twist of his wrist. It counterattacked with a fist aimed for the center of my chest, but I was able to rise my other arm and defend. It was only able to push me back few centimeter as I dug my toe talons. I latched on his arm and pulled him into a grapple, slamming my knee repeatedly into its gut as One had done to me a few time. I didn't reach the blur of motion that the Chaos Dragon could, but I got in over ten hits before it broke free of my grip. I laughed as I threw myself back at the golem, willing myself to fully transform.
”Golem, advance to rank five!”
With my scales, even the strength of the golem at five could be negated. I gave up on defense and traded punch after punch with the golem until I shoved it out of the ring. I laughed again as I jumped back and waited as it advanced to rank six. Unlike the first five ranks, the golem would turn black, becoming much stronger, faster, and harder. I had only seen the sixth rank once before when the golem discovered it couldn't hurt me at the fifth rank, but I had been so dominated by its speed and technique, I was throw out of the ring with its first attack.
”Come on!” I shouted as dashed forward with my fist raised.
The golem caught my fist, but I threw the other which it caught as well. I felt it try and crush my hands, but at most, it would only leave a bruise. I jumped and twisted my body, so that I could kick off its chest. I ripped my hands out of its hands as the golem stumbled back and landed on my feet. The golem dashed forward for the first time I barely managed to raise my arm in time to defend. Now, the golem was a little faster than me and each of its attacks would leave bruises, but I still ignored my defense to trade punches with the golem. It wasn't at the level of sparring with One on my mental plane, but I could feel the same warmth spreading through my body that I had when I awoken from meditation the longer I fought with the golem.
”Oh, lord, again?” Alice's voice called out to me through the fog of my mind.
I laughed and jumped back, out of the ring then looked over to see Alice, Katye, and Sophia watching from outside the ring of golems. I kicked up my sandstorm as I shifted easily back to my 'human' form, when I did though, I saw a multitude of purplish bruises covering my body. I laughed as the sands fell, revealing my body, while I prepared for the speech I knew was coming. The three girls gave me looks of concern, but I only smiled in response.
”Sorry, it seems my training style has shifted after dealing with 'One',” I apologized with a laugh. I couldn't help it as my body felt more relaxed and giddy than it had in a long time which kept a grin plastered on my face.
”Who is 'One'?” Sophia asked, confused.
”My best guess is he's the legacy fragment of the first Chaos Dragon that is a part of Becca's mental plane,” Alice explained.
”I can finally do some real skill training like you guys, not that anyone else would want to deal with a bastard like him, but I can't argue with the results. Thank you, Katye. Although it ended awkwardly, the power you transferred to me completely awoke my bloodline and has given us the information we needed to save countless lives.”
”What?” Katye asked.
”Can you ever just keep things to yourself until I have the chance to explain everything to the entire group?” Alice asked with a sigh.
”She has a point, Becca,” Sophia added.