Chapter 63 Pre-war Preparations (1/2)
Chapter 63 Pre-war Preparations
Translator: Tchu
Editor: Amaranth
“Block! Left! Block! Right! Down! Block again! Watch your steps! Don’t walk backwards blindly! Use your footwork! Correct! Again!”
Along with Kevin’s vigorous commands, the wooden claw hammer in his hands launched several attacks on Shaar. Same as Kevin, Shaar was wielding a similarly wooden axe, but it was made with a longer handle which was about one meter long.
Readying himself, Shaar resisted Kevin’s attacks one by one. Kevin’s attacking speed was not too fast since they were restraining their power. They already had been practising for several hours and Shaar’s black hair was drenched in sweat, sticking together like wet cloth on his forehead. Kevin was also panting for air and his bald head was covered with body oil and sweat.
They went back and forth, one attacker and one defender. The wooden weapons in their hands kept banging against each other a dozen times. Finally, Kevin took a big step while he pressed his body slightly downward and bent down to sprint as his hammer suddenly pounded on Shaar’s thigh. Immediately swinging his axe upward Kevin smashed the wooden axe in Shaar’s hand and sent it flying!
“Stop!” Kevin exhaled and signalled Shaar to pick up his axe. The bald man looked at Shaar and saw that his whole face was flushed red because of the blood generated by the exhausting exercise. Breathing for a little while he forced smile on his face and said: “Very good, this time you blocked me 27 times and I was able to hit you 3 times.”
Immediately they heard some whistling sounds. A dozen of soldiers had already gathered around them and the one who whistled the loudest was that sly Kato. Clapping his hand, he laughed:”Awesome Shaar! Nicely done!”, Immediately, Kato faced his companions next to him and smile while stretching his hand: “Give me the money! Hurry up, I don’t allow any debts!”
A group of Praetorian Guards laughed and cursed as they pulled out a bunch of copper plates and silver coins.
“Kevin, did you not eat breakfast yet! You strikes are too soft! You made me lose money again!”
“Shaar, you really aren’t fucking human! The money I lost will be put on your tab! Haha! Next time you get your stipend, you will have to invite us to a drink!”
This kind of practice had been carried out for three days.
At the end of the the previous reconnaissance mission, Shaar showed his formidable battle efficiency making Kevin admire him in his heart. Since they lived in the same tent and practiced martial arts while comparing notes, Kevin discovered that Shaar had a significant flaw: During the sparring, this guy completely relied on his monstrous strength and his superior physical qualities to bully the others. However when came to martial arts, he was simple – a complete mess!
Of course, when saying it was complete mess, it didn’t mean that Shaar’s martial arts was bad – on the contrary, his attacks were fierce particularly when he displayed his set of “Cutting firewood technique” even Kevin with his impressive strength was unable to resist it. This technique was too strange and was made of unpredictable moves. This obvious big kill and slash axe skill was transformed by Shaar into an elusive and mysteriously pattern! Even for Kevin who had reached the warrior’s strength of middle rank level-one could not block Shaar’s several axe strikes.
No matter how naïve Shaar was,he already have understood that the “Thousand Men Army Slaughter” which the old man taught him was definitely a extremely powerful axe technique.
However, compare to Shaar’s offensive tactics, his defensive ability was simply lousy to the extreme!
This couldn’t be blamed on him because when the old man was still alive he didn’t teach him martial arts techniques seriously – the set of broken Thousand Men Army Slaughter was taught to him during his daily firewood cutting, coal brick stabbing and so on. As for defence techniques, Shaar simply never practiced them until now!
When encountering enemies in the past he only relied on his monstrous physique and his swift reaction speed which he obtained from fighting against the beasts in the mountains – However this was only limited by using his instinct and reactions. He didn’t study any defence movements methodically.
Only knowing offensive skills and not knowing how to defend, he wouldn’t be able to survive long on a battlefield – Kevin still didn’t know that Shaar’s body was strengthened by Dragonblood. However, even a body that was strengthened by Dragonblood was not omnipotent and if he met an opponent with a battle ki his opponent could break through Shaar’s body defence!
Therefore, the shortage of defence skills became Shaar’s biggest flaw. When encountering ordinary enemies he could deal with them, but if he met a powerful enemy, he would find himself in great difficulties. Shaar understood that very clearly the last time when he met those Nightfall Guards if it wasn’t for the magic crystal that the old man left behind suddenly erupting, he would have been a pile of bones lying in Primal Wildfire by now.