Chapter 129: Chapter129-New Technique book
Today was a great day for me in terms of Essences.
I might have just made my biggest hunt yet.
I glanced at the smartwatch on my left wrist to check the time.
Name: Michael Frostburne
Total Rules Broken: 1
Current Rules Broken: 0
Time: 7 p.m.
Damn, I'm running late...
With that, I took off again, not stopping, moving like a machine.
***
Mira's POV
***
As the Blood Raven guy ran off without answering my questions, I lost my cool.
I yelled after him, "Where are you going? Come back here, you piece of shit! You ruined my dress, you jerk! Stop running!"
Even though I was shouting, I decided not to chase him.
I was already too exhausted from the earlier fight with the snake.
"Forget him!" I muttered to myself.
Tia, hearing my ranting, said, "Miss, you need to calm down. You've been shouting like a lunatic."
I shrugged and said, "Whatever."
Lian then spoke up, "Miss, don't you think that guy was strange?"
I asked, "What do you mean?"
Lian explained, "He appeared out of nowhere, killed the snake, and then took off without telling us who he is."
I thought about it more seriously and agreed, "Yeah, that is strange."
I hadn't considered it before, but was he stalking us?
He could have been a hunter who heard the fight and came to help, but something didn't feel right.
Why did his voice seem so familiar?
I couldn't quite place it, but his voice sounded familiar.
I've heard it before, and I might even know him.
Then there was his speed...
When he killed the snake, I thought he might be a Platinum ranker because his speed was comparable to or even a bit faster than the snake's.
But when he ran off just now, his speed seemed much slower.
It was as if he was pushing hard to run but could only manage the speed of a Gold ranker.
So, he must have used some special ability to defeat the snake...
There's no way the speed he used to escape us was the same as the speed he used to take down the snake.
A skill...
But what kind?
Based on how quickly he killed the snake, it looks like he used a speed-boosting skill.
It probably had a limited duration since he took down the snake in about 4 seconds and then landed on the ground.
The skill likely lasted between 4 to 20 seconds.
Most skills don't last longer than that unless it's a time-related skill, like Tia's.
Considering his running speed, which suggests he's a Gold ranker, the skill's duration is probably around 4 to 12 seconds.
To have a longer duration, he'd need a lot more training, which I doubt he's done.
His appearance, demeanor, and voice make him seem middle-aged, but he could actually be younger, around 20 to 30, since he was trying to speak in a deeper voice.
So, what could the name of the skill be?
It might be something like a Dash or a Rank Ascending skill that temporarily boosts his attributes to a higher level.
Hmm...
Hiding his voice and face, and then he ran off quickly right after meeting us...
That's quite suspicious...
I guess I need to look into this more thoroughly.
I turned to Tia and Lian and said firmly, "When we get back, I need both of you to find out everything you can about this so-called 'Blood Raven.'"
I emphasized, "Everything!"
Tia and Lian replied in unison, "As you wish, miss!"
I added, "And if you discover that the name is fake, go to the blacksmith guild and bribe them to get the recent transaction history for weapon sharpening."
Tia asked, "I don't understand, miss. If we find the name is fake, why go to the blacksmith guild?"
I explained, "When I examined him closely, I noticed a small 'B' mark on the hilt of his sword, written in red. That mark signifies that the blacksmith guild recently polished the weapon, and the red color indicates it was done on Monday, as the guild uses a different color for each day of the week."
It was hard to see in the dark, but the moonlight helped me alot...
Plus, even after slicing the snake into pieces, his sword was still shining brightly.
Tiara praised me, saying, "Miss, you're a genius!"
I replied, "No, no, I'm just an ordinary person like everyone else."
"But miss, you really are!"
And she kept on praising me.
But anyway...
Blood Raven...
Whoever you are, I'll find you.
***
"56... 57... puff... 58... huff... I can't do this anymore!"
My voice echoed through the underground training area.
I was the one struggling to finish a set of push-ups.
Yeah, push-ups...
Allen had told me that regular gym exercises could really boost strength and endurance.
So, I decided to challenge him.
I asked if he could do 150 push-ups, thinking he might hesitate, but he agreed immediately.
Not wanting to look weak, I boldly claimed I could do it too. "What's so hard about that?" I said.
Then Allen raised the stakes.
If I could manage 150 push-ups, he'd give me a reward.
Knowing that any prize from an Ace ranker would be something big, I got greedy and accepted the challenge.
But once I started, I quickly realized just how hard it was.
The more I did, the more exhausted I became.
My arms and hands were burning, and each push-up became harder than the last.
By the time I hit 59, I was completely worn out.
Finally, I collapsed onto the floor like a sack of potatoes, unable to go any further.
My clothes were soaked in sweat, and the stale smell of rot clung to me, probably from how much I've been sweating.
It's been 8 days since I took down the Arohan snake, and since then, I've mostly been lying around in bed, killing time playing video games or reading novels.
To be fair, I haven't been completely unproductive.
I've been going out on hunts for 2 to 3 hours a day.
But none of those hunts have come close to matching the reward I got from the juggernaut essence points from that snake...
Name: Michael Frostburne
Total Rules Broken: 1
Current Rules Broken: 0
Time: 11 a.m.
Date: June 10th, 2130
Only seven more days until the Cannes meeting finally takes place.
The association still hasn't given any explanation as to why only the younger generation was invited. At this point, I doubt they will, since it's already been over a week without any updates. If they had a reason, they would've either told us by now or left it for us to figure out. It looks like they've chosen the latter.
"Young master, it seems you've lost," Allen's voice broke through my thoughts.
I looked at his expressionless face and said, "Yeah, you're right. I admit defeat."
Allen pointed in a certain direction and said, "You should watch them and, learn. They've been working diligently and have nearly finished every exercise and training routine I set for them."
Allen pointed to a more quieter corner of the underground training area where two kids were practicing sword skills together.
One was a black-haired boy, and the other was a blonde girlEthan and his little sister, Lily.
Damn, are they like angels or something?
Why do they look so bright?
They looked almost angelic, so clean and glowing that they were visible from 100 to 200 meters away.
Ethan and Lily have both built up significant muscle and greatly improved their health since I last saw them.
They're no longer malnourished.
Anyway, focusing on them...
Ethan was practicing the same sword technique as before.
But about Lily?
Ehh, what is she doing?
Lily was gripping her sword's handle with her right hand and touching the scabbard with her left.
She repeatedly drew the sword, swung it in horizontal and vertical arcs, and then returned it to the scabbard.
It was a continuous cycle.
It seemed like she was working on increasing her speed with each repetition.
It could be some sort of technique...
From what I can tell, it seems like a specific sword technique.
"Hmmm... Not bad. With a little more effort, they might even surpass me," Allen muttered to himself, unaware that I overheard him.
Did he just acknowledge their potential to outshine him in the future?
He must have sharp instincts. It took me using an appraisal skill to gauge their talent, but he picked up on it himself. That's impressive... and a bit risky.
But what about his own potential?
I realized I hadn't checked Allen's stats yet, as I'd been too caught up in other things.
**Name:** Allen Carver
**Height:** 6'2"
**Weight:** 181 lbs
**Age:** 42
**Personality:** Calculative, Loyal, Ruthless, Secretive, Dangerous
**Evaluation:** Ace-Rank Hunter
**Probability:** 75% chance of reaching Master-Rank by age 49
Master rank...
That's another reason to keep him close. Even though there's a 75% chance he'll achieve Master-Rank, with the upcoming challenges, he could reach it more easily with my support.
So now I have three people who could become some of humanity's strongest in the future.
With them on my side, I might actually stand a chance against the association.
...
I turned to Allen and asked, "What technique or skill are you teaching them?"
He glanced over and said, "One of my top skills."
I immediately protested, "That's not fair! You're giving them your best skillwhat about me?"
Allen finally looked at me and asked, "What skills do you want to learn?"
"Your strongest skills, of course," I answered.
He nodded and pulled out a book from his blazer's inside pocket. He handed it to me and said, "Here, take this."
I caught the book and quickly checked the title to see what techniques or skills it included.
Wow, it's a techniques book! What a lucky find!
I must be really lucky today.
But...
When I saw the book cover, my excitement quickly faded.
The title was "Krav Maga."
I wondered, Who picked this book?
"Krav Maga" isn't a bad choice; it's a solid technique. But I was hoping for something more focused, like a guide specifically on dagger techniques.
I asked, "Why did you give me this book? Can't I have something else?"
Allen explained, "Krav Maga is excellent for practical self-defense. It teaches you how to handle threats quickly, which is ideal for close combat with a dagger. The style focuses on fast, effective techniques and includes training on both defending against and using various weapons, including knives. This makes it particularly useful for situations involving sharp-edged weapons."
I understood his point, but I wasn't fully convinced.
I asked with curiosity etched on my face, "Why not other techniques like karate, judo, Wing Chun, or Aikido? What makes Krav Maga better for this?"
Allen continued, "While arts like Aikido, Wing Chun, and Judo have their own strengths, they mainly focus on throws and joint locks rather than immediate, practical responses needed for a knife fight. As I mentioned earlier, Krav Maga is particularly effective for dagger combat due to its focus on quickly neutralizing threats and its thorough weapon training."
Hmm, that's a solid reason to take it, but I wasn't excited about it.
Still, as Allen gave more and more explanations, I eventually decided to accept it.
I looked at the book in my hands and said, "Alright, you've convinced me. I'll give Krav Maga a shot."
Allen gave a small nod and said, "Good. Remember, it's all about practical application. If you have any questions or need help, just ask."
"Sure," I replied, feeling a bit better about it.
I sat down to review the basics of Krav Maga.
The book detailed various techniques for dealing with threats and using a dagger.
The concept was clearquick, effective moves for real-world situations.
I got it, but I still felt a bit let down.
They weren't new to me, so I didn't have that intense drive to read and practice them.
Plus, they were just basics that I already knew.
After a brief look, I headed to the middle training area to practice.
I began with the basic dagger thrusts and slashes described in the book.
It's going well...
Now let's try to copy how it was illustrated and described there.
I tried to replicate the moves as accurately as I could, but it wasn't long before I started making errors.
What's going on?
Why is this so difficult?
I can't seem to get it right, even though I've been using this technique in fights for ages.
There's no way I'm wrong. I know I can do this...
I kept stumbling through the techniques, often missing the correct angles or failing to maintain the right stance.
Fuck, fuck, fuck it...
Each attempt felt more awkward than the last, and my frustration grew.
Allen, who had been observing from afar, approached and said, "Calm down, young master. You're not performing the moves correctly. You need to focus on being more precise and smooth."
"I know," I said, frustrated.
I gave it another shot, but I kept making mistakes.
But yeah, Allen was always there to help, like a mentor.
Allen pointed out, "Your grip is too tight. It should be firm but relaxed. Also, you're not using the full range of motion."
I nodded and tried to adjust, but progress was slow. Each mistake felt like a setback.
Allen added, "Krav Maga is all about efficiency, effectiveness and focus. Keep practicing until the movements feel natural. Don't get discouraged; it takes time to master these techniques."
I took a deep breath and tried to refocus.
"Calm down, Michael, calm down..."
I kept reminding myself.
"I need to get this right. Stay focused."
With a fresh focus, I gripped my daggers lightly and started practicing again.
I focused on thrusting, dodging, and stabbing, working hard to perfect each movement.
As time went by unnoticed, minutes turned into hours. I was so immersed in my training that I forgot about everything else.
Gradually, my efforts began to show results, and the improvements made me feel a sense of satisfaction.
With each correction, I slowly started to improve.
My movements became a bit smoother, and my accuracy improved, though I still had a lot to work on.
Allen kept a close eye on me, offering tips and adjustments. "That's better. Now, try to blend the movements into a smooth flow."
I concentrated on blending the techniques and started to make noticeable progress.
My strikes became more accurate, and my confidence grew.
After practicing for hours, I was exhausted but pleased with the improvements I'd made.
I knew there was still a lot to learn, but at least I was heading in the right direction.
Allen approached and said, "Young master, You have well today, if you Keep practicing like this and keep refining your skills then in no time, you can grow up to be one of the strongest of humanity. Remember, Consistency is key."
I'm not sure why, but as I lay there looking at Allen's face, I felt a surprising warmth from his words that touched my heart.
Even though his face was blank like paper, I still felt that warmth.
Man... That really brings back some childhood memories...
My father always told me, "To achieve anything, you need to work smart and hard, and stay consistent every day. Remember, Michael, consistency is a key to success."
It made me think of my dad.
"Thanks, Allen," I replied, wiping the sweat from my face. "I'll keep working on it."