SSS SKILL: DUPLICATE

Chapter 9: Rune Skills

Edgar was not able to match the rhythm of his breathing and movement at first. He was able to do it after a few hours of trying. He was only able to execute the first three movements, but he is already very exhausted and his muscles are aching. His body is aching, but he is smiling because he can feel that his strength is growing.

Marco went into a house earlier and rested for a few hours. When he returned, he is shocked that the prince successfully executes three movements. They were trained on swordsmanship and breathing first when they were children as preparation for training in Flameworth Sacred Art because its 24 movements are difficult. He was just letting Van try and make him suffer. He can't accept for a while that his wasteful nephew seems better than him.

"You-" Marco pointed at Van. He moved in front of Edgar. He put his hands on both Edgar's shoulders and applied pressure. Marco stares at the prince.

"You! Did you fool everyone and secretly practice our sacred art?" Marco thinks that this is the only possible explanation. Van was a waste. Until now, he is only a first-circle magician. He did not even try to train aura because, as he said before, it was painful and very exhausting. Van did not train in swordsmanship, but Edgar did.

Edgar trained for 5 years in swordsmanship based on martial arts that circulated on the internet. Martial art masters on earth freely circulated their martial art to help people gain some strength for protection.

"Uncle, I only copied what you showed me and followed your instructions in breathing and movement." Edgar helplessly smiles at Marco. Everyone in the castle knows that he never trained in sword art. He successfully executes three movements because of his training on Earth, so he can only pretend that he copied Marco.

"Damn! So wasteful! You might be a waste in magic, but you are a genius in swordsmanship and aura! If you started training when you were a child, you have a high chance of reaching the 4th level of aura! Why did you waste your talent?!" Marco feels regret that his wasteful nephew turned out to be a genius. Their kingdom is being eyed by a powerful empire. A 4th-level aura master is a powerful force in the kingdom and ensures the rule of the Royal Flameworth family.

"I will talk to the elders of the royal family and prepare precious materials for your training." Marco still hopes that Van can reach the 4th level of aura before the empire in the north aims for their kingdom. For Marco, Edgar seems to have the best comprehension of martial arts in the royal family, so the resources should be tilted toward him.

"Thank you, uncle. I will try not to disappoint you!" Edgar sighs. He is mistaken for a genius. He can only do his best.

Marco hopes that Edgar can endure the pressure on his shoulder given to him by the royal family and the kingdom.

"Rest for a while, and I will continue teaching you." said Marco.

Edgar took a potion and recovered a little of his stamina. He rested for an hour before Marco started teaching him again.

"After forming your mana core in your consciousness, you can build your magic circle. You must at least have one circle on your mana core before you can build rune skills. The more magic circle in your mana core, the higher level of rune skills you can build. Rune skills help magicians instantly cast magic. Powerful rune skills cannot instantly cast because they require accumulation of mana but are still a lot faster than casting without rune skills." Said Marco, then a magic circle appeared beneath his feet.

A fire dragon rises and moves around Marco.

The dragon opened its mouth and fired fireballs into the air.

The fireballs fly and then fall to the training ground of the Royal Guards.

Dan, the team leader of the Royal Guards, saw the falling fireballs.

"Fuck! Who carelessly casts fireballs?" Dan furiously asked.

An aura clad his right arm. The aura turned into a tiger arm, then he swung it to the fire balls.

TIGER CLAW

A huge red slash of claw rapidly flew to the fireballs in the air.

Bang! The tiger claw destroyed the fireballs and keeps moving in the air.

Marco saw the flying tiger claw, and then he laughed.

He dispersed the fire dragon, then cast the skill again without relying on the rune skill in the sea of consciousness.

The runes on the magic circle are forming.

Woosh! A fire dragon rises and lifts Marco into the air.

"Did you see the difference? It takes longer to cast magic," said Marco while standing on the dragon's head.

Edgar looks at the fire dragon with longing.

The fire dragon moves around Edgar as it moves down its head. It dispersed, then Marco swiftly stepped on the ground. He smiles as he sees Edgar longing for the skill, then he continues his teaching.

"Our sacred art 4th skill is a combination of fire element and aura. You can form rune skills for our sacred art when you reach 2nd and 3rd circle. The rune skills are fire blade, fire beam, and fire tornado. You must be a 4th circle to execute the fourth skill of sacred art because it will require an astonishing amount of mana. Martial skills cannot be formed into rune skills. Rune skills in our consciousness can only be built with mana and cast using mana. Martial skills are based on aura." Marco paused for a while and seemed to be thinking.

"Let us end the training for today. Soak in a medicine bath that I asked someone to prepare earlier. You should not use healing magic for your aching body from training aura because that will stop the improvement of your strength. The proper way to heal is soaking in a medicine bath. Unlike healing magic,the medicine will not stop your body from adapting to intense training and your strength will keep growing.

For people that lack resources, healing magic is the first choice for recovery. We will continue our training tomorrow. I thought I would have a boring time here but you gave me a great surprise! Hahahaha." Marco left the training ground while laughing. He is really happy that the future king is a genius.

Edgar went back to the castle. He went to his bathhouse and swam in a prepared medicine bath. His whole body feels comfortable. He feels his strength growing again. The medicine seems to be a secret formula for the royal family. Edgar smiles. This virtual world is really a treasure trove of knowledge. The most important secret knowledge in the kingdom will not be hidden from him, and he will bring it home to Earth.