"No, you're getting it wrong."
He walked up to me, changing my stance with every step.
"How cant he hold a sword properly?" Kainan asked.
Even I was confused. Every time I wielded a sword in the Depths I was just fine. Maybe the rules of Depths were less sophisticated.
"What's happening to my form? I held and used a sword multiple times before." I asked.
"That is because you're using QI. If you retract your QI, It would work smoother. Unless you have so much QI that its basically pouring out of you." a voice said.
We all looked around in the direction of the voice to see just who poked in our business. All of a sudden, we were hit.
Smooth, slender skin. Eyes as deep and beautiful the ocean. A smile as white and pure as spring clouds. Sleek, brown hair, highlighting the most very attractive body structure.
Beauty is universal, transcending boundaries and inviting appreciation in all its forms. It resonates deeply within us, a reminder that true beauty goes beyond mere appearances. Pure, untainted beauty is not driven by desire; it is nature's profound way of illuminating our existence. In recognizing this beauty, we weave ourselves into a greater tapestry, where every thread contributes to the rich fabric of humanity.
Through all of this, I had one question in my mind; Is that a woman or a man?
I could bet on everything I loved and held dearly, all the other guys thought he same too.
"This, rivals even you." I poked Venus.
"Shut up. I'm never trying, that is the definition of a try-hard. Anyone with aa good pair of eyeballs knows that I'm in every way more beautiful" She added.
"You may claim all you want, you might be true, but that's a human being. A god and a human being existing in the same sentence in regards to beauty is simply insane. Hats off to her. That is the kind of beauty that topples nations, the kind that slaughters thousands."
"So, are you trying it or not?" the voice said.
She was right about one thing. Energy WAS pouring out of me. Mostly due to my constant trips to the depths, and my soul bond with Venus.
I poured out most of my energy into Venus, to reduce my output. Then I dispersed a good amount of energy to avoid suspicion. To my surprise, my technique worked perfectly this time, not that I had any to begin with. Though sloppy, it was effective.
"You need a heavier sword."
"What?" I asked.
"Your technique depends on the weight of the blade to turn it around, with a flick of your wrist. At least, that's what you're trying to do. Only that you're too strong and the sword far too light for that, causing you to use more strength with every swing, just for blade control. If you were using a steel blade, you would see it yourself." she said.
"How did you deduce that? I only swing like this because I imagined the leverage I would have. This is the way you'd spin a branch around your fingers, a kid's play." I replied.
"That's the basis for every martial art. Imagination. Some of it gave you your technique, and some let me deduce it."
"She's right. All the steps you've taken really indicate 'bigger sword'. Personally a broad one, with most of the weight concentrated at the tip and the handle. The question is; where do we get a sword like that?" Kyle added.
"Well, I could help with that. I learned some blacksmithing here and there. I could plan the design out for you, and we can request the academy to make it. Its the perfect time, since the academy is accepting blacksmith requests, in preparations for the final exam."
"All right, thanks for the help. But we dont know ho you are yet. Everyone on campus treats us like bigfoot and you're here all cuddly and warm".
I turned around and looked her in the eye as intimidating as I could. Ignoring the attraction, looking into her eyes, not for beauty, but to discovery.
"Now, now big guy, I'm not here to harm you." she said as she put her hand on my shoulder. She got closer and whispered into my ear.
"Sit, boy"
As the word flew into my ear, my body quickly went to obey. My head was going blank and my limbs numb. My resistance was strong, arms twitching, salivating like a dog, but the spell stood strong.
"You're losing consciousness. Quick, purify the QI like we practiced!"
Energy purification is simple. Once Foreign QI or unidentified energies, the energy of the host surrounds it, and effectively burns it up. All impurities and substances that cannot be burned are then excreted through the skin, or, other 'ways'. When this happens the QI of the host will more readily intercept and terminate outside energies, and increase purity, in proportionality of the the magnitude of the terminated energy. It happens every day, every second, subconsciously.
The core is to energy what a brain is to us. The more you experience, the stronger you get, and the more automatic basic functions become. The way the heart beats is the way the core operates. Without instruction, or constant surveillance.
"What a good time to have an energy core. Not having an energy core, and operating martial arts is like manually controlling the heartbeat. Forget means dead. Imagine not having one. Although I didn't have to imagine."
Kyle and Kainan got into motion, surrounding the mysterious person. She had stepped over me, completely leaving me to face them. Good. Just where I want her
I may not have core, but energy purification is right up my alley. All the drillings from Venus and the lot really paid off. At this point, I was learning more from experience than the Academy I paid for.
"I suggest that you two stand down. I'm only protecting myself, he violently approached me first."
"He asked who you are. You might not have answered with words, but you have with action. I assure you that, whatever you are, you're going down"
She cackled.
Looks like beauty is poison.