Five years later.
"Too slow! Such an attack is full of openings! Your movements need to be faster! Or do you want to die on the battlefield one day, Asher!"
The sky was gloomy, heavy dark clouds gathering above. In a rather open area within a certain forest, the voice of a young woman, who looked to be about seventeen years old, could be heard.
Scáthach loudly rebuked Asher, who was attacking her. With a light flick of the spear in her right hand, she easily deflected Asher's attack.
Clang!
The sound of weapons colliding was accompanied by sparks like sharp blades. As the spear was deflected, Scáthach lifted her leg and kicked the oncoming young man in the abdomen. The thin young man flew backwards, rolled several times on the ground, then steadied himself, tightly gripping his spear.
He didn't give up his attack. Forcefully raising the spear in his right hand, he fiercely chopped it down towards Scáthach's face.
But this was just a futile effort. Not only did he not get close, he didn't even touch her hem before being kicked away again by Scáthach, raising a cloud of dust from the ground.
This was less of a battle and more of a one-sided crushing—Scáthach's unilateral crushing.
Asher couldn't help but feel a little discouraged. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he looked up at the woman standing not far in front of him.
"Show me your full strength, Asher! You won't survive on the battlefield with just this level of ability!" Scáthach loudly reprimanded, her sharp gaze fixed on the young man before her.
"Or are you saying that the past five years of teaching have been wasted? Your strength is not just this little, is it? Fine, let me give you some pressure. If you don't touch the hem of my clothes before evening, you'll be staying here overnight!"
Asher gasped for breath. Hearing this, his expression immediately changed.
The area around the Land of Shadows was full of natural hazards, and various kinds of magical beasts existed in this forest. Staying here overnight would probably leave nothing but bones by tomorrow.
Oh no, if there were wild dogs or something... probably not even bones would be left, after all, dogs love bones the most.
Asher sighed, "I don't want to spend the night in this ghostly forest. In that case, there's only one method I can use."
He raised his head, and his pupils seemed to burn with flames, with regular symbols rotating within them.
"Rune magic? You're finally willing to use your magic."
Scáthach finally sensed a hint of danger, but a faint smile appeared on her face. "That's right. What I hate the most are people who insist on hiding their strength. Asher, the reason I don't want you to die one day is because of underestimating your opponents."
"What's more... the person you're facing is me!"
As Scáthach spoke, Asher had already uttered several obscure and difficult-to-understand syllables. He felt his whole body instantly fill with power, and the weapon in his hand seemed to be covered by a certain icy coolness.
These were the mysterious Rune symbols. At this moment, the spear was enchanted with a power that slowed down movement.
It might work! With this speed, just touching Shishou's hem should still be possible!
Asher pushed off with his feet, raised the spear in his hand, and thrust it towards Scáthach. The sound of wind being torn apart accompanied the attack. After using Rune magic to strengthen himself, his speed and strength were far beyond what they were just now.
Scáthach raised the spear in her right hand, the tip of her spear brushing against the tip of the spear in Asher's hand, avoiding the attack. At the same time, she raised the spear in her other hand, casually tossed it aside, and then curled her fingers.
She flicked them heavily against the forehead of Asher, who was pouncing towards her.
"Ouch ouch ouch! That hurts!"
Asher covered his forehead, groaning in pain.
"General."
Scáthach looked down at Asher. "Unfortunately, it seems you'll have to spend the night in the forest tonight. But don't worry, I'll guarantee your safety."
Just as she said this, her ankle was suddenly grabbed.
Asher, who had just been crying out in pain, raised his head, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Scáthach.
"Does grabbing your foot count as a win?"
Scáthach: "..."
"Such a despicable tactic is not something a qualified warrior should do, Asher. I remember I didn't teach you that way, did I?" There was a hint of displeasure in Scáthach's voice.
"All warfare is based on deception, Shishou," Asher stood up, grinning. "In that case, today's match should be over, right?"
"Understood, let go of my leg." Scáthach glanced at Asher with a look of disdain, as if looking at an insect.
Asher didn't care at all about Scáthach's gaze. As long as he didn't have to stay in the forest tonight, that was all that mattered.
Spending a night in this kind of forest... even if he didn't die, he would be exhausted.
Asher stood up, picked up the spear on the ground, and noticed that Scáthach was still standing there. He couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Shishou, aren't you leaving yet?"
"Did I say that today's training ends here?" Scáthach suddenly smiled, her right foot touched the spear on the ground, and with a slight lift of her toe, the spear steadily fell into her hand.
"Pick up your weapon, the real training time starts now, Asher!" Her voice suddenly rose, full of majesty.
"This is blatant retaliation, Shishou!" Asher cried out miserably.
"What are you talking about? This is all for your training!" A charming smile appeared on Scáthach's face.
---
"Too cruel... Shishou really holds grudges," Asher breathed lightly, looking up at Scáthach standing in front of him.
"I don't hold grudges, I just think your training today wasn't enough, so I'm slightly increasing the amount," Scáthach said indifferently.
"Hmm... or are you saying that this amount of training is still not enough?" she asked after pondering for a moment.
"Enough! More than enough! Thank you for your guidance, Shishou!" Asher quickly replied.
What a joke, from just now until now, his stamina was basically exhausted. If they continued, it would just be a one-sided slaughter.
Oh no, the training just now was also just a one-sided slaughter. He could only exchange a few moves with Scáthach when using Rune magic, and that was still under the condition that Scáthach was holding back.
"Aren't you leaving?" Scáthach looked at Asher, who had plopped down on the ground. "Are you really planning to stay in the forest to temper yourself for a night?"
"Temporarily... I temporarily can't move. If there's anything, Shishou can go first, and I'll catch up later," Asher breathed lightly, but his eyes flickered slightly.
It wasn't that he didn't want to leave, but that he couldn't leave.
If there were no accidents, that woman should also be here.
Morgan le Fay.
"Your stamina is truly as bad as ever," Scáthach frowned slightly.
Five years had passed since the day she took in Asher. After five years of such training, Asher's stamina was still much worse than that of his peers.
This wasn't because he wasn't working hard enough, but simply because his physical strength was inherently inferior to others. Among all the disciples, Asher's stamina was the worst.
"Truly helpless," Scáthach sighed softly and sat down beside Asher.
"Then I'll rest for a while too."
--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter