Chapter 37: Hell Training (3)
"RELEASE!!"
WHOOSHHH—!!
The air instantly split as I released my fire arrow, and it immediately grew to the size of a car. The blue fire arrow shot forward like a fire tornado, spinning wildly.
The ground along its path cracked and was scorched, the air burned, and leaves around the backyard fell due to the energy impact.
Himmel, or my Master, was still standing in place and raised his staff high with one hand. Red Aura emerged, coating his staff, though only slightly.
As my arrow surged closer, his black hair fluttered, but there was no panic on his face—only a wide grin.
The arrow reached him, ready to incinerate. Seeing this, Himmel spoke in a small voice.
"Disciple, let me show you a little of my strength..."
Then, just before the arrow reached him, Himmel slashed. Only one downward swing.
BUUUSHHH—!!
An explosion of red Aura blinded the view. In a split second, his staff slashed straight forward—and the world seemed to split.
A sharp sound, like cracking glass, echoed in the air. The blue arrow did not explode... but was perfectly cleaved in two.
The two halves of the arrow spun left and right, sliding past Himmel's body, who stood in the center.
It was so fast that the blue fire seemed to pause for a moment before finally—
DUUUMM!! DUUUMM!!
—exploding in the distance, hitting both sides of the forest behind him.
Trees in both directions were engulfed in blue fire, and the forest opened up for fifteen meters on both sides of the impact, scorched black.
Fire was still flickering within the woods. Thin smoke rose to the sky, while the air vibrated heavily as if still holding the remnants of the force.
Ren was stunned, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"He... he split it??"
Dust and heat were still swirling around, but in the center of the vortex, Himmel stood calmly. His staff was still raised, and a wide smile adorned his face.
Himmel lowered his wooden staff and gently rubbed his hair. The red Aura on his staff slowly faded. Then he spoke.
"Strong, but not quite strong enough to scratch me." He said arrogantly, but he couldn't hide his surprise. His eyes kept observing me.
"If you added a little more pressure to its core, maybe you could give me a little scratch..." he added.
I looked at my Master, still half-disbelieving. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead, caught between awe and frustration. The word 'scratch' alone made my mind spin rapidly in amazement.
Himmel looked at him with a sharp yet warm gaze. "You have great power, Ren. But, you just picked the wrong opponent—perhaps?"
"Your control over your affinities and mana is already excellent, far surpassing children your age, as well as the average adult mage." He pointed to my chest.
"Also, your Aura needs improvement, but it's not that your control is bad; in fact, it's better." He shook his head slowly, sighing.
"I even think that if I were compared to you when I was young, I would seem just ordinary..." he murmured slightly unclearly.
"..."
"But this is what makes me want to make you my disciple, kid," he said.
Himmel rested his staff on his shoulder, leaning back slightly, staring intently at me. "You have to balance your Aura with Mana so they harmonize, and that will be truly excellent."
He tilted his head and squinted slightly, "And... during our duel earlier, your movements got better,"
Himmel leaned forward, "—are you adapting?"
I let out a long sigh, nodding my head. I said to him, "Yes, I don't know why—but I adapt quickly."
I lied a little. Himmel, or Master, massaged the bridge of his nose, thinking about how he managed to find this human-skinned monster in a small region.
Then Himmel tapped his staff on the ground and said, "Alright, let's start again—you've surprised me enough."
"A-Again??" I asked, breathing heavily.
Himmel looked at me as if I were the strangest person in the world, his eyebrows furrowed. He said in a threatening tone.
"Disciple?... You didn't think this was over, did you?" he asked sharply. His demeanor completely shifted 90 degrees as he prepared to start training again.
I swallowed hard, "N-no, I didn't think that..."
"Good. And yes, don't use magic this time; let's just focus on Aura," he said, raising his staff toward me.
I hastily picked up my own staff, pulling it out of the ground. I cursed internally.
'I'm finished...'
Right then, Himmel attacked fiercely, making my breath catch. The Hell Training began again.
...
...
...
Three hours later...
I was sprawled on the ground in an awkward pose, breathing heavily and deeply, and my chest rose and fell so much that it hurt.
"This... this isn't training!" I cursed in a small, hoarse voice, still sprawled out. "This is Hell!"
My Master—no, demon—looked down at me with his arms crossed, still standing, and the crazy thing was, he wasn't sweating at all.
His shoe tapped the ground casually, and he said, "You're almost collapsing from just this?"
"Weak!" he added.
I gritted my teeth and turned over to lie on my back. I was originally lying face down with my face pressing against the ground and my butt slightly raised... embarrassing indeed.
"You hit me like a punching bag!" I snapped breathlessly.
Himmel tilted his head slightly, feigning innocence, "Oh? Really? I didn't think it was that strong..."
Hearing that, I was about to retort again, but I was interrupted by the voice of a little girl from afar. Amy came, carrying water.
"Grandpa! I brought water for you!" she said with a satisfied expression. Then she looked at me with a mocking grin that made my lips twitch.
'This girl...'
Himmel patted Amy's head with the affection of a grandfather; unlike me—he made me look like a punching bag.
"Do you want to drink, Grandpa?" Amy said, winking, glancing at me.
Still patting her head, Himmel nodded quickly. "Of course, darling."
"Hehe~, I knew Grandpa was thirsty!" she said cheerfully, then poured water into his glass and handed it to Himmel.
I watched this in silence, saying nothing. Perhaps because of that, Amy pouted, seeing me not reacting. With a sullen tone, she said to me.
"Do... you want some too?" Amy asked.
I was silent for a few seconds, stabilizing my breathing, which annoyed Amy even more. She said irritably.
"Do you want it or not!?"
"... Of course, I... want it..." I said in a small, hoarse voice.
Amy didn't say anything; she just let out an exasperated breath. She turned her gaze away as she handed the glass of water to me.
"A tsundere girl..." I unconsciously muttered.
"What did you say?" Amy asked, still annoyed.
I quickly shook my head and took the glass from her before she could change her mind, and immediately gulped it down quickly. My body straightened slightly to drink more comfortably.
"Hah... Disciple, I think today's training is enough," Himmel said, sighing softly as he finished drinking.
"..." I just stayed silent, glaring at him.
Himmel waved his hand casually, "Don't be so angry, this is for making you stronger too..."
Then he stood up and walked toward the small forest behind the yard. Amy and I just watched him in silence.
A few moments later, I lay back on the ground, resting. And muttered to myself.
'Even my daily mission isn't completed yet... Damn it.' I cursed softly.
Amy, who was standing beside me, looked toward Himmel with sad eyes, which made me curious. I asked Amy.
"What makes you sad, Amy?" I asked.
Amy looked at me and sighed, "Huh... because Grandpa's wife is buried in that forest." She replied sadly.
"..." I fell silent.
Then she continued, "Because of that, he goes to the forest every day to clean her grave."
"... I see." I murmured, also looking toward the forest where Himmel had gone with a slightly sad feeling.
Amy remained silent, then she started walking away to go home. She said without turning to look at me.
"You tried hard..." she said, and then she ran back into the house.
I took a long breath, still lying on my back, staring at the morning sky which was still influenced by the morning clouds.
"As my mother said in my previous life, everyone has their own dark and sad story..." I said softly.
Slowly, I closed my eyes, enjoying the cool air. My journey is still long, and I must be ready for whatever tragedy might happen in the future.