LightReader

Chapter 19 - 19. The Spar

Shen sat cross-legged in the middle of his room, a grin plastered across his face. The screen in front of him gleamed with his new skills, and he read them over for the hundredth time.

[Energy 50/50]

[Health 150/150]

[Active Skills]

Water Blade

Energized Body

Iron Fist

[Passive Skills]

Sword Fighting (Beginner)

Iron Body

Comprehension Lv.1

"Iron Fist makes my knuckles harder and heavier. Iron Body gave me +50 health. Hah! This is more than I ever learned on my own!" Shen laughed, pinching his arm just to check he wasn't dreaming.

"With this pace, I'll be a grandmaster in no time!" His body shook with anticipation.

He activated , a timer flickered to life:

[5:00:00]

"Five hours? Piece of cake!" Shen settled in.

---

Meanwhile, Cain sat quietly in his room, nose buried in a book.

"Brother, you should be training," Leo said, walking in with an exasperated sigh. "Just because you're advanced in magic doesn't mean you can skip fighting practice."

Cain didn't answer.

"Please, brother."

Still silence.

Leo finally groaned, rubbing his forehead. "You'll regret it when someone exploits your weakness." Then he stormed out.

Cain's hand tightened on his book. He didn't look up, but his eyes glistened.

---

Five hours later, Shen stretched out his legs.

[Training complete.]

"Yes!" Shen jumped up and pulled up his profile.

[Tanda Shen]

[Energy 80/80]

[Health 150/150]

"Another thirty points?!" he whooped, pumping his fists. A new message popped up:

[Energized Body can now be upgraded. Requirement: Middle Mortal Body.]

Shen blinked. "Wait, just using a skill lets me upgrade it?"

[Affirmative.]

"Does that apply to everything?!"

[Affirmative.]

Shen's grin nearly split his face in two. Without another thought, he bolted down the hall.

---

Hydris strolled through the corridor, lost in thought about kingdom matters, when Shen zoomed past him like a rocket.

"Woah! Slow down, Shen!" Hydris called.

Shen skidded to a halt and bowed. "I'm sorry, your majesty. I was just excited to train!"

Hydris raised a brow, sensing the boy's aura. "Your energy feels… stronger. Different. Hm. In that case, how about a spar? I need to gauge your skills anyway."

Shen paled. "S-sir, isn't that… dangerous? You're a grandmaster. I'm just a lower mortal!"

"Nonsense. I'll limit myself to your level and only use lower mortal spells. What do you say?"

Shen hesitated, then nodded firmly. "I'd be honored, your majesty."

"Excellent!" Hydris clapped him on the shoulder, grinning. "Let's go."

---

The training arena echoed with silence. Shen and Hydris stood ten feet apart, a guard between them. Hydris had handed Shen a practice sword.

Surprisingly, the weapon felt natural in his hand, like an extension of his arm. Shen smirked. Sword Fighting skill for the win.

Hydris stretched and lowered his aura to match Shen's. "Knock me down or force me to raise my level—you win. Ready?"

Shen nodded.

"Three!" the guard shouted.

Shen lowered into a stance.

"Two!"

Hydris cracked his neck.

"One!"

Both men tensed.

"Begin!"

Hydris immediately unleashed a volley of ice bolts. Shen's sword blurred as he deflected them, each impact numbing his hands.

Hydris followed up with an ice lance, charging full speed. Shen countered, their weapons clashing in a storm of sparks. Blow for blow, they matched pace.

Barely keeping up… need to change it up. Shen hurled his sword.

Hydris batted it aside—only to see Shen already inside his guard. Shen's fists blurred, hammering forward. Hydris dropped his lance and threw up his arms, the two trading blows in a furious exchange.

A knee shot up; Shen retreated. A jab snapped forward; he ducked. A hook whipped at his head; Shen caught it on his arm, grimacing as pain jolted through him.

"You're faster than I expected," Hydris admitted.

Years of bullying flashed through Shen's mind. He grinned bitterly. "You could say I've had… training."

He rushed in again, activating . His knuckles gleamed faintly. He drove the punch straight into Hydris's guard.

Iron Fist? This boy…! Hydris's eyes widened as his arms rattled from the force.

Then Shen's other hand shimmered. A Water Blade snapped into existence, stabbing toward Hydris's chest.

Impossible! That's a middle-rank skill!

Instinct overtook restraint. Hydris's aura flared, his power spiking to higher mortal level. With one reflexive strike, he swatted Shen across the arena.

The boy hit the ground hard, coughing.

Hydris rushed forward, alarmed. "Shen! Forgive me, I didn't mean—"

Shen wheezed, grinning even as he lay sprawled out. "It's fine… I win." He raised a shaky fist into the air.

Hydris stared, then burst into laughter. "You are Shu's student, through and through! Exactly like him!" Still chuckling, he hauled Shen up, dusting him off.

"That's enough for today. Train as much as you want, but I have business to attend to. Tomorrow, we'll go again."

"Yes, your majesty! Thank you!" Shen bowed, wincing from the pain but thrilled.

Hydris left, still grinning.

Shen collapsed back onto the bench, trembling.

[Health 100/150]

His eyes widened. "He took fifty points in one hit?! If he'd gone two levels higher, I'd be dead!"

Another message blinked before him:

[Iron Body upgrade available.]

Shen's grin returned.

More Chapters