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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Heavenly Death Star Experiences Mock Combat
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Leaving aside all talk of safety and worries, what was the most efficient training method among all existing ones?
Rionne could answer that with confidence.
"Actual combat."
Of course, this was in Enoch's current situation.
Enoch was in the midst of learning various techniques and internalizing them into his body.
To firmly engrave those techniques into his flesh and draw out the maximum of the Heavenly Death Star's unique flashes of inspiration, nothing was more important than real combat.
[You're gonna tell me to follow him anyway, right?]
"Of course!"
Her worries weren't minor by any means, so Rionne snapped back sharply.
"If you're just gonna throw him into raw combat, why start now? Once Enoch becomes an adult and heads out into the world, it'll all be real battles from then on anyway."
[Sigh, fine, fine. You're always worrying so much.]
Undine understood what Rionne meant.
She wanted to ensure Enoch's safety while creating the environment closest to actual combat possible.
[Seriously, you're not even his mom.]
"He's the child I birthed from my own bosom."
[...You're not serious, are you?]
Undine stared at Rionne in disbelief, but her eyes were dead serious.
Good lord.
Undine smacked her forehead.
[Whatever, do what you want. Did you sort that out properly?]
"Uh... that thing?"
Rionne deflated in an instant.
"Well... probably?"
[What? Probably? You think that's something you can just 'probably' handle!?]
"N-no... I'm not exactly well-versed in that stuff either... But Enoch said he got it..."
[Wow, seriously. You're gonna get yourself in big trouble like this.]
📰 Breaking News Sword Queen's disciple Mr. E: "Elves are the greatest. Humans are nothing but an inferior species." Shocking statement! Unabashed racial discrimination sparks massive controversy!?
Undine could already picture the headlines in the continental newspapers flashing before her eyes.
Of course, even if such an article came out, it wouldn't really be a problem, but still... how embarrassing!
She might not even be able to show her face afterward.
"...Enoch wouldn't go that far. He's a good kid; he won't say that to just anyone."
[Hah. Jeez. Whatever! Handle it yourself!]
Undine puffed away.
Left alone, Rionne let out a deep sigh.
"Enoch... I can trust you, right?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Undine chased after Enoch, who had already set out.
Tracking him was easy since he was leaking killing intent everywhere.
[Worries upon worries.]
The reason Undine, not Rionne, was following Enoch was simple.
She would basically hide and protect him, but if something happened, she'd have no choice but to step forward.
But if Rionne jumped out instead of Undine?
'He'd love that.'
Not that he probably would, but what if Enoch pretended to be weak and clung to Rionne?
Well... that was mostly a joke.
Truthfully, it was more about psychological comfort.
The sense of security from being protected by Rionne.
Who knew what was going on in that arrogant brat's head, but one thing was clear: he really looked up to her.
She'd heard Heavenly Death Stars weren't usually like that by nature.
Maybe Enoch was special, or maybe the common knowledge about Heavenly Death Stars was wrong. Anyway.
On the other hand, with Undine?
He wasn't hostile, but growling at her every time was their daily routine.
They had some familiarity, sure, but it wasn't the reliant, comforting kind he had with Rionne.
If he had to be protected by Undine, it'd bruise his pride big time.
And then he'd probably push himself even harder just to avoid needing her help!
[Heh heh—should I lure a big one over for him?]
Undine chuckled darkly to herself when she spotted Enoch walking far ahead.
Sensing something, Enoch glanced around...
But who was Undine?
The supreme water spirit!
'Whoa—! That scared me!'
What the hell kind of senses did that kid have!?
Undine hurriedly hid herself.
This wasn't the level of perception a kid not even at Master rank should have.
Her nonexistent heart pounded as she took deep breaths: in, out, in, out.
'Spirits have their pride too...!'
Undine did her utmost to conceal her presence.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"...?"
Enoch scratched the back of his head and looked around.
But he felt nothing.
Maybe Rionne?
He hoped so.
Harboring that small wish, Enoch trudged deeper into the forest.
"Hmm..."
The reason Enoch had suddenly ventured deep into the forest wasn't anything special.
That morning, Rionne had suddenly given him an assignment.
- Head deep into the forest and gain some combat experience.
It was a perilous task, but Enoch nodded obediently.
'...She's not mad, is she?'
Enoch knew Rionne wouldn't like racial discriminatory remarks.
He'd just insisted a bit strongly because it felt right no matter how he thought about it.
For a moment, he wondered if she'd assigned this dangerous task out of anger over that, but...
'No way.'
He dismissed the thought immediately.
Rionne wouldn't do that.
A superior and kind elf like her was surely doing this just for his benefit.
"Grah!?"
Enoch sped up, shooting a glare at the bear that startled and fled upon eye contact.
He could no longer gain combat experience in the shallow woods.
Thanks to the Heavenly Death Star's killing intent and three years of tyranny (the main reason), the creatures treated him like their ruler.
Crackle—!
Soon, Enoch's figure shot forward like lightning.
Pure speed was his most confident domain.
As the scenery blurred past, the forest gradually darkened.
'Almost.'
He was arriving at what could be called the starting point of the deep forest.
Instead of slowing down cautiously, Enoch accelerated further.
Rumble—!
With a thunderclap, a streak of purple lightning trailed behind him.
Undine followed, puffing along.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Rionne's forest grew darker the deeper one went.
The trees twisted and grew so densely they formed a dome overhead.
This mutation came from the thick mana, which meant the beasts living there were special—and that bizarre events happened frequently.
Enoch hadn't been in the deep forest long before he encountered one such bizarre event.
'Monster.'
Creatures distinctly different from beasts.
Outside the forest, they were inconvenient neighbors that bred naturally, but these were different.
These were naturally spawned monsters.
There were so many varieties that some didn't even have species names.
Just looking at that one made it clear.
It was like a swamp mixed with shadows clumsily shaped like a bear.
Except it had five arms, two heads, and three legs.
'Oh, one of those isn't a leg.'
Enoch grimaced at the grotesque, dangling body part.
Crackle—!
His mood soured, but Enoch charged without slowing.
Having sensed him coming from afar, the swamp bear swung its arm.
Boom—!
Trees caught in the swing shattered.
The swamp-like arm splattered messily but soon writhed and regenerated.
"Hoo..."
Enoch lowered his center of gravity to dodge and drew up his power.
Crackle—! Purple currents sparked across his body.
The first technique he'd learned: Furious Eagle Claw Technique.
Enoch hadn't learned any advanced ones.
Because he'd already devised his own martial art from mastering the basics.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Heavenly Demon Purple Thunder Claw
Purple lightning claws that slay the heavens
The blue fly had mocked the grandiose name, but who cared.
It was a martial art that would grow with him.
Crunch—!
One of the swamp bear's arms tore away under Enoch's upward strike.
- RUUUEE...!
The swamp bear roared and swung its remaining four arms at once.
Enoch's eyes captured it all.
Dodge?
He discarded the momentary thought.
Shatter it head-on.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Heavenly Demon Purple Thunder Claw — First Form
Massacre
In an instant, Enoch's hands blurred beyond visibility.
Once, twice, three times—dozens of strikes in moments.
CzzzZZZzzzzz─────────!!!
It was as if a wall of lightning had formed in front of him.
But its purpose was never defense.
- ...!!?!?
The swamp bear's mouth gaped wide as its remaining four arms were shredded.
Now only its torso remained.
Enoch's eyes gleamed coldly.
Crackle—! Currents gathered at his claws, shining brightly,
Splat—!
Enoch's body flew backward.
"Huh...?"
Crashing through three or four trees and into the ground on his back, Enoch blankly opened his mouth.
The pain wasn't as bad as he'd thought.
However...
"Ha, haha...!"
His mood was utterly foul.
He'd have been pissed even from a normal hit, but...
"Ahahaha...!"
Enoch laughed maniacally at the weapon that had struck him.
It wasn't from joy, of course.
His laughter cut off abruptly, and his face twisted in rage.
"You... dwarf bastard...!"
The swamp bear's third "leg."
Shaking off its waist, that dangling appendage had smacked him, snapping his rationality.
The completely unexpected attack made it even worse.
Whoosh—!
Pure black killing intent erupted from his entire body.
The lightning he wielded turned deep purple, and currents wildly sparked from his pitch-black eyes.
The madness of the Heavenly Death Star, accumulated over three years, exploded.