Free Web NovelChapter 156: Zhen’s Training
Meanwhile, Sylvia and Lily met up with Zhen in the Hayth’s garden, which had an open field with a space as big as the mansion itself.
"..."
With crossed arms, Zhen just stood in the center as if he was waiting for the girls to come closer.
Noticing the tense mood, the two cautiously walked over to him.
"W-we look forward to your lessons!"
"..."
They were obviously nervous but especially, Sylvia was careful as she gazed at him nervously.
"The use of magic will be prohibited for today’s training."
"Hm?"
"Today, we will start with a little spar."
"W-without magic...?"
"!" freewebnσvel.cѳm
Sylvia immediately jumped back when she sensed Zhen’s incoming sidekick, which was aimed at both of them.
"Hrngh!" Lily groaned.
She managed to put up her arms just in time but she was still sent flying.
"So you were able to dodge that, huh? Not bad." he commented, sounding unimpressed.
"..."
Sylvia did not move and continued to observe every little movement of Zhen.
At the same time, Lily came back, patting the dirt on her forearms away.
The two slowly walked around him in a circle.
They knew that attacking him now would be pointless as the difference in skills was as clear as today’s sky. Therefore, they stalled for time in order to come up with a strategy.
However, they had no idea due to Zhen not showing any weak points.
"It’s good to use your head instead of just charging in blindly, however, do you think an enemy would be patient enough to let you come up with a battle plan?" Zhen said, shifting his focus to Sylvia.
He leaped to her in an instant, catching her off guard.
"!"
Reflexively, she put up her arms.
But it was not his intention to launch a punch to her face.
Instead, he grabbed her hands with one hand and pulled her away.
He was spinning around her, facing her back now, and lightly kicked the back of her right knee, making her kneel down on the soil.
Then, he pressed his knee on her back and added his entire weight into his knee, slamming her down.
Simultaneously, Lily sneaked up to him, trying to launch a sidekick, however, Zhen effortlessly evaded that attack by ducking.
She rolled on the ground and faced him again only to see him dashing towards her.
Lily raised her fists, ready to launch a punch but the result was the same in the end.
The moment she threw her fist, Zhen dodged slightly to the side, grabbing her arm and thrusting his palm into her stomach.
He lifted her up with the force of his thrust and slammed her from high up to the ground.
"Ack!"
He distanced himself from her by taking a few steps back.
"That’s enough for now. Take a short break before we will start the second round." he said.
"Ugh... How many rounds do you intend to do?" Sylvia asked painfully as she got up slowly.
"As many as needed." he answered immediately.
"..."
Lily wiped away the saliva from her mouth with her forearm.
Then, the two girls, who were already exhausted from the first bout with Zhen, rested in the shades of a tree.
"I knew it wouldn’t be easy but he wiped the floor with us with ease..." Sylvia sighed.
"Well, there’s nothing we can do in pure hand-to-hand combat..." Lily laughed wryly.
"..."
Sylvia stared at Zhen, who was standing like a statue in the center of the field.
"Among the members of the Grand Order, he’s considered the most powerful in non-magic combat, right?" Sylvia asked.
"I think it was either him or her Highness Olivia Rostanta." Lily replied, pondering about her own answer.
While Zhen Bugar was known for his techniques, Olivia Rostanta made herself a name with her pure might and battle instincts.
The two of them never went head to head before but if they were to do it, then Zhen would surely prove to be a challenging opponent for her.
"Then, there’re more reasons to not slack off, huh? It’s not every day that we get the opportunity to learn from one of the best martial artists in the world." Sylvia stated with an excited smile as she stood up.
"Yes!"
After resting enough, the two walked over to Zhen again.
However, their attention was quickly shifted to Mika and Lena, who came their way.
"Mika?"
"And Mom?"
Obviously, they tilted their heads at the sight of those two.
"Can I perhaps join you?" Mika asked with a light smile.
"..."
Zhen’s expression turned grim.
"And how’s the training so far?" Lena asked curiously.
But before one of the girls could answer, Zhen cut them off.
"Mika Elbar." he said, standing in front of him.
"..."
Sensing the pressure he was emitting, Mika could not help but feel nervous for a moment.
"Coincidentally, I also wanted to test your strength." he stated, gazing at him sharply.
"I-is that so?"
"We’re currently sparring without using magic. Do you still wish to join us?"
Mika nodded his head slowly.
"Then so be it."
Zhen turned his back on him and moved to the center again.
"Come at me." Zhen said as he signaled with his hand.
Mika took up his fighting stance.
At the same time, Lily was also about to step forward but was stopped by Sylvia.
"What are you doing?"
"Let’s wait for now." Sylvia responded.
"But why?"
"This could get interesting..." she said with a smirk.
"I agree." Lena, who spawned beside them, added with a small giggle.
Thus, the three on the sideline eagerly watched the incoming match between Mika and Zhen.
[Not only did you get embarrassed by Louis Hayth but now you also want to get beaten up by Zhen?]
"Hey, aren’t you the one, who gave me the quest to beat one of them?" Mika muttered annoyed.
[That is indeed true. But I would recommend to take your time and to get some proper rest. It is a wonder to me, how you can still move in your current state.]
Due to the lack of sleep, Mika’s performance was sure to suffer from it.
"What are you waiting for?"
"..."
In reaction to Zhen’s words, Mika closed the distance between them.
He launched a swing, which Zhen dodged.
Zhen, in turn, attempted to grab him but Mika also dodged.
"!"
And to everyone’s surprise, it was Mika, who managed to get hold of Zhen.
He pulled him to himself and was about to punch him, however, Zhen suddenly jumped up.
"Hngh!"
Zhen deflected his punch with a hand and simultaneously kicked his chin with his knee.
When Mika bent to the back, Zhen used his fist to hammer him to the ground.
Usually, the match would have been over as the opponent would be rendered incapable of continuing.
But Mika propelled himself up by pushing himself off the ground, using his palms.
Like a spear, he tried to thrust Zhen with a straight kick to the chin.
"Tch..." Mika clicked his tongue after realizing that he only managed to scratch Zhen’s cheek a little.
Zhen grabbed his legs this time and used his brute force to slam him to the ground again.
"Argh!"
"..."
Mika did not get up for a while, leading to the conclusion of their bout.
The two girls walked over to him.
"He really got you, huh?" Sylvia remarked, taken aback by Mika’s state.
"Is it just me or did he hold himself back less than when he went up against us..." Lily wondered, smiling wryly.
"..."
Mika rolled over and crawled slowly away.
"Where are you going?" Lily asked.
Too embarrassed to continue?" Sylvia poked fun at him.
His vision blurred out more and more.
"J-just getting some rest..." he answered sleepily.
[Are you satisfied now?]
"I-I will help him... You guys can continue without us!" Lena suggested, laughing awkwardly as she headed over to Mika.
"I just wanted to get a glimpse of his abilities, okay...? I won’t lose next time..." Mika explained, trying to laugh even though it hurt him.
"Once I sleep enough and refill my energy, I will get my chance... Just wait and see...!" he added confidently.
[I cannot wait to see that.]
The system sounded sarcastic.
However, if he had not been crawling on the ground, his declaration would have appeared more amazing.
"M-Mika, please get up!" Lena begged him.
Meanwhile, Zhen watched Mika despite the girls preparing their next moves.
"..."
He massaged his forehead with his fingers.
"Was I maybe expecting too much...?" he muttered.
He discarded all his thoughts concerning Mika and concentrated on the girls again.
Hours would pass until the then beat-up girls would go inside the mansion again.
However, even though they thought that it was time to rest, another event was about to happen, which would, in turn, affect Mika the most.
After all, Zhen Bugar’s son, Ren Bugar, whose arrival was estimated to be the next day, arrived sooner than anyone could have expected.
The estimated time of Ren’s arrival: less than an hour.
