Free Web NovelChapter 107: Special Training
"No wonder. When I watched the two of you battling earlier, I had this strange gut feeling." Kaworu mentioned, "Even though you’re both such skilled alpha and beta, it looked like you were fighting like two solo players on the same team. The vibe was... kind of out of sync."
Kestrel jumped in to explain, "Actually, Ren and I are one of the few beta and alpha duos that can truly co-work well in battle. In this day and age, it’s rare to see betas and alphas teaming up."
Kaworu stood still for a moment, letting the rain soak him. He took a deep breath, his sigh getting lost in the rain’s sound.
He walked side by side with Kestrel. They reached the entrance and placed their dripping umbrellas down, brushing off the raindrops that clung to them. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
"If you’re thinking about heading into the Polluted Zone again, I’d advise picking a reliable partner. Maybe an alpha you really click with and can move in sync with."
Kestrel shot back, "I don’t need an alpha to guard my back. I can head into the Polluted Zone solo." Stepping into that zone was her decision, and she wouldn’t second-guess it. She never thought she’d need someone to play the role of her guardian. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"It’s not just about someone watching your back. Betas like us..." Kaworu began, pointing to himself. He then paused, taking his gloved hand away. "What I’m getting at is, betas aren’t just sidekicks to alphas, or just there for backup. Betas and alphas are different, but equally crucial, fighters. When they pair up, their fighting power is off the charts."
He tried a different approach to explain, "You play video games, right? Like the old-school battle ones?"
Kestrel smiled, "Yeah. I’ve got a gaming setup upstairs. I love digging up old games and sometimes partner up with Locky."
Kaworu continued, "So, think of betas and alphas like mages and knights from those games. Both are epic in their way, but they have different strengths."
With his comparison, Kestrel got what he was saying. Mages had strong ranged skills but weren’t great in close combat. Knights were tanky and great at close quarters but didn’t have varied attack skills. But when you teamed them up just right, they were an unbeatable combo.
Thinking back, Kestrel realized when she teamed with an alpha, things just flowed better.
"I wish I could see how alphas and betas teamed up like four hundred years ago." Kestrel felt a connection to the warriors of the past.
She once believed her battle-loving beta nature was odd. But today, for the first time, someone made her see that betas and alphas are cut from the same cloth. A beta could be as elegant as a dancer but still thrive in the heat of a battle.
Way back in the day, countless betas, just like her, stood with alphas. They showed the world they were powerful fighters, each with a unique flair.
"Maybe I’m not the weird one here. Maybe it’s this modern world that’s got it twisted."
Kaworu, still at the entrance and against the backdrop of the rain, paused and then offered, "If you’re up for it, maybe I could show you how it’s done."
The wet umbrella in Kaworu’s hand tilted just so, causing a single drop of rain to slide off the tip. Kestrel’s eyes locked onto it, and as it landed on the ground, everything shifted. The granite floor underneath her disappeared completely.
Instead of a solid ground, a deep abyss took its place. The only thing connecting her to Kaworu was a narrow steel tightrope.
Kestrel’s eyes widened in disbelief. The realism of Kaworu’s illusion was jaw-dropping and it ignited a spark of competition within her.
Kestrel’s wrist bracelet transformed right before her eyes, morphing into a slender blade. With the blade in hand, she confidently moved along the tightrope, closing in on Kaworu.
When her blade struck the umbrella’s framework, a loud ’clang’ resounded. Astonishingly, her delicate-looking blade managed to split the umbrella’s sturdy frame in half.
"You’ve got skills with that blade. Who taught you?" Kaworu asked, his voice calm amidst the downpour. Behind the rain, his half-silver mask remained enigmatic.
The world around Kestrel seemed to turn on its head. Raindrops started floating upwards. It felt as if she was walking amidst the clouds, with the muddied ground hovering above her. She was fully aware it was all a trick, an illusion. The real ground was still beneath her feet, and there was no chasm or tightrope. But she couldn’t deny that such disorientations during a fight could be unnerving.
One wrong move could lead to a sudden sensation of freefall, potentially throwing off her battle techniques. She remembered being taken by surprise with this very illusion while in the Polluted Zone of the Erdtree.
Closing her eyes for just a moment, Kestrel tapped into the energy pulsing below. She felt the distinct aura of "the Erdtree". Focusing her psychic power, she converted it into razor-sharp needles and hurled them toward Kaworu, who seemed to always be a step ahead, dodging and weaving.
This was a technique she had acquired from the alpha she’d met in the Polluted Zone, the one who had turned into a mosquito.
From a distance, she heard Kaworu’s muffled grunt. And for a split second, his usually silver mask gleamed gold. She caught a glimpse of the golden mask hidden beneath a large tree, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"Your fighting style is distinctive; I’ve never seen a beta use techniques like that," remarked Kaworu, his voice drifting from the shadows of the rain-soaked garden.
The trees in the courtyard, darkened silhouettes amidst the rain, began to sway gently. Each tree and flower seemed to exude a unique, plant-like feeling.
Kaworu’s psychic incarnation was a three, and was now concealed within these trees. It allowed him to blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings, making him nearly undetectable in the rainy forest. Raindrops soaked them, the cold sensation contrasting with the adrenaline of the battle, offering a surreal touch of the present.
