Free Web NovelChapter 200: Chapter 199 - Deity Trainer
Point-of-View: Alexis Tucker
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"So, how do we start?" Inquired Zoraiz, as we headed out into a clearing, "And how long can we count on you to train us?"
"Hm...until I am bored of doing so. I suppose I can guarantee at least a month, after that I shall decide on whether or not I will continue," He replied, after mulling it over.
"Well, it’s better than nothing, I guess," I sighed in response.
"Now, then, let us begin. One hour per day, that is all the time I am willing to spend on the two of you. I shall remain on the defensive for now, attack me with everything that you are capable of," Stated Bastet, as he stepped onto the middle of the clearing.
"Hmph, you asked for it!" I responded, as I fired out a lightning bolt at him.
Zoraiz raced across as Bastet formed a barrier to block my attack, right as Zoraiz suddenly boosted his speed immensely and zipped towards Bastet rapidly, closing in on him from behind.
He swiftly drove his fist towards the Deity, who responded by raising his hand behind him, without turning around. Zoraiz’s fist struck his palm, as Bastet absorbed the force with ease.
"Your speed and strength is fairly impressive. However, it would seem that you can only access that level briefly," Remarked Bastet, as Zoraiz backed away and got some distance.
"Yeah, I can only control my maximum output for a couple of seconds at a time. That said, I can keep spamming it all I want!" He exclaimed in response, as he zipped across towards Bastet’s left.
"Perhaps so, but the fact that you are not continously at the level uninterrupted makes it far less effective than it otherwise would be," Surmised Bastet dryly, his eyes locked onto Zoraiz as he raced across.
I charged up a powerful lightning bolt, and as Zoraiz closed in on him, I took aim and fired. Bastet put up another barrier to block my attack, before whipping his tail across his left, hitting Zoraiz’s feet and knocking him over, as Zoraiz hit the ground with a thud.
"Hm...I estimate that your top speed is not too inferior to Aurora in her Shadow Cat form. However, you have a lot more wasted movements than she does, therefore you are far easier to predict and counter," Mused Bastet, before glancing at me, "As for you, why do you stand still? You are much too easy to read and predict, you seem uncertain as to how to move."
I hate to say it, but he’s got a point. I’m not very strong in close combat, so against powerful opponents, I try to keep my distance. But he’s right, I’m not gonna get any stronger by playing it safe.
Alright, then...time to be more aggressive. I activated Reflex Shock at x20, my current limit, along with Electric Coat, forming a thin layer of electricity around my entire body.
He’s been blocking Zoraiz physically, but he’s using barriers to block my lightning. It’s possible that means that lightning is effective against him.
I then shot towards Bastet, while charging lightning into my right fist and forming a bolt of lightning in my left hand. I fired the lightning from my left hand straight at him, before zipping across to his right as he blocked it, driving my right fist towards his head as I closed in, while Zoraiz simultaneously sprang up to his left with his right leg arched back.
As Bastet’s barrier absorbed my initial blast, he swiftly grabbed Zoraiz’s leg as he swung a kick at his head. Bastet then rapidly spun across and flung Zoraiz straight at me.
I quickly dissipated the lightning coating my body and fist as he crashed onto me, the two of us collapsing in a heap as I fell back and hit the ground with a thud. Ow... frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"That was a decent attempt. But far too slow, and once again, easy to predict," Remarked Bastet, right as he tilted his head back as I fired out a lighting bolt from my mouth at him.
"So, how do we get less predictable?" Inquired Zoraiz, as he got off me and helped me up.
"Hm...when you attack and your physical strength increases, you waste a lot of the momentum. Or rather, you fail to maximize the momentum. Focus your entire body on driving the attack in, but without losing accuracy and precision. Attempt to master using your full power continuously instead of for just an instant.
If you simply attack with all your strength, it will be powerful but also clearly telegraphed, a faster opponent will be able to evade with ease. The only way to defeat a faster opponent is to be more skilled. At present, I am faster, stronger and more skilled than the both of you. Therefore, you do not stand a chance of defeating me," He surmised in response.
"What about me? What should I focus on?" I asked him.
"Precision in your attacks and efficiency in your movements. You are fast, but you think too much, those excessive thoughts hold back your speed and reaction time. After all, the technique you use to boost your speed works by enhancing your reflexes...the best way to maximize that effect is to focus on making your movements instinctive and intuitive instead of thinking about it," He informed me, before adding, "That applies to the both of you, you need to sharpen your instincts."
Well, that makes sense, but, uh...how exactly do I do that?
"Not sure how we should pull that off though," Frowned Zoraiz uncertainly, voicing my thoughts.
"Hm...in that case, let us make a change. I shall now attack the both of you...I shall keep my eyes closed, in order to give you a chance," He decided, after mulling it over.
"You’re gonna fight blind? Isn’t that too much of a handicap?" I inquired with a frown.
"Not at all. I am attuned to your scents, and your movements are quite loud as well. Now, then...prepare yourselves," He remarked, as he suddenly closed his eyes and drove his claws towards Zoraiz’s face.
Zoraiz quickly ducked back in alarm, the claws grazing up the bridge of his nose and the spot below his left eye, right as Bastet whipped his tail towards my feet.
Crap, I gotta dodge! I began to jump back, but was far too slow to react, as he struck my ankles and knocked me over.
He then grabbed Zoraiz’s collar and yanked him across, starting to throw him over his shoulder. Zoraiz began to try and grab the back of his neck, right as a small barrier wall formed and blocked his hand.
As Zoraiz got flung away, I quickly got back up onto my feet, coating my fists in lightning and driving a punch towards Bastet’s side. He easily evaded my attack, before I swung my other arm at his neck.
My hand struck a barrier, the lightning dissipating as he then slammed his foot onto my midsection and sent me flying back several meters and skidding along the ground painfully.
"It would seem like your instincts when it comes to evasion are fairly decent, your reaction to my initial attack was quite good. However, there is too much thought when you attack, you must apply the instincts you use during evasion when attacking," Bastet said to Zoraiz, before glancing at me, "As for you, when I attacked you, you froze for a moment before reacting. You need to fix that."
"Can we talk about how you would have pierced a hole through my face and killed me if I didn’t dodge that first attack?" Sighed Zoraiz indignantly.
"I would have changed my hand position and struck you with my palm if you failed to evade. I shall avoid inflicting any fatal damage. Any other injuries can be healed by the apathetic one."
He must mean Inoka.
"Wait, don’t you have healing powers too?" I pointed out with a raised eyebrow.
"I do. What of it?" He responded indifferently.
Guess that means he doesn’t plan on using his healing on us, huh? Figures.
Suddenly, Zoraiz grabbed some dirt and flung it at Bastet, who blocked it using a barrier shield, closing his eyes again in response.
I shot towards him while charging up lightning blasts in both hands and in my mouth, as Zoraiz zipped across and leapt towards him from behind.
Bastet then took a swift step forward, getting right within my reach in an instant. He then struck the inside of my forearms to push my arms away, before raising his right foot and slamming it onto my lower jaw, abruptly shutting my mouth.
As my lightning painfully zapped the inside of my mouth and my tongue, a barrier formed between him and Zoraiz, but instead of using it as a shield, it was placed in a way that would slice Zoraiz vertically in half, with sharp edges.
Zoraiz quickly slammed his palm onto the side of the barrier and used it as leverage to swing himself across, before placing his feet on it and leaping off as Bastet whipped his tail out towards him, narrowly evading.
"Hey, you sure you aren’t trying to kill me!?" He frowned indignantly.
"I would have dissipated the barrier as soon as you came into contact with it. And besides, getting accustomed to being in life threatening danger is crucial for significant improvement. Now, then, if you are done complaining...continue to attack."
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