Chapter 52 - New Martial Art 2 (2)
Red trajectories and white flashes collided at the center of the training ground with a deafening roar.
Robert, the team leader, stepped forward more cautiously and tensely than he ever did in real combat against monsters.
Shiak!
The slightest lapse in concentration, and a razor-sharp strike came flying toward his vital points.
In a clash between spear and sword, the spear's superior reach should have been an advantage—but it felt like his opponent held that edge instead.
'It's that bizarre footwork.'
He'd noticed it during the fight with the Red Drake too. Kim Sun-woo's movement was nearly impossible to predict.
From Robert's analysis, it balanced perfectly: lightning-fast charges, afterimage-leaving dodges, and even vanishing into thin air.
A reliable ally in battle, but a nightmare as an opponent.
'Still, I have the Aster family's spear arts.'
The Aster Spear Technique was one of England's premier martial arts, refined to perfection.
He'd honed it his entire life, rising to team leader in one of Korea's top ten guilds at a young age.
Kim Sun-woo was unnaturally strong; objectively, Robert wasn't weak by any means.
...But as the spar dragged on, cracks formed in that confidence.
Kim Sun-woo made no elaborate moves.
He simply took light steps and swung his sword.
Yet that alone severed the flow of Robert's spear arts, breaking their form.
'When did the gap widen this much...?'
Robert swallowed his rising breath, eyes sharp as he tracked Kim Sun-woo's movements.
Even during his C-rank promotion ceremony, when he'd sparred as a provisional team leader, it hadn't been this bad.
Back then, they could trade blows evenly. Now, even matching those casual steps was a struggle.
'Is that what a true genius looks like?'
His resolve nearly crumbled.
Gripping his spear shaft tighter, Robert pressed on.
But the outcome didn't change.
Kang!
Half a breath faster, the sword tip struck true, sending the spear flying from his grasp.
The scene reminded him of that promotion ceremony. With a wry smile, Robert raised both hands.
"A complete defeat. No excuses."
He'd lost more decisively than back then—so overwhelmingly that there was no bitterness left.
"Hm."
Sheathing Black Flow Sword, Kim Sun-woo felt a twinge of regret.
His body was just warming up, raring to go, and yet Robert conceded so readily.
No point hunting for a stronger opponent right now, though.
Unless...
"Team Leader, you've mastered your family's spear arts, right?"
"Yes. The Aster Spear Technique is among England's finest. Though my skill falls short..."
"No, it's not that. Seems like the issue lies elsewhere."
"...Issue?"
Robert's eye twitched.
Was he about to disparage the family arts?
He despised his father for neglecting him and his mother, but he still took pride in his Aster heritage.
Pride in their spear arts being England's best.
Sensing the shift, Kim Sun-woo shook his head.
"Not critiquing the technique itself. It's just... unnatural somehow. The flow feels broken, like gaps on purpose."
"...Could you elaborate?"
"Straight talk, then."
Kim Sun-woo shared his honest observations from the spar.
"The movements have breaks in the flow here and there. Like deliberate omissions. No wonder it lacks full power."
"...Ugh."
A short groan escaped.
Even from Kim Sun-woo, this was hard to swallow.
The Aster Spear Technique was a refined art, polished over centuries.
Flaws in it?
"Not flaws in the technique. I'm talking intentional gaps. Hold on."
Setting Black Flow Sword aside sheathed, Kim Sun-woo fetched a training spear from the rack in the corner.
New hunters started with sword and spear basics.
Spears were especially efficient for rookies: long reach, big power from little effort.
Kim Sun-woo had learned the fundamentals back in his F-rank days.
"Spear basics are lan-na-zhal: block and push out."
Draw in.
Thrust.
Shiak.
Each swing unleashed a sharp whoosh across the training ground.
Since mastering martial arts, he'd focused solely on swordsmanship, so his spear skills were rusty.
To explain to Robert, he trained on the spot, honing them in real time.
"..."
Watching up close, Robert felt it too.
The novice swings steadied, gaining polish before his eyes.
Unbelievable—unless he'd prepped just to show off.
"From what I sense, the Aster Spear Technique's essence is power concentration. No flashy swings—just full-force, heavy strikes. But you're doing the opposite. You condense power right... then disperse it or prioritize speed over strength."
Strength equals destructive force.
Explosive acceleration should follow naturally.
But Robert, speed-obsessed, had misunderstood that essence.
"...Doesn't faster speed naturally boost power?"
"Piercing yes. But it clashes with the technique's intent, so true power falls short. Like this imitation..."
Shik, shissik.
Swung a few more times, then inhaled deeply and kicked off the ground hard.
Not especially fast.
But precise, concise—power compressed to its limit.
—Shiaaaak!
The spear tip's heavy whoosh echoed through the grounds.
Slow at first, but past a threshold, acceleration surged toward him.
Kwaaaaaaaaang!!!
The thrust halted at Robert's nose.
Its shockwave alone mimicked dozens of exploding bombs.
"..."
Robert was dazed.
His neat slicked-back hair fluttered wildly, mind blank, limbs twitching from the impact.
Yet he clenched his teeth, staying conscious to ask,
"Is that the Aster family's 'true' spear?"
"Feels like it to me. Though even this seems off—power dispersing a bit. There's probably a smoother way to condense it..."
"Ah."
Robert grasped the source of Kim Sun-woo's unease.
"Likely from mounted combat origins."
On horseback, no need to kick off yourself—the horse's speed provides explosive power.
"Aha. Footwork's the root issue then. To unleash the true spear power, start there."
Kim Sun-woo bent his knees and charged forward.
Precise angle, heel drive—like a horse bolting from the ground.
"Hm."
Unsatisfied, he stopped with a vague expression.
"Peeking over shoulders has its limits. My knowledge's too shallow for deeper insight."
"...You've already shown the impossible."
Wry smile aside, Robert pondered the lesson seriously.
'This is fateful serendipity.'
Lifetime of training screamed that Kim Sun-woo was right.
Refine it, and he'd shatter his plateau.
Saaak.
Assuming stance, Robert slowly unfolded the Aster Spear Technique.
Correcting misconceptions per the guidance, aligning toward truth.
No dispersing power or prepping next moves—pure, extreme focus on condensation.
Peong.
It faltered at first.
Kim Sun-woo's thrust to his nose lingered vividly.
Space-warping shockwave.
Slightly delayed whoosh meant near-subsonic acceleration.
Mana-free explosive power.
Peong.
Peong.
Air hissed from each thrust.
Sharpening gradually—right direction.
'Won't take long.'
Enlightenment from demos meant Robert's talent wasn't ordinary.
Whatever bound him, shedding it would spark explosive growth.
'Sounds like family issues...'
Prestigious houses had their burdens; prying felt wrong.
For now, hope his growth made him a worthy sparring partner.
"Alright, my turn then..."
Body warmed, time for the original plan.
Sreuk.
Circulating inner energy, converting to heat yang qi.
Heat shimmered over his palm, soon erupting like samadhi truefire.
'Looks like ordinary flames on the surface.'
He'd barely pondered this flame from Blazing Peak.
Assumed it just granted fire resistance.
Linked it to martial samadhi fire, but who'd guess Parasa Flame's undead-slaying prowess.
Shik, shissik.
Gripping flames in both fists, light punches.
Recalling the vampire fight: heat or output didn't matter.
Touch alone erased them like ink from rice paper.
Cause unknown, but how to wield this effect?
'Speed or power.'
Core focus would shape its form wildly.
Didn't mesh with perfected White Flow Sword Technique.
Build anew from scratch, then...
"Wait."
Kim Sun-woo snapped his head up.
During team leader training, assigned as Robert's assistant.
Sparred under "promotion ceremony" pretense.
Fresh from rank exam witnessing Baek San-hu's Plum Blossom Sword Saint arts, influenced by it.
Reenacted Plum Blossom Sword Technique his way against Robert.
'Use that as kindling...'
Might yield solid results.