The Most Efficient Training Method
The Heavenly Slaughter Star had experienced simulated real combat before, so safety and worry were irrelevant. Among all existing training methods, what was the most efficient one?
Rionne could answer with confidence. “Real combat.” Of course, that was in Enoch’s current situation.
Enoch was in the middle of learning various techniques and making them his own. To firmly imprint those skills into his body and draw out the Heavenly Slaughter Star’s unique flashes of inspiration to the maximum, nothing was more important than real combat.
“Obviously!” Rionne snapped, her worry clearly overwhelming her. “If you’re going to throw him straight into real combat, why do it now? Once Enoch becomes an adult and steps outside, everything will be real combat from then on.”
Undine also understood exactly what Rionne meant. She was trying to create an environment as close to real combat as possible while still looking after Enoch’s safety.
“He is the child I gave birth to with my own chest.”
Undine stared at Rionne in disbelief, but the elf’s eyes were completely earnest. Good grief. Undine slapped her own forehead.
“Ah… that?” Rionne instantly deflated. “Well… probably?”
“No, I mean… I’m not exactly well-studied in that field… and Enoch did say he understood, so…”
In front of Undine’s eyes, she could already see the continent’s newspaper headlines.
Of course, even if such an article came out, there wouldn’t be any real problem. Still, it was utterly embarrassing…! She might not even be able to lift her head in public anymore.
“…Enoch wouldn’t go that far. He’s a good boy. He wouldn’t say something like that to just anyone.”
Undine puffed away in a huff. Left alone, Rionne let out a long, deep sigh.
“Enoch… I can trust you, right?”
*
Undine chased after Enoch, who had already left. Since the boy leaked killing intent everywhere he went, following his trail wasn’t difficult.
The reason Undine—not Rionne—was following Enoch was simple. Normally, she would stay hidden and guard him from the shadows. But if something dangerous happened, she would have no choice but to step forward.
If Rionne were the one to jump out instead of her at that moment? He would probably celebrate it. She didn’t think he would, but there was always the chance that the little rascal might pretend to be weak and cling to Rionne.
Well… that was mostly a joke. The real reason was psychological stability. The sense of security that came from being protected by Rionne. Undine didn’t fully understand what went on in that arrogant brat’s head, but one thing was certain—he followed Rionne with absolute devotion.
She had heard that those born under the Heavenly Slaughter Star weren’t usually like that. Whether Enoch was special or the existing knowledge about the Heavenly Slaughter Star was wrong, that was simply how it was.
On the other hand, what about Undine? They weren’t hostile toward each other, but bickering was their daily routine. They had developed a certain closeness, but it wasn’t the kind of reliance and comfort that Rionne gave him. If he received protection from Undine, it would probably wound his pride.
And if his pride was hurt, wouldn’t he work even harder so he wouldn’t need help?
Undine laughed ominously as she spotted Enoch walking far ahead. He seemed to sense something and looked around, but who did he think he was dealing with? She was the highest-grade water spirit!
‘Whoa…! That scared me!’
Just what kind of senses did that kid have!? Undine hurriedly hid herself. Even so, it was not the kind of perception a kid who hadn’t even reached Master should possess. Her nonexistent heart felt like it was pounding. Undine took deep breaths—huff, ha, huff, ha.
‘A spirit has to maintain her dignity…!’
Undine did her best to conceal her presence completely.
*
“……?”
Enoch felt an itch on the back of his head and looked around. But he couldn’t sense anything. Maybe it was Rionne? He hoped it was. With that small wish in his heart, Enoch trudged deeper into the forest.
“Hmm…”
The reason Enoch had suddenly headed deep into the forest wasn’t complicated. That morning, Rionne had thrown an assignment at him out of nowhere.
—Go deep into the forest and gain real combat experience.
It was an incredibly dangerous task, yet Enoch had simply nodded.
‘…She’s not angry, right?’
Enoch knew that Rionne disliked racially discriminatory remarks. He had only insisted a bit strongly because he genuinely believed what he said was correct. For a moment he wondered if she had given him this dangerous assignment out of anger, but…
‘No way.’
He immediately dismissed the thought. There was no chance Rionne would do something like that. If she was the noble and kind elf he knew, then this task was purely for his own benefit.
“Grr!?”
A bear that met his eyes jumped in fright and ran away. Enoch increased his pace as he watched it flee. He could no longer gain any combat experience in the shallow parts of the forest. Thanks to the Heavenly Slaughter Star’s killing intent and three years of tyranny (the biggest reason), the creatures treated him like their ruler.
Crackle—!
Enoch’s figure shot forward like lightning. Pure speed was the field he was most confident in. As the scenery blurred past, the forest gradually grew darker.
‘Soon.’
He would reach the starting point of the deep forest. Instead of being cautious, Enoch accelerated even more.
Rumble—!
With the sound of thunder, a long streak of violet lightning stretched out. Undine puffed along behind him.
*
The deeper one went into Rionne’s forest, the darker it became. The trees twisted and grew so densely that they formed a dome overhead. This mutation occurred because of the thick mana, which meant the beasts living there were special—and that bizarre things often happened.
It didn’t take Enoch long after entering the deep forest to encounter one of those bizarre things.
‘A monster.’
Creatures distinctly different from normal beasts. Outside the forest, they were simply unpleasant neighbors that reproduced naturally, but these were different. These monsters were spontaneously generated.
Because there were so many different types, it was common for them to not even have names. Just looking at this one made it easy to understand.
It looked like a swamp mixed with shadows that had taken the crude shape of a bear. Except it had five arms, two heads, and three legs.
‘Ah, one of those isn’t a leg.’
Enoch frowned at the sight of the grotesque, dangling body part.
Crackle—!
Now in a bad mood, Enoch charged without slowing down. The swamp bear had noticed him long ago thanks to his noisy approach.
—RIIKEEAAaaa…!!
With a bizarre cry, one of its arms swung toward him.
Boom—!
The trees caught in the strike shattered. The swamp-like arm scattered with a splash, but it quickly wriggled and regenerated.
“Hoo…”
Enoch lowered his center of gravity to dodge the attack and gathered his strength.
Crackle—!
Violet current burst across his entire body. It was the first manipulation technique he had learned—Thunder Response Manipulation. Enoch had never learned any higher techniques. Once he had mastered the basics, he had created his own martial art.
Heavenly Slaughter Violet Lightning Claw. The purple lightning claw that slaughters the heavens.
The blue fly had laughed at the grandiose name, but who cared? It was a martial art that would grow alongside him.
Crunch—!
One of the swamp bear’s arms was torn off by Enoch’s upward strike.
—RUuee…!
The swamp bear roared and swung its remaining four arms at once. Enoch’s eyes captured every movement.
Dodge? He discarded the fleeting thought. He would crush it from the front.
Heavenly Slaughter Violet Lightning Claw, first form.
Massacre.
For a moment, Enoch’s hands moved so fast they seemed to disappear. Once, twice, three times—soon dozens of strikes.
CRACKLECRACKLECRACKLE─────────!!!
It looked as if a wall of lightning had formed in front of Enoch. But its purpose was not defense.
—……!!?!?
The swamp bear’s remaining four arms were completely shredded. It opened its mouth wide in shock. Now only its torso remained.
Enoch’s eyes glowed with a chilling light.
Crack—!
The current gathered at his fingertips shone brightly. Then—thud—! Enoch’s body flew backward.
“Huh…?”
Having smashed through several trees and slammed into the ground back-first, Enoch opened his mouth in a daze. The pain wasn’t as bad as he had expected. However…
“Ha, haha…!”
He felt absolutely filthy. Even if he had been hit normally it would have been unpleasant, but…
“Ahahaha…!”
Enoch looked at the grotesque weapon that had struck him and laughed like a madman. Of course, he wasn’t laughing out of joy. His laughter suddenly cut off, and his face twisted violently.
“You… dwarf-like bastard…!”
The swamp bear’s third leg. The creature had shaken its waist, and Enoch had been struck by that dangling part. The completely unexpected attack made it even more infuriating.
Whoosh—!
Black killing intent erupted from his entire body. The lightning he controlled turned a deep violet-black, and sparks flew wildly from his pitch-black eyes.
The Heavenly Slaughter Star’s madness, accumulated over three years, finally exploded.