Relay Team Battle
"Ooh, Chung Hak Gwan!"
"This is insane—it's a real shot at making it big, right?"
"If you can just get in... even millworm clansmen come out as masters, or so the rumors say."
Excitement gleamed in the trainees' eyes. They too had realized what a massive opportunity it was to enter Chung Hak Gwan.
"Everyone's eyes are sparkling. Let me share one more piece of good news."
"...?"
"Normally, the relay team battle selects five people per class to compete. But that limited opportunities, so the rules have changed."
"...!"
The trainees' eyes widened like saucers once more.
"In other words, anyone can form a team of five and enter."
"Woooaaah!"
"Jackpot—!"
"Kyaa!"
The trainees erupted in cheers all at once. This was good news beyond good news. If the rules hadn't changed, most of them wouldn't have gotten a chance at all.
"Good! I can feel your motivation surging—you'd all dive into a pit of fire right now, eh?"
"Yes—!"
"Kuhuhu, excellent. I sense the resolve."
Norton grinned wickedly. Normally, that smile would have made them tremble—it was the harbinger of hellish training. But their determination was different this time. With the burning will to seize this chance, no one backed down.
"Perfect! Eat lunch and prepare for training right after. I'll show you the full might of the upgraded Five Nets Extreme Formation. Kuhaha!"
Norton was practically buzzing with excitement.
He's thrilled just thinking about testing the upgraded Five Nets Extreme Formation...
Whatever the reason, if it helped their training, it was a win-win.
And half a day later.
"Already exhausted, are we? Dig deeper!"
"Kugh... s-save me..."
"I-I'm giving up on Chung Hak Gwan..."
Before Norton's brutal training, most trainees collapsed to their knees. Watching their pitiful states, Norton's smile deepened.
I could confirm it then. Norton just wanted to test the upgraded formation's performance.
Ether Training Room.
This space was etched with ether concentration spells, making the ether density far thicker than elsewhere.
"Hoo..."
I sat cross-legged there.
Time to turn Wind Qi Gong into a skill.
Until now, I'd circulated ether according to Wind Qi Gong's formulas. But my infant-stage body couldn't handle it properly, making ether use wildly inefficient.
That's over now.
Adapted to my juvenile-stage body, it was ready for skill conversion.
Wind Qi Gong is the precursor to Wind White Heart Method, which I'll master later.
Wind White Heart Method—a whopping SS-rank. It was my identity, my other self, the core that elevated me to the top.
Its starting point was Wind Qi Gong.
Shaaa.
I immediately circulated the ether in my body per the formulas, focusing my mind. From the sea of latent ether within, a stream surged up, ready to course through my body.
Inhale.
Pain tore through my ether circuits. They were still too fragile for the vast ether flow I commanded. Juvenile stage made it inevitable.
Circuits tore and healed via Transcendent Regeneration, repeating endlessly.
Just a bit longer.
I gritted my teeth against the agony. Once Wind Qi Gong skillized, this pain wouldn't recur with mere circulation.
Skillizing a heart method paved my unpaved circuits like asphalt roads.
Kuuu—!
Hours of enduring torment while circulating per the formulas. Finally, it bit.
I felt the "Wind Qi Gong" road forming in my circuits and smirked.
Wind Qi Gong (E)
Got it.
I felt the ether pulsing explosively and grinned. The circuit pain vanished.
No more self-damage unless I overdraw.
Skill comprehension is high.
Wind Qi Gong (E) skill has been enhanced to Wind Qi Gong (A).
First condition for upgrading Wind Qi Gong (A) has been met.
Oh, already?
I blinked at the unexpected system messages. I'd thought A-rank would take time.
High comprehension led straight to this. Makes sense—my circulation path was optimized beyond what most could achieve without enlightenment.
I'd always maximized efficiency. That reflected immediately.
Now, when I reach maturity stage, I can jump straight to Wind White Heart Method.
Wind White Heart Method (SS). The supreme art unlocked by upgrading Wind Qi Gong. Raise to S-rank and molt to maturity for the upgrade.
Not S yet, but...
With prior experience, it was imminent. I overflowed with insight into both.
A-rank due to limited available ether.
Nice start.
The process satisfied me greatly.
Now Stealth lasts far longer.
From 0.98% per second to 0.25%. Four times longer mathematically.
But just the beginning. More ether and Wind White Heart Method would make Stealth's cost negligible.
"Hoo."
I exhaled, stood, and picked up my sword beside me.
Whoosh.
Wind White Swordsmanship (SS). I unleashed the unique art defining my identity alongside Wind White Heart Method.
My sword danced through the air.
Much smoother now.
Thanks to Wind Qi Gong? Some restrictions lifted.
Like swinging underwater before; now the pressure eased.
Screee—!
The blade grew sharper, faster with each swing.
Shaaa!
Faint wind energy—Wind White Swordsmanship's power—swirled around it.
Far from pre-regression typhoon levels, but wind on a blade at juvenile stage was promising.
Chung Hak Gwan entry? Piece of cake.
With firm resolve, I intensified training.
Overlord Club executive room.
Sturdy boys and girls gathered.
"They're selecting high-potential folks from the relay team battle for Chung Hak Gwan dispatch candidates."
"Oho, Chung Hak Gwan... tempting."
Even the elite of Sama Battleground's elites couldn't ignore it. Chung Hak Gwan dazzled them too.
"We have to join."
"Can't pass on Chung Hak Gwan."
Overlord Club committed. No entry limits meant opportunity—but fiercer competition.
"To Chung Hak Gwan—let's go!"
Fighting spirit echoed in the club.
Time flew.
Daily training left them drained, yet they trained without complaint, craving Chung Hak Gwan entry.
"Teams set?"
"Yes! Most are formed!"
I glanced aside. My teammates looked back.
Robed, Ruslan, Kind, and... Bishier.
Robed and Ruslan teamed with me naturally. Kind insisted too.
Have to bring Kind.
Loyalty to my shield(?). And he wasn't lacking—mid-to-upper among 29 peers.
Last spot: Kind tentatively suggested Bishier.
Bishier—shy, underperforms potential.
King mantis physique outdid me and Kind, but unused. Kind's daily guidance boosted her fast lately.
Even dung beetles roll snowballs in three years. He'd learned well shadowing me.
Thus, Bishier over others.
For Chung Hak Gwan candidacy, it's about my performance, not teammates.
Recent Wind Qi Gong and Wind White Swordsmanship gains made opponents irrelevant. At juvenile, I could carry a team solo.
Bishier was fine.
But...
Are those two dating?
They bantered playfully, like lovers.
Kind—chased Robed recently, now switched overnight.
Robed might feel slighted. I glanced; she stared at them, then met my eyes.
"... "
"... "
We locked gazes. Then Robed beamed radiantly.
Explosive beauty, like blooming flowers! Even I, disinterested in romance, felt a stir.
"Aleck! What after training today?"
"Hm... solo training, probably."
"Ah! Then spar with me after? Check my sword—I'm stuck lately."
"Sure, no problem."
Her feasts indebted me.
Perfect chance to repay—and train.
One stone, two bugs.
"Thanks!"
So thrilled? She smiled brightly again.
Then Ruslan murmured lowly.
"Being solo sucks."
"...?"
I tilted my head.
What’s he on about?
Anyway, teamed up, we trained fervently.
Soon, relay team battle prelim morning dawned.
"Alright! Let's go."
I gripped my sword hilt tight.
"Yeah!"
"Victory!"
"Go, fighting!"
With pumped teammates' shouts, we arrived at the prelim venue.