Overwhelming Firepower

The next morning, Alexander arrived at the training grounds before sunrise.

He carried his broadsword across his back and a small traveling bag over one shoulder. He did not know how long the trip would last, so he had packed several changes of clothing, food, and a few basic supplies.

He had expected Lucen to be waiting for him alone. Instead, Cael stood near the entrance of the training ground, carrying his sword and a traveling bag of his own.

”Cael? Are you coming with us?” Alexander asked.

Cael nodded his head. ”My brother told me to prepare for a training trip.”

Alexander looked at him in surprise for a moment before calming down. It didn’t really matter to him who came on this training trip as long as Lucen taught them how to get stronger.

”Did Instructor Lucen tell you where we’re going?” Alexander asked.

”No,” Cael answered. Alexander smiled helplessly as he looked at Cael’s stoic expression.

”Then I guess we’ll find out together.”

Alexander and Cael then felt the presence of several people approaching the training ground. The people who appeared were the others from S-class.

Mina was the first to step forward. Behind her were Nina, Ryan, Catherine, Elion, and the others.

”How unfair, that only you two get to have special training.”

”I understand why Sir Lucen would favor his younger brother, but why you, I wonder?” Prince Elion spoke with a look of intrigue on his face.

Alexander did not know how to answer Elion’s question. It was not as if he knew the reason either. He had only asked Lucen if there was a way for him to become stronger faster, and Lucen told him to prepare for a trip.

”So where are you two going?” Ryan asked.

”We don’t really know.”

”So what are we supposed to do while you and the instructor are gone?”

The very second Nina asked that question, someone dropped down from the sky. The person who fell was none other than Lucen. It was as if he was listening to their conversation and was waiting for this exact moment to make his appearance.

”Of course, you guys continue training. I have already taught Catherine a lot of things; she should be able to help guide you while I’m away.”

Catherine tilted her head slightly toward Lucen’s voice. ”Me?”

”Yes, you. I taught you the basics of my style of fighting, called gun kata, remember. Just teach them the footwork and your own understanding of my gun kata.”

”... I will do my best, instructor,” Catherine answered, her voice sounding firm.

Mina stepped forward after hearing that. ”Instructor Lucen, can I come with them?”

Alexander looked at Mina in surprise. ”Mina?”

Mina did not look at him. Her eyes remained fixed on Lucen. ”I also want to become stronger.”

Lucen looked at her for a moment before shaking his head. ”No.”

Mina’s expression stiffened. ”Why?”

”Hm... It’s because of the difference in skill level. They are at the level where ordinary training is not enough to see great progress, while you are still at the level where such training will benefit you the most.”

Mina clenched her fists. She understood what Lucen meant, but understanding did not make it feel any better.

”So I am too weak to go with them?”

”No,” Lucen answered immediately. ”You are not too weak. You are simply standing at a different stage.”

Lucen can’t have one of the party members of the hero suddenly get an inferiority complex at this point.

”Mina,” Lucen continued, his tone becoming a little more serious. ”If I brought you with them right now, you would only be forced to chase after something that does not suit your current foundation.”

Mina bit her lip but remained silent.

”Alexander and Cael are both swordsmen. The place I am taking them to is connected to the path they are walking. Even if you came with us, what they gain there might not be something you can use.”

It was a lie mixed with truth, since both the Martial God and Heavenly Demon were at a level where they could teach using any weapon. Still, it was the truth that Mina would not be able to reach their standards for them to teach her.

Lucen looked at Mina’s clenched fists and approached, whispering softly enough for only her to hear.

”I also know the real reason you want to join is not that you want strength. It’s because you don’t want to leave someone’s side.”

The second she heard those words, Mina’s face turned crimson. ”W-w-w-what! What are you saying, instructor!” Mina suddenly shouted, surprising the others.

Alexander and the others looked at Mina, confused as to why she reacted in such a way.

”Are you alright, Mina?” Alexander asked worriedly. This action just made Mina blush even harder.

”Yes, yes, I’m fine!” Mina quickly stepped back, avoiding Alexander’s concerned gaze.

Lucen smiled faintly but did not tease her any further. ”Anyway, that is the reason you are staying here. Train properly. If you do that, you will become stronger in the way that suits you best.”

Mina took a deep breath, then nodded reluctantly. ”Understood.”

Lucen looked at the rest of S-class. ”Catherine will guide your footwork and firearm movements. When I return, I want to at least see some form of improvement.”

Several students straightened their backs at Lucen’s words.

Ryan raised his hand. ”What happens if we don’t improve?”

”Then, when I return, I will personally correct your bad habits.”

Ryan immediately lowered his hand. ”We’ll improve.”

Lucen nodded, satisfied with that answer. He then looked at Alexander and Cael. ”The two of you, it’s about time we leave.”

Alexander adjusted the strap of his traveling bag and nodded. Cael simply stepped forward.

Mina still looked a little unhappy, but she did not say anything else. She only looked at Alexander for a moment before lowering her voice.

”Don’t get hurt.”

Alexander smiled. ”I’ll try not to.”

”That doesn’t sound reassuring.”

”I’ll do my best not to get hurt.”

”That’s not much better.”

Lucen ignored the two and began walking toward the academy gates. ”If you’re done saying goodbye, follow me.”

Alexander quickly followed after him. Cael walked beside him at the same calm pace as always.

Ryan watched the three leave and scratched the back of his head. ”So... are we really training under Catherine now?”

Catherine turned her face toward Ryan’s voice. She took out her two revolvers, already loaded with the training rounds Lucen had prepared.

”We’ll start by all of you dodging. This is the best way for you to learn the footwork.” Without waiting for them to say anything, Catherine started firing at them.

***

Alexander expected Lucen to lead them toward the railway station or perhaps to one of the airship docks.

Instead, Lucen walked straight past the main road leading to the station.

Alexander glanced at the direction they were passing. ”Instructor Lucen, aren’t we taking the train?”

”No.”

”Then an airship?”

”No.”

Alexander waited for another explanation, but Lucen continued walking without saying anything else.

Cael, unlike Alexander, did not ask anything. He had full faith in his older brother. No matter what Lucen ordered, Cael would follow it without hesitation.

Alexander could not endure the silence for long. ”Instructor Lucen, how exactly are we going there?”

Lucen glanced back. ”On foot.”

Alexander stopped for half a step. ”On foot?”

”Yes.”

Hearing Lucen’s simple answer, Alexander no longer pushed through the conversation. It’s not like he did not expect something like this when Lucen said to prepare.

The trio then left Caelhart and started walking at a rather brisk pace. At first, Alexander thought it was only normal travel. That thought disappeared after the first hour.

Lucen did not slow down. The road beneath their feet changed from polished stone to packed dirt, then from packed dirt to uneven forest paths. Yet Lucen continued forward as if the terrain made no difference to him.

”Keep your breathing steady,” Lucen said without looking back. ”Don’t use your aura. Just focus on walking forward with a steady breath. Keep your movements minimal to preserve energy.”

That was when Alexander noticed that Lucen’s movement allowed him to not even leave heavy footprints like him and Cael. He then noticed Cael was trying to replicate the way Lucen moved, seeing this, Alexander did the same.

Lucen did not give them a formal lesson and simply kept walking. At first, Alexander thought that was all there was to it, but after a while, he realized that Lucen was changing his pace every few minutes.

Sometimes he walked quickly, sometimes slowly, and sometimes he moved over roots and stones without making a sound.

Cael followed without complaint, his icy eyes fixed on Lucen’s back. Alexander gritted his teeth and continued copying them.

By noon, his shoulders were heavy. By sunset, his legs burned. Yet Lucen still showed no sign of stopping.

Even Cael was sweating already, but he and Alexander continued in their desire to become stronger, pushing themselves forward.

Only when the sky had turned completely dark did Lucen finally stop.

Alexander nearly collapsed onto a fallen log, while Cael lowered himself to one knee, breathing harder than usual.

Lucen looked at them and smiled faintly. ”Good. You both lasted longer than I expected. We’ll camp here and start hunting for our food.”

Alexander looked into the dark forest and took a deep breath as he stood up. Cael did the same as the two grabbed hold of their weapons.

”Now then, if you can’t hunt your own food, then you don’t get to eat,” Lucen spoke with a wide smile on his face.