The rest of the flight passed much as any other. Once they arrived at the Combat Mountains, the four immediately separated themselves from the other students training throughout the region. Rather than choosing one of the flatter valleys, Lexa led everyone towards a series of jagged cliffs overlooking an enormous basin.
Large stone pillars naturally rose from the ground while broken mountain faces created enough obstacles that they could freely test destructive skills without disturbing anyone nearby.
After a brief discussion, they naturally split into two groups. Lexa would oversee Amber's training. Vexion would handle Elric.
Although the two groups stood several hundred meters apart, both Lexa and Vexion intentionally remained within each other's sensory range — should something unexpected happen, they could immediately reinforce one another.
Neither of them appeared particularly concerned. The academy's rules regarding Mythical Beings were extremely strict.
Students possessing Mythical Tier Skills were forbidden from intentionally attacking those beneath their own tier without legitimate cause.
Anyone foolish enough to break that rule would immediately attract the attention of the instructors.
As for Legendary-tier students, unless someone around the level 30s to 40s in the Legendary tier appeared, there was very little to worry about. From what they had gathered over the last few days, the truly troublesome second years had yet to fully return from their own examinations.
For today, this battlefield belonged to them.
Amber stood opposite Lexa.
Lexa folded her arms.
"Show me the two skills you displayed on the Void Ship."
Amber nodded. She slowly raised both palms. Golden mana gathered within her left hand before condensing into a small flame.
Unlike ordinary fire, it wasn't orange, nor crimson — its colour leaned towards a soft golden-yellow, carrying an almost gentle radiance. It gave off heat, but somehow also warmth.
Lexa observed it for nearly half a minute before speaking.
"A Light-Attribute Fire Skill?"
Amber nodded.
"It's something I observed growing up. There was a soldier in our empire. He wasn't anyone famous. But eventually he became a Captain. He often spent time with me when I was younger. He would demonstrate this skill while training. I've unconsciously stored its mana structure ever since."
Lexa blinked.
"I wasn't asking for its life story."
Amber immediately closed her mouth.
"...Sorry."
Lexa simply pointed toward her other hand.
"The second one."
Amber nodded. Mana surged once again. This time, several silver chains rapidly emerged from empty space before wrapping around her forearm.
Unlike ordinary chains, they looked almost crystalline — each link appeared unnaturally smooth while faint mana flowed continuously throughout them.
Lexa stepped closer. She reached out and gently grabbed one.
"...Interesting. It isn't simply creating chains."
Amber looked up.
"It isn't?"
Lexa shook her head.
"No. You're misunderstanding your own skill."
Amber blinked.
"I am?"
Lexa nodded.
"You aren't creating chains. You're deciding what becomes a chain."
Amber frowned.
"I don't understand."
Lexa pointed toward the surrounding terrain.
"Explain the skill."
Amber nodded.
"I can use ambient mana inside my body to create chains. I can also choose whether the chains themselves are formed entirely from mana, or—" She reached down, touching a nearby stone. The stone immediately liquefied before twisting into thick rock chains. "—I can convert existing matter into chains."
Lexa's eyebrows lifted.
"And?"
Amber continued.
"I can also reinforce them. I can choose how dense they become. How flexible. How hard. How much mana I continuously supply."
Lexa smiled.
"There. That's your actual ability."
She looked around.
"Your skill isn't Chain Creation. It's Matter Conversion using chains as the final product."
Amber froze. Lexa continued.
"Those are completely different concepts. You've been thinking about your ability backwards."
She crouched before picking up three objects — a stone, a broken branch, a chunk of metal left from someone's previous battle.
"Turn all three."
Amber immediately obeyed. Several seconds later, three completely different chains appeared. Stone chains. Wooden chains. Metal chains.
Lexa nodded.
"Good."
Then a tiny crimson dagger appeared upon her fingertip.
Slash.
The wooden chain instantly snapped apart, exploding into scattered splinters.
Another slash. The stone chain shattered. The final metallic chain survived a little longer before eventually breaking apart as well.
Amber stared. Lexa calmly explained.
"They're weak."
Amber lowered her head.
"...I know."
"No." Lexa interrupted. "They're weak because you're relying on shape. Not structure."
Amber frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Lexa casually tossed another rock into the air.
"Master explained something to me once. A weapon isn't strong because it looks like a weapon. It's strong because of what it's made from and how the user uses it"
She pointed at Amber's chains.
"You're obsessed with making chains. When you should be obsessed with making good material."
Amber's eyes widened. Lexa continued.
"If your mana itself becomes stronger, every chain becomes stronger. If the material becomes stronger, every chain becomes stronger. If your understanding of density improves, every chain becomes stronger. So stop thinking, 'How do I make chains?'"
She pointed at Amber's forehead.
"Instead ask, 'How do I make the strongest possible material?'"
Amber suddenly felt everything click together. Lexa wasn't teaching her a skill. She was teaching her a philosophy.
She pointed toward her own floating blood greatsword. The enormous weapon slowly descended before embedding itself into the mountain with a deafening boom. The surrounding earth trembled. Dust exploded into the sky.
Lexa calmly looked back.
"That. I don't need ten thousand swords. I only need one. My Master taught me that. If one strike ends the fight, why waste energy making a hundred?"
Amber slowly nodded.
"So — my chains—"
Lexa answered before she could finish.
"—shouldn't become more numerous. They should become better."
Amber's breathing unconsciously quickened.
Lexa smiled.
"Eventually. Today?" She pointed toward Amber. "I only have one goal. By sunset, I want you capable of fighting an ordinary Sage."
Amber nearly choked.
"W-What? I'm Level sixteen!"
Lexa shrugged.
"So?"
Amber stared. Lexa genuinely looked confused.
"So?"
She repeated herself.