It is known as "distorted." These attributes do not conform to logic. He paused before continuing, an extremely small number of people may have this distorted attribute, but every one of them is a powerful being.
Matthew hesitated for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. "There's an unconfirmed rumour. "They say those with a distorted attribute carry a flaw—something they must bear to handle that kind of power.
Matthew stood up and said, "That's all the theory you'll get for today. It's now practical time." He dusted off the dirt as he spoke.
Aidan stood, slightly unwilling. The world of Rankers was too fascinating, he thought, before asking, "How powerful is my father?" He looked at Matthew expectantly.
Matthew stopped and turned. "Your father?" A smirk appeared on his lips. He held up his index finger and pointed at the tip. "He could destroy this castle with this tip alone."
Aidan's eyes widened, unable to make sense of it. A shiver ran down his spine. If Matthew had said "spell" or something similar, he would have understood—but destroying the entire castle with the tip of a finger felt absurd. The castle was already massive, with an inner section where the Wilson lineage lived and an outer section housing guards, servants, and captains, along with gardens in both areas. Suddenly, he remembered Henry's words: "Even one-fourth rank is more than enough to protect an entire empire."
Aidan couldn't help but widen his eyes as another shiver ran down his spine. But His initial fear soon turned into excitement. He laughed, uncaring of what others thought—the same laugh he had before dying. Clutching his stomach with one hand and his head with the other, his grin widened, reaching his eyes. He wanted that power.
This was it. He felt his body burning, his blood rushing faster. He would gain this power, to be free. He would break any chains that tried to restrain him. He would be strong.
Matthew felt a chilling sensation as he saw Aidan's terrified expression transform into pure joy, full of laughter. His eyes held a maniacal glint. This kid… Matthew thought, swallowing hard. He's going to be troublesome.
Aidan's laughter froze as his emotions began to calm. The field, which had been bustling with training recruits, fell silent.
Aidan glanced at Matthew before shifting his gaze toward the recruits, who were staring at him and whispering in hushed tones.
Face palming, Aidan realized what had just happened as his excitement subsided. Damn it.
Now, everyone was giving him odd looks, as if he were insane. Matthew, too, averted his gaze, avoiding eye contact.
What has happened to me? Aidan questioned internally. Ever since that wolf attack, I seem to have changed. Have I become a psychopath or something?
Matthew, seeing that Aidan had completely calmed down, interjected. Shrugging his shoulders, he said, "Listen, I don't care why you laughed, but before laughing like a maniac, show me something."
Aidan nodded, embarrassed, his face turning red.
Matthew sighed at Aidan's reaction before saying, "Give me five rounds around the field."
"Alright, teacher," Aidan said hurriedly before sprinting off to complete the laps.
Matthew massaged his forehead and muttered, "Troublesome indeed."
By the third lap, Aidan's T-shirt clung to his back with sweat, his muscles protesting with each stride, his breath coming in short puffs. Yet he pushed harder, determined not to give up. As he completed the final lap and staggered to a stop before Matthew, his chest heaved like bellows, but he forced himself to stand straight.
Matthew observed him, scanning his condition. "At least you're not completely useless. I thought you might give up, seeing your state," he muttered. "Now, let's see if you can throw a proper punch. But first, take a ten-minute break. Your body isn't strong enough to push too hard yet."
Aidan nodded and sat down to catch his breath.
After wiping the sweat from his brow, Aidan stood before Matthew, who stepped into a basic fighting stance. "Feet shoulder-width apart," Matthew instructed, nudging Aidan's legs with his foot. "Right foot back, knees slightly bent. You're not a tree—stay light."
Aidan mirrored the stance well—he had been practicing it for months now, and as a former martial artist on Earth, he knew the basics of combat. He wasn't as much of a noob as everyone thought.
Matthew arched a brow. "Not bad," he said before moving behind him to adjust his slightly tilted posture. "This is how you stand if you don't want to eat dirt immediately."
Matthew stepped in front again and demonstrated a simple jab. "Lead with your left. Don't telegraph it. Just snap it out and back." Aidan attempted the motion, his arm moving stiffly.
"Have you been practicing this before somewhere?" Matthew questioned, his eyes narrowing.
Aidan relaxed his stance before answering, "Yes. After watching the training ground, I practiced at night."
"Show me all the moves you've practiced until now," Matthew commanded, stepping back to give Aidan space.
Aidan took a steady stance and began his demonstration. He started with quick, precise jabs, followed by a strong cross. Transitioning smoothly, he executed horizontal and upward elbow strikes, keeping his form sharp.
Next, he demonstrated a controlled push kick, then a side kick with perfect balance. Finishing his routine, he slipped past an imaginary strike and delivered a tight, practiced hook. Every movement was fluid and precise, a testament to his training. Aidan stepped out of his stance and looked at Matthew.
Matthew couldn't understand how Aidan performed the techniques so well. Even if he had practiced after watching the training ground, he shouldn't be this familiar with them—yet it felt like he had practiced for years.
While there were some flaws, they weren't major—things that would naturally improve through real combat, not just training. Some skills needed to be sharpened before they could truly cut.
Watching him, Matthew felt as if this kid was like a finely crafted blade—every edge in place, just waiting to be sharpened until it was ready to cut. Scratching his head, Matthew shook it and said, "You've done well. Just practice a few more sets of those techniques for now. Let me know when you're finished. After that, I'll teach you how to sense your aura and how to form a core."
Aidan clenched his hand, unable to wait to sense his aura.