WebNovels

Chapter 111 - One Step Further

The tank-carriage continued its steady advance as Lucca meticulously reviewed every detail, following the guidelines Mok had given him before their departure. The path was uneven, rocky, and narrow, but the tank moved forward without issue, its front lanterns illuminating the dark trail like car headlights in the middle of the night.

"I wonder what it's like to train in those places they call mental training planes," Lucca mused quietly, lost in thought. "Well, I guess I'm not worthy, which is why they didn't give me one of those beings to accompany me. But it doesn't matter; my lord Serlet gifted me this staff to defend them while their bodies remain in a trance and their minds are training. Although… so far, I don't even know how it works."

Lucca smiled at himself, trying to distract his mind with small details to pass the time. "The good thing is that we're on schedule. Just one more day and we'll reach Reedalia." He glanced at a small teacup in his hands. "I made this tea, but it didn't turn out as good as the ones Mok, the butler, makes. When I have time, I'll ask him how he prepares it."

Elsewhere, Alita trained under the watchful eye of Nakia, her avian mentor.

"Not bad," Nakia said, pride evident in her voice. "I'm proud of you. You're already learning the element of the earth. All that's left is for you to master air magic, and then we can start with its derivatives, like lightning or ice."

"Yes, Master," Alita replied with gratitude, bowing her head slightly. "Thank you for the training."

Meanwhile, Ron was undergoing rigorous training under the supervision of Chiki, his canine mentor.

"Man, you stubborn fool," Chiki growled impatiently. "You still have a long way to go. You've only reached the second phase of your armor. You haven't even matched the level you used against Troba. I think I've been too soft on you."

Ron, with an enormous rock on his back, responded between gasps: "You call stretching me with machines, pulling me with horses, and carrying tons of weight 'soft,' you beggar dog?"

"Yes," Chiki replied coldly, crossing his arms as he observed his student with a stern expression. "But I'll make you stronger in the little time we have." The small chihuahua began transforming into the fearsome crimson wolf, his scarlet fur gleaming under the dim light. He wore spiked gloves on his knuckles, a fitted black vest, and a blue bandanna that stood out against his intimidating appearance.

"Wow, Master, I've never seen you in that form before," Ron remarked in awe, though the rock on his back barely allowed him to stay upright.

"Yeah, I only used it when we were in the tunnels with Paltio," Chiki replied calmly, though his eyes shone with determination. "That friend of mine always has to witness the coolest things," he added in a sarcastic tone.

"Alright, I'll beat that armor out of you. Get ready, kid. This time, I'm serious." Chiki let out a fierce howl that echoed through the air, alerting Ron of what was coming.

"No, Master, no!" Ron shouted, visibly terrified as he watched Chiki approach with determined steps.

With a single finger, Chiki shattered the massive rock Ron was carrying, breaking it into a thousand pieces. Seeing Ron instinctively close his eyes, Chiki let out a mocking laugh. "Pathetic, kid. You should be ready," the canine added.

"I almost peed my pants… though I don't know if that also happens in the real world," Ron thought to himself, trying to regain his composure while feeling his body tremble with anticipation.

"Stop thinking nonsense; your friends are training too. Less talk, more fighting. So get ready," Chiki ordered in an authoritative tone, his eyes gleaming with a mix of impatience and determination.

Ron glanced at him sideways, adjusting his gloves while muttering under his breath: "Alright..." Reluctantly, he adopted a defensive stance, ready to face whatever Chiki had planned.

On another training plane, Paltio continued fighting with Toco-Toco. This time, however, he had managed to catch up with the cat, something Toco-Toco didn't take lightly.

"So now that you've caught up with me, do you think you're ready to train with me, boy?" Toco-Toco meowed sarcastically, his tail swaying slowly as if restraining his fury.

"Don't get cocky with me, kid," Paltio retorted, though his confidence wavered when Toco-Toco began transforming into his Felica form, emanating a terrifying aura. The cat lunged at Paltio with inhuman speed.

"Wow, boy... You've made Toco-Toco angry. You'd better pay the consequences," Golden commented from afar, observing the scene with a half-smile. Paltio swallowed hard as he realized Toco-Toco's combat form was on another level. However, his desire to face him was stronger than his fear.

In another corner of the plane, Rykaru was facing soldiers created by Golden. They were no longer simple paper replicas but detailed recreations of previous enemies, like the fearsome Oroboros or the imposing Raitrobal.

The young Rykaru defended himself skillfully, dodging attacks with feline agility while attempting to counterattack. Golden observed from the shadows, impressed yet critical. "Not bad," he thought aloud. "But you need more than just defense. You must fight and defeat the enemy!" he shouted, his voice echoing like a ripple in the infinite space.

Meanwhile, Lukeandria was training with Lume. The young woman had created versions of herself so realistic they seemed to have lives of their own. The clones attacked in unison, moving with military precision.

"Not bad, girl," Lume acknowledged with a slight nod. "But you need more realism." With a quick gesture, he summoned copies of himself to counter Lukeandria's clones. The figures fought in a chaotic dance of blows and strategies, each movement calculated to outwit the other.

In another mental sector, Mok was training alongside Geki, who was showing him how to wield any imaginable arsenal. Mok gazed in admiration at the vastness of the training plane, which seemed to defy logic.

"So this is what they call a training plane... It's impressive," Mok reflected aloud as he assessed the surrounding environment.

"Butler, I see you can use weapons like those knives with invisible threads and that crimson sword, but they're no match for my shield," Geki remarked calmly, pulling out a shield that effortlessly blocked all of Mok's attacks.

"You still have a long way to go. Look, I'll teach you how to conjure better weaponry," Geki said before summoning a group of spears that danced around him like metallic serpents. With a fluid motion, he launched them toward Mok.

The butler tried to defend himself with his knives, but they were instantly repelled. When the spears struck his crimson sword, they pierced through his defenses as if they didn't exist, slicing his suit.

"Wow, that guy's fast," Mok muttered, adjusting his stance as he evaluated his opponent. "I can't let my guard down."

"You can use any of your weapons, but the result will be the same," Geki assured confidently with a smug smile. Before Mok could respond, Geki summoned a wall of spinning shields, forming an impenetrable barrier around him. A beam of energy emerged from the center, shooting directly toward Mok, who barely managed to dodge it.

Brilliant rays emerged from within Geki's spinning shields, lashing out toward Mok like whips of pure energy. The butler could only dodge the attacks with quick and precise movements, but he couldn't get close enough to counterattack. The rays seemed to anticipate his every move, blocking any attempt to approach.

"Not bad, butler," Geki acknowledged with a satisfied smile as he directed all the attacks toward Mok's crimson sword. "But you need more offense."

With one final concentrated beam, Geki aimed directly at the blade of Mok's sword. Before Mok could react, the blade split in two with a metallic flash. Mok stared in shock at the remnants of his weapon, now useless.

"Well, I guess that sword isn't made to withstand this place," Geki said calmly, crossing his front paws. "Why don't you try this one?" He then pulled an impressive sword from his inventory. Its hilt was made of a gleaming crimson diamond, and its blade appeared to be crafted from transparent, almost ethereal crystal. At first glance, it looked like a delicate work of art, something you'd expect to see in a museum rather than on a battlefield.

"This cuts through everything better than your crimson sword. It's called CRIMSON CRYSTAL," Geki explained proudly, handing it over to Mok. "Despite its fragile appearance, this weapon can cut through anything, even the hardest metal in this world... or so I believe."

"Test it out, butler," Geki challenged, his expression a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

Mok took the sword cautiously, examining it first. He inspected the crimson diamond hilt, its surface so smooth it seemed carved by divine hands. Then he ran a finger along the transparent blade, noticing that, though it appeared fragile, it was imbued with a powerful energy that vibrated under his touch. It was lightweight, almost as if it floated in his hands, yet it radiated a latent strength that promised devastation.

"Think fast!" Geki suddenly shouted, launching a massive boulder toward Mok with impressive speed.

Without hesitation, Mok swung the sword in one fluid motion. As he did, an invisible wave of energy surged from the blade, striking the boulder directly.

What happened next left both of them astonished: the boulder didn't just split—it was instantly pulverized into fine dust, floating in the air like sand carried by the wind.

"Oops! I guess it was too sharp. My bad," Geki commented, scratching the back of his neck with a nervous laugh.

But instead of reproaching him, Mok gazed at the sword with genuine awe. "This weapon is incredible," he murmured, slowly turning it in his hands to admire it under the dim light of the training plane. He could feel the energy within the blade resonating with every movement, as if it were an extension of his own body.

"If you thought that was good, wait... you haven't seen anything yet," Geki said with a mischievous smile that revealed his excitement. His eyes gleamed with an intensity that was almost frightening, as if he were planning something much bigger and far more dangerous.

More Chapters