Damian breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it was Hela, but then he became displeased when he heard her words.
"I'm not playing, I'm training. Also, give me back my knife."
"Training?"
Hela scoffed, her face full of disdain.
"This level is called training?"
She threw the knife to Damian, looked around, and casually picked up a small trowel.
"I'll teach you what training is."
No sooner had she spoken than Hela, trowel in hand, charged towards Damian.
Damian was startled by her actions, but he reacted extremely quickly, instantly raising his katana to block the attack.
"So-called training is fighting people without dying, honing killing techniques in combat. What you're doing can only be called playing."
As Hela spoke, the trowel in her hand swung continuously, her attacks sharp and fierce.
Damian could only fight and retreat, focusing intently on the trowel, not daring to be even slightly negligent, sweat beads constantly rolling down his forehead.
"Don't just focus on the weapon."
Hela's trowel hooked the katana, and her other hand punched Damian in the face.
Bang!
Damian felt a sharp pain in his face, as if hit by a heavy hammer, and he involuntarily let go of his grip.
When he came to his senses, her katana was already at his throat.
"Never let go of your weapon, unless your weapon can fly back to you on its own."
Hela stabbed the knife into the ground.
Damian watched Hela's retreating back, then unhesitatingly pulled out his katana and ran to block her.
"What, little one, do you want to continue?"
Hela looked at him playfully.
"Yes, please fight me."
Damian bowed, his eyes firm.
"Why should I? I don't have time to play house with you."
Hela shook her head, her gaze sweeping over Damian. The child's body was still too weak; a light tap on the face had already caused it to swell.
"When I become stronger, I can help you in the future."
Damian said with a serious expression.
"Well... alright, just don't cry."
Hela frowned, but finally agreed.
Because a voice came to her ear.
Your job is to fight Damian. As long as he doesn't die, you can do whatever else you want.
If I can't deal with your godfather, can't I deal with you?
Not dying, huh.
Just as I wished!
Hela's lips curved into a cruel smile.
The battle instantly erupted. Hela attacked without holding back, her trowel chopping, picking, and slapping.
Damian was knocked to the ground again and again, and again and again he gritted his teeth and got back up.
Damian's eyes also gradually turned cold, as if he had returned to his time in the Assassin Alliance.
He no longer cared about the injuries he sustained, and his moves were all lethal blows, exchanging injury for death.
Hela frowned, blocked an attack, and kicked him away.
"Little one, who taught you that? On the battlefield, you must avoid injuries if you can. Only if you can't avoid them should you consider exchanging injury for death. Like this, you wouldn't survive three seconds on the battlefield."
Hela scolded loudly, her face full of seriousness.
Damian came to his senses, realizing this was not the Assassin Alliance.
"Sorry, I used it subconsciously."
Damian said in a low voice.
"Forget these things from now on. I'll teach you new ones."
Hela said, and also began to pay more attention to this little one.
Although his body was weak, Damian's understanding of moves and his learning speed were extremely fast.
The moves she used could only be used twice against Damian; after two times, he could block and counter them.
Such excellent raw jade made her also pleasantly surprised.
— — —
Qinuo also saw the two training through the window.
Footsteps sounded from behind him.
"Gwen, sorry, I woke you up."
Qinuo turned around to see Gwen, wrapped in a blanket, her hair disheveled.
"It's okay, it was time to get up anyway."
Gwen came to the window and watched Hela beating Damian, a little puzzled.
"Qinuo, why do you let Damian undergo this kind of training? We can protect him."
Qinuo put his arm around Gwen's slender waist and said gently.
"Damian is different from other children. He knows what kind of path he wants to take. All I can do is give him help and support on that path, not presumptuously choose for him."
Gwen nodded slightly, her gaze still fixed on the two outside the window.
"Maybe you're right, but seeing Damian get knocked down like that again and again still makes me feel a little pained."
Qinuo picked up Gwen by the waist.
"Then let's not watch anymore. Let's take a bath together."
"Eh? Wait... I can wash myself."
Gwen exclaimed, instinctively wrapping her arms around Qinuo's neck.
"Don't be polite, I'll help you."
Qinuo said with a mischievous smile.
"I'm not being polite with you..."
Gwen's cheeks were flushed, but she didn't break free from Qinuo's embrace.
— — —
After knocking Damian down once more, Hela called a halt.
"Alright, stop! Today's training is over."
Damian propped himself up with his sword, struggling to stand, his body trembling slightly, but his eyes remained firm.
"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher."
Although it hurt a lot, he gained a lot today.
The killing intent during the sparring made him regain his state from the Assassin Alliance, and the techniques and breathing methods taught also gave him a deeper understanding and insight into combat.
"Teacher? I like that title. From now on, you can call me Teacher!"
"Yes, Teacher."
Hela led the bruised and battered Damian towards the living room.
Pamela and Xi had already prepared breakfast. Seeing the disheveled Damian, a flicker of heartache crossed their eyes.
"Hela, you've worked hard this morning. Go wash your hands first. Once I call the little ones down, we can eat."
"Hmm? Oh."
Hela nodded, a little confused.
These people's doting attitude towards Damian wasn't faked. Why didn't they hit her, or even complain?
Mom Venom came to Damian's side and gently touched his arm. Damian's wounds instantly healed as good as new.
"Hmm, now he's a sweet, soft little cutie again."
"Mom Venom, I'm all sweaty and dirty, don't rub on me," Damian said helplessly.
Mom Venom rubbed for a while then put Damian down.
Pamela put down the plate in her hand and walked over, gently patting the grass clippings off Damian's body.
"Damian, there's no rush with training. You still have plenty of time. Go take a bath and have a good time today," Pamela's voice was gentle and loving.
"I understand, Mom Pamela."
Damian also saw the heartache in Pamela's eyes and actively hugged her, burying himself in her embrace like a kitten seeking warmth.
"Good boy..."
Pamela gently stroked Damian's hair, her eyes full of doting affection and tenderness.
Black Phoenix, who was about to sneak a bite at the dining table, saw that Jean wasn't there and also came to Damian.
"Damian, call me Mom too."
Black Phoenix looked at Damian expectantly.
Damian hesitated for a moment, then obediently called out.
"Mom Black Phoenix."
"Good boy..."
Black Phoenix also imitated Pamela and stroked Damian's hair.
"Do you want some milk? I..."
"Black Phoenix, that's not allowed."
Pamela quickly stopped her.
"Why? He called me Mom, didn't he?"
Black Phoenix looked puzzled. In Jean's memories, mothers should feed their children milk.
"He's already grown up, he can't drink it."
Pamela explained, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Black Phoenix nodded, seemingly understanding yet not fully.
"Oh, so that's how it is."