Chapter 6 : The Way Of Death

The movement arts available to him were all Will level and Peak Tier at the maximum. He couldn't take an art more exquisite and powerfull for now as it would be too dangerous for his body and mentallity.

As Hektor read through the differents arts, he could see that differents perspectives gave differents end to the art. Of course speed was something that was boosted in all the different movement arts but some were more focused on the variability and unpredictability. other on the strenght of the next attack,etc... the possibilities were infinite.

The Movement Arts were truly varied and gave endless opportunity to develop and grow stronger. For exemple there was the Flash Movement Art which gave an incredible boost in speed and could, after mastering it and practicing it to the peak, give a bonus in speed constantly and give a more indepth understanding of the Lightspeed Movement Art. It was an Intent Middle Tier Movement Art but could after mastering it make it to the Intent Peak Tier Movement Art. The problem was that this Movement Art had been blocked at a threesold. It couldn't bypass the Dao level as of this moment.

There was also the Earth and Wind Movement Art which could make the Earth and Wind help each step you took unconsciously. If you were concentrated on it you could boost your speed tremendously and reach a hundred kilometers per hours in a step. This Art gave a good boost in variability and was extremely suited to those focusing in survival ; defense, attack, speed... Everything was boosted a bit. It was a perfect art for those Warriors who were a bit weaker than other in term of attacks as they were also given a boost in each strikes they made.

Finally there was the Cloud Steps Movement Art which had as a feature, to help Warriors step on the air as if it was soil and earth. It was an extremely strong art for ranged Warriors as Archers, it was also good for weaker one. Scout, Rogues and Assasins were extremely well suited to practice this type of Movement Art. It was perfect to escape into the air or to stay unnoticed. Also it gave way to the Flying Movement Art. It was an art which made one as heavy as a feather. It was possiblle to fly thanks to this art.

Of course these Movement Arts weren't the only Arts there was on this shelf. There were also more specialised Movement Art as the Shadow's blending, Earth Escaping, Emperor's way, Vine Gliding and a lot more. These three Arts were just the ones which picked the interest of Hektor. He found them more suited to him. After some time of reflection he decided to choose the Flash Movement Art. It was created by the Church of light and Having a grandfather as an Elder of the Church was a benefit he choose to use. He could later ask him for pointers. it also gave a speed which wasn't easy to match. It was the only feature of the Flash and Lightspeed Movement Art but it was sufficient.

Hektor looked at the other shelf which was in fact in the corner of the Vault. He walked and soon only saw 5 or so Techniques.

'What a disapointment...'Hektor thought.

His disapointment wasn't against the Valerius familly. Of course No, they had done their best to gather everything there was in this Vault and each of these books were priceless. Hektor was just desapointed that nobody else, beside the five creators, choose to use the Katana and create new techniques.

One of them was a techniques which could deflect other attack and use it as an opportunity to strike, it was the principle of counter-attack. There was one that had the One Strike, One Death principle. Another made each attacks more powerfull than the last. The fourth Techniques were filled with illusion and could make one loose focus during the fight. Finally the last Technique could send shockwaves.

It was a simpler choice as Hektor only wanted to kill Beasts. he didn't want to fight or battle, no, he wanted to kill them easily and in the fastest way possible. Hektor directly choose the Art with the principle of the One Strike, One Death. Its name was The Way Of Death.

It was a peculiar techniques as it didn't give moves to repeat and practice. Hektor had to meditate and sense his state constantly. After a certain amount of time he would be able to do it while moving, then while fighting and it would eventually become as natural as breathing. After that came the Flow. Hektor had to perceive the Flow of his Katana and follow it. this Flow was different for everyone and it couldn't be described. After finding it you had to adventure yourself and make you known by death.

The Techniques finished there. It was extermely vague and didn't give a lot of pointers but the thought of the benefits mentionned were too strong to ignore. Just by sensing your state while meditating you could develop inner sight. After sensing your state in movement, you could perfect your move depending on your energy's consumption. It was extremely benefic for the future. Also if you could follow the Flow, your attack, speed, defense, variability,etc.. would improve. It was extremely strong with concise and precise attacks. It was focused on deadly strikes which aimed for the vitals : head, neck, heart, etc...

It was an extremely powerfull Techniques. that was for sure. After having that done, Hektor went back to the reception and gave his goodbye to Elder Gambermont. He exited the tall building and went to his courtyard and mansion.

*****

Sat in Lotus position, after memorizing every single words of The Way Of Death, Hektor tried to have a go and acces The State.

He focused his breath as indicated in the book and relaxed himself.

His every thought had to be controlled so that it focused on himself and himself only. Other parasites thoughts had to be wiped out. Of course it was extremely difficult, your thoughts aren't easily controlled and they can surge in a instant and drown you into a dream.

Hektor had to control these thoughts and make them focus on his heart first. It was too soon to concentrate on his whole body for now.

As he concentrated all his attention on his heart he slowly heard his heart beats.

THUMP THUMP.

THUMP THUMP.

Every beats were loud and irregular. The fact that Hektor was focusing his entire attention on his heart made him unconsiously breathe faster or slower rendering his heart beats completely irregular. If he wanted to take control and to ser everything he need to sense what he wanted to sense without leading to disarray inside himself.

Slowly, as Hektor practiced more and more his Technique, his heart beats began to slow and resume a regular rythm.

When he arrived in that State he briefly could sense that his heart was clearer than before. Not a lot, just what was enough to perceive it as a change.

Suddenly, Hektor was ejected from this State and ended covered in sweet, panting.

It was a small drawback. Often when you lost your attention during the practice of the technique, the control you had exercised on your body was taken away and you ended up in pain and sweeting profusely.

'I can confidently say that this technique has an enormous potential. I'm a bit excited to discover it and untavel its secret.'

After a long day, Hektor decided to take a bath and rest as tomorrix he had to meet the Pope to negotiate his arranged marriage.

Arrived in the bath, he relaxed himself before suddenly sensing his pore opening and sucking the little amount of herbs there was in his bath. Soon nothing could be seen beside hot water and his body began to scream. He sensed as if he was desydrated but he had to take water not to his mouth, but to his whole body. Well the water was the nutriments presents in the medicinal herbs put into the bath tonight but in any case he had to ask for more medicinal herbs.

"Servant !!" Hektor shouted.

He had needed a lot of time to get used to call these people like that, but well that was the norm in this world and he was an extremely lind, gentle and protective young master. He had to get used to it.

A servant cale running and knelt down.

"Don't worry with the formalities, tell father that from now on, I will take a bath with 5 kilograms of medicinal herbs everyday. Tell him, it's a necessity for practice. Gather what you have in stock today and come give me 5 kilograms now." Hektor said ti the servant.

The servant bowed and walked away quickly. He came back with a big sac of herbs. Hektor thanked him and closed the door behind him.

He spread the herbs in his bath and enjoyed as his every pores and cellsscreamed in joy and absorbed every nutriments it needed.

After an hour in the bath, Hektor got up and walked away.

He went to bed and slowly closed his eyes.

'Good night, Hektor, tomorrow will be an important day, but know that regardless of what happens tomorrow, today you discovered a lot of interesting and promising things.' And Hektor fell asleep.