Chapter 42: All I Know is Pain
Thanks for helping with the idea I'll be sure to create a Fanfic of it at a later time when I have more chapters or not.
Anyway here's the chapter as promised!
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Chapter 42: All I Know is Pain
~Albus POV~
All I know is pain.
Everything hurts as I lay on the couch in Pietro's workshop while Maria seems to have had a very good time beating my ass purple and blue all over.
And a very noticeable ice pack on my balls of the non-enhanced aura defenses was down.
It hurts.
Laying down applying some Healing Magic on myself and my Aura actively regenerating after getting broken over and over again was a big pain.
Pietro just give me a deadpan stare as Maria enjoys her time watching the news as he spoke to me, "I see that Maria didn't go easy on you kid. I pity youngsters like you. Especially your lower regions."
Oh, screw you Pinocchio version of Geppetto.
But it was a learning experience that was for sure having Maria beat the living shit out of me in close quarters combat as I thought I had the advantage if I timed it right.
Nope.
Just the crushing hope of reality that I can't fight for shit because of the difference of skill and most importantly the reality I suck against close-range fighters IF it's not a fight to the death then I'm screwed.
I tried to form a defense against Maria but she keeps outpacing me in speed and reaction timing that I have so little time to defend against her strikes.
My face was making a scowling expression as Maria began to teach me where I went wrong, "Look, kid. From the looks of things you usually fight long-range but when it comes to close range… sad to say that attempt swinging your sword was crap."
Harsh and true.
Maria continues onward as she began to explain to me where I went wrong in the fight we both had, "The first of many mistakes that became apparently clear to me is that you never had a 'real' fight before against people with Aura. The Hazel guy you mentioned you got off lucky with a sneak attack and forced him away while you take his truck that was smart. Fighting against an Aura-enhanced experienced fighter? That's stupid. Glad you have a good head on you."
Yup.
I can already tell that my weakness is my inexperience in actual fights here.
It was apparently shown as Maria has kindly demonstrated in our spar I didn't last a few minutes only a few seconds at best dodging before I got overrun by her personally and her fierce fighting styles.
Rushing towards me and dodged around like she was dancing as if it was easy for her.
She has experienced so that's natural what wasn't how easy of a target I was once I didn't use my abilities.
Magic and Alchemy are my main go-to in fights as I can have the elements of surprise on my side this however is a different story.
If I were to have used them the situation would've been much more different but sadly, I decided to restrict myself from using them during training against people like Maria.
Sadly I have to admit that I need to work on the physical condition of my body first.
That was the reason why I never used my Alchemy and even trying to explain my magic to Maria wasn't something I even bothered to discuss with her.
No need to spread about magic to her but eventually I would have to ask her the truth.
For now, though I just need to train my physical strength and master my aura.
Because quite frankly I'm pretty shitty at fighting close quarters as Maria began to talk to me some more about my fighting styles, "Say Albus right? I noticed that you have your sword but not mechas parts? Ain't into weapon hybrids?"
Glancing my head at her I shook my head as I began to explain my reasoning to her, "In all honestly not really. While having a mech weapon sounds cool and all I prefer the simple use of weapons. Besides, don't mechas weapons need adjustments or get clogged up when they change forms though?"
"That would be right Albus."
Coming out of his personal workshop came Pietro as who seemed to have finished some work with his client as he spoke, "While having Mechas Weapons are more modern mindset most of their users tend to forget to get them checked up. I can see why you use a simple set as a sword katana."
Also, that raised another question actually?
Speaking out loud as I look at the ceiling, I began to talk to Maria the obvious question as I talked to her, "Say, Maria? Out of curiosity's sake, how come most Huntsman doesn't even have armor as protection even with aura?"
Blinking at this Maria thought for a bit before she finally replied with an answer to my question, "Well… I guess it's because most think to go with fashion styles for themselves. We usually rely on Aura to get us through so there wasn't a need to get armor as extra protection. Why thinking of getting some new ones for yourself?"
To be fair the armor I have is made of the same material used for Greed Ultimate Shield so no thanks plus they are very conductive metals that can handle the power of Thunder going through them.
So, no.
Shaking my head at the option for the extra armor I can create my own thank you very much.
Like that Maria returned to my topic of training again as she spoke to me in a professional-like manner, "Anyway the case in point here is that you suck at close-range fights. But over our spars, you'll get used to the quick motion action. But the main thing is you haven't used your alchemy in the fight right?"
Nodding at that she sighed and came –
*Bonk*
"Ow…. What was that for!"
Somewhat annoyed by the sudden bonk to my head Maria scolds me about not going all out as I have in a harsh manner, "Don't pull that crap with me, mister. Look kid next time we spar go all out. Because let me tell you don't ever hold back in a fight or else you lose something precious. I lost my eyes because I got cocky and didn't take the fight with that Crocodile Faunus seriously before it was too late. Don't ever hold back on my account go all in for an attack or else you pay the price."
Next, she explains to me to not hold back?
Hmm…
She does speak the truth in her words as she talked to me about holding back since the way she spoke was from experience.
I…
I keep on forgetting the fact that I could die or lose something important as well like Maria said.
Is it wrong to worry if my power goes off out of control by accident?
Looking above though what Maria said made sense as I let myself hold back for the sake of training my physical strength.
I should probably take her advice seriously though as she is a professional at this.
Maybe I should make it a habit to attack with my strongest possible attack first.
"Or else kid I'll go for your little brother by cutting off next time if you don't go all out!"
Ah!
You monster!
Leave my little brother alone!
Hasn't it suffered enough!
Sighing out my breath Maria grinned slightly at this as she began to talk to me with some words of advice, "Don't worry much kid. You're still learning it's just natural. Still, though you do seem naturally stronger physically than most I know especially since you cracking ice by slamming the fist into it."
Yeah…
That would be thanks to my Oni biology on that front of Re: Zero as they casually destroy trees like sticks so my physical strength is much to be desired.
Guess got to add physical control of my body along with the list of things needed to do.
Slumping over to my side on the couch Maria began to talk to me kindly as she spoke, "Since your little boy balls need a break how about we take this chance to discuss about the uses of Aura. At least you need to understand the fundamental of using your aura for the purposes of sonar, senses, enhancement, protection, and subconscious awareness."
I gave off a confused expression as I heard the last part as Maria explains to me why the last part is needed, "Sigh… it's mostly so that a Huntsman Aura is active. Aura activates when they consciously intend to protect themselves. Will talk more on the subject later now then…"
Like that Maria spent the next few hours talking to me about how to properly use my aura as I took in and absorbed the useful information like a sponge.
Yeah.
And next sparring match I won't hold back using my Alchemy.
And maybe tell Maria about my Magic but only when the time is right.
Telling her about Magic is too soon but, in the future, maybe I will for now though I need to focus on training.