14 Footwork
After the wholesome and intimate nights with his wives, it was now morning and he got ready to go to Relaena's mountain peak.
After arriving in front of the mansion, he was greeted with a spear piercing his throat, or so he thought.
"!!!" Roman was shocked, it was his first time experiencing near-death although it seemed as if nothing happened.
"That's for making your master wait for you, I hope my illusion felt good." said Relaena who put something up like a barrier on top of the mountain peak and showed her true kitsune form with 8 tails and her eyes blue as if lightning sparks were in her eyes.
"I set up an array so that no one can enter or see inside so that you can use your bloodline and weapon when training. I've also revealed my true form."
"But as I can no longer hold my excitement, be ready to defend because we're sparring and I won't show you any mercy!" said Relaena with a wide smile, swiftly thrusting her Spear towards Roman leaving blue sparks behind on her previous steps.
Because everything happened so fast Roman was still processing everything Relaena said and the near-death feeling didn't go away.
But having no time to adjust Roman called "AETURNUS", spinning Aeturnus really fast he hoped it would stop the spear in front of him, but Relaena simply moved up behind him and pierced her spear through his heart.
"Guuuh..." clenching his teeth and enduring the pain not wanting to show any weakness due to his demonic pride.
"By spinning your power pole it gained too much momentum and you couldn't react fast enough. Stop wasting so much movement and energy, look at me, my body, my spear, my being. Never lose track. Always keep your eyes open and focus."
"Calculate my trajectory and deflect my attack with a simple parry, then counterattack." teached Relaena
Roman listening to his master immediately snapping back to reality focused on her and stood on guard.
Again she dashed with blue sparks trailing behind her towards Roman, now with unwavering focus Roman was ready to deflect the attack, just as he was about to, Relaena retracted her spear and thrusted it through Roman's left knee, rendering it uncapable of standing.
He was going to fall but his right leg didn't allow him to and as Relaena retracted her spear ready to attack again, he deflected it with a powerful parry of Aeturnus.
"Hoo, as expected you learn fast but I have seen enough, this won't nearly be enough. You waste way too much movement resulting in an even greater waste of energy. You've never trained martial arts before, have you?" asked Relaena
In a hoarse voice Roman said "No, I've only been cultivating and haven't trained any martial arts."
"I see, rest for 15 minutes, it seems it will take some time for you to get used to the feeling of near-death. In the meantime, I'll go get you a martial art." said Relaena disappearing due to the immense speed.
'*sigh* get used to the feeling of death? Can I even get used to that?! What sort of psycho did I accept as my master...' thought Roman.
Roman felt weird, it was as if his whole body, mind and soul were tingling. It was cold, paralyzing and he saw and felt death.
...
...
Relaena was back with a medium sized book in her hands "Here, this is the 'Basic Footwork Technique' it's a very simple but often overlooked technique. If you master this you will see huge leaps of improvement in your movement."
"If you can master it, you will be able to use it together with your weapons to avoid wasteful movement. Your balance and mobility will also improve, making you a stronger opponent in any given situation."
"This technique sets a great foundation for any other technique you would like to learn and it's the best thing to learn at your current level."
In to which Roman replied "Thank you master, I'll master this technique for sure"
"Of course you are, I would beat some sense into you if you won't." said Relaena turning around and showing her fluffy tails just out of Roman's arms reach.
Though as his curiosity got the better of him, with a quick step he touched them, it felt like paradise, so smooth, so soft...
"O-O-Oi, Y-You, what are you doing!!" said Relaena with a big blush smacking Roman's arm, breaking it in the process because of the force.
Not showing his pain Roman simply asked with a smile "Did I do something wrong?"
In to which Relaena replied "No. You did not.. , but I just got a great idea."
"I'm gonna put you into one of my nice little illusions again, okay, if you miss a step your head will roll. Good luck on mastering all of it~!" said Relaena with a devilish grin that had a weird contrast with her blush.
'What?! Psycho!!' Roman cried inwardly while his view changed and now he was on a flat short grassland, nothing in sight, so he started practicing.
All went well until he miss stepped and a slash of energy sliced his neck and his head fell on the ground, his body still standing, the moment his head touched the ground, Roman was back as if nothing happened.
'How? How am I supposed to get used to that?!'
...
...
After training on the flat grassland for hours and failing multiple times, each time he got punished. From getting beat up and cut apart to getting his bones ripped open and his intestines smashed into nothing but blood. Roman vomiting and sleeping multiple times to set his mind at peace.
Unbeknownst to Roman this was increasing his willpower and pain resistance tremendously, together with the multicolored lily, who was stabilizing his mind and soul.
But after the hours of training Roman Mastered the first of five steps. As if confirming this, his view changed and the surrounding area changed to freezing temperature, the ground now full of ice and slippery.
The second step focused on different conditions beginning from freezing and ending in volcanic temperature. Different gravity, etc.
'There is no time to waste, the faster I finish, the faster that I will be stronger.' thought Roman with a gaze of sheer determination.
...
...
Days if not weeks have passed and Roman had mastered 4 steps and now trying to comprehend the fifth.
The first step was the footwork itself, the second step focused on the battle conditions, the third was on different terrain, steep hills, unbalanced ground, etc, the fourth taught one how to use the footwork with the body to get as much force with the fastest and most efficient movement. And the fifth was a formless step.
By mastering the previous four steps one could now try to integrate and comprehend the formless step so that it could be used in any given situation, that was when one truly mastered the 'Basic Footwork Technique'.
Still the comprehending of this step was no easy task, Roman was failing it constantly, already developing an indomitable will and indescribable pain resistance due to the amount of deaths and pain he suffered.
...
...
After weeks or months inside of the illusion, Roman had finally Mastered the 'Basic Footwork Technique'. Remembering the feeling of cutting an illusion, Roman simply did it again.
*Shatter*
Roman stood up from a lotus position in front of Relaena's mansion with a ferocious gaze, something he developed through the pain and death he suffered.
Suddenly hearing a playful voice "As expected, breaking an expert's illusion and mastering a basic technique wouldn't be challenging for someone talented like you. And your gaze, your gaze became so hot~"
"What do you say, wanna spar?" said Relaena the eight-tailed kitsune with a slightly red face, her left hand on her belly and her right hand on her face.
"Sure, let's spar, Master. But be careful after not being able to release some steam as an incubus, maybe I'll win and claim my trophy" said Roman flirtatiously.
"Hahaha, first you grabbed my tails and now you dare covet your master too, if you aren't stronger than me keep dreaming, little disciple~ Hahaha" said the kitsune with a crazy smile.
With a wide devilish grin Roman said "Oh I will, I'll keep dreaming and make it come true. Now let's fight shall we!!"
