42 42: The Five Powers

Before the battle between Fushigiro and Octavian Bear could even start. Caleb didn't really understand anything. Fushigiro just punched the bear on the back of the head and the big guy flopped to the ground with a bubble of saliva in its mouth. However, he was sure of one thing. The Octavian Bear died for some reason.

'That's it? So anti-climatic?'

He had thought that he would see some flashy techniques or tense battles. But the fight ended in just two moves. The thing that amazed him the most, though, was the footwork. Imagine, if he could learn it. He would have another move that would increase the chances of his survival.

Suddenly, Caleb felt a strong force grip his shoulders. When he turned around, he saw Dunn looking at him.

"I know you're confused. But don't worry, this uncle will explain to you what happened."

Hearing this, Caleb's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Of course, kid. *Coughed* I mean Johan. Well, you should've already known that the captain is the strongest of us, right? Do you know why?"

As if to think hard, Caleb's eyes deepen. After a few seconds of pondering, he hesitantly asked. "His techniques and battle style?"

"Well, yes. But specifically, it's his five techniques called Five Powers." Dunn's eyes turned solemn as he said this, making Caleb gulp. "You see. Those five techniques are the pinnacle of martial arts techniques. They are called powers due to them having the capacity to match the force of a Tier 9 Destiny! Incredible, right?"

Dunn laughed.

Caleb swallowed. His breathing slowed down... What kind of techniques are those!? To think they would allow a regular human to break the limit.

A small smirk crept on Dunn's face as he saw that he got the interest of the young man in front of him. He placed both of his hands on his back like an expert, then stared at the distance with a profound gaze.

'Pretentious bastard!'

"The captain's master created those five powers. Captain said that before his master died, he imparted it to him. Those techniques were created because of desperation."

"Desperation?" Caleb cut off.

Dunn looked at Fushigiro for a moment, then whispered.

"Yes, desperation. Like us, his master dreamt of becoming a Destiny. However, he was exiled from the Kingdom in the past for unknown reasons. It deprived him of access to recipes. So, he didn't have a choice but to create techniques and prove that he didn't need to become a Destiny to become powerful. He created it not only out of desperation but also out of spite."

'What a genius.' Caleb took a deep breath. To be able to create such techniques. Surely, Fushigiro's master was someone who delved into the realm of martial arts deeply.

"However, a limit is still a limit. He managed to create the five powers that helped him fight Tier 9 Apokalips, but that was it. He failed to make something that would surpass the powers of Tier 8 and above. So... That's the origin of the Five Powers that Fushigiro has mastered. Now, do you have an idea how strong the captain is?"

"As strong as Tier 9 Destiny..." Caleb said in a barely audible voice. "So that's why, even though Jin is stronger physically, he would still lose."

"I have good news, though." A mysterious smile made its way to Dunn's face.

'Tsk! Can you just go straight to the point!?'

Caleb held the impulse to punch the bastard's face. He immediately calmed himself and asked carefully. "What's the good news?"

"Any member of the hunting party can choose one of the five powers. Captain Fushigiro would teach personally. Well, I picked Feathery Body, one of the Five Powers that focuses on dodging attacks." Suddenly, a regretful expression replaced Dunn's happy smile. "Unfortunately, Deka Step is the most difficult technique, or I would have picked it."

Seeing such a reaction, Caleb couldn't help but be curious. "Deka Step?"

Dunn nodded his head and self-depreciatingly.

"Only the captain can use it. It requires great stamina and masterful control of physical energy. The effect? It lets users move at incredibly high speeds to evade attacks and attack at quicker rates and with greater strength. Captain mentioned one time that the principle of this maneuver was revealed to be kicking off the ground at least seven times in the blink of an eye. See? Kicking the ground seven times at once? Who can do that shit? Not to mention, it consumes physical energy. Captain himself could only use it four times in a row before being exhausted."

"The fuck? That's really something." Inwardly, Caleb was excited. That might not be possible for others, but for him, whose body was continuously improving thanks to Taboo energy, learning that might not be impossible! As for masterful control of physical energy... He wants to see if Taboo Energy can act as a substitute. If that happens, he would essentially acquire a growth-type technique.

The principle of the technique itself was kicking the ground seven times at once. Since that's the case, every time his physical strength increases, that means that the effect of the technique depends on the power of his kick. As he grows stronger, in the future, for example, a Grade 2 taboo fighter's three steps might even have the same result as the seven steps of a Grade 1 taboo fighter. It also means that the seven steps of the Grade 2 taboo fighter were vastly more powerful than before. Then, if possible, he does eight steps, nine steps, or so if his body allows it. All in all, the potential of the Deku step depended on the strength of his physical body!

"So you must consider what would you choose carefully. Jin chose the Steel Body Technique... It let his body become tougher by contracting his all muscles simultaneously instantly. Then there's Miles who chose Deku Step, but the bastard still hasn't managed to learn it. He was stuck at doing two steps in an instant. He can't do three... See? That's what ego does to a person."

'This guy and Miles... Did they have a bad blood or something?'

"So what about Rina, Tamasai, and Athena?" Caleb wondered.