Chapter 10: More Training

May 30, Year 1,000 of the Mystic Calendar.

Two more months have passed with nothing eventful happening. In the past months, more weak points appeared in the barrier as usual. Fortunately, no weak points appeared directly above the orphanage again.

With the orphanage containing one of the emergency shelters, the remaining seven orphans were able to keep their lives intact.

Currently, Keon is in the training area that he and the orphans use. He is the only one that planned on becoming a professional mystic and Bran poured all his attention into nourishing him.

Bran always sparred with Keon and it greatly helps the latter. Keon was able to become more accustomed to using his powers

"Are you ready?" Bran asked and Keon nodded his head before a steel sword appeared in his hand.

In these two months, Keon condenses few more mystic forms. This was the reason why Keon's goal was only to reach level 2 in 6 months.

A mystic can't just settle in one mystic form. They need to have more than one form that they can use as supplements for their fighting style.

Since condensing mystic forms does not have a hundred percent guarantee, a person's hard work for weeks can go down the drain. It can't be helped, condensing mystic forms is like buying a lottery ticket, a huge part of the success depends on one's luck

Fortunately, Keon found out that after he absorbs the cube core from Shinta, his cultivation speed receives a small boost. His luck is also great as his chances of condensing mystic forms was higher than normal

In these two months, Keon's power was greatly enhanced. It won't be long before he surpasses his late father's power as being an orphan also have its advantage

The orphanage's main goal was to foster powerful mystics. Aside from cultivation resources that will be gone after one use, things such as a training area are accessible to the orphans

Keon's father can only train inside their small house that made his movements limited yet Keon has access to a wide-open space. He even has a sparring partner, if he can't surpass his weak father even after this, it would really be a shame.

"Start." Bran said and as soon as his words finished, Keon immediately charges at him with the sword in his hand

Bran's large sword also appeared in his hand and he swung it nonchalantly. That simple action of Bran that he did not exert much power is already enough to block Keon's sword

The impact even causes Keon to lose some of his balance and his hand's hold in his sword loosened a bit

However, Keon was not discouraged at all. In fact, he even retaliated

Two blank cards appeared in front of Keon's face before their colors changed into red.

"[Mystic Art: Fire Balls!]"

The cards shot three fireballs each and Bran was suddenly facing an attack from six small fireballs

Bran naturally cannot let those fireballs hit him and he slashes his sword on the fireballs, destroying them easily

However, at the same time that he did that, another card appeared and its color turned into white. The card instead of firing an attack on Bran actually sticks in Keon's sword

The card started to emit swirling winds and it increases the power of Keon's sword. With how much Keon trained for the past months, he can now use his cards to imbue elements in his weapon. Keon's sword is one of his mystic forms but it was just as powerful as a normal sword, it doesn't have much use and mystic forms like this one are the most common. Thus, it really took a lot of time to increase a mystic's level as their effort can be wasted when they try to condense mystic forms

While Bran was busy with the fireballs, Keon placed his sword in front of him and thrusts it towards the soldier

Too bad for Keon that Bran's power is really superior to his. Bran poured a bit more strength in his arm and its speed increases

Bran managed to block Keon's attack with his sword for the third time and he did it so easily. Keon already used several cards in addition to his weapon while Bran only uses his sword to block Keon's attack easily

It was too easy to see who was the weakest among the two!

However, simply blocking Keon's attack won't make the youth improve and Bran start to counterattack. The soldier raises his foot to kick Keon in the stomach

Bran didn't move at his fastest speed to give Keon some time to react and the youth managed to place his sword in front of him. Bran's foot only hits Keon's sword but at the same time, his own sword also became free

Bran swung his large sword at Keon that dodged his attack by jumping away

Two more cards appeared in front of Keon and both of their colors change into blue, the only difference was the shade

From one of the cards, a ball of water emerges while the other card boosted its power with the help of electricity

The water with electricity swimming in it was fired in Bran's direction but the man only thrusts his sword. The power behind his sword was really great and it destroyed Keon's attack. Bran even continued charging at Keon with his sword

That causes Keon to grit his teeth. Bran is really powerful! A level 1, Basic Grade Mystic like him looks like a kid in front of this kind of power

Keon started running around to not let Bran's sword hit him. However, Bran increases his running speed a bit and it would only take some time before he caught up to Keon.

Droplets of sweat trickled down in Keon's face and more cards appeared in front of him

One of the cards turned blue in color again and Keon lowered his left hand. The card splashes water in the ground before Keon uses his other card

The card also turned icy blue in color and frosty fog came out from it. The fog freezes the water in the ground and it also locked Bran in his place as his foot was frozen in ice

Keon charges at Bran for the nth time with his sword but the man casually moved his foot and it broke free from the ice that Keon made.

Bran gave Keon's stomach a kick and the force behind it threw the youth's body few meters away from its original position.

An arrow of saliva exited Keon's mouth while his eyes went wide open because of pain, and his body fell to the ground

Before Keon can even recover, Bran already stood in front of him with his sword only a few inches away from his face

Keon can only smile bitterly at that. He lost, he lost again which isn't quite a surprise. Bran is still a Level 3, Advance Grade Mystic. The difference in power and experience was just too great

"You are improving fast but you still have several major weaknesses. First, you don't have enough experience, the way you use your powers is still lacking. Second, you don't have high pain tolerance, it was easy to defeat you after your opponent inflicted you with pain. Third, you are treating our fight as a simple spar. You give up easily as soon as I have my sword against you. Don't forget what I taught in the class about spiral power. It would not be a surprise if a Level 1, Basic Grade mystic will defeat me if their willpower is strong enough. Continuing what you are currently doing will be bad if a time comes when you need to have access to spiral power"

Keon reflected on the mistakes that he does. He is really too lacking, if this goes on, he would live a mediocre life. Keon needs to do something about the points that Bran pointed out for him to improve

The two start to spar with each other again and it lasts up to late at night for the nth time. When they finished, Keon's body was already aching badly. He pushed his body too much again

Keon wasn't complaining though, it was good that Bran is willing to train him this much. But of course, Bran isn't doing this just out of goodwill. Keon won't ever think that Bran is just kind

Bran is surely doing this as has some ulterior motive. There is no free lunch in this world! That is a fact that Keon is completely aware of

"Rest well tonight, you will have a different mini-test tomorrow" Bran said and Keon raised his brows a bit. The mini-test was always just the orphans fighting summoned creatures to judge their combat power, what would the test be for tomorrow?

"In the six months given to the orphans to train, you all already used up half of it. The talented ones are starting to emerge. The government wants to keep track of those talents and nourish them early. Those that the judges deemed worthy will be rewarded with cultivation resources. You better do your best tomorrow "

After finishing his words, Bran starts walking away and left Keon alone with his thoughts

"The government is really greedy. They don't want to give cultivation resources to orphans that might only be used as manual laborers but they also don't want to waste talents and they are using the mini-tests" Keon muttered while shaking his head

"If you think like that then why not grow our power and let's kill the government officials hehehehe" a voice entered Keon's mind and he just took a deep breath at that. Kreon was messing with him again

Keon knows that it was pointless to give an answer to Kreon and he just ignored and shut off his other personality to go back in his room and rest

After a few minutes of walking, Keon reaches the dorm but he saw Kenneth outside their room. Keon was too busy in his training and he forgot the issue with this roommate of his

Keon was about to ignore him like usual but before he can enter the dorm room, Kenneth decided to speak

"Only three months left before the test, you still haven't given me answers" Kenneth said and Keon looks at him but the latter still decided to feign ignorance.

"What are you talking about?" Keon asked and Kenneth clearly doesn't like that.

"Just promise me that you will help me have a good life after you become a powerful mystic. It wasn't that hard, right?"

Keon was cursing his roommate inside his mind but he can't show any abnormal reaction. He wants to punch Kenneth so much but he can't and he just puts his hands behind him while pushing something in his watch

"I don't really understand what you are saying, Kenneth. I am working hard in my cultivation, what do you want from me?" Keon asked while sighing as if he was tired of this bullshit

"Stop trying to act innocent! I will really ruin your reputation if you won't help me! I don't want to live a life full of hardships and you will help me whether you want it or not!" Kenneth bursts and a despising smile formed on Keon's face

Keon planned in manipulating this good roommate of his to say words that he wants him to say but it seems like it wasn't needed. Since there are only 3 months left, Kenneth becomes impatient and fearful

The look on Keon's face causes Kenneth to unconsciously take a step back before regaining his calm. He is the one with the upper hand here, not Keon!

Even if Kenneth doesn't have concrete evidence, it would still negatively affect Keon a lot if a rumor against him was spread

Keon doesn't have time for his roommate that he would eventually forget in the future and he showed him his watch that is currently recording their words

Keon stops the recording amidst the shocked look of his roommate. "Do it and this recording will spread. Let's see if it would be me that will have a bad reputation"

Kenneth gritted his teeth at that. He was so stupid to say things that can be used against him

"Now, my dear roommate, I don't have time for you, okay?" Keon said with a smile while patting Keon in the shoulder before leaving him to rest in their room

Kenneth was left there with a furious expression on his face. He planned on forcing Keon to help him have a better life but his plan failed because of his own carelessness!