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The tile floor of the training hall has a cool texture as cool as the blue lights. When I lightly jumped, the rebounding force felt good and ran up my toes.
While I was warming up, Kinuan was drinking tea. He brought a thermos of tea to the training ground. He must really like tea.
‘Kinuan wants to teach me the proper fighting techniques of Akiest.’
Whatever the intention, you should learn it well. At first, I was disappointed to hear that Archie’s combat techniques and Legion were not compatible, but Archie’s combat techniques ended up saving me many times.
“Luka, you remember well about the origins of the Archies fighting technique, right?”
Kinuan took a sip of tea and closed his eyes.
“Are you talking about the fighting techniques that Noel Mulizka created for the rebel leaders?”
“What do you think that has to do with ‘conformity’?”
The first concept Kinuan taught me was compliance.
Conform, optimize, adapt.
This was a concept that was the opposite of the imperial battle tactics. If we were to organize the framework of the formal battle tactics into the same concept, it would be collision, reinforcement, and overcoming.
The Ceremonial Fighting Style focuses on gaining and controlling ‘greater power’, while the Archies fighting style focuses on using ‘limited power’.
That is why the Archies’ fighting style was suitable for the fighting style of rebels and guerrillas.
The rebels are not properly supplied. Their bodies are not properly maintained, and sometimes they have to fight without combat bodies. Their soldiers are a haphazard bunch who have not received proper training, making them a force with great uncertainty.
Insufficient resources, inferior status, and poorly performing weapons and equipment.
But they can’t grumble. Like it or not, they have to fight in this harsh environment and go forward to win.
The only thing they had as an equal was their ‘brain’. They overworked their brains. They burned themselves so hard that they were on the verge of breaking down.
I organized my thoughts and said them out loud. Sometimes Kinuan would open his eyes wide and laugh.
As I finished speaking, he added his explanation.
“… … Noel’s rebels have diverse backgrounds and careers, even among their officers. They range from street fighters to soldiers who betrayed the Empire. There were even people from Korra and Bellato. It was impossible to teach them all a unified combat technique from start to finish, so Noel came up with the meta-combat technique concept of ‘combat techniques that utilize combat techniques.’”
I brought up a question that had been on my mind since last time.
“The instructor said I had the talent to deeply learn the Archie’s combat techniques. However, I am a soldier who has received imperial treatment since I was a child, and my nervous system has been strengthened. I had to be in good order to learn the Archie’s combat techniques. I don’t mean to brag, but are you saying that there were many people like that among the rebels’ executives?”
Kinuan laughed coldly at my comment.
“Luka, if you’re willing to take the risk, there are many ways. There are many. For one thing, most of the rebel leaders were living on lethal doses of stimulant drugs. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that they were filled with drugs instead of brain juice.”
Kinuan tapped his head with his fingers as he spoke. Then he took a deep breath while drinking tea and continued speaking.
“In addition, they did not hesitate to undergo neurological enhancement procedures that had not even been proven theoretically. The neurochemical treatment we received from the Empire… …was completed through the deaths of such people.”
Kinuan’s eyes were hazy. I observed him quietly. Even that hazyness could be a deception and a lie.
“So today’s class is all about theory?”
I waited for Kinuan, grumbling as I did so.
I waited for the sparring. This time, I was confident. Kinuan’s body was not for combat, but for everyday use. Of course, I had been defeated by Kinuan in the past.
‘It’s different now.’
Even Kinuan can’t handle me in my current state with a daily-use body. There are physical limitations. As Kinuan said, Archie’s combat techniques aren’t magic that can create miracles.
“You must be itching to beat me up.”
“I have a bad temper. You know that very well.”
Kinuan stood up from his chair. His steps were calm. He had an oddly good balance between left and right. It was hard to tell whether he was left-handed or right-handed. He didn’t reveal any information about himself to the outside world, to the point where it felt like a blank sheet of paper.
“You’re developing faster than I thought. I didn’t know you’d get close to Mysta this quickly. Talent is one thing, but… … it was the intense, intense real-life experience that raised you.”
“Mister?”
“It refers to someone who has reached the level where they can teach the Archies combat techniques to others. In the past, it is said that the Archies Victory’s hierarchy was divided into several groups in this way. However, now that even the genealogy has disappeared, the distinction has become meaningless. Just remember that this exists.”
I wasn’t even interested in genealogy. I chewed on Kinuan’s words.
“To say that you’re close to Mister means that you’re not there yet.”
“It’s faster to learn through action than through words, as always. Today, I intend to show you my skills. If you don’t want to end up in the hospital, guard your head and torso.”
Kinuan held his left hand behind his back, and only his right arm was extended forward. His right sleeve came down to his elbow.
‘Battle suit?’
I raised my eyebrows. I could hear a faint motor noise coming from Kinuan’s right arm. It was far beyond the normal output.
‘Only the right arm was replaced for combat use.’
Kinuan provoked me by snapping his fingers.
I didn’t even know that Kinuan’s right arm was for combat. He showed no discomfort at all, even though the feel and weight of the weapon were completely different. It was just an admirable control.
“… … Thank you, Instructor.”
What I just said is sincere, without an ounce of pretense.
Kinuan’s damaged brain nervous system cannot withstand the high-powered body. Kinuan took a huge risk for me.
Opportunities like today are rare. No, there may never be another one in the future.
I took a respectful fighting stance, showing respect for my master. Then I stepped forward.
Tsk!
My feet skimmed across the tile floor. I crouched and spun around. My upper body was low, but my toes were high.
My first attack was a roundhouse kick aimed at the head. By the way, I didn’t adjust the strength. Even if I just grazed, Kinuan would be knocked out.
* * *
thud!
I was defeated with such shock that it felt like the world was going to end.
‘I lost again.’
The duel with Kinuan ended in 5 seconds. 5 seconds is not a short time for us. In close combat, it is enough time to pour out all your strength.
It was a time when I had no shortage of time. I poured all my skills into Kinuan.
… … And then he was lying there with one arm tied to him like this.
Kinuan didn’t urge me to lie down. I was thinking a lot.
‘If we just look at the conditions, I had an overwhelming advantage. It’s always been that way.’
Kinuan’s battle suit only had one right arm. Its performance wasn’t much different from mine.
‘An unpleasant feeling of discomfort.’
It seemed to me that Kinuan had the ability to see the future. He seemed to know where my fists and feet would land, and he used his best attack and defense.
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As if in sync, my kicks and punches were blocked by Kinuan’s right arm.
Finally, Kinuan, who had noticed my weakness, grabbed my wrist and threw me to the floor. The result is what we are seeing now.
The stabbing pain in my back was nothing. The feeling of self-loathing hurt more.
I’ve been through this before. At the time, I thought it was just a difference in experience and skill. Even now, when I think about it, it’s true that there was a difference in skill. However, it wasn’t a normal combat skill, but something higher-dimensional.
“… … Instructor, can you see the future?”
I honestly expressed my feelings.
I just lifted my head slightly and looked at Kinuan. He was sitting on the chair, his lips pressed against the tea.
“If I had that ability, would I go through all this trouble?”
“Well, that’s true.”
I sat on the floor and crossed my arms over one leg.
“Luka, you learned Archie’s fighting techniques by stealing them.”
Oh, that’s really difficult.
I held back a grumble from rising to my throat. Sensing my dissatisfaction, Kinuan laughed and pointed upward with his index finger.
“So far, you have learned how to make more eyes. By expanding your senses and changing the way you see the world.”
I know exactly what that means.
We can accurately visualize three-dimensional objects in our minds through our extended senses, especially visual information. This way, we don’t have to roll our eyes or turn our heads to see everything around us. This minimizes the delay between movements.
To do this, you need to have better simulation skills than others. I was able to intuitively calculate the trajectory without the help of auxiliary calculation devices. That was why I was chosen.
“A guard is a soldier trained to use the Legion. You still have some resources left in your brain. Learn how to use them. We’ll continue with the next lesson then.”
I smiled, twitching my lips. Kinuan is a cold-hearted master.
If you haven’t mastered it yourself, you are not qualified to advance to the next level. My Archie’s combat skills end here.
“You go out first, Luca.”
Kinuan said while sitting down. I stood up and walked to the door and stood there. I turned around and returned to Kinuan.
“… … I’ll lend you my shoulder. I know you’ll have a hard time moving.”
I noticed that Kinuan’s fingers were trembling slightly since a while ago. His pupils were intermittently unfocused. He was sitting all the time because he had difficulty standing up. He must have lost consciousness several times while talking to me, like a broken machine.
Kinuan fought at high speeds using his battle body with a damaged brain. I know very well how great that is.
Kinuan stood up, leaning against the wall, and then fell against me.
“Then I guess I owe you something.”
“You are most welcome.”
I carried him to Kinuan’s office. There were a ton of questions I wanted to ask him. About his relationship with Tora, or what he had done in the lower sectors in the past. Without bothering to investigate, the one who knew everything was right there with him.
But Kinuan won’t answer if I ask. I don’t expect that.
Instead, Kinuan and I had a casual conversation. I was also advised to try to get a girlfriend. He said that the sensations of a living body and a prosthetic body are subtly different, so I should try having s*xual experiences before undergoing the full-body prosthesis procedure. Well, that’s something I have to figure out.
… … As it was like this, it seemed like a normal priest-student relationship.
‘Someday… … .’
But our relationship was likely to end in ruin. The bond was extremely fragile. Both Kinuan and I were ready to cut each other off at any moment.
It’s not sad. But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t bitter.
I just hope I don’t have to dispose of Kinuan with my own hands.
