Chapter 3: Martial Arts

Puber racked his brains to find information about Fort Damorlensk for Komer, but sadly, there was very little available—most of it was mere rumor and nonsense. Truly useful information was almost non-existent. Being cautious, Puber even went to an asylum himself, hoping to glean some insight from the mad Baron Hawkins, but after spending two or three hours, the idiotic Baron Hawkins only repeated nonsensical words like “fabricated” and “tentacles,” yielding nothing useful. Puber could only leave disappointed.

During the remaining time, Puber focused more on gathering information about the geography of the Caucasus region and its indigenous peoples, as requested by Komer. With the help of a famous traveler in Cyprus City, Puber gained a fairly thorough understanding of the Caucasus’s geography. This traveler’s ancestors had been apprentices to the first lord who built Fort Damorlensk and had lived in the Caucasus for over seven years, making him well-versed in the region. He kept a personal notebook detailing the lands he had visited over those seven years, which became the only fairly detailed geographical guide for the entire Caucasus. Puber reorganized the entire notebook, sorting through the information about the Caucasus region one by one. Even more valuable was the detailed account in the notebook of the construction process of Fort Damorlensk, which was an unexpected boon for Puber.

Ilot also did not slack off during this period. Under the urging of Komer and Puber, and aware of the difficulties and troubles ahead in his destination, he understood that strength was his only reliance. Thus, he worked hard unlike usual—practicing internal energy cultivation and swordsmanship daily, hoping to improve rapidly.

Komer watched Ilot’s performance in silence. The soft ribbon sword in his hand had long been replaced by a broadsword—a commonly used weapon for warriors on the continent. The two-inch-wide blade gleamed with a calm light, two deep blood grooves etched along its edge. The hilt was wrapped in ice silkworm thread, and the S-shaped guard made of pure silver was exceptionally beautiful and delicate. At the center of the blade, Komer had secretly applied dark magic to greatly enhance the bond between the sword and its user. This surprised Ilot and Pupber greatly, especially Ilot, who could clearly feel that his sword, which had accompanied him for years, had suddenly become much lighter, sharper, and seemingly more aggressive. Whenever the desire to attack arose in his mind, the sword would instinctively follow his wrist movements in attacking. This feeling was utterly amazing to Ilot.

Ilot and Pupber were astonished by what Komer had done to the sword, but Komer simply smiled and said he had applied some magical enhancements. This left Ilot and Pupber skeptical. Magical enhancements should only be performed by magic researchers at a level above mages; ordinary magicians couldn’t do it, and they also had to be tailored to the characteristics of the object being enhanced. Komer had effortlessly enhanced Ilot’s sword, sparking curiosity in Ilot and Pupber about what kind of experiences their leader had had over the past three years. But Komer refused to elaborate, saying he would tell them when the time was right.

The thick and heavy sword appeared exceptionally agile and light in Komer’s hands. Ilot performed the basic combat movements—swinging, thrusting, lifting, slashing, and parrying—with precision and accuracy. The sharp sounds produced by the blade showed that Ilot had indeed put in a lot of effort in this area. Those years on the Deccan Plateau must have been very beneficial to him. On a life-and-death battlefield, there was no room for fancy tactics; strength was the only guarantee of survival.

“Boss, those so-called enhancements of yours really work! This crappy sword has suddenly become amazing. It wasn’t this easy to use before. It seems like it can even understand my thoughts now.” After a series of sword movements, Ilot was extremely excited. The ease with which he used the sword made him want to find an opponent to test it against. Unfortunately, Pupber was too weak, and as for Komer, Ilot wasn’t sure if he possessed any combat skills at all.

With a faint smile, Komer understood Eirot’s thoughts all too well. The two of them often tested him, intentionally or not, to find out what else he might be hiding. Komer could only respond vaguely; he didn’t want to reveal too much about himself at this time, as it would benefit no one.

“Eirot, I see you have strength, but your internal energy cultivation seems rather unsatisfactory. Relying solely on strength might make you a competent or even outstanding warrior, but to advance beyond that and truly master martial arts, sufficient internal energy is essential—otherwise, it’s like chasing an illusion.” Komer knew Eirot had always aspired to become a master of martial arts since childhood. Yet there was a huge difference between raw strength and true martial mastery. Strength could be improved through hard practice, but to become a true expert, one had to delve into martial arts. And advancing in martial arts wasn’t just about hard work—it required talent, a good teacher, and diligence, especially in enhancing internal energy, which was a necessary path to becoming a martial arts master.

Hearing Komer’s words, Eirot sat down dejectedly, taking a deep breath before saying, “Boss, it’s easy for you to say. Can internal energy really be cultivated just by working hard? I was lucky enough to have a good teacher who laid a solid foundation for me from a young age. My internal energy cultivation is barely at the beginner level. My performance in the Rose Lounge that day was already my best yet. I never expected that guy to be so strong—he effortlessly broke through my special moves with just a few gestures. The Ram Knights are definitely not just talk. But I can sense that guy has magical powers too—he must be an important figure in the Light Church. It’s a shame my internal energy is too weak; I don’t have the strength to fight him.”

Ordinary samurai and warriors generally focus their training on physical strength and combat skills. The vast majority of soldiers, warriors, and knights remain at this level, though knights have slightly more opportunities, as their status and circumstances make them more likely to receive support from external forces, especially those backed by the church. If warriors, samurai, or knights wish to achieve further breakthroughs in their martial arts, they need both natural talent and opportunity. Without a good teacher, even great talent is useless, and without sufficient aptitude, it’s difficult to achieve higher levels despite having a good teacher. Many knights who struggle to make progress in martial arts turn to magic for help. Although this doesn’t improve their martial skills, it allows them to integrate combat techniques with magic more effectively. Though it’s just basic magic, it can be highly effective, which is one of the reasons why many knights are willing to serve various churches.

To be honest, before obtaining that crystal mirror, Komer’s understanding of combat skills was quite superficial and fragmented. Although his teacher had intermittently taught him some basic knowledge about combat skills and martial arts, he was too absorbed in magic and spells at the time and wasn’t very interested in something that required long-term, continuous practice. He merely listened without putting much effort into training. But a strange phenomenon suddenly deepened his understanding of combat skills, even though his skill level wasn’t high.

Since obtaining that crystal mirror, he felt that his cognitive abilities in various aspects had improved remarkably, especially after each sleep. He always seemed to dream of countless things he had never seen or heard before, as if he were learning or experiencing certain events. Yet whenever he woke up from these dreams, those memories became fragmented and hard to recall completely. Over time, those memories faded from his mind. But one thing pleased Komer greatly: many things he needed gradually took root in his mind, either intentionally or unintentionally. Some vague figures also began to take shape in his mind. Although he didn’t know who these figures were, he could finally recall them clearly.

Komer’s understanding of martial arts came from these things in his dreams—strange knowledge that unconsciously settled in his mind, allowing him to gradually organize the many skills his teacher had taught him into a more systematic framework. Even Komer himself sometimes found it hard to believe such strange occurrences, but after trying them out for a while, he was surprised to find his progress in martial arts extremely fast. Whether it was the practice of yoga that aided his growth or if he was naturally a martial arts genius, Komer had no idea. Still, he preferred practicing magic.

“Ilot, if you really want to advance in martial arts, I think I might be able to help you. Though I don’t know much about martial arts myself, during my years in exile, I was fortunate enough to receive guidance from a certain martial arts master.” Komer didn’t intend to reveal all his thoughts. He felt it was better to keep many things hidden in the dark—often, keeping things partially concealed could spark endless hope.

“Oh? Boss, really? Which martial arts master?” Ilot was overjoyed and couldn’t help but rush forward to ask. His greatest dream was to become a legendary warrior on the battlefield. But without exceptional martial skills, it was impossible to become one. He also knew he had no interest in magic, so he was determined to excel in martial arts. Even serving at the kingdom’s borders was meant to help him improve through combat. Unfortunately, his initial teacher’s skills were limited; though they laid a solid foundation, they couldn’t help him improve much further. Hearing Komer’s words now, how could he not be thrilled?

“I won’t mention his name. We agreed not to reveal his identity to outsiders. But from what I know, his martial skills are among the best in the continent.” Seeing Ilot’s eagerness, Komer bluffed bravely, though he was confident that the knowledge in his mind could at least elevate Ilot to a higher level.

Ilot didn’t press further. He knew that strong people on this continent often had their quirks. As long as it could improve his own martial skills, who it was didn’t matter. He also knew Komer never made rash claims—if he dared to boast, it must be because he was quite confident.