Chapter 10: The Disaster Star experiences quasi-combat.
****
Setting aside safety and worries, what was the most effective training method in existence?
Rionne could answer with confidence:
"Actual combat."
Especially in Enoch's current situation.
He was in the process of mastering various techniques.
To solidify those skills and maximize the Disaster Star's inherent flashes of inspiration, nothing was more important than real combat.
[You're just going to tell me to follow him, aren't you?]
"Of course!"
Rionne snapped, worried sick.
"Why would I throw him into actual combat now? Once he's an adult and out in the world, everything will be actual combat."
[Ugh, fine, fine. You worry too much.]
Undine understood.
Rionne wanted to create an environment as close to real combat as possible while ensuring Enoch's safety.
[Seriously, you're acting like his mother.]
"He's the child I bore from my heart."
[…You don't actually mean that, do you?]
Undine looked at Rionne incredulously, but her eyes were serious.
'Oh dear.'
Undine smacked her forehead.
[Well, do as you please. Did you resolve that issue?]
"Ah… that?"
Rionne deflated.
"Well… maybe?"
[Maybe!? Is that something you can leave to 'maybe'!?]
"B-But… I'm not exactly an expert on that subject… and Enoch said he understood…"
[Wow, I'm telling you, you're going to be in big trouble.]
Breaking News: Sword Marquis' Disciple, E, Makes Shocking Statement: "Elves are the greatest. Humans are an inferior race." Controversial racist remarks spark outrage!
Undine could already picture the headlines in the continental newspapers.
It wouldn't be a problem, per se, but it would be incredibly embarrassing!
They might not be able to show their faces in public anymore.
"…Enoch wouldn't go that far. He's a good boy; he wouldn't say that to just anyone."
[Oh, please. Whatever! Do what you want!]
Undine flew off.
Rionne sighed.
"Enoch… I can trust you, right?"
****
Undine followed Enoch, who had already left.
Tracking him was easy; his killing intent practically left a trail.
[Honestly, the worrywart.]
The reason Undine, not Rionne, was following Enoch was simple.
She would be his hidden bodyguard, but she'd have to intervene if something happened.
If Rionne appeared instead of her…
'He'd think he was right.'
It was unlikely, but Enoch might feign weakness and cling to Rionne.
Well… that was mostly a joke.
The real reason was psychological reassurance.
The reassurance of being protected by Rionne.
She didn't know what went on in that brat's head, but he was clearly very attached to Rionne.
She'd heard Disaster Stars weren't usually like that.
Either Enoch was unusual, or the information about Disaster Stars was wrong.
But Undine?
She wasn't hostile towards him, but they bickered constantly.
They had a certain rapport, but it wasn't the kind of trusting, reassuring bond he had with Rionne.
He'd be too proud to accept Undine's protection.
And that would motivate him to work harder to avoid needing help!
[Hee hee, should I lure a big one his way?]
Undine chuckled darkly and spotted Enoch in the distance.
He seemed to sense something and looked around… but Undine was a top-tier water spirit!
'Holy crap…! That was close!'
What kind of senses did that brat have!? Undine quickly hid.
Those weren't the senses a pre-Master level brat should possess.
Her nonexistent heart pounded. She took deep breaths.
'A spirit has its pride…!'
She concealed her presence with all her might.
****
"...?"
Enoch scratched the back of his neck, feeling a strange itch. He looked around but sensed nothing.
'Was it Rionne?'
He hoped so.
Cherishing the small wish, he walked deeper into the forest.
"Hmm…"
The reason Enoch was suddenly venturing deep into the forest was simple.
Rionne had given him an assignment this morning:
- Go deep into the forest and gain combat experience.
It was a dangerous task, but Enoch readily agreed.
'…Is she angry?'
He knew Rionne disapproved of his racist remarks.
He'd only argued his point because he thought he was right.
He briefly wondered if she'd given him this dangerous task out of anger, but…
'No way.'
He dismissed the thought immediately.
Rionne wouldn't do that.
She was a superior, kind elf; this must be for his own good.
"Roar!?"
He glanced at a bear that had made eye contact with him and fled, then quickened his pace.
He could no longer gain combat experience in the shallow parts of the forest.
The creatures there practically treated him as their ruler, thanks to his Disaster Star aura and three years of tyranny (which was the main reason).
Crackle!
He shot forward like lightning. Speed was his forte. The scenery blurred as the forest grew darker.
'Soon.'
He was approaching the boundary of the deep forest.
Instead of being cautious, he accelerated.
Rumble!
Violet lightning crackled and stretched behind him.
Undine followed close behind.
****
Rionne's forest grew darker the deeper one went.
The trees twisted and grew so densely that they formed a dome.
This mutation was caused by the dense mana, which meant the creatures living there were special, and strange things often happened.
Enoch encountered one such strange thing shortly after entering the deep forest.
'A monster.'
A creature distinctly different from an animal.
Outside the forest, they were a nuisance, reproducing naturally, but these were different. These monsters spontaneously generated.
There were so many varieties that many didn't even have names.
The one before him was a good example.
A swamp mixed with shadows, vaguely shaped like a bear.
Except it had five arms, two heads, and three legs.
'Ah, one of those isn't a leg.'
Enoch frowned at the grotesque appendage dangling between its legs.
Crackle!
Disgusted, he charged without slowing down.
The Swamp Bear, having noticed him long ago…
- RIIKEEAAaaa…!!
It roared strangely, swinging an arm.
*Crash!* Trees splintered under the force of the blow. The swamp-like arm splattered, but quickly reformed.
"Haa…"
Enoch lowered his center of gravity, dodging the attack, and gathered his power.
Crackle!
Violet sparks flew around him.
The Angry Hawk Claw Technique, the first claw technique he'd learned.
He hadn't learned any others.
Mastering the basics had allowed him to create his own technique:
The Heaven-Slaying Violet Lightning Claw.
The blue gnat had mocked the grandiose name, but he didn't care.
It was a technique that would grow alongside him.
Rip!
One of the Swamp Bear's arms was torn off by Enoch's strike.
- RUuee…!
The Swamp Bear roared, swinging its remaining four arms simultaneously.
Enoch's eyes took it all in.
'Dodge?'
He discarded the fleeting thought. He would break through them head-on.
Heaven-Slaying Violet Lightning Claw, first move:
Massacre.
His hands blurred in a flurry of motion. Once, twice, thrice… then dozens of times.
Crackle!
It was as if a curtain of lightning had formed before him. But its purpose wasn't defense.
- ...!!?!?
The Swamp Bear gaped, its remaining four arms completely shredded. Only its torso remained.
Enoch's eyes glinted coldly.
The lightning on his claws flared brightly.
Thud!
Enoch went flying.
"Huh…?"
He crashed into several trees before hitting the ground, dazed.
It didn't hurt as much as he'd expected. But…
"Ha… haha…!"
He felt utterly disgusted.
Being hit would have been bad enough, but…
"Ahahaha…!"
He looked at what had hit him and burst into manic laughter.
It wasn't laughter of amusement.
The laughter abruptly stopped, and his face contorted.
"Y-You… dwarfish creature…!"
The Swamp Bear's third leg. He'd been hit by that dangling appendage.
Enoch snapped.
It was all the more disgusting because it was completely unexpected.
Whoosh!
Black killing intent erupted from him.
The lightning he wielded turned a dark violet, and sparks flew wildly from his black eyes.
Three years of pent-up madness exploded.
****
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