...…

Cling! Clang!

Bang! Bang!

The battle between Arthur and Leonard continued for a few more exchanges before they threw a powerful strike that separated them from each other. And when they landed on the ground, they were sent sliding backwards as they lowered their center of gravity so that they could relieve some force from that last exchange.

The moment they stopped themselves from sliding, they immediately raised their heads to look at their opponents but didn't resume at attacking each other.

"Tsk! Looks like you are idle either since our last sparring match, huh? To think that you are going to have a lot of progress during that short span of time," said Arthur while straightening his back.

Leonard took a deep breath, trying to regulate his breathing before giving his reply. "But that is still not enough to beat you."

Hearing that. Arthur started chuckling before saying. "Hehe… don't expect that defeating me is going to be an easy feat. Even if I took a break for almost a month, that doesn't mean it regressed my strength even for a little."

Then he paused for a moment as if he remembered something before grinning at Leonard. "But I must congratulate you for manifesting your own Battle Spirit Manifestation (the Humanoid Aura Manifestation). I guess you finally found the Martial-Art practice that really suits you, huh?"

Then Arthur strangely transformed his spear into a shortsword before putting it back to its sheath that was hanging on the left side of his waist.

Then he said. "So~, how close are you from breaking through from the 'Foundation Building Realm' to reach the 'Ascension Realm'? I guess it is not that far."

Leonard also took away his weapons before replying. "Actually, I am also surprised at myself the first time that I managed to do it. But my Master said that is because I built a good and very solid foundation."

After that, he paused for a moment to think about something before continuing. "As for the exact answer to your question. I am not sure myself. But my master said that it is already close and I just need to train a little more with some diligence and that breakthrough will come naturally."

When he heard that, Arthur couldn't help but frown his eyebrows a little while mumbling to himself. "Tsk! That is the exact same thing that Uncle Nathan said to me. Tch! Diligence, huh?"

And while they were having a conversation, a yelling voice from a distance suddenly chimed in their conversation. "Are you guys still not done? There are still some people waiting in the line!"

Both Arthur and Leonard were suddenly taken aback after hearing that voice, they now finally realized that there were other people present inside the training room. And when they turned their heads in the direction of that voice, they immediately saw Shin, who was looking at them with an impatient expression on his face. Behind him stood the group of Lawless and the others.

"And here he goes. I know that he is going to come here since that fight is not going to become enough to entertain him," said Arthur before releasing a helpless sigh.

Hearing that, Leonard shook his head with a bitter smile before adding. "Unfortunately, we are unable to help him train this time. I am too exhausted after that battle."

Both of them were walking towards Shin and the others as they talked with each other. And when he arrived in front of the others, Shin immediately said to them. "Tch! And here you are enjoying yourselves while leaving me behind? Too much for being my sworn brothers."

He paused for a moment before saying. "How about you help me train a little?"

Hearing this, Arthur couldn't help but shook his head a little and thought to himself. 'As expected of this battle maniac, there is nothing running inside this guy's head but battle and keep battling.'

After releasing a helpless sigh and a slight shaking of his head, Arthur said to Shin. "Do you know what you are saying? Don't tell me that you did not see us fighting earlier and just finished our sparring? We are not a battle robot like you, we still need some time to rest, alright?"

"Tch!" Of course, Shin was aware of that. He just asked earlier out of the whim and was trying to see if either of the two was going to agree.

With that, he just turned around to look at Lawless and the others while saying. "Alright, it is our time now to-…"

But he suddenly stopped his words midway the moment he saw what they were doing. Ravier and Ember were sitting on the ground in a lotus position while having their eyes closed. And from the looks of it, they were meditating.

On the other hand, Lawless remained in his standing position with crossed arms. He had his head slightly lowered with his eyes closed. It was as if he was contemplating something. It was the same for Faker; he also seemed to have fallen in a deep thought.

The corner of Shin's mouth kept on twitching the moment he saw that. Of course, he knew what they were doing. Being a Martial-Artist himself, he knew that it was natural for someone like them to digest the things they just learned after watching an intense fight; especially for something with the same caliber as what they just saw.

Sigh~

Having a helpless sigh, Shin couldn't help but mourn in disappointment. "Good for them that they were able to get something from that battle since their battle strength is at least on par."

And with yet another sigh, he quickly added. "Don't tell me I come here for nothing."

But before his disappointment became a reality, he suddenly heard a voice saying. "Then let me train with you."

After being taken aback, Shin quickly raised his voice and looked at the source of the voice. He was Faker, who was seemingly done at digesting all everything that he just learned.

Shin looked at Faker with a stunned face before saying. "You! You are done already?"

Hearing that sudden question, Faker curved his lips with a bitter smile before saying. "Not really, but I already got the critical things I need to digest. And don't worry, I am someone who can easily pick up things as long as I put my mind in it. So, I will not have any problem."

After hearing that, Shin suddenly became delighted and said. "For real!? Cool~! Then what are we waiting for? Let's go have a bout and don't waste more time."

Then Shin quickly turned around and started walking towards the center of the training room. Seeing that, Faker suddenly started chuckling before following the former.

While he was walking behind Shin, Faker came brushing past Arthur and Leonard. And as he walked past in between the two, he suddenly said. "I also want to learn some things from you by exchanging some blows. Let's spar some other time."

The two were slightly taken aback when they heard those determined words from Faker. And a moment later, both of them suddenly formed a huge grin with their lips before simultaneously giving their reply.

"Then I will be waiting for the resurrection of the Death God."

"Heh! Just make sure that you are ready to receive some beating."

...…

A moment later, Shin and Faker were finally facing each other at the center of the training room. And right after standing a few meters away from each other, Shin gave Faker a traditional Martial-Artist used for sparring. Naturally, Faker did the same as a form of respect.

After that, he started assuming their battle stances while looking at each other cautiously. And on the very next instant, Shin quickly took the opening move.

Since he knew that Faker had their-related class, he thought it was natural for him to take the first move so that he could prevent the later from entering stealth. Having that thought in his mind, he immediately launched himself forward and became a streak of light that was rushing forward while having the intention of doing a quick draw in the process.

Swoosh!

'Class Fighting Style: Moonlight Splitter'

While he was coming towards his opponent, Shin was expecting that Faker was going to dodge to either left or right. Given that Faker was an expert player, Shin was confident that this guy was able to see the weakness of this opening move.

Being aware of this, he was planning to quickly cancel his skill the moment Faker jumped to the side. But to much of his surprise, this Godlike Player, who was trying to regain his peak did something completely different from his expectation.

Faker tossed one of his daggers in the air before waving that free hand a little, making that hand to be engulfed by some sort of dark energy. Then he slightly lowered his center of gravity before moving that hand downwards.

The process seemed to be quite long and a little slow, but he actually did all of that with a quick series of movements.

Then....

Pa!

On the next instant, Shin was suddenly materialized right in front of Faker and completely stopped his tracks.

Shin was shocked at this moment as he found himself unable to continue moving forwards. What's more, he was stacked at his sword-drawing motion and couldn't even pull his sword! "What the!?"

The free hand of Faker, which was being covered by the dark energy, was placed at Shin's right wrist and prevented Shin's right arm from moving forward.

This was the first time Shin experienced this kind of thing since he started using this skill as an opening move. So, it was natural for him to become too shocked at the current moment.

Then he heard Faker said. "That is a strong and deadly skill. Unfortunately, you are using it a little wrongly. It was supposedly a skill meant for surprise attacks and ambushes, not as a cool opening move."

And seeing that Shin was still too stunned, Faker suddenly smirked and immediately added. "Moreover, if you keep on using a single skill repeatedly, flaws tend to show themselves one by one."

...