Domain

Volume 2 upgrade specialist chapter 21 - training regiment

Solomon: AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH

Awaking from my dream I let out a horrid scream. Almost instantly after I had done so both Alice and Gareth rushed into my room.

Alice: Solomon, what happened?

Gareth: leader, are you okay?

Having rushed into my room they both saw me sat bolt upright in my bed, covered in sweat with absolute fear in my eyes. Realising I was back in reality I regained control of myself.

Solomon: it's, it's nothing. Don't worry about it.

Though I trusted both of them with my life I didn't want to tell them about it. Especially the fact that I had killed my own brother. It was the only thing I would refuse to tell them about.

Seeing that I wasn't going to tell them anything they both dropped the subject.

Solomon: anyway, it's the morning now. Gareth, please gather everyone. I'm going to explain what I learnt from the hall master.

With his orders, Gareth left the tent.

Gareth: yes leader.

Alice then came and sat next to me, leaning against me.

Alice: I know you don't want to tell me about it, but I'm always here if you need someone to talk to.

Such heartfelt words calmed my panicked heart.

Solomon: thank you, I'll tell you someday.

Lowering my head I stole a quick kiss. Though she blushed she didn't move away or act embarrassed. It was only just sinking in that I had got myself a girlfriend.i thought in my mind that I had to protect her at all costs. After a minute or so we both got up and left our tent.

Gareth had gathered everyone in front of the waterfall. Standing in front of everyone I began to explain what I had learnt.

Solomon: hello everyone, I have some information to explain to you. As you know I captured the hall master. From him I have learnt some valuable information. Firstly the size of the enemy. To his knowledge there are 10,000 standard bandits, though they are strong for men they can easily be dealt with if they are separated into smaller groups.

Hearing that our group of seventeen had to deal with so many men turned the mood sour.

Solomon: other than them there are 100 early soul apprentices, 40 middle soul apprentices and 10 late soul apprentices. These men are at least equal to an unranked in power, the late apprentices are somewhere between G rank and unranked.

The already downtrodden atmosphere was made even worse with this devastating news.

Solomon: then there are the real problems. The vice chieftain and chieftain. The vice chieftain is a late soul personage, about equal to a strong G rank in power. The chieftain is a middle soul warrior, about equal to an F rank.

And then with this last piece of information, everyone was practically beaten already.

Solomon: I also gained some other info. They have an inscription built around their base, alerting them when anyone nears. This was how they detected us when we were scouting.

Like the final brick in the wall, this had destroyed any confidence that existed.

Solomon: because this is the case we can't attack them at the moment. We will spend the next 11 days training. After that I will be able to brake the inscription. We will then spend the next 2 days fighting them with gorilla tactics. Hit and run basically. On the final day we will launch an all out attack. The unranked will fight against the soul apprentices while the G ranks will fight against the chieftain and vice chieftain.

Hearing my plan though most didn’t like it, they all still agreed to it. Even if we could not complete the mission, it allowed everyone to make points by killing bandits. This was enough to convince everyone.

Solomon: okay then other than that I will now give everyone their jobs for the next 11 days. All of the unranked will build up the base, while also performing guard duty. This will allow you to temper your bodies for a while, as well as create a better living environment for yourselves.

The unranked seemed pleased with this order. They probably thought it was better than 11 days of harsh training.

Solomon: bobs, you will oversee them. Giving them instructions.

The bobs nodded, accepting their orders.

Solomon: as for the rest of us we will all train for the most part of the day. Then at night we will convene in order to spar with each other. This will let us both improve our strength and better understand each others abilities.

The remaining people(Alice Gareth Aries Chenfeng and Yunfei)were all happy with this.

Solomon: alright then, get to work everyone.

Turning around I walked up to the waterfall cave. After entering Carbones was laying down waiting for me. Even laying he was huge compared to me.

Carbones: hello little one.

Solomon: hello Carbones. I have a couple of favours to ask.

Looking around I could see how he had changed the atmosphere in the cave. The red tinted wall emitted heat at all times. I could feel there was an abundance of energy in the air.

Solomon: is it okay if you let me train in here?

Hearing my request he seemed interested.

Carbones: why would you want to train here, little one?

Solomon: I can feel that there is a lot of energy in the air, I think it would assist me in my training.

Carbones briefly showed a surprised expression before speaking.

Carbones: I'm surprised you can feel the energy, normally only dragons can tell, I don't mind you training here.

I guessed that through the mixing of my salamander race and qi my sensitivity to energy had increased.

Solomon: thank you for the praise, the other request was if you could possibly help me temper my body.

Carbones was even more surprised at hearing this.

Carbones: how could I do that little one.

Solomon: I was hoping you could breath fire on me as well as hitting me with your claws. By receiving such attacks I thought it could help me build a resistance to them.

After a few seconds o contemplation Carbones answered.

Carbones: I can, but it would be risky for you. My strength, even at its weakest is not something some at your level can normally handle.

Though the warning was warranted I had little choice. If I wanted to beat an F rank in 2 weeks I had to risk it. If I did not make ample points this mission I would be at risk when I left. I could not let that happen.

Solomon: I will take the risk.

Carbones: then feel free, little one.

I then explained my training method to him. I would at first have him cover me in fire. Using my qi I would hold out for as long as possible. when my qi ran out he would stop. Then I would absorb the surrounding energy to replenish my qi. Then he would attack me with his claws. I would alternate between him attacking me and absorbing qi.

Carbones: I will start then, prepare yourself little one.

Sitting cross legged I brought forth my qi. Spreading it evenly around my body. At this point Carbones let a small jet of flame seep out of his mouth, directing it at me. When it collided with my qi it began to burn it away. For every second that past a tenth of my qi was eroded away.

I could feel that it was less to do with the quantity of my qi but more so my control over it. I felt that if I had better control I could hold out for much longer.

After my qi ran out I began using the yang absorbing technique. With the special properties of the area it let me absorb much faster. Within 20 minutes I had recovered completely.

Moving on Carbones began attacking me with his claw. I stood still ready to receive his attack. As his claw neared me I reached out with my hands, hunching my back. As my hands made contact the strength of the attack was felt throughout my body. As I tried to hold out against it I fuelled all of my qi to my legs and arms.

After 4 seconds I had exhausted myself. No longer able to hold it back I took the attack full force. It sent me flying 15 meters away. Though it had not done any serious damage I felt the stain of my bones as they held out against the attack.Once again sitting down I began to recover my qi.

In this cycle I spent most of the day, only stopping when sunset was arriving. Biding farewell to Carbones I left. Heading towards the sparing area. In the centre of the base the unranked had built a arena of sorts. Inside stood everyone else, waiting for me.

Solomon: looks like were all here. So shall we begin?

After everyone confirmed I continued

Solomon: okay then everyone will fight everyone else once. So lets do it like this. I am 1 Alice is 2 Gareth 3 Chengfeng 4 Yunfei 5 and Aries 6. we will start with 1v2 3v4 and 5v6. Make sure you don’t injure your opponent, also in the case of Alice don't brake any of her minions.

Having sorted out the first fights Alice and I walked into one of the marked areas.

Solomon: are you ready, I'm not gonna go easy on you.

Alice: neither am I. you better be prepared.

Pulling out her card, she summoned necro. Appearing in front of he was surrounded by ten goblies. Because he had been destroyed before, all of his summons had disappeared. Now she would have to build up again. Though with 14 days before we went full out she would have built up an army of 140 goblies by then.

Taking the initiative I grabbed my arcane orb, pumping it up with a tenth of my qi. With the new level of control I had I could now divide and use my qi by any amount equal to or less than half. Sending it to the ground before her and her minions I sent a spray of dirt in their direction.

using this makeshift smokescreen I circled around reaching Alice's back. Placing my knife in front of her neck I had won the duel. From this it was obvious that Alice had both very little experience and control over her minions.

Alice: argh, it's unfair when I fight against you. You're so much stronger than me.

Solomon: I'm not stronger than you, I'm just a better fighter. Don’t worry about it though. That’s what this sparring is for, To let everyone improve.

After an uneventful fight with Alice I had two similarly short spars against Gareth and Aries. I could tell they were both more experienced fighters, and that if we were of equal power I would lose. However the aggressive style of my attacks was too overwhelming for them.

After that I fought Against Chenfeng. From what I could tell he had broken through to early soul personage. But even so it was still rather easy to beat him. Though we were both new to life and death battles he was accustomed to fighting equal or weaker opponents. On the other hand I was used to fighting those stronger than me. This advantage allowed me to have the upper hand.

Finally I fought against Yunfei. He had beaten everyone else like me. When we began sparing we started off on even grounds. I could tell that he had broken through to middle soul personage. However as the battle dragged on my greater stamina as well as the unorthodox nature of my attacks won over him.

Overall this had been a productive session for me. I had been able to both see what I lacked, as well as what I could do with my current ability.

As we left the sparring arena I felt confident that with 11 days to train we could defeat the chieftain.