“I figured as much. That would explain why you're attacks were so predictable.”

“I still don't understand what you mean. How can you predict the attacks of a dragon?”

“All of them were the same type of attack… What I just did to you is called a counter attack. All of your attacks against me were straightforward single attacks. Very easy to predict. You also only swung your weapon horizontally or vertically, making you even more predictable.”

“...How do I get more unpredictable then?”

“Well, there is a few things you can do. Some are easy to fix… You should practice attacking from different angles with weapons. That is a fairly easy solution to stop most people from predicting your attacks as easily… The second way is by using more than one type of attack at once.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, there are a lot of different ways to attack an opponent besides head on. The majority of your attacks are all that, direct single full strength attacks. By combining several different types of attacks, you can get more out of each one then the single type of attack. My throw was a counter attack, combination attack and immobilization attack.”

“What are all the types of attacks then?”

“There are five different types of attacks all together. Single full force attacks, also known as direct attacks. Counter attacks, you can bait the enemy into attacking you and use their movements against them when they do. Combination attack, this is several weak attacks chained together to deal more damage or offset an opponent. Immobilization attack, which you attempt to pin the opponents body parts to limit their movements. The easiest way to do this is to use your own body or their body against them. Finally, feint attacks.”

While she said that, she walked over and punched at me. I instinctively moved to block it with my gauntlet hand. As I motioned to block though the attack never came. Instead I felt a weak attack on my stomach.

“I didn't have to hold back my real attack. I'd just rather not get covered in whatever you've eaten for lunch today. All of these attacks can be used together. Now do you see why you are so predictable? You've only been using a single type of attack instead of mixing several types of attacks together. A feint can be used together with a direct attack at the opponents now weakened spots. A combination attack can be used to offset an opponent in an attempt to pin their arms under their own body.”

“So… How do I learn how to use these attacks together without spending hours, weeks or even months doing so?”

“Well… The easiest way is to find a teacher for a martial art style. Most people have spent their lives perfecting techniques which they use in battle. A teacher would certainly shorten the time it takes to learn different combinations of attacking and defending… Before you even ask, no I wont teach you… You're fighting style wouldn't match up with mine very well… I would say try to learn from the shogun or the transmutation master. Both of them are adept in martial arts that would suit you… You could also try to make your own styles up…”

“How do I make my own though? Wouldn't it take far longer than if I was taught one?”

“Yes it would take longer… It's just... Your way of fighting, is very strange... When you blocked my attack with your foot, I was very surprised. I thought for sure the fight was going to be over with that attack and you managed to stop it. So even though learning a martial art would be fine. Fighting with your own unorthodox style would most likely add to your unpredictability.”

“...I guess that makes sense… You're very talkative when it comes to this stuff.”

“I'm actually a teacher for the younger ninjas who are suited for heavier fighting. So when it comes to explaining things. More tends to be better than less… Speaking of which, I can teach a few of your generals if you'd like. Perhaps those two I challenged first? Maybe you have some others in mind? Just tell them… I won't go easy on them at all, in fact I will train them harder than I would my own followers.”

I feel there is an ulterior motive behind this… Like she is trying to gain a favor from me… It might be something else. She smirks and I feel a twinge of fear go through me… I almost feel sorry for everyone who is going to be put through training against her. She said I should also think of other members who would benefit from the training. Fast comes to mind… Maybe Lance if he isn't busy. I still need to teach Fast another class. Sock would be good, also Gobber but he'll be too busy… She mentioned Nargzar and Leon… Perhaps she has a crush on one of them. Lust begins to speak.

“I doubt it. She has the look of someone hungry to hurt someone. Not hungry for something else… She must not like one of them…”

“Well that's not good… I hope she doesn't permanently injure one of them just because she doesn't like them… With how much she doesn't like me, I'm surprised she didn't put me through the training anyways.”

Aegis interrupts the conversation next. “Either way. You might be able to learn it from whoever she teaches if you spar against them long enough.”

I suppose I should go get my followers to have them learn from her. Nami might be more into training than myself. I doubt anyone who goes through the effort of learning from her, is coming out sore and bruised.

I head to get them… Maybe I should have all of my generals learn from her, even the ones not cut out for combat… No… It would take up too much of her time, it would make more sense for her to only worry about ones with an aptitude for close range fighting.

I get everyone who has shown any skill in close range combat. All the generals who were on the ships, Nargzar, Leon, Sock, Lance, Trice, Fast, Strong, Tough. Then I head back to the fortress through a portal and game even more. Brick and Green are sparring. Methodis who was overseeing their fight also volunteers. I send Epieoth and Zergnar as well. Heading back to the ships, Red also volunteers. Even though she is not suited for it, she said it might give her an advantage over Blue.

I set them all up. And watch as Nami goes over the rules, she shews me out of the room. Outside near the door almost eavesdropping is Leaf. What is she doing here? She looks mad for some reason. Which is uncharacteristic of her, she yells at me.

“You take all of your generals off to train and don't include me!?”

I doubt the training they're about to go through would suit Leaf… Should I take her with me to train with the shogun? Lust cuts me off.

“YOU BETTER! If you don't go on a date with her, I'll keep talking about all sorts of naughty things I would do to Gobber if he wasn't married. I'll go into extremely uncomfortable detail. So you better do it!”

I explain that they are going to go through a very difficult training regimen. One that wouldn't suit myself or her. I ask if she would like to accompany me. She agrees as we head towards to shoguns castle. Heading inside I explain that Nami sent me here to learn from him and that Leaf is also here to learn. A smile forms on his face.

“Oh, so you think my training will be easier than Nami's? It is a good thing you brought a spare healer. I'm going to break your arms several times to dull your feeling towards pain.”

He walks over to me to demonstrate.

“Hold your hand out.”

I waveringly put my hand out. He grabs my hand and twists it with ease. I feel the joints and muscle instinctively move to avoid tearing as I drop to my knees. As he continues to apply pressure my body rolls with the direction he's twisting. As I roll he switches the way he was applying pressure. I feel my bone snap under the weight of my own body rolling! Fuck! A surge of pain shoots through it. Damnit! Was this all a ploy to cause me pain!? CURSE YOU NAMI! Leaf starts healing my injury and my body begins to regain it's focus, he begins to speak.

“What I'm doing… Is making your body accustomed to pain. Also, the method of which I'm inflicting pain is through joint locks and throws. Normally, this is used to avoid injuring your opponent. With healers though, we can speed up the process of learning if you feel it in your body. Also, by taking pain repetitively you will build up a tolerance to it.”

I stand up and hold my hand out again. But he shakes his head, that isn't what I'm supposed to do.

“Come at me. I'll consider your training successful if you can land a single attack. The young missus should take this time to watch intently to see if she can find any openings or just watch to see what you do wrong.”

I proceed to charge him and get thrown or slammed to the ground repetitively. Sometimes he snaps bones while throwing me. The pain is still unbearable, I doubt a single day of immense pain would build up my threshold. After an hour of getting man handled by him, I change my strategy. Nami had mentioned my legs being a big part of my fighting style. So I start to focus on using my legs in combination with attacks with my hands. The first attack almost strikes him, catching him off guard. He dodges it instinctively and after the first strike I don't connect a single hit the remainder of the night.

Aikido martial arts learned- (mastery level novice) Very little knowledge of the martial art itself, through luck you might be able to pull off a move

I'm beyond exhausted by the end. Leaf is anxious to try her time tomorrow. I learned enough that with continued practice, I'll be able to improve it. Learning multiple martial arts would suit me more than mastering one. We wait until my generals return from their training session with Nami… Wow! We've fought raid bosses and my men look far more damaged from training than fighting for life or death. The only three who are walking as if they aren't worn down and out of energy is Green, Red and Trice. I ask Green why not.

“That mouse bitch is strong as fuck! I must have just learned faster than everyone else because her attacks were far less effective against me.”

I get some looks from my other generals… I seems that Nami might have taken it easy on the females… Easy is a relative term, the entire conversation we had, Green's nose perpetually bled. I cast a healing wind to help ease their injuries. Methodis had went with them but had only lasted a single round before he was knocked unconscious. They dragged his unconscious body behind them. I doubt anything besides the hot springs at the fortress will make any dents on our soreness.

I fall asleep immediately once I hit my bed. After waking up I follow everyone else back to train with Nami. After speaking for a few moments, it seems that she wasn't holding back against them because they were females. It appears she overestimated Methodis and knocked him unconscious with a single attack. She gauged everyone after that with light attacks first than used stronger ones. Trice and Red could only handle mild sparring but Green was another deal all together. Apparently, Green was shouting curses the entire fight and Nami didn't know how to deal with it… Apparently, she could throw her off her game enough to make her attacks less precise, just as Green had said.

Me and Leaf separate and head towards the shogun. After speaking with him about Leafs training. Watching for an hour before realizing his training with her is far different then with me. He takes it far easier on Leaf and it is very clear that it is because she is a girl, unlike Nami, who was an equal opportunity ass kicker. I separate from them and head towards the transmutation master.

It doesn't take very long to get to him. I land near his camp and approach him. When he sees me he starts yelling.

“HEY! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!? You become my apprentice and then take a week off? What kind of apprentice are you? I have the mind for fire you.”

“Oh yea… I forgot about that… Sorry, I came to learn a martial art from you… Nami said you could teach me.”

“Well, I guess I can teach you both. But only if we focus on one first. It should only take fifty years to learn either. Which would you like to learn first?”

“I'll pick the martial art first then… Also here is a stone to help with your transmutations.”

I hand it to him and begin to explain how to use it.

“While it is touching your body. Depending on the transmutation you're trying to do. It works as that type of tra-.”

Before I finish my explanation, he eats the stone.