V2 Chapter 77

“Ah, two or three, probably…”

Oriel nodded, answering honestly.

“The Demon Pagoda has quite some troublesome requirements to activate and cannot be used constantly. If not, it would be the greatest treasure there is.”

“… …” Cian nodded his head. However, even if there is a strict requirement, the Demon Pagoda is still a world treasure that even a God can be imprisoned. It's probably just a level inferior to the [Pandora] he was looking for.

A treasure of the Gods!

“Well, let’s not talk about these things. You don’t need to worry about them…you just focus on your own things and leave these stupid things to me. How is your training? I heard it had become even harder?” Oriel asked, her voice had a clear display of concern on it.

“Nah, it’s bearable…”

Cian shrug while showing a confident smile.

A strange and mysterious look suddenly filled the eyes of Oriel as she stared at Cian. The expression was indescribable as if it were filled with both sorrow and happiness she couldn't conceal.

Cian didn’t overlook it and he understands why she was giving this kind of expression. Cian knows that Oriel loves him more than anyone in this world and hopes for him to be happy and live a life of comfort and bliss, with nothing to worry about. But the world would not let him, and he was forced to bear the pressure and sufferings to survive.

In Oriel’s point of view, Cian has matured a lot since she had brought him here and was even able to succeed in several harsh training and combat practice. Now, she was ascertained that bringing him here, was the most correct choice she had ever made in her entire lifetime.

At first, she had thought Cian would throw the towel after a few days, but she was proven wrong. As time passed by, Cian displayed an unexpected firm determination and desire to become strong. As for why she didn't understand. Even still, just what could be the reason for the change he was having?

It would be a lie if she says she was not curious. However, it was something unimportant. The fact that Cian is willing to change for the better is what she only needed to know. And she would support him to the very best she could.

For a person who only knows how to live life in joy and naivety, it must have been hard.

And this what makes Oriel feel sad despite feeling happiness to his change.

If possible, she wanted for him to remain as he was before. Although, there indeed some frustrating part, nevertheless, he was living a wonderful, worry-less life. Unlike now, he was burdened by many things... responsibility, duty, and survival. It's not something she wanted to see. But, is there even another option?

To this, Cian didn’t say anything and just pretended he didn’t see it, smiling innocently just like he always did.

He understands that this was the best thing he could do.

If he did otherwise, it would only trouble Oriel more.

Oriel stared at her little brother and could not help but nod in gratification.

“You’ve grown up…” she muttered as she caressed Cian’s face and smiled.

It was as if she understood the situation Cian was in, hence she wanted to caress his head to comfort him.

Only love was reflected in her eyes.

That was the warmest and gentlest gesture she could give him!

“Actually, you don’t need to become the strongest or the greatest, as long as you can protect yourself well, that is more important. You can leave other things to me... I will protect you no matter what.”

Cian smiled warmly and placed his hand on the back of Oriel’s hand that was caressing his face. He grasped it and placed a kiss on her palm, “I know…”

Oriel stared at Cian’s action with a tender gaze. Her eyes were full of love and affection.

“It’s been hard on you!” Oriel stroked Cian’s face. He was her greatest pride, yet the sight of her beloved brother trying to fight fate was extremely painful for her. It was not something she wished to see, but she had no other choice. The only thing she could give him was support. As well as love.

Other than a comforting hug, she couldn’t help him with anything.

Cian shook his head. “As long as I have you, everything is worth it.”

Oriel smiled happily. She nodded her head, then suddenly, she pulled her hand and grabbed one of the swords hanging on her waist and throws it towards Cian. Cian was startled but his reaction was quite fast as he hurriedly caught the hilt of the sword.

“Then, let me see what you learned.” Oriel smiled mischievously as she jumped back, her hand on the hilt of the other sword on her waist. This kind of expression, only Cian has the privilege to see it.

Since their true union, Cian realized that Oriel had displayed several different expressions compared to the one he had seen before. At this change, Cian, of course, was extremely happy. He was not the only one who had grown up, it seems.

“You’ll be surprised,” Cian grinned.

He grasped the body of the sword sheathe and positioned it on his left waist for him to be able to pull it with ease. It was a straight slender sword with two thumbs wide the surface of the sword and roughly a meter long.

“Then, let me be surprised!”

At the same time she said this, Orriel, with a grin thrust her sword, which was almost identical to the one Cian was holding, crookedly towards him. If before Oriel would never do something dangerous like this, but after Cian had once again learned the way of the sword just like before, she was finally able to set down all her worries.

Cian saw this sword move was wonderful as seen in his eyes; it almost covered nine fatal points on his upper body. Precise and deadly. Not intentional, probably, but was made from experience.

"Good sword skill!"

Cian couldn’t help but call out inwardly and at the same time, pulled his long sword out and also thrust his sword.

In a layman’s eyes, Oriel looked as if she just randomly thrust her sword at an empty space and Cian countered by sweeping his sword in a circle at the same empty space. The two people had used around seven to eight moves in just a few seconds. Both their movements and actions were as fast as lighting.

Each of their thrust was always aimed at an empty space and their swords seemed to have not clashed yet, but Cian kept retreating step by step.

Oriel called out, "As expected of my beloved little brother, you have a bit of skill after just a short period training," as she raised her sword and disorderly started to thrust and slash. In a short moment, she had slashed out around twenty times. Not only was each of her slash towards Cian didn’t hit him but the tip of her sword was actually still around seven to eight feet away from Cian’s body.

“Well, if I want to chase after a beautiful lady as my sister, wouldn’t I need some skills first?” Cian grinned.

His handsome face beaming.

Raising his sword, Cian performed a move towards her elder sister but it would be easily repelled. As time passed by and they have exchanged over twenty moves already in just a short span of time, Oriel’s expression gradually turned serious and solemn, while within her eyes, shock and joy that could not be concealed could be seen appearing.

Cian was not as fast as her but all his movements are extremely precise. One move could actually contend against her two and in the most perfect timing of counter. If she was not someone with a power level higher than his, she would probably not notice his footsteps that were graceful and elegant as if he was a swan dancing in the thick snow.

It was elegant as if he was dancing and even his sword art was soft and smooth but carried a concealed destructive strength that even she was having a hard time to contend. Of course, not in regards to strength nor speed. In fact, if one looks closely, Oriel was much faster than Cian, and if she got serious, her one swing could split a meter-thick metal plate into two. However, there was something from Cian's movements sword arts that made Oriel somewhat apprehensive and interested.

As if he was reading her mind, wherever he struck, he was already able to place his sword in position to block her. And all of this was done with a single, smooth movement.

She had fought many kinds and types of warriors in the world, but not as amazing and interesting as Cian. It's as if there was an invisible barrier around him that made others couldn't see any kind of opportunity strike. He seemed careless and amateurish, but there was no flaw on his guard. One step, one strike, one hit, one block. There was no wasted movement.

He became powerful without her realizing, and in just a short time at that.

Him, once being called as Genius Swordmaster was not unjust!

While fighting, Oriel’s expression became happier and more delighted as time passed by as she watched Cian’s combat arts.

Cian becoming stronger and more powerful, Oriel can heave a sigh of relief. Who didn’t want their beloved becoming powerful? What kind of woman who didn’t wish their lover turning into a dragon that stands above the masses?

Although Cian was certainly still far from that, still, Oriel was sure that he would be one, one day!

And she would make sure he would become, and she would be there to witness his glory!

... ...

As Oriel was drowned in her daydreams and fantasies, Cian, on the other hand, can finally smile in delight.

The time has finally come!

This is the first step of him walking in the stage of this world, officially. Without any mask, without any disguise—reason and excuse were already prepared beforehand.

Two years of labor and enduring will finally bear fruit…!

The mysterious footwork and battle skills that he had learned in the previous world appeared one by one. Although he still cannot display all of his power and skills due to the difference in his body and reflexes, still this would be the first step and all of them would surely appear in this world to make a legend one day… and that day is coming closer…!

"Haa!!" Cian sometimes thrust at an empty space towards Oriel, but that is a feint. The tip of his sword was also around four to five feet away from Oriel’s body. But when Oriel saw Cian’s move, her expression revealed a sudden strange urgency either to jump to avoid his slash or to brandish her sword to block.

Unpredictable and deceptive—that is Cian’s way of combat, since long ago.

He was not the type to confront honestly and uprightly to an enemy. And this scheming way of thinking was greatly boosted by all his combat skills, that is why he had become one of the well-known assassins in the previous world, causing his name to create tremors on the constantly changing underworld.

In terms of battle skills, Cian prided himself as the best among others. Even her blood sister, who was also an infamous reaper and was stronger than him, was slightly inferior to him in terms of martial arts. Only he would meticulously learn different martial arts and battle skills. Unlike his sister who specialized in tools and weapons to kill, Cian would deeply carve each and every martial art he knows in his mind and then temper himself in battle.

In his words, relying on external power will eventually have their limits.

Tools only serve as support, not power.

In order to truly become strong, one could only rely on personal skills and abilities…!

This way of thinking is one of the reasons why, even among the Cahlo Clan, Cian was unique and differed greatly. If not for his custom handgun and M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle which was custom made for him were used, he mostly prefers the ancient ways—daggers and metal strings. If not, he can rely on his body.

The other members of the Clan, especially his sister would incorporate the battle skills imparted to them with their combat characteristics and weapon of choice. In either fight or kill, they would use hot weapons. Only Cian would not do this. He believed that the battle skills are the greatest killer moves in the world; after all, this has been sharpened, honed and modified by many geniuses in over a thousand years of history of the world.

Cian would completely learn them without adding any impurities, and instead, using Jeet Kune Do as the base, take some useful moves from other techniques, especially Krav Maga and Systema, and incorporate into one martial art meant for only one purpose; Killing.

As a result, Cian was the best reaper in terms of battle skills and close combat, even among the members of the Cahlo Clan.

Oriel watching Cian was somewhat curious and interested.

The tip of Cian’s sword was still far away from her and there wasn't the slightest bit of wind when he thrust his sword and he was certain that he wasn't using any kind of invisible energy to attack, and yet, this kind of fluid motion actually held deadly momentum—throat, neck, eyes, joints, and many fatal moves were being precisely targeted by the sword without any hesitation.

What’s worse is that, no matter what she does, it’s as if Cian was still able to pass through her guard and launch a fatal attack.

What kind of combat technique is this…?

“What kind of combat art are you practicing…?”

As she repelled Cian’s sword with hers and jumped back to gain distance, Oriel couldn’t endure her curiosity anymore and ask.

Cian grinned. He pulled his sword and make a stance; “Combat Art?” he replied with a leisurely tone. “Hmm, let’s see…ah, I call it the Art of Fighting without Fighting…”

“The Art of Fighting without Fighting…” Oriel’s brows furrowed.

She had never heard about this kind of combat art before.

“A wise man once says; “Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”” Cian muttered with a faint smile.

It was a quote made by a famous philosopher known as [Sun Tzu]!

"...From those words, this Art came to be,"