Master Orlando’s sharp eyes never missed a detail. As he scrutinized Aengus, the elder Oni could sense something off.
Thanks to his years of experience, he could tell he was just an immature brat with vast power.
He smiled warmly, but his mind was already analyzing the young man before him.
“Aengus, right?” Orlando began, his voice calm yet commanding. “I’ve heard a lot about your recent feats of defeating Reynard.
Don’t you want to join me for a small spar of close combat? It would be a shame being Bella’s husband if you can’t defeat this old man.” He chuckled, provoking Aengus.
“Sure.”
Aengus chuckled amusedly. He wanted to see what this old man was trying to do.
“Teacher, is this necessary?”
Bella looked slightly worried as she knew how high Master Orlando’s battle experience was. He was an old Archdemon, after all.
“Of course, Bella, it is. This old man needs to see if this young man has what it takes to protect you for the rest of your life.”
The old man was insistent about it.
Bella watched helplessly as they entered the stage in the middle. Either way she also hoped Aengus could learn something from her teacher as well.
The young princes and princesses gathered in a circle to watch their fight.
It was not every day they got to see two Archdemons fight, after all.
Aengus prepared himself for confrontation, hoping he could learn from the old man.
He decided to rely on his raw physical strength to discover his own weaknesses. Of course, his passive skills in close combat were already engraved in his muscle memory.
The elder Oni stretched his compressed muscular arms, his towering presence alone commanding respect. Despite his age, there was no denying the raw power and experience he possessed as an Archdemon.
“Let’s begin then, lad,” Orlando said with a grin.
Aengus nodded and readied himself, his stance relaxed but focused.
The elder Oni moved first, his speed unexpected for someone of his size and age. He closed the distance in an instant, aiming a powerful strike at Aengus’s midsection.
Aengus barely managed to sidestep, his reflexes kicking in just in time. However, Orlando was relentless, his attacks a blur of swift punches and kicks.
Thud, thud, thud.
Aengus could feel the force behind each blow, and while he dodged some, the sheer speed at which Orlando moved was overwhelming.
Each of Orlando’s organs and body parts moved with extreme fluidity. Aengus was impressed by his opponent’s coordination and efficient power distribution.
The old man surely wasn’t holding back, was he? His speed and flexibility were far superior to what Aengus had anticipated.
Aengus attempted to counter with a quick strike of his own, but Orlando blocked it effortlessly, smirking. “You rely too much on your power, lad. It’s a common flaw among the young who wield vast strength immaturely.”
Bang!
Before Aengus could react, Orlando swept his leg out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground.
“Whoa! Master Orlando is awesome as always!”
The crowd murmured in surprise, while Bella clenched her fists, concerned.
Aengus quickly rolled back onto his feet, a few footprints and strike marks on his body.
“Master, I can help you increase your comprehension speed temporarily,” Manas’s voice suddenly rang in his mind.
“Do it. I need to learn,” Aengus replied, finding it hard to keep up with the old demon.
“Yes, Master!”
[Your Comprehension speed increased by MANAS by 1000% temporarily]
Instantly, Aengus’s brain went into overdrive. He began to notice and learn how Orlando’s muscles moved, the coordinated movements, and the efficient execution of power.
Gradually, Aengus managed to counterattack a few times during their exchanges.
Orlando’s eyes widened slightly in surprise at the sudden shift, but he didn’t falter. He matched Aengus blow for blow, his movements fluid and calculated.
But as time passed, his shock turned to horror as he realized Aengus’s combat abilities were slowly matching his own, something Orlando had gained over decades of practice.
Orlando was awestruck at his talent.
Still, he didn’t give up. He increased the ferocity of his strikes.
After several exchanges, Orlando suddenly disappeared from Aengus’s view, reappearing behind him with a swift kick to his back.
Aengus staggered forward, but before he could recover, Orlando landed another blow to his chest, sending him crashing into the ground once more.
This time, Aengus didn’t get up immediately. He lay there, panting, his body bruised from the elder Oni’s strikes.
But he felt only slight pain due to his Pain Resistance skill.
As he slowly pushed himself to his feet, Orlando stood over him, arms crossed.
“Teacher! Are you trying to kill him?” Bella stepped between them, shooting daggers at Orlando.
“Hahaha… Am I trying to kill him? Surely, that must be a joke. You do know he’s a freak, right? He learns so fast that I felt like my eyes were deceiving me.”
Bella helped Aengus stand up, feeling proud.
“I know, teacher.” Bella’s gaze softened. “I thank you for that.”
“Lad, you’re the most talented individual I’ve seen in my years. To top it off, you’re a half-breed as well. It is nothing short of surprising. You have a great future.” Orlando smiled, looking at the duo.
“Thank you for your teaching!” Aengus could only say this in gratitude.
Orlando chuckled. “Don’t thank me yet, lad. You still have a lot to learn about my Onigiri Fighting Style.”
“Bella, you should join as well. Let’s see if you’ve gotten rusty after all these years.”
“You asked for it, teacher,” Bella said with a grin and joined them.
The spectators watched the trio’s sparring with excited faces. A protective barrier had been cast by Master Orlando for their safety.
They gradually got carried away in their sparring, while learning from each other.
[ You have developed a new Passive Skill: Extreme Onigiri Combat Body (C) ]
[ Extreme Onigiri Combat Body: This skill grants increased control of the body, enhancing muscle coordination, efficient power usage, and agile movements ]
With the skill, Aengus could now even bend his body at a 90° angle backward without breaking a sweat. He felt lighter and more in control of his body, which was normally governed automatically by his brain and cells.
“Phew… That was some intense training, teacher. Thank you,” Bella said, catching her breath as she sat on the ground beside them.
“It was nothing, Bella, my dear. But your husband has already caught up to me. He’s a freak as if it’s like almost natural for him. You should never let him go. Keep him in check,” Orlando whispered with a smile.
Aengus heard the comment clearly but chose to say nothing. He glanced at Bella’s sweat-covered face and found himself mesmerized for a few seconds. Her soft, glowing skin, red lips, and striking posture like a Queen was something to behold.
As if sensing his gaze, Bella turned and gave him a knowing glance, feeling pleased that she could tempt the “Iceberg King.”
Aengus awkwardly averted his gaze, and his face twitched.
“Alright, Teacher. We should be going now. It’s getting dark,” Bella said to Orlando, pulling Aengus up from the ground in an elegant yet subtly seductive manner.
Orlando chuckled, amused, watching them leave with a smile.
