ALL NOVEL Chapter 10
Chapter
Putting aside safety and concerns, what’s the most efficient training method among all the techniques available?
Rionne could confidently answer.
“Real combat.”
Of course, this was in the context of Enok’s current situation.
Enok was in the process of internalizing various techniques, shaping them into his body.
In order to engrave those techniques firmly and draw out the distinctive spark of Heavenly Death to its fullest, nothing was more important than real combat.
[Anyway, you’re going to tell me to follow you, right?]
“Of course!”
Rionne had a strong response, perhaps too worried.
“If you’re just going to throw him into real combat, why start now? Once Enok becomes an adult and goes outside, it’s all going to be real combat from then on.”
[Geez, I get it, I get it. You worry too much.]
Undine understood what Rionne was trying to express.
She was just trying to create the closest environment to real combat while ensuring Enok’s safety.
[Seriously, it’s like she’s a mother or something.]
“He’s my child born from my heart.”
[…You can’t be serious, right?]
Undine looked at Rionne in disbelief, but her eyes were serious.
Goodness.
Undine slapped her forehead.
[Well, you handle that as you wish. Is that all settled?]
“Ah… That?”
Rionne immediately shrank back.
“Well… maybe?”
[Maybe? Is that something you just take a maybe on!?]
“Ah, no… I’m not someone who studied that much… Still, Enok said he understood…”
[Wow, seriously. You’re going to be in big trouble if you keep this up?]
– Breaking News: Swordmaster’s disciple Mr. Mo claims, “Elves are the greatest. Humans are nothing but an inferior race.” Shocking statement!
A controversial remark made without hesitation!?
Undine could already see the headlines of the continent’s newspapers in front of her.
Of course, even if such an article came out, it wouldn’t be a big problem, but isn’t it still embarrassing…!?
She could be too ashamed to hold her head high.
“…I doubt Enok would go that far. He’s a good kid and wouldn’t say that to just anyone.”
[Oh, come on. Hah! Whatever! Just figure it out!]
Undine flitted away in irritation.
Left alone, Rionne let out a deep sigh.
“Enok… can I trust you?”
*
Undine chased after Enok, who had already set off.
It wasn’t hard to follow the trail of someone exuding a murderous aura.
[Seriously, such worry.]
The reason Undine followed Enok instead of Rionne was simple.
She would basically be hiding and guarding him, but if anything happened, she would have to step forward.
What if Rionne were to jump in instead of Undine at that moment?
‘She’ll probably think it’s the right thing to do.’
Maybe not, but it wasn’t impossible for Enok to act weak and cling to Rionne.
Well…, that was a joke.
The truth was that the reason was more about psychological comfort.
The sense of security that came with being protected by Rionne.
As for that arrogant little brat’s thoughts, who knows, but one thing was certain: he followed Rionne closely.
I’ve heard that Heavenly Deaths generally don’t have that kind of personality.
Perhaps Enok was just special, or perhaps there was a misunderstanding about Heavenly Deaths.
On the other hand, what about Undine?
She wasn’t hostile, but their daily exchanges were filled with growling.
They felt a certain bond, but it wasn’t the kind where one feels safe and secure relying on the other like Rionne’s.
Receiving protection from Undine would probably be a hit to her pride.
Wouldn’t she then work even harder not to receive help?
[Hehe- How about luring one of those big ones?]
With a sinister smile, Undine spotted Enok walking far in the distance.
As if he sensed something, Enok glanced around, but… who is Undine!
The ultimate spirit of water-!
‘Whoa…! That was close!’
What the heck kind of Ki Sense does he have!?
Undine hurriedly hid herself.
Regardless, a young kid who isn’t even a Master shouldn’t have that level of Ki Sense.
With a heart that felt like it was pounding for the first time, Undine took a deep breath, calming herself.
‘Spirits have their pride…!’
Undine did her best to conceal her presence.
*
“…?”
Enok felt an itch at the back of his head and turned around.
But he felt nothing.
Could it be Rionne?
He hoped so.
Carrying that small wish, Enok trudged deeper into the forest.
“Hmmm….”
The reason Enok suddenly embarked on an exploration into the deepest parts of the forest was simple.
This morning, Rionne suddenly gave him a task.
– Go deep into the forest and gain combat experience.
It was a ridiculously dangerous task, yet Enok nodded obediently.
‘…She isn’t angry, is she?’
Enok knew Rionne wouldn’t like racial discriminatory remarks.
Yet, no matter how he thought about it, it seemed correct, and he had just asserted himself a little too strongly.
For a moment, he wondered if Rionne was angry with him for that and threw this dangerous task at him, but…
‘That can’t be.’
That thought was immediately dismissed.
It was impossible for Rionne to act that way.
Being the superior and kind elf she was, this was probably for Enok’s sake alone.
“Grrk!?”
As he spotted a bear, it startled and ran away, making Enok increase his pace.
In the shallow parts of the forest, he couldn’t gather any more combat experience.
Thanks to the killing intent of Heavenly Death and the three years of tyranny (which was the biggest reason), he was viewed almost like a dominator.
Crack-!
Before long, Enok’s form shot forward like lightning.
His speed was something he was most confident about.
As the scenery whizzed by, it slowly began to grow darker in the woods.
‘Soon.’
He was about to reach the starting point of the deep forest.
Instead of being cautious, Enok increased his speed further.
Boom-!
With a sound of thunder, purple lightning stretched across the path.
Undine chased eagerly behind him.
*
The deeper Rionne’s forest went, the darker it became.
The shapes of the trees twisted tightly, creating a dome-like canopy.
Such mutations occurred due to the thick mana, implying that the creatures dwelling there were unusual and that strange events were often afoot.
Not long after entering the deep forest, Enok faced one of those bizarre occurrences.
‘Monsters.’
Creatures distinctly different from animals.
While they bred normally in the wilds outside the forest, these were somewhat different.
They were monsters that occurred naturally.
Due to the vast variety of these monsters, many didn’t even have established species names.
Just looking at that one now gives a rough idea.
A swamp that merged with shadows seemed to take on a rough bear form.
However, it had five arms, two heads, and three legs.
‘Ah, one isn’t a leg.’
With the grotesque sight of a dangling body part, Enok frowned.
Crack-!
Feeling more disgusted, Enok charged at it without slowing down.
Having approached noisily, the swamp bear had already taken notice of Enok.
– RIIKEEAAaaa…!!
With a hideous screech, it swung its arm.
Bang-!
Trees were shattered in its wake.
Although the swamp-like sucker’s arm was torn apart with a splat, it quickly twitched and regenerated.
“Phew….”
Lowering his center of gravity, Enok dodged the attack and readied his strength.
Crack-! Purple currents burst all over his body.
The first technique he learned was the Anger Hawk Claw Technique.
Enok hadn’t learned any other techniques beyond that.
His foundation was enough to create his own martial art.
Heavenly Death Lightning Claw.
The claw of the purple lightning that kills the sky.
Sure, the name was grandiose, but what did that even mean!
It was the martial art he would grow alongside.
Crack-!
With a single swipe, Enok tore off one of the swamp bear’s arms.
– RUuee…!
The swamp bear roared, swinging its remaining four arms at once.
Enok’s eyes locked onto all of it.
Dodge?
He discarded that fleeting apprehension.
He would break through head-on.
Heavenly Death Lightning Claw, the first move.
Carnage.
In a flash, Enok’s hand swung at a speed that was almost invisible.
Once, twice, three times, ultimately dozens of times.
It was as if a curtain of lightning was established in front of Enok.
But the purpose was not to defend.
– …!!?!?
The remaining four arms of the swamp bear were completely shredded as it gaped in shock.
All that was left was its torso.
Enok’s eyes gleamed with a chilling light.
Crack-! The current shimmering on his claws glowed brightly, and—
Boom-!
Enok’s body shot forth.
“Huh…?”
Crashing through three or four trees, Enok plummeted to the ground with surprise.
The pain wasn’t as great as he expected.
However…,
“Ha, haha…!”
He felt utterly disgusted.
Even if he took a hit, he would feel bad about it…,
“Ahahaha…!”
Enok laughed maniacally at the weapon that had just hit him.
Of course, he wasn’t laughing out of joy.
The laughter soon stopped, and a grimace twisted Enok’s face.
“Y-you dwarf-like thing…!”
The swamp bear’s third leg.
As it flicked its hips, that flopping appendage hit Enok, causing him to lose his sanity.
It was an unexpected attack that left him feeling even worse.
Aaaah-!
From his entire body burst forth an abysmal killing intent.
The lightning he wielded turned a deep purple, and his black eyes sparkled with electricity.
The madness from three years accumulated exploded.