Chapter 264: Chapter 264 - A Change Of Heart
The Next Day
In the training room beneath William's villa, nestled within a secret underground facility, the relentless clash of swords reverberated through the air. The metallic symphony had been going on for so long that it seemed as though it would never cease. The noise was deafening, potent enough to rupture an ordinary person's eardrums, yet the combatants remained entirely unaffected.
Right now, William and Adam were fighting inside the training room as both struck one another with their own sword. Even though Adam was the one stronger among them, it was William who initiated most of the attacks while Adam blocked and then counterattacked.
As this continued, William struck at a point where Adam had to block it with his sword but instead of him backing down, he used his superior strength and while blocking with his sword he struck with huge force causing William to flew back.
At last, the cacophony subsided as William was sent hurtling backward, his body skidding across the floor. He thrust his sword into the ground to halt his momentum, taking a moment to steady his breath. His gaze never wavered from Adam, his instincts sharpened, ever alert for any sudden move that might bring him pain. Stay connected with m-vl_emp,yr
After catching his breath, William tightened his grip on the sword, forcing away any lingering battle weariness. He knew he couldn't afford even a moment of vulnerability. For if he did, Adam would be there to struck him down again.
Adam stood before him like an unyielding force of nature. He never tired, never lowered his guard, and his eyes never left William, waiting for the slightest lapse in defense. But today, there was a subtle shift.
William noticed a single bead of sweat sliding down the right side of Adam's face. It was a small, almost imperceptible victory, but it signified much. For the first time, William had managed to make Adam— usually so composed and physically impervious— sweat. Even more telling, Adam's breathing was just slightly irregular. But that was enough.
In the past, Adam had shown signs of fatigue during their training sessions, but only when he deliberately restrained himself to avoid seriously injuring William. Today, however, Adam had fought without holding back, unleashing his full power. William couldn't help but smile at this small triumph. Fueled by this newfound confidence, he surged forward, striking at Adam with all his might.
As expected, Adam effortlessly evaded the blow, shifting to the left and countering with a fluid strike of his own.
William's eyes struggled to keep up with Adam's speed, but his enhanced senses kicked in, allowing him to parry the strike and redirect its force rather than attempting to block it head-on. Before Adam could launch another attack, William sprang back, narrowly avoiding a slash that would have cleaved him in two.
It was his enhanced senses that had kept him alive through the grueling training. Though not yet powerful enough to defend against every attack, they had prevented him from sustaining serious injuries. The skill had come to a point that William knew its importance and he was going to improve it no matter what.
Seizing the initiative, William lunged forward again, targeting Adam's right side. This time, his sword was different— its usual black-steel sheen had transformed into a brilliant white, and its speed had increased dramatically. Adam was forced to defend with his sword rather than dodge, unable to avoid the attack outright.
The white glow that enveloped William's sword was a manifestation of a technique Adam had taught him. By infusing his sword with his own attributes, William could enhance its power and imbue it with special properties, like the increased speed he gained by channeling his light attribute. But mastering this technique required time, precision, and control.
Although William had only achieved a slight increase in speed, with practice, he would be able to amplify his strength and control, making his attacks far more formidable.
Adam parried the strike with his own blade, now shimmering with the power of the water attribute. Rather than simply coating the sword, the water swirled around the blade with immense velocity, resembling a miniature hurricane.
William wasn't surprised— he had seen this technique many times before— but he knew to remain vigilant. Whenever Adam used this move, it signaled an attack of extraordinary power, one that William had always struggled to withstand. True as expected, Adam's sword sliced through William's blade, shattering it, and continued its trajectory.
William, momentarily stunned by the destruction of his sword despite his attribute-enhanced defense, quickly dismissed the thought. He needed to focus on evading the oncoming blow. But before he could react, Adam's foot connected with his stomach, sending him sprawling across the room.
William tumbled across the floor, unable to halt his momentum with his broken sword. He quickly scrambled to his feet, ready to charge again, but Adam raised a hand, signaling for him to stop.
"Enough. We've been at this for over seven hours. It's time to call it a day before you push yourself too far," Adam said, his voice calm yet authoritative.
William was taken aback. Adam's usual method was to push him to the brink, often until he blacked out. This change in approach was unexpected.
"What's with the change of heart?" William asked, his voice tinged with confusion as he struggled to catch his breath.
"Because you've reached the milestone I set for you," Adam replied. "When we first began, your body wasn't anywhere near ready for serious combat."
He continued, "You had power and defense that far exceeded most at your level, but it was chaotic, unstable. You didn't know how to harness it, or when to deploy it. Your body would buckle under the strain of powerful blows, which would be a critical weakness if you faced a stronger opponent."
William nodded, acknowledging the accuracy of Adam's assessment. He had possessed raw power when they began, but lacked the control and mental fortitude to withstand the heavy blows that could break his spirit.
Adam observed William's introspection, giving him a moment to process before continuing.
"But now, things have changed," Adam said. "You've gained control over your body, and you've surpassed your previous physical limitations."
William raised an eyebrow, prompting Adam to elaborate, "Each time we fought, you reached a point where you were forced to step down because of the intensity. Sometimes you would lose and fall unconscious, but gradually, your body adapted. You've learned to endure greater pain and sharpened your sensory abilities."
"However," Adam added, "you still haven't achieved full control over your body. But that will come with time, as you continue to refine your skills."
William was still uncertain about the implications, so he asked, "Does that mean our training sessions will be less intense from now on?"
Adam nodded in affirmation.
"Wouldn't it be better to keep pushing, now that my body is in peak condition?" William inquired, not wanting to lose momentum.
"Yes, it would," Adam conceded. "But there's a limit to how much the body can endure before the mind begins to break. Pushing beyond that point is dangerous."
"So, it's like a break for me?" William asked, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Well… something like that," Adam replied, leaving William with a hint of curiosity.