Chapter 17

It has been several days since the party and the summer vacation are about to begin and I decide to for the first time to improve my strength.

One thing I realized from my power set is that while I cannot be defeated and get stronger due to the Sin of Pride when harmed, what if the attack was not offensive in nature?

Say I was teleported to a desolate place, say I was sealed like trihexa.

I mean, Sacred Gears like [DIMENSION LOST] are my bane.

So, I have to grow stronger in the field of knowledge, versatility, and utility.

Another way of increasing my strength is by getting more Sacred Gears or by making them which come with a headache of their own.

Then the surefire way is to either get resourceful and knowledgeable people in my peerage or train myself.

And for that, I need a teacher which brings me to get a new peerage member who is knowledgeable and will be willing to help me.

To fulfill this problem I decided to leave for Scotland while giving the responsibility of my peerage to Rias and Sona, along with Sera to check in from time to time.

***

Right now I'm on a flight to Scotland to search for someone who happens to just fit that criteria.

Upon landing, I got out of the airport and made my way out with a taxi.

Along the way, I stayed at a couple of hotels, ate at restaurants, and met new people.

I enjoyed my stay in Scotland, whose width I transversed through buses, cars, trains, and other modes of transport.

***

I then took a ride on a horse cart, enjoying every moment of the journey.

Then I got up from it and paid the chauffeur, and made my way on foot.

It was a journey of a few days which included scaling the mountains and crossing through rivers, and finally, I reached my destination.

In front of me, to the untrained eyes, lies a valley whose end cannot be seen, but to someone of supernatural origin, this leads to one of the most ruthless and spartan woman alive.

Not to mention drop-dead gorgeous.

Thinking that I unfurled my wings and jumped.

It felt like I was falling for a minute, which soon turned to hours, days, weeks, months, and finally years.

But even in such a condition, my mental strength didn't waver, for I knew it was just a test for the strength of mental fortitude.

Soon enough I felt a change in my surroundings and then I was thrown onto the land.

I stood up, dusting myself, and then observed my surroundings one thing that caught my eye was that this whole land was so dark that one cannot even see themselves, but in this land lie a castle, which despite being in this blinding darkness was visible even from a mile.

It looked as if shadows themselves were avoiding this castle.

Knowing that I reached my destination, the owner of this place was definitely watching my actions, I spoke with proper posture and in a curt tone,

"I, Liam Sylvesterus, greet the queen of the land of shadows.

I have come here to request an audience."

Which was followed by absolute silence, which in this place was quite unnerving, not gonna lie.

I felt that I was being scrutinized to which I maintained an impassive face.

Then I heard a solemn voice of a woman saying,

"Enter."

Following this I found myself in front of the castle which previously was miles away.

I curtly knocked at the door which then opened and gave me way to the inside.

After making a series of twists and turns, I made my way to the throne room.

And upon the throne sat a woman fully clad in clothes of black color, wearing a veil to cover the lower half of her face. Her hair was of a shade of violet and beside her a spear, red in color.

The name of the woman gracing the throne was Scathach. Trainer of heroes and warriors, and the queen of land of shadows.

I walked up to her and gave a curt a bow to which she visibly nodded.

"To what reason have you entered this Scathach's domain."

"Greetings, my name is Liam Sylvesterus and I have come in the presence of the queen of the land of shadows to be accepted as her disciple."

"This is a part of the reason, but not all of it.

Don't try to hide things from this Scathach."

She said with a firm gaze, which I met with my eyes.

After a while, I took a breath of air, and then looked towards her and said,

"I present myself in the presence of the queen of shadows to request her to take me as her disciple, share her knowledge with me and be a part of my peerage."

"oh .. you want to take this Scathach as your servant?"

"No, as I said I would like to be your disciple and then invite you to my peerage as an equal. "

"And why would this Scathach take you as her disciple. "

"Because I can fulfill your wish.

I can defeat you and move you from this place. "

Hearing this she a contemplating expression which eased into one of decision later.

"Very well, but to be accepted as a disciple of this Scathach, it requires you to complete a test. "

"I thank you for this chance. "

Saying that she got up from her throne and took a fighting stance while wielding her spear.

"Test is for you to make this Scathach think you are worth teaching. "

Saying that she lunged at me.

Which I dodged by a hairs length, and then I activated my Sin of Pride, and waited for her to attack me.

Which she did by swinging down her spear will full intention to kill, to which I responded by taking it head on.

When it struck me, a barrier was formed around us seeing which she became vigilant.

And upon seeing my wounds healing she realized and then she took a step back.

To which I attacked her, or at least tried to.

She dodged my attack with ease and plunged her spear at my heart, and seeing me heal had a smile which terrified to my very core.

"Looks like you won't break if this Scathach were to give her all.

Good, this Scathach accepts you as her disciple. "

___________________________________

Leave powerstone.