19 Chapter 17: "Bursting step"

Entering the meditation room, Theo drank an alchemical liquid that he got as one of the gifts from Roland and Aus families. This alchemic liquid could help to minimize the pain and stimulate the battle energy to get more benefits from the breakthrough. It also could heal damages inflicted on his inner organs and other parts.

Several moments later, the huge pain appeared in his body, and the energy source began shifting, letting the battle energy move across the body through the veins.

Unlike the mana that affected Theo's body in a slow and not in too much painful manner, the battle energy was fast and wild, and anywhere it stopped, huge pain appeared moments later while the affected part got stronger and sturdier. Besides, the time period when his battle energy can give him benefits was short, so Theo concentrated his full attention on using the wild energy till it didn't calm down.

Fortunately, the liquid completed its role, dealing with the pain, so Theo had no factors that could distract him from this short, but beneficial time period.

While the battle energy continued to travel across his body, Theo paid attention to all the areas that were already well affected and tried to move his battle energy to those parts where his body didn't change much.

At first, Theo spent an enormous amount of effort, moving his energy from muscles and body tissues towards bones and main organs like the heart, lungs, and brain. Though the pain was so huge that even liquid couldn't deal with everything, Theo gritted his teeth and continued to make effort to strengthen his body.

The battle energy entered into the bones, creating shelters and other damages, strengthening them in the process. The same happened with everything that was affected by the battle energy.

Half an hour later, Theo used up almost all the battle energy that appeared from the energy source, he successfully strengthened his bones, main organs, and muscles. This time when the new damage stopped inflicting and the amount of battle energy decreased, the liquid effects began showing themselves, starting healing Theo's body.

His energy source also finished shifting, becoming bigger in size and stronger than before and almost momentaneously started sucking in all the battle energy that was still left in the body. Theo also started moving all the leftovers that were still meddling with his healing in the direction of the energy source.

A moment later when the last bits of energy disappeared in the energy source, a shiver passed through Theo's body. Opening his eyes, he felt how the overall physical strength of his body increased significantly. His bones, muscles, and other body parts, all became much stronger than before. Now, Theo felt that he could easily train with 50 kg additional weight without problems. Even his height increased a bit, and now he was already looking like a boy around 15-16 years old. Besides, he also felt that his battle energy in the energy source began calming down, letting him circulate across his body at any moment he wanted. He has successfully advanced to a 2nd rank squire!

At first, Theo started circulating mana before moving a bit of his battle energy to try to circulate both the mana and battle energy at the same time, but the pain that appeared in the areas where mana and battle energy met, showed that it was a bit early for Theo to try to do such feat.

Understanding that it was a bit careless, Theo quickly returned his battle energy back to the energy source, and then made the same to his mana before swallowing a pill to stimulate quick recovery of his battle energy.

***

Several hours later, Theo has already left his manor and was moving towards Silo. While he was riding on the horse, he memorized a unique technique that he found during his adventures. This technique was called the "Bursting step", it helped to concentrate a significant portion of the battle energy in the legs in a certain manner, letting a knight make quick and fast movements for a short period of time. The one could increase his speed and the strength of all the movements he made. So, it was an amazing technique that could be used during jumps, dodges, rollings, and spurts. However, it also had liability because it was too energy-consuming, and Theo could use it only 10-15 times during the battle before exhausting all his battle energy. Besides, it was a nice technique that could help Theo to get used to his new body conditions faster through active use and frequent training.

Theo smiled, standing in front of the Silo on the small circular arena in the open field. Both of them were holding wooden swords while a small group of guardian knights that were free of duty gathered to watch after their battle.

"Young master, are you sure that you want me to use my battle energy on par with 3rd rank squire, I can decrease it even further to match with your battle energy reserve. Besides, I have my sword skills, it would be very difficult to fight against me in such conditions," said Silo with a clear concern in his eyes.

"Don't worry Silo, fighting a stronger enemy will help me get used to my new strength and abilities. Though I couldn't develop my battle energy for a long time, I am a descendent of Freinos family and every descendent began training with a sword from the age of 5 years. You can't be sure that you are too superior in terms of sword mastery." said Theo, adjusting his stance and preparing for a fight.

Silo starred at Theo for several moments before raising his sword.

"Good, then let's see what you have learned," said Silo, initiating his attack.

At first, Silo decided not to use his battle energy, and just attacked, estimating the overall level of Theo's sword skills. He continued to attack, aiming in the open and weak points in Theo'd defense, but several clashes later, he blocked Theo's counterattack and retreated with a strange expression on his face.

In fact, now Theo has just used a relatively easy maneuver from his own unique Sword style, and almost hit Silo during one of his openings.

"Well, young master, looks like you are quite good in terms of sword skills, but now I would get serious," said Silo, beginning to circulate his battle energy.

A moment later, a thin layer of energy appeared, covering his wooden sword, and moments later he swang the sword, sending a small energy slash at Theo.

Looking at the quickly approaching attack, Theo knew that he won't be able to block it, so he employed a portion of his battle energy and concentrated it in the legs, and a moment later he jumped to the side several moments before Silo's attack landed on his previous position.

Though Silo's attack looked dangerous, in fact, it could only inflict a light wound because Silo used a wooden sword instead of the real one, so Silo started approaching Theo almost momentaneously as he launched "Energy slash", understanding that Theo would most likely block or evade his attack.

A moment later, just as Theo landed on the ground, Silo began launching his attacks, aiming at the all weak points he saw without giving a chance for Theo to stabilize himself and launch a counter-attack. The more Silo attacked, the more Theo continued to retreat, and soon Theo was already fighting near the edge of their small circular arena.

Understanding that he would lose if he doesn't change his current condition, Theo blocked one of Silo's attacks, letting another one hit him in the left hand while he quickly adjusted his feet before dashing at Silo, launching a counter-attack at the time when Silo couldn't use his sword to protect himself. A moment later Silo also used his battle energy to adjust his position, retreating in the process, but Theo hit him into the sword, sending it into the short flight towards the other side of the arena.

Silo was unarmed! Theo couldn't lose such a chance, so he employed another portion of his battle energy, dashing at Silo with all his strength and speed.

Seeing the quickly approaching danger, Silo formed the "Energy shield", forming a thin layer made of battle energy around himself.

A moment later Theo's sword hit the shield, breaking it, and losing all the momentum he gained at the process. However, he completed his goal and approached Silo and started his attack, swinging the sword, aiming at wide and vital areas of Silo's body.

Silo used his battle energy to evade and dodge and even began counter-attacking Theo with his fists, but the more he continued to fight against him, the more he was getting convinced that Theo's sword skills were remarkable. The movements and techniques he used looked ordinary, but several clashes were enough for Silo to learn that they just looked simple but were in reality very wicked and sinister. A slight mistake was enough for Theo's sword to hit the vital area on Silo's body. It was an effective and ruthless sword style that aimed at killing enemies.

So, Silo continued to slowly move in the direction of his sword, evading and dodging Theo's attacks. He adjusted himself to be on par with an ordinary 3rd rank squire, and had a lot of battle energy at the beginning of their fight, but, evading another of Theo's attacks, he realized that he has already used more than half of it.

Theo also consumed half of his battle energy, but he did that only during the vital moments when he needed to evade or launch an attack. In short, Theo was aiming to exhaust his opponent, leaving him with no way to escape.

Understanding his fast worsening situation, Silo concentrated a significant portion of his battle energy in his legs to jump back right at the moment when Theo just started his next attack.

*Boom*

A short wave of dust appeared at Silo's previous location when the surface there was at first affected by the battle energy he used to escape and Theo's sword that was boosted by Theo's dashing maneuver.

It didn't take long for Theo to realize that he missed his target, and he quickly raised his sword and adjusted himself to meet Silo's counter-attack.

In fact, several moments after Silo jumped back, he quickly took his sword and started employing all the battle energy he had for his counter-attack.

Theo was still standing on guard while the dust blocked his vision. His intuition and the battle experience were crying at him about the danger, and in fact, a moment later an energy slash appeared, aiming at him.

Seeing the approaching danger, Theo moved and evaded from the attack's trajectory, using his battle energy, but the moment he stopped moving, another energy slash appeared flying at him. It was much bigger and more damaging than the previous one. It was quickly approaching, aiming at the right side of the arena.

Employing another portion of his battle energy, Theo rolled back to his previous position when several energy slashes appeared flying to the center and both to the right and the left sides of the arena.

Theo sighed when he realized Silo's plan to use a wide area attack, but it was already too late, so he adjusted himself preparing to make a dash at the slash. He employed the last portion of his battle energy, and speeded up, approaching the energy slash.

A short time later, both the wooden sword and energy technique collided, meeting each other.

*Boom*

Theo's sword stopped the attack before breaking while Theo was sent to the short flight backward while the dust flew away because of the collision, opening Silo's vision.

Silo wanted to rush to check Theo's condition when he saw him falling not far from the edges of the arena, but stopped when he saw him stand up.

Though Theo successfully blocked most of Silo's attack, he also suffered a bit from that attack.

Wiping blood that appeared from his mouth, Theo raised his broken sword in front of him, breathing heavily and looking at Silo.

Silo was flabbergasted when he saw how his young master stood up, preparing for the battle. He used up all the battle energy that he decided to use for this sparring, and he believed that his previous attack would be enough to make Theo retreat or force him to stop the battle. He thought that his attack would be enough to inflict enough damage to make Theo stop the sparring. However, he was shocked when he saw that Theo only held through his last attack and wanted to continue fighting, but the thing that shocked the most was Theo's cold and chill glance that appeared for a short moment when the boy checked his conditions. Just this short sparring exchange, shocked Silo and made him look at his young master from the new light.

"Young master, victory is yours," said Silo, quickly coming to his senses, "I have used up all the battle energy 3rd rank squire could use, so I surrender, knowing I won't be able to block your attacks without using battle energy."

Hearing his words, Theo lowered his sword before swallowing a pill to heal his wounds.

"No, victory is yours, your last attack injured me in the lungs, broke my sword, and made me use up all my battle energy, if we continued to fight I wouldn't be able not only escape from you but also exchange several short clashes without a weapon and with breathing difficulties," slowly said Theo smiling and looking at his knight.

Several moments later, his breathing stabilized and he continued his speech.

"If you disagree, let's consider it as a draw," proposed Theo, "We can have a rematch when I become stronger and find out who will be the winner in our next sparring. What do you think about that?"

Silo pondered for a moment before smiling and nodding to his young master.

"If the young master has just almost annihilated me in the sparring, relying solely on his sword mastery and one technique, I am looking forward to our next battle when you become a knight."

Theo smiled at his knight, feeling a slowly increasing exhaustion from his actions and activities from the last days, so he threw his last glance at his knight and the arena on which they were fighting before rushing to return to his manor.