<MC POV>
I woke up, but I found I was with Aqua and Ruby and talking with them. Did I not go to Scathach? Or I returned from there. I could see that we had all matured slightly. Suddenly an eerie atmosphere built up, and my sight range decreased.
"W̵̶̸̻̼͉̱̄͗ͭ͟͢͢͠h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡ȳ̸̵̩̜͔͍̔́͟͟͢͡ d҉̴̷̧̢̛̖͔̤ͯ̔̑̄͢͟͡͠i҉̧̯̤̙͔̑ͧ̅̔ͦ́͜͟͢͝͠d҉̴̷̧̢̛̖͔̤ͯ̔̑̄͢͟͡͠n̸͐̈́͟͟͝'t҉̷҉̢͖͔̹͛̌͊͘͜͢͠͡͡ ȳ̸̵̩̜͔͍̔́͟͟͢͡o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝u̶͖̖͆̊̈́͡͡ s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡a҉͖̟̜̞̂̃̑̽͢͢͠͡v҉̨̊͢͠͠e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞ u̶͖̖͆̊̈́͡͡s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡?" I saw both Ruby and Aqua turn toward me and on turning their face toward me, there whole eye were pitch black, "W̵̶̸̻̼͉̱̄͗ͭ͟͢͢͠h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡ȳ̸̵̩̜͔͍̔́͟͟͢͡ d҉̴̷̧̢̛̖͔̤ͯ̔̑̄͢͟͡͠i҉̧̯̤̙͔̑ͧ̅̔ͦ́͜͟͢͝͠d҉̴̷̧̢̛̖͔̤ͯ̔̑̄͢͟͡͠ ȳ̸̵̩̜͔͍̔́͟͟͢͡o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝u̶͖̖͆̊̈́͡͡ g̷̵̸̡̼̱͎͎̞ͤͬ̅͢͟͞i҉̧̯̤̙͔̑ͧ̅̔ͦ́͜͟͢͝͠v҉̨̊͢͠͠e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞ u̶͖̖͆̊̈́͡͡p̷̸̷̨͙͙͇ͨ̌ͣ͋͟͢͠? W̵̶̸̻̼͉̱̄͗ͭ͟͢͢͠h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡ȳ̸̵̩̜͔͍̔́͟͟͢͡? W̵̶̸̻̼͉̱̄͗ͭ͟͢͢͠h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡ȳ̸̵̩̜͔͍̔́͟͟͢͡? W̵̶̸̻̼͉̱̄͗ͭ͟͢͢͠h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡ȳ̸̵̩̜͔͍̔́͟͟͢͡? W̵̶̸̻̼͉̱̄͗ͭ͟͢͢͠h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡ȳ̸̵̩̜͔͍̔́͟͟͢͡? W̵̶̸̻̼͉̱̄͗ͭ͟͢͢͠h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡ȳ̸̵̩̜͔͍̔́͟͟͢͡? W̵̶̸̻̼͉̱̄͗ͭ͟͢͢͠h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡ȳ̸̵̩̜͔͍̔́͟͟͢͡?"
Slowly, a black and dark reddish shadow crept on me, pulling me inside the shadow.
'No, stop; is this a dream?"
*Clank* *Crash*
"Huff, Huff, Huff, Huff"
I woke up and found myself in an unfamiliar room on a normal bed. I suppose it was just a normal nightmare. Wait, what was the nightmare I saw? I can't remember it again.
"You woke up faster than I thought."
I noticed Scathach entering the door. She stepped forward and held my hand to check my pulse, I suppose. Even I don't know because she is circulating her mana inside me.
"Your heartbeat was too fast a while ago; I suppose you saw a nightmare. Don't worry, your mental strength will recover soon, and you will be able to counter nightmares because corrupted spirits affect weak-willed people too much."
"So, I failed, or it was to check my limit or something like that."
"You didn't pass, but I can see potential in you, so I am willing to accept you as my disciple."
"Why does your line sound like Tsundere Master from Wuxia?"
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
"Anyway, I will tell you first about your weaknesses and mistakes. First, you think too much while fighting, which is a good thing but, at the same time, wastes your energy and time. Next, you use others fighting art and movements perfectly, but it's so perfect that some can understand your pattern, and more than that, you cannot obtain the true potential of their fighting style. You are learning the opponent's reflexes but not exploring yourself to find the opponent's weaknesses. And most importantly, you still haven't found any fighting styles and movements that clearly suit you or the fighting style that is only made for you to be used."
I will be completely honest: I am completely shocked by Scathach's analysis and understanding of me only in our first meeting. I am like an open book in front of her.
"What are your thoughts? Wouldn't you express them?"
"I really understood your point, but Where should I start from?"
"If I say, you can be a jack of all trades but a master of none, But I suppose you don't want that; I can see that you want to be the strongest and not below anyone. And with that, we will start by finding your compatibility with the fighting style."
"So, What would I have to do?"
"Breathe air."
"Breathe air?" She gave me a charming smile, but I could not feel anything good from it.
__________________________________________________________
A week later,
It has been a week, and I got to know about Shishou's new side, like how she is too gentle with little girls but only excepts training. Like me, she took care of my health, and I was in bed for 4 days because of my weak little body and because Shishou insisted on laying down on the bed. And after that, I exercised for three days to recover my strength. And from today forward, my training will start, and we are moving in a certain direction.
*Sound of heavy waterfall*
"Wait, I thought the Land of Shadow would be a gloomy and dark world."
"My stupid disciple, no one can stand gloominess around them, so I separated and created a piece of land that is a completely peaceful place to pass some time."
"So, what do I do here?"
"Get naked."
"No, I am still underage; I promise after 7 years, I am willing to _____." *Bonk*
"My stupid disciple, aren't you acting too familiar to me too fast? Now, get naked."
"Tsk, Was it necessary to beat me?" I stripped down to my bra and pants.
"Now, get over the rock down the waterfall and sit in a comfortable position."
I followed Shishou's word and sat below the waterfall in lotus position.
"Now, you will start with meditating while controlling your breath, and I suppose you have some kind of breath for cultivation, so it's better you use it. And how did I know? Because I can see that your regular breathing is completely different from that of a normal human, your breathing is like pulling strong positive energy to use it as a reserve."
"But what you will do is different. You have to modify your breathing, so you have to learn all the properties of your breathing; after that, I will start the real thing."
I didn't understand her entire explanation, but I understood one thing: I have to completely disassemble my Dragon Breath and understand its principle. I started by closing my eye and kept using Dragon Breath.
After so many times, I stood up and started the whole 98 stance to increase my complete understanding of it. Many time would have passed, but I am still fixed on my breathing style.
My breathing style is to absorb energy, circulate everywhere in the body, and concentrate on certain parts to give a burst release effect, Like concentrating at one point and having a sudden burst at the end.....(Imagine some random comprehension bullshit.)
____________________________________________________________
After 3 months,
I completely understood my Dragon Breath and learned a new martial art derived from Dragon Breath that mainly focuses on fighting in a domineering and intimidating way like a dragon. There are a total of 98 stances in it, and by arranging each stance with another, I can make certain fighting moves or combos.
I got out of the waterfall and observed the surroundings. I found Scathach sitting on a tree branch.
"Shishou, I am done with the task."
"Good, I expected you would take 1 year, but I suppose you have a talent for learning. Now, onto next; you will be learning resonance."
"Resonance?"
"Yeah, resonance. Many people do not understand anything about weapons and choose weapons that they find easier to use, but that's wrong." She threw an apple at me. I caught it and took a bite, and I was surprised that it recovered my health faster. Is it an enchanted apple from Minecraft?
"Anyone is not suitable for a certain weapon; it is only your willingness to learn anything. Not only do you have to adapt to any weapon, but the weapon also has to adapt to your ways."
"So, the resonance you are going to learn is about synchronising your breathing style with the weapon. Like your breathing style, which can be said to be explosive in every move, what you have to do is create an explosion every time you swing your katana."
"Shishou, Can I ask you a question?"
"Yes, but don't ask something stupid."
"Can I master others fighting styles by copying their breathing styles?"
*Bonk*
"I suppose you are not as stupid as I thought; you are a Crazy one."
"What was that bonk for?"
"To stop your crazy thought Anyway, you can try that, but one thing: never copy anyone's style, movements, or arts. What you have to do is DEVOUR it."
"( ✧Д✧)"
"What with your expression?"
"You were too cool just a second ago." *Bonk*
_______________________________________________________________________________
So, I have been using Lucia Sword Art, which depends on faster movement, agility, and strength. And I still didn't get more results from it because I couldn't resonate with the sword art. And there is no way I can learn from Lucia because she herself is AI, which doesn't need to breathe. So, I would try to synchronise my breathing style, which is to use bursts of energy to accelerate myself and deliver burst damage.
And the problem is, I don't get what it means to synchronise. And I will be fighting against Shishou, because one can achieve anything in an extreme situation, that's what she said.
"Shishou, I am ready." In front of me is Scathach, but with a katana. I can only learn what is synchronising by observing her, NO, by devouring her.
"Then let's start."
_____________________________________________________________________________
<MC BETA POV>
I am completely weaker now, but I can still beat both my siblings easily, like throwing a potato. And currently, I am teaching Ruby, Hae-In's fighting style because Hae-In's fighting style is the same as dancing moves, and Ruby is an expert in choreography, which may help her learn fighting faster. But even so, her magic aptitude is better than Aqua's.
And about Aqua, I taught him close combat and how to handle various situations with less effort, and he is completely following the whole training session. Other than that, he has a greater understanding of mana but less aptitude, so he is mixing both chakra and mana to hide his flaw. So, I taught him many ninjutsu, which Alpha (the original body) purchased from the store and gave me to keep.
Anyway, I don't have mana; I only carry chakra and training with it, so that Alpha can cheat chakra training by assimilating with me again. Not that I am opposing Alpha, but it kind of feels weird to be subordinate to myself.
As I went to my room to change dresses, *BAM* "Nee-San, it is Serio___; I am sorry." *BAM*
Damn, did he just enter to peek at me? "AQUA, YOU ARE GONNA DIE."
___________________________________________________________
After 15 minutes of beating,
"So, what were you talking about?"
"See, this is in my hand. What is this gauntlet?"
"I see you got a Sacred gear,_____. LIKE HELL, THAT IS A NORMAL THING; WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?"
"It just appeared when I poured mana on my hand to perform a spell."
"WHICH SPELL?"
"Teleportation, from the book you stole from church."
"Aqua, I never steal anything; this book just happens to move around."
"Like hell, I will believe that."
"Anyway, your Sacred Gear seems related to space, but I don't know which sacred gear you have."
"So, what should we do?"
"Never tell anyone about it or use it without my presence, not even Ruby, because she might feel left out. And try to talk with the spirit sealed in it, if there is any spirit. The only thing I can do now is get the information from one person."
"Who?"
"From a fallen angel."
"Aren't they too hostile?"
"Nah, except one person, 𝐀𝐳𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐥."