11] New Weapons

(Zero POV, somewhere on eastern continent)

Shin- "So, you going to teach me some techniques? Like a flash step?" I sigh, realizing that I have to teach him stuff due to our promise.

Zero- "It's not flash step, but something close to it. As it is now, it takes MP to use. Most people can only do it a time or two before passing out from exhaustion." 

"Can you even use MP? I know you said I don't have Aura, but I can't tell whether or not you would have MP." He scratches the back of his head.

Shin- "Well, maybe you can just give me some tips on how to use a gun better or something... You did train in guns right?" I nod, not really sure why he wanted to learn about guns.

"Okay, then let's take the rest of the day in training that. And maybe a few sword lessons."

Zero- "Alright, prepare yourself. You already know how painful my training is, don't expect me to go easy on you."

I then drill the basics of gun and sword usage into his head. After a while, I force him to spar with me, using only techniques. He gets significantly better, but nowhere near my level.

He's pretty accurate with a gun, after my training of course.

The day passes, and it starts getting dark outside.

Zero- "It's time to increase my thermal resistance!" I then go around picking up sticks and stuff, he joins in as well.

I pile all the wood up, and ignite it. I jump into the flames, and the look in his face is priceless.

Shin- "Hey! Are you not afraid of freaking dying?" I laugh directly at his face.

Zero- "These flames are barely affecting me anymore, I don't even need my shihakusho." I look down at him with a smirk, he seems pretty annoyed.

Shin- "So, it's not hot enough?" I get a bad feeling, so I answer as fast as possible.

Zero- "Yeah, I can't get anything hotter... Maybe if there's a volcano, but that may be too hot to handle safely." He just looks at me with a blank expression.

Shin- "Talking about safety while literally standing in fire..." He shakes his head as a sigh escapes his lips.

Suddenly the temperature of the flames starts to rise, causing me to sweat.

Zero- "What? Why is it getting hotter?" Shin simply smirks.

Shin- "It's all me, tell me. Is it hot enough?" I can't help but smile, knowing that he can further my training.

Zero- "No, go about double the heat. We'll see from there." He flinches, but shrugs it off. The temperature starts to rise, and it starts to burn.

Over the next few hours I have him gradually increase the heat, not letting myself get used to the current heat. Whenever I get burned, he heals me. In doing this, my thermal resistance skyrockets.

I'm about to suggest that Shin return to his world for the night, but he speaks before I do.

Shin- "I'm going home, if the portal is still open tomorrow, I'll come by."

I grab his arm, stopping him from leaving just yet.

Zero- "Hey wait, I've got a present for you. You bought all of this amazing stuff for me, and I'd feel bad without compensating you." I snap my fingers, telling my guards to bring what I asked for earlier.

"I spent about as much money as you did, just to get these. 100 Potions, and 20 Mid-Potions. Don't worry, I secretly tested one on you to see if it would work, and it does." He seems completely stunned, that brings a smile to my face.

Shin- "You tested it on me? Whatever, thank you for the gifts." He then gently sets them down on the other side of the portal, and then turns to face me.

Zero- "No, I should really be thanking you. You got me so much stuff, I'm going to give Squad 12 a field day." He smiles, and waves at me.

Shin- "No problem, I'll be leaving now. See you whenever the time comes!"

He carefully steps into the portal, but I say something to end off the goodbye.

Zero- "Next time we see each other, you better have that problem of your fixed!" I say this to instill confusion in him, insuring that he'll ask-

Shin- "Which one?" All according to cake.

Zero- "All of them, idiot. I can't have a flawed brother, it'll look bad to my followers!" I say this, knowing that he'll take my words seriously in his subconscious. I may have said this in a joking manner, but now he'll better himself to live up to my expectations.

I immediately return to training, I can't let him beat me next time.

***

Months pass, and I finally got my new weapons. I had sent all the tech I got from Shin to Squad 12, along with a couple of processed foods. I also did some paperwork while here, can't slack off even on a train-cation.

Luckily for me, the king does a lot of the paperwork to feel important. I'm not going to take his job away, might as well let him do what he does best.

Anyway, the new weapons from Melchior cost quite a bit of G, but it's fine. I paid him, and he thanked me. I returned to Truce not long after.

***

Today is the day that the first group of people passed the academy, and I'm basically required to show up. I see the line of new graduates, and they immediately salute to me. I guess I should do my speech now.

Zero- "Congratulations on passing my academy, I'm sure it was hard to get through. If it wasn't, then all the better. Every one of you standing in front of me has potential, some hidden, some locked away, but you have potential nonetheless."

"As you have graduated from my academy, you are allowed to apply to any of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. I'm sure you have already decided on which one you wanted to join, but do keep in mind that you can't change squads that easily. I recommend that you take your time, and choose which squad represents you the best."

Blah Blah Blah... All that speech stuff goes on for while, but I'm sparing you the trouble.

After a while, the speech ends. I make sure to have a dramatic exit, leaving the graduates amazed.

After all that bull crap, I finally get to test my new weapons on some monsters. I have some Squad 2 members capture a few monsters, that way the new graduates can fight against one.

As an example, I slowly bully a Roly. Showing all the best angles to hit them, and all the different ways to effectively end them. During the demonstration, I didn't even scratch the monster. But to impress the new graduates, I make sure to end the Roly in a single strike.

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Name: Zero

HP: 467/2,400 ➕⬆

MP: 54/63

PWR: 234

SPD: 232 (+5)

MAG: 66

END: 236 (+5)

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Skills: [Limit Break] [Focus Point] [Wind Slash] [Fatal Strike] [Observe] [Bloodlust] [Non-Lethal Strike] [Flicker Step] [Precise Hit] [Air Step] [Shadow Movement] [Danger Sense] [Fire Immunity]

Proficiencies: [Dual Wield, SS 1%] [Swords, SS 1%] [Daggers, S 100%] [Throwing, S 100%] [Shooting, SS 1%] [Spears, S 100%] [Axes, S 100%] [Scythes, S 100%] [Environmental weapons, S 100%]

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Equipment: [Seraph's Song] [Custom Weights] [Black Steel Katana x2] [Black Steel Daggers x2] [Black Steel Throwing Knives x5] [Shihakusho] [Captain's Cloak]

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