Preparation

Slow steady footsteps approached Rentaro and Roy, who had just finished listening to Wilhelm's analysis on areas where they could improve. Both looked up and glanced towards the direction of the sound, only to see a young boy approach, giving off a familiar feeling to Rentaro. The child was none other than Icrin, the boy who had brought Rentaro to the village.

This was the first time Rentaro had seen Icrin clearly, the young boy had a head of short, spiked silver hair, along with his hereditary trait of ice-blue eyes. Upon closer inspection, Rentaro noticed to his astonishment that only Icrin's left eye was ice-blue, while his right eye took on a more grayish-hue. Compared to Rentaro's height of one hundred seventy centimeters tall, Icrin was relatively shorter at around one hundred fifty centimeters and he had a light skin tone.

"I'll wait for you two to recover to your peak states, then let's have a spar. While you two have some decent power, you lack coordination. As to make our spar more interesting, you both can go against me at the same time." Icrin replied in his rather higher-pitched, yet straightforward tone, different from his previous childish demeanor when he was talking with Elder Astrona.

Without any further explanations, he turned and walked away while trying his best to put on a suave manner, though he gave off the air of a battle-fanatic, one who pursued the dream of reaching the peak of strength.

Rentaro and Roy nodded in response to Icrin's decision, acknowledging their own weaknesses, before assuming meditative positions to recover their energy to their peak state, while digesting their experience from their previous spar together.

Rentaro felt a burning sensation, it was a slight searing pain internally as he resumed his meditation and tried to focus.

[You seem to have felt it? Using elements you don't have an affinity with will cause damage to your meridian channels as they lack the acceptance towards one another. While I did say that using elements you don't have an affinity with will help you make an affinity with them, since it is done forcibly the aura will slowly encroach and cause harm to your body if used too recklessly.]

[Once your energy control is at a more proficient level, it'll be fine. Until then, I recommend gaining affinity with them through enlightenment, contracts, or special treasures. As long as you don't overuse elemental auras you don't have an affinity with, you'll only suffer slight internal damage that shouldn't accumulate too much, so your meridian channels can slowly recover. There's no need to panic over the current damage.] Wilhelm stressed in concern.

'Okay.' Rentaro replied, taking Wilhelm's words to heart, while increasing his own basic knowledge on the subject of elemental affinities and "acceptance".

[Good. Now, use this time to recover your energy and improve on how you can sufficiently display your abilities. As for your next spar, don't expect me to give you any pointers on this kid's techniques, other than what I already inferred about them practicing mental cultivation arts. You need to get used to fighting opponents who you know nothing about, going in blind and being alert for any possible unimaginable situations that may crop up.]

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'Roy, we need to synergize as best as possible for our next spar with Icrin. Unlike us, he has trained for a long time, even if he is younger than us.' Rentaro put on a stern face as he analyzed the situation.

'Uhh, Second Brother, I'm actually younger than him....' Roy spoke up sheepishly with a narcissistic smile, shattering Rentaro's analysis which had only just begun.

'Alright, Roy, you're getting a bit too narcissistic now.'

[Agreed, this spar will be good at more than just training your abilities.] Wilhelm's voice resounded as he jumped into the conversation, clearly eagerly awaiting Icrin to teach Roy a lesson, dissolving the narcissism that was slowly blooming inside of him.

'You! You only just left the conversation. Why are you back already? Ahh, whatever, it doesn't even matter. Back to the main point, let's discuss how our techniques worked against one another. Firstly, what did you think of my Shield of Light, Roy?'

'Hm, let's see... The first use of your "Shield of Light" was really weak, it shattered almost instantly on impact and I had plenty of time to lash out consecutive moves to pin you down. In your moment of "peril", you employed a different version in which you specifically blocked my attacks while leaving the rest of your body unguarded.' Roy provided an analysis from his perspective as he faced the shield himself.

[Good analysis. While such a shield is stronger, it requires precision on timing and position, along with alertness towards any sudden changes in the opponent's attack. It's best to use such a shield in a moment of surprise, giving you the chance to strike your opponent when they think their attack will hit you spot-on. However, it only works if your calculation and instincts are faster than your opponent's speed.] Wilhelm once again chimed in, giving a clear analysis with the expansive knowledge he had been given as a system guide.

'Hm, I see. Are there any other methods for me to strengthen my normal Shield of Light?'

[Use more energy when casting the technique? Compress the elemental aura more tightly together? Strengthen your elemental control and manipulation? All of these require time and patience. Build them up slowly by practicing, the same goes for any and all of your techniques.] Wilhelm answered the question with a series of questions before scolding Rentaro's impatience.

'Ahem. I'll be more patient. Roy, I'll give you advice on some of your techniques now. Your black flame arrow was very strong, however, you should compress it more, making it smaller and in-turn faster. Then, it will be even more difficult for one to dodge or block it.'

[Huh? I'm the one who just told you the idea of compressing the elemental aura together, don't just repeat the same thing I told you seconds ago and call it your advice!] Wilhelm's words sounded as if they had been forced out, filled with an exasperated tone, in response to Rentaro's "advice".

'You're disturbing our training, Eldest Brother.' Roy's childish voice rang out with a slight tone of distress, quieting Wilhelm with slight guilt, only to replace the guilt with a spark of mock-anger towards Rentaro's reply.

'Hehe, see? My advice is important to our training, so don't sweat the small stuff when I pass on the concept behind strengthening a technique. Back to the matter at hand, you should also work on your Skeletal Control. You need to use the spikes along your spine more tactically, rather than relying on a battle of attrition and pursuing the enemy to work out for you.'

[Furthermore, you need to practice a body strengthening art to strengthen your skeletal frame in the future. If you fight a powerful opponent, such a technique could be your "kryptonite" if your enemy fractures or breaks your skeletal structure, causing harm to your physical body.] Wilhelm followed up with his own advice, surpassing Rentaro's current knowledge of cultivation.

'Yup! What he said, Roy!" Rentaro smiled teasingly.

'Haha. Alright! How about my Obsidian-Scaled Armor? Is my defense good enough?'

'Huh? I have no clue, none of my techniques were strong enough to scratch you. As you said, you're the bane of fire, absorbing my fire techniques and using them to replenish your own energy. In theory, you could use your armor like a mirror, reflecting my energy back at me in the form of an even stronger attack composed of your primal flames.'

[Uh-hm. That's why you need to develop defensive and offensive techniques with different elements, then you'll be able to have a solution to any problem. Once you initiate more summons and make more contracts, this problem will slowly dissolve itself as summoners fight alongside companions rather than alone. Never neglect your own strength, however.]

[And Roy, your defense is truly unparalleled, at least it seems so. Don't forget that the scales only cover so much of your body, leaving several sections of your underbody prone to attacks. No matter what, everything has its own weakness, that's a law of balance that will never be broken.] Wilhelm once again brought up the law of balance, something that Rentaro, Roy, and a vast majority of people would never truly understand unless they break the shackles that bound them to the realms within the World Trees.

[Hah. You guys will be having another spar soon. You two, listen up well and don't get upset. You two will prob~ably get crushed in your next spar. I really don't want my younger brothers losing too badly, but you two lack actual skill and experience isn't something that can be sharpened in a short period of time. This is a good chance to see how well one can hone their abilities in a deadline.]

[Just do your best. After this, you two should practice daily and when you're ready, you can hunt in the different Forest Zones. When I think you have sufficient skill to protect yourselves, I suggest you two go to an academy where you can learn all the basics and applications of your abilities.]

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Having recovered, Rentaro stood up alongside Roy, only to notice Icrin leaning against a fence alongside the training field. Suddenly, his eyelids snapped open, revealing the brightness of his ice-blue eye and a strange hazy glow from his grayish-colored eye.

"So, you're ready for our spar to begin?" Icrin eagerly approached Rentaro.

"Uh-hm, the two of us haven't really fought before this, so take it easy on us, will you?" Rentaro asked, not knowing his question had seemed to take on a tone of surrender towards others, dissipating Icrin's built-up desire for battle.

"Huh? You just-You just accept that you'll lose like that?! Where's the resistance? The blood boiling for battle that us youths should have?!" Icrin shouted like a mad animal.

His current state instilled fright into Rentaro and Roy, Rentaro having realized his question had only worsened their situation in their upcoming par.

'Uh, Second Brother, you better fix the situation. I don't want to face this mad man!' Roy shriveled back, losing his earlier conceited and narcissistic attitude as he sent a voice transmission to Rentaro.

'Ye-Yeah, don't worry. I'll handle it. Here goes nothing...' Rentaro, like a grade A actor, fluently changed his facial expression from one of worry to a smug look as he put some depth into his voice, "Oh, we were just joking. Matter of fact, we were testing you, making sure your will to battle was true! The two of us, while lacking coordination, will definitely put our all up against you. You better watch out, we have our own cards to rely on!"

"You-You two tricked me...? Haha, Alright! Let's go, this is the battle spirit one needs, let's have a good spar!" Icrin laughed as his attitude took a complete turn around thanks to his childish naivety.

The elders and grand elders in the distance gave sighs of relief as the tension between the Icrin and Rentaro's party of two calmed down. Accompanying them were multiple other men and women who held varying positions in the Krose Clan, clearly interested in the events concerning Icrin and the two guests.