3rd form teachings

Ardem retrieved the dagger on Jason's neck and placed it back in its sheath.

"3rd form, defense but fast"

Jason tried to digest what Ardem was saying but honestly, it was a bit confusing for him. It seems that Ardem was teaching the most complicated form yet, and with how he talked it really didn't help Jason at all...

Plus the entire concept of the form confused him like shouldn't defense be a solidified barrier. If you thought about defense you would think about a heavily fortified place or a big armored person wearing a shield. Not being fast like what Ardem was saying.

It seems Ardem could tell what Jason was thinking because Ardem prompted another example by pointing to him with his dagger and the tossing his sword Jason's sword back to him.

"again"

And so Jason picked up his sword and the same scenario played out. With a dagger on Jason's neck and Jason's sword getting parried so hard the sword literally flew into the air. Jason tried his best to understand what the entire form was about but unlike the straight forward 1st and 2nd forms it just didn't make any sense to him.

Like why would a person move when trying to minimize damage? wasn't that just stupid?

It was only till Boops tried to help that Jason started to get a slight idea of what it was meant for.

'hmm Jason, think of it like those moving shields you see occasional on an RPG character. they rotate around the person and protect them from all angles because of how fast they are. They aren't a giant block of steel but they can protect the person from all angles. '

"well yeah, but that's a tool, what's the point if a single person does it to defend himself?"

'well who said that this form was for defending a single person'

Jason raised his eyes in understanding, he looked at Ardem and asked

"is this form for protecting large groups of people when you are running low on manpower?"

Ardem just nodded but Jason acted like he had just solved an ancient puzzle or something. Even though the 3rd form seemed really specific, it could be really useful for certain situations too.

Sadly Ardem gave Jason no time to think about the 3rd forms uses. He said to Jason

"prepare"

And Jason instantly knew what that meant. He held up his sword in a defensive posture. Ardem then pointed to a tree behind Jason. And Jason knew that it was the thing he was protecting. Jason had noticed that Ardem had also been protecting a tree behind him when Jason attacked, that was probably why they had moved to where the trees were.

Sadly though Jason currently had no skills fit for defending, only offensive and mobility skills were in his skill sheet currently and Jason was started to regret it. He only knew the basic parrying gestures from the swordsmanship skill, but that was barely anything if you compared it with what the rose knights were training with.

Ardem started to run, and Jason tried his best to follow Ardem's movements. Jason's agility and intelligence were much higher than before so when he focused on Ardem he could faintly see where he was going to and dear god Jason didn't know that Ardem could jump up trees in one bound, that... that was crazy.

Jason was pretty sure Ardem had made a few rounds around his tree before he attacked. Jason barely had enough time to raise his sword up to block. Yet for some reason. Ardem's daggers collided with Jason's sword even though Jason was 1000% sure that Ardem could have easily just moved a bit to the right and easily reach the tree.

Jason curiously looked at Ardem who had retreated back to where he was originally. Ardem was just calmly looking at Jason exactly like how he was before, just silent and observing. Obviously Ardem wasn't trying. The one clash proved it. Jason just had no idea what he was supposed to do.

Ardem said quietly

"again"

and Jason went back into his defensive posture, he again followed Ardem as he zoomed through the trees. He had to always be moving around and rotating around the tree so that Ardem couldn't have an opening. Though, Jason slipped up many times it seems he went easy on him and let them slid.

The tense game of circling around the tree kept on repeating itself with Ardem occasionally jumping in to clash with Jason and then systematically retreating.

It happened over and over again every time Ardem would just say in his quiet voice

"again"

And Jason tiredly pulled out his sword each time and did the exact same thing. Admittedly he did get better at tracking Ardem and going into the right position to block him. But the entire farce lasted until midday. Where Ardem retreated and said "again"

Jason raised his arms again thinking it was just the same thing as the last few thousands of times. But this time was different. Jason couldn't see Ardem this time, the moment he went into the running position, he instantly went away from Jason's view. He could feel him though, the wind that Ardems running was no joke, it blasted away most of the leaves from his tree.

The sound of leaves rustling got much louder and it got harder and harder for Jason to find where he went. Jason was a bit disoriented after being fed almost the exact same routine time after time and then being hit by a highspeed attack. Suffice to say Jason was a bit flustered.

Jason stopped moving and tried to look for Ardem with his eyes. But he had totally forgotten about the tree that he was supposed to protect. And it seems that was what Ardem was gunning for the entire time. Since the moment Jason stopped moving, Ardem stuck.

Right behind Jason on the opposite side of the tree trunk Ardem leapt out and with his daggers, cut the tree trunk in two and landed right in front of Jason. The trunk fell a few meters away from the two.

Ardem looked at Jason and said in the longest sentence Jason had ever heard him say

"don't be complacent, the moment that happens, people die"

After saying that Ardem disappeared into the forest, and Jason could only helplessly watch him go.

Once there was absolutely no sign of Ardem, Jason turned around and tried to figure out what to do. But he spotted a few colors on the trunk of the cut tree that made him stop. He stopped to look and saw a basket, with a note written on it.

The smell was unmistakably food. And Jason jumped to it and started to eat the salad and bread that were in it. While he was munching on the bread joyfully. He read the note. It read

Sorry bout that, Ardem really wanted to teach you that lesson Arch. But personally I would have done it much harder

Well eat up and rest well, since today is a rest day! this wasn't planned but with how hard Charlie and Lyle pushed you we think you needed this.

Btw I'm coming the moment the sun comes up so you better get ready for the hardest day of training in your life *crudely drawn smiley face*

-Sincerely your kickass trainer Ethan

Jason facepalmed as he read the note. It was nice to have a day off. It already felt like the first two days took forever. Jason leaned again the severed tree stump and after finishing his meal. Said something that he hadn't said in the longest time

"log out"

[logging out of WOW]

The capsule in Jason's empty room opened and an extremely muscular boy with a sharp look in his eyes emerged.

Jason briefly looked around his empty room. He hadn't done anything to his room because of all of the chaotic stuff that he and the rest of the group needed to set things up. Perhaps he should start decorating his room later because things felt extremely empty in it.

Jason stretched his arms and legs, because of the effect of the potion. He wasn't tired when he should have been. Yet the effect carried onto real life. That was fricking awesome, but Jason was still curious as to how, he gained stats and skills from the game world yet could use them in "reality" it seems Boops had tried to explain it before but Jason just didn't get.

Well even though Jason wasn't tired he was going to sleep or die trying. Jason jumped into his bed face forward and hugged the soft blankets and pillows. It truly felt so good resting in his bed after doing so much hellish work.

Jason flopped over so that he could breathe properly, and looked up at the ceiling, the sharp and on edge look, Jason had on him from the past days, started to slightly fade away as he just silently gazed at the blank ceiling and before long, snores were the only thing that could be heard.