Offer of the Martial Master

"Ehh~" Following Arthur's hit on Christian's jewels, Christian unknowingly released a shriek while Arthur opened his eyes and instantly pulled back his fist.

'I guess, you can't train those, no matter how strong you get.' Arthur couldn't stop his intrusive thoughts from rising up and instantly realized what he had done.

Christian was on his knees with his eyes closed and Orew was already rushing to his side.

"Even an agent of matrix wouldn't be so ruthless!" Orew told Arthur with a regretful tone as he grabbed the shoulders of his brother, Christian.

"CHRISTIAN OPEN YOUR EYES!!! MY BROTHER!!" shouted Orew to the Christian who was devoid of any movement at the moment.

It wasn't like Christian had passed into the realm of unconsciousness but just that, Christian was biting his lips tightly which didn't suit a man of his stature.

Especially not something that Orew could witness his brother doing in front of him and a child, especially since they were supposed to be nurturing a warrior out of the said child, Arthur.

"Will I not be able to see my nieces and nephews? Is it that bad?" Orew asked Christian while Arthur was looking at the two with a worried expression.

'Will I fail my trial? Am I going to die?' Arthur was also wondering just like Orew, but both parties were wondering about a different type of failure.

Christian slowly opened his eyes and a tear drop rolled down from each of his eyes.

"I am fine." Christian uttered while pushing Orew away and looking at Arthur with a stoic expression.

"That wasn't a manly hit, but nonetheless, I felt your dedication." Christian told Arthur while removing his gloves and handing them over to Orew.

"Never knew a hit on the balls could reach the heart too. Looks like the hit was really devastating." Orew spoke before turning to Arthur and showing him a thumbs up.

"Good job." Orew told Arthur as both of their worried expressions dissipated, vanishing like sand being carried off a statue by the wind.

"I see sweat, I clean. I cleaner here!" Just then, Panoly sneaked up in the area, and wiped the floor so well and swiftly that by the time Arthur looked down, he could already see his own reflection.

But, Arthur's sight couldn't catch as much as a glimpse of Panoly.

Panoly was fast but there was another reason.

The script of the Heaven's Eye had already opened up.

( Trial 'fifth' of seven, Trial of Mastery, is waiting for you! )

( Move towards Truce Lee! )

"Trial of mastery!? Just what kind of mastery will the trial from a martial master contain?" Arthur read the Heaven's Eye and even before he read the second line, he knew the fifth trial's assessor was none other than Truce Lee.

Arthur moved to Truce without wasting a breath.

"I can't wait to learn from him and show him my all," said Arthur as he had been punched by Christian and learned some hard things from Orew. With the new knowledge and experience, Arthur felt excited about the Trial of Mastery.

'These trials are easier than the first trials. They felt more like a trial but these are definitely more fun.' Arthur mumbled with a smile as he recalled how things had been for him since he had stepped in the Building.

'From introduction to the pre-workout meal, then the spar with Christian, and the deep knowledgeable words of Orew, everything's been fun.' Arthur thought to himself while completely avoiding the memory of the wooden house, the Priestess and the Butler, Alfred of Cumore Familia.

The memory of past aside, the current Arthur who was thinking of these trials as a fun picnic or an entertaining gathering, didn't know at all, how much he was going to regret to think of these trials as fun.

As his thought ended, Arthur was already standing behind Truce Lee.

Arthur gazed at the figure of Truce Lee cloaked in the golden attire, resembling a majestic golden drake, who Arthur had only seen as images in the books that Malissa had brought to him.

"I am here...Sir." Arthur hesitantly said to Truce Lee who was showing no sign of turning around.

"I know. You have been here for seven seconds. But, you only spoke after the first seven seconds." Truce Lee said in a rustic tone as he slowly turned towards Arthur.

"Seven seconds, he even counted that..." Arthur was shocked but in a manner of being awed by the perception of Truce.

'Is this what having mastery about?' Arthur wondered as the mastery was unspecified even in the script.

"Hmmm." Truce looked at Arthur and nodded to himself before placing his hand on Arthur double chin.

Arthur instantly pulled his neck in and raised his head in order to truly bring his neck in light.

"I do have a neck. I am just a little fat, so it's not easy to differentiate it with my chin." Arthur mumbled to Truce but realized that the other party wasn't even listening to him.

"Fat. Don't think that. You have yet to see what I'm seeing." Truce Lee removed his hand from Arthur's neck.

He had a smile on his face as if he was looking at a treasure.

Truce rubbed his thumb against his index finger while getting the feel of Arthur's neck that he had just touched.

"Strong muscles, stronger bones," Truce began while suddenly turning his eyes to Goliath Goggin.

"He said you were thirteen. You're just thirteen, but your bones feel like sturdy metal, and your muscles belie your hefty frame... It all points to one thing."

"You are gifted to become a martial master...you can even surpass me. A martial grandmaster!" Truce Lee had a bright exciting look in his eyes as he stared right at Arthur.

Hearing that, Arthur had an awkward smile on his face.

"What do you think? Why don't you take me as your master and become my successor?" Truce Lee dropped an offer that he thought no one would be able to turn down, especially not Arthur.