Seed Of Speed

Everyone agreed to join the expedition, even Rainshower, but before they could have their first practice, Diego had to return to his practice with Grand Master Swordflash. Swordflash's manor was one of the simplest down Masters' Row with only a single, unadorned floor and a total of five rooms. Where he focused most of his effort though was in the back where his training field was.

The sparring ring was marked by seven pillars that stood five meters tall and two meters thick. Each pillar had hundred of runes carved into the stone to act as the focus for a complex series of arrays that even Katalina had praised when he had first seen them. They could magnify the gravity within the circle by fifty times, or create a sea of flames or ice that could be controlled by the golem that eternally sat in the center.

The golem itself was a masterpiece for the level of the world, by Katalina's standards, although its flaw was that it drained far too much power if it ever left the area of support from the pillars. It was Swordflash's sparring partner and the two times he had allowed Diego to watch him fight, even with his [Speed Sight], he had been unable to follow the pair's movements other than blurs.

As usual, Diego found Swordflash meditating on top of one of the pillars with his sword laying on his l.a.p. The air around him seemed to waver slightly like it would around a campfire, but despite looking with both his {Mana Sight} and the [Analyze] ability of his helmet, there was no sign of energy coming from his body. Katalina had eventually explained that the effect was due to his mastery of the Way of the Sword being at the bottleneck between the 'Sword Heart' and the 'Sword World' stages.

If he actually managed to breakthrough the bottleneck, he would be forced to ascend to the next world as the Laws of this world limited the stages of weapon mastery much like it did the stages of Body Cultivation. The danger for Swordflash, and also what was holding him back, was that his cultivation was only at the Fourth Stage of the Demin Body. It was still possible for him to push his mastery of the sword to the next stage, but without the power of a strong body cultivation to back it up, it would slowly destroy his body.

"Brightmelody, have you completed your task?" Swordflash asked as soon as Diego entered the sparring ring.

"I have, master," Diego replied with a proper bow.

Swordflash stood up and stepped off the pillar, landing on the ground without seemingly disturbing any sand. "Show me," he ordered.

Diego nodded and closed his eyes. The past few days he had spent his free time practicing creating and controlling the prana energy. After gaining his Crest, he had found his mana was far easier to control which even transitioned to his prana, making it more malleable as well. His Crest appeared on his brow, the spiraling sun with nine rays, before his armor began to form around his body. Now that Katalina had helped him add the runes into his armor, a unique power coursed through his veins. His body felt extremely light, but he knew that he could explode with power at a moment's notice and make his attack feel like they had the weight of a mountain behind them.

Without even seeing his movements, a silver spear planted itself in the sand in front of Diego and Swordflash said simply, "We will begin."

Diego's hand grabbed the spear as fast as he could and raised it to block because he knew what was about to happen. Swordflash was in front of him in the next moment, chopping his hand down to strike at Diego head. For the first time in all of their spars, when Swordflash metal-like hand smashed down on the shaft of the spear, Diego's arms remained strong against the attack and did not buckle. Swordflash gave a nod of approval, but in that split-second Diego focused on that, he whipped his leg around and sent Diego flying with a strong kick to his ribs.

"Never lower your guard against an opponent," Swordflash said coldly.

Diego coughed out a bit of blood as he placed a hand on his cracked ribs and channeled {Mineral Mending}, an earth-based healing spell that specialized in healing bone fractures and breaks. Swordflash gave him a moment to heal before dashing forward again.

::Do it, Diego. Show him your new found power::

With a yell, Diego activated his [Speed Clone], creating two replicas of himself, then followed it {Sand Clone}, making three for his true body and the two [Speed Clones] each. Swordflash ignored all of the clones that were quickly spreading out with [White Lightning Array] and headed straight for Diego's true body which was still holding onto the silver spear. With two fingers, Swordflash thrusted out with incredible speed, but before he could make contact, Diego used {Spatial Swap} with one of his {Sand Clones} that ended up exploding with a shower of sand as Swordflash's fingers pierced through its body.

He was forbidden from using his own spear or any instruments when sparring with Swordflash, so his clones had to focus on magic. The two [Speed Clones] put their hands together to make a circle, one using {Fire Machine Gun} while the other used {Thunder Machine Gun}. Small bolts of violet and red peppered Swordflash, but they harmlessly bounced off Swordflash's [Full Scarlet-Gold Body], although it would drain his chi.

Swordflash dashed forward again, heading straight for Diego true body. He sent two of his clones to attempt to stall his master, but he destroyed them with a chop and a kick. The remaining six {Sand Clones} rushed towards Diego, so that when Swordflash reached him, the other six Diegos surrounded him. He activated his [Partial Scarlet-Gold Body] while raising his arms to block Swordflash's incoming fist. Before he actually made contact though, Diego used {Spatial Swap} and traded places with one of the {Sand Clones} behind Swordflash.

The {Sand Clone} that Diego switched with exploded into a cloud of sand, but in that same moment, he struck out with [Ten Strikes, One Thrust]. Swordflash had expected such a move, so he was already whipping around with a foot on a direct course for the silver spear. As Swordflash deflected the spear, the two [Speed Clones] completed their {Spatial Swap} with the {Sand Clones} and both threw out their right fist, combining {Thunder Strike} and [Charging Bull Fist].

Swordflash only raised his hands to block the crackling fists, but Diego's true body had been nocked to the side by the force of Swordflash's kick to his spear, so he could not continue the attack. That fact did not apply to the remaining five {Sand Clones} who all casted layer after layer of {Electric Net} on Swordflash until they completely depleted their mana, but the d.e.s.i.r.ed effect was achieved. Bands of violet electricity were coiled around Swordflash's body to the point that even with his superior cultivation, he could not instantly free himself.

In the seconds that he was stalled, the two [Speed Clones] moved so that Swordflash was in the center of the triangle with Diego's true body at his front. The two clones sent out a barrage of punches while his true body attacked with [Ten Strikes, One Thrust]. Although he could not move, Swordflash still had the ability to channel his chi and further strengthened his [Full Scarlet-Gold Body]. It was as if Swordflash turned his body into solid steel as Diego's attacks smashed harmlessly against his body. In fact, Diego took more damage than Swordflash, early breaking his fist with the double impact to his right hand, and he could not help but drop his spear in pain.

The moment of reprieve was gone as Swordflash raised his arms, shattering the electric bands. The sand behind Swordflash rose then split into two wh.i.p.s and slapped the two [Speed Clones]. At the same time, he threw out a fist and struck Diego squarely in the c.h.e.s.t, cracking his sternum while throwing him back. He dismissed the two clones and landed painfully in the sand, just in front of one of the pillars marking the sparring ring. Diego just laid in the sand, staring up into the sky, without bothering to heal himself.

Swordflash slowly walked up to his apprentice and looked down at him. "Your adaptability is improving, but it still feels like you are missing something… like you feel you are missing something."

"Yes, master," Diego replied weakly.

"Don't just agree, overcome it! Heal then meditate, we will begin again when you recover," Swordflash ordered.