Seed Of Speed

(Special thanks to Azazii who gave up her laptop and put her WoW addiction on hold so I could use her laptop to write!)

Dawn broke the horizon as Diego and his two masters flew back over the top of the sect's walls. Instead of landing in Shadowbolt's courtyard, as he had expected, they landed in Swordflash's backyard, next to the sparring ring.

"Brightmelody, we should retest your affinities and capabilities now that you have advanced to the Demi-Body Stage," Shadowbolt said as if to answer his confusion.

"Of course, masters," Diego replied.

"Enter the ring, and we will start with your favorite: reaction time," Swordflash ordered.

Diego nodded and walked over, into the center of the sparring ring as he retrieved his black spear from his storage space. Swordflash appeared to simply step, but when he completed the action, he was standing atop one of the pillars around the ring, while Shadowbolt merely stood outside and watched.

Having performed Swordflash's reaction time test every time had advanced a stage of his body cultivation, Diego was quite familiar with what was about to happen, and surprisingly, he did enough it… well, more than any other training with his hellish teacher. Six {Sand Clones} of Swordflash appeared standing between the pillars and each would send a sword wave at an increasing rate until three blows landed on him in a row. Even though they were magic-based clones, Swordflash mastery over the sword allowed even his clones to wield a fraction of that sword force despite the lack of chi in the clones, albeit at a much weaker strength than his true body could create.

Thanks to his [Speed Sight], he always tested a level or two above what a normal cultivator would be able to at the stage which might not seem like a lot, but after reaching the Ninth Stage of the Mortal Body and still preforming that well, Swordflash was visibly impressed. What had stopped Diego every time from reaching a higher point was just that his body had been unable to keep up with his vision.

Diego relaxed his mind and shook out his body before assuming his stance and activating his [Speed Sight], marking the beginning of the trial. The Swordflash behind and to the left started the attack and Diego spun to meet the clear, yet strangely visible wave of sword force racing towards him. He destroyed it with a thrust of his spear just as the next attack was launched, again from behind and to the left of him. Swordflash loved to target any spot of weakness Diego revealed, and being naturally right handed, his left was usually the weaker side.

These first few sword waves were nothing threatening since they were at the speed of someone at the Sixth Stage of the Mortal Body, but they were a good warm up for Diego. Swordflash announced the advancement to the Seventh level, but Diego could combat these without the need of his [Speed Sight] despite using it. The Eighth and Ninth levels were passed just as easily as the first two.

When Swordflash advance to the speed of a person in the First Stage of the of the Demi-Body, the sword wave took on a silvery, translucent glow. One, two, three, Diego broke each of the sword waves that came at him, constantly changing direction to meet the next one. He could feel the chi in his body pulsing as he pushed his body harder and harder.

"Second Stage of the Demi-Body!" Swordflash announced.

Now, Diego did need to rely on his [Speed Sight] as the sword waves were approaching the speed of sound. His body and spear were a blur as he stabbed and swept away the sword waves that approached. Unlike before, he was not noticing the feeling of his body slowly striking out, so it was actually able to keep up with his mind after the ascension.

"Third Stage of the Demi-Body!"

The next sword wave released came streaking towards him as a sonic boom erupted. Despite seeing it and thrusting his spear, it was as if his body was suddenly submerged in water. There was some kind of resistance that felt much more like water than it did like air. The sword wave crashed against his body, leaving behind a bloody gash across his c.h.e.s.t, but Diego did not pay it any attention as he altered the course of his spear to stop the second one. He managed to block the wave, but not cleanly, so he was not able to recover in time to block the third, resulting in another gash, this one across his back. Averaging blocking ever other attack meant that after the tenth strike, it was time to speed up once again.

"Four Stage of the Demi-Body!"

Once again, this liquid-like resistance sought to hold him back as Diego lashed out against the sword waves. He could feel his chi prickle with excitement as he sent more through his body in a vain attempt to fight the resistance, but it was not enough. The sword wave landed on his body once again, adding a sixth cut to his torso, and then a seventh one.

Shadowbolt had never truly seen her apprentice prowess in the martial path and had often thought it a waste to have him learn from such a demanding teacher that could break him just as easily as help him, but this had changed her mind. She herself had been stuck at the peak of the Sixth Stage of the Demi-Body for three decades, but the strength and versatility of her magic that had allowed her to step into the Grand Master rank. Swordflash was only at the Seventh, but his skill with the sword was rumored to allow him to match the Great Founder when they sparred.

Typically, Adapts were in the first three stages of the Demi-Body while Elders and Masters were between the Fourth and Sixth stages. Only Grand Masters, with the support of the sect, would reach the Seventh or above. Very few in the sect could challenge those above their stage, but none could match the craziness of what she was witnessing.

Diego unconsciously let out a feral yell as his body lit up with golden lightning that sn.a.k.e.d around his body. He kept repeating 'Faster! Faster!' in his mind as he tried to push through the resistance. Under the power brought by his Lightning Body, he stabbed through the third sword wave, not even hearing the sonic boom his own body released. Now, his body could truly keep up with his mind as he deflected the remaining sword waves.

"Fifth Stage of the Demi-Body!"

Unfortunately, this was Diego limit as three sword waves crashed into his body before they could register in his mind. The heavy toll on his chi made him fall to a knee when he realized the test was over. Despite the ten gashes on his body, making him look on the verge of death, he could not remove the crazed smile on his face as he panted. His body was bubbling with excitement and he was trying hard to suppress the urge to look for another fight.

Yet another danger of his new cultivation was the threat of losing himself in the heat of battle. The power that came from the Nine Hells, as referred to in the name of his manual, was saturated with bloodshed. In long, drawn-out battles, practitioners would often lose themselves, ignoring the damage to their bodies until the only thing keeping them alive were the Black Flames that, once their enemy was vanquished, would consume them and turn them into a Hellspawn, a creature that would slaughter friend and foe alike as they sought after blood. Katalina, of course, knew the dangers and was confident she could bring him out of it, if only by forcing control over Diego's body.

"An impressive accomplishment, Brightmelody," Swordflash said which was high praise from the stoic swordsman.

Shadowbolt did not know what to say as his martial performance nearly matched anything she could display in the field. So instead, she casted a simple healing spell on him while staying back. Swordflash moved so that he was next to Diego and waved him hand, summoning a large green rock, nearly as tall as him.

"Let's see if your strength has improved as well," Swordflash said.

Diego pulled himself up, using his spear, and stared at the rock in front of him. He had performed this test before as well, but with much less spectacular results. He was gifted with speed, but it was hard to transform it into raw power. He remembered this green rock well as during his last test, Swordflash had ordered him to attack it with his full strength, just to jar his hand, and entire arm, when it did not move or break.

This was something that anyone with the strength of the First Stage of the Demi-Body should be able to pierce. Before, it had only shook his body, but when he stabbed out now, it was as if he was pushing it through a lump of clay. Swordflash nodded, retrieved the stone, then set out a new one, copper and green in color this time.

Diego could not coat his spear with chi, and was supposed to use just his body, but after getting stopped at just a few centimeters in, his temper flared since he was still in an affect state. He pulled back and thrusted his spear into the rock, over and over, each time gaining another centimeter, despite hitting a new location every time.

Just like before, when he was trying to break through the sound barrier, his chi began to excite under the influence of his frustrations. Black flames began to spring up on his shoulders and coat down his arms. Once they were both fully covered, his spear pierced through the entire rock, but again, he was left gasping after his accomplishment.

"Good. The lightning seems to increase your speed while the fire increases your power, but both take a toll on your body. You should only use them when absolutely needed and both should be used to finish your opponent off or you will open yourself to a counter-attack," Swordflash said with a nod.

"Yes… master," Diego breathed as he wrestled with control of his mind.

::It will get better with practice, I promise. There are also some meditations I can give you to help ease the burden::

(I'll be fine,) Diego replied firmly.

"Brightmelody, return with me to my tower and we will test your affinities, then you can rest for the day, don't even bother with sending your clones off to class," Shadowbolt said.

"Yes, master," Diego replied.

"Don't spar with anyone or venture into the Catacombs for now. We will resume our training in three days," Swordflash added.

"Yes, master," Diego agreed once again.