Volume 1 Chapter 34 The Path To Warrior – Fierce Battle Edition
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Feeling refreshed in the morning, I took the two of them to the training ground and waited for the instructor to arrive.
The faces at the training ground were the same as yesterday.
After waiting for a while, the instructor appeared at the entrance of the Guild with some equipment.
”Everyone’s here. Today we’ll be training in hand-to-hand combat. In real battles, there may be times when you lose or can’t use your weapon. That’s when hand-to-hand combat comes in handy; it’s a weapon you can use anytime and anywhere as long as you have your limbs.”
The instructor spoke cheerfully.
Thinking about it, it’s true that in combat, it’s possible for weapons to break or be lost.
But I’ve never actually punched or kicked anyone before.
As I was lost in thought, the instructor began handing out equipment to everyone.
I thought we’d be getting that plate armor again, but what we received was leather armor and leather helmets.
”Now, we’ll start with practicing striking techniques, but first, let me show you an example. Trainee Kent, step forward.”
The instructor called on me again; it seems he plans to pick on me today too.
”Yes.”
”Alright, get into the same stance as me. Bring both hands in front of your chest and keep your elbows close. Maintain your fists at about jaw height.”
I took the stance as instructed.
”Well, that’s good enough. Now, let’s start with the basic punch. Here we go!”
The instructor quickly closed the distance between us.
So fast.
Before I could react to dodge, the instructor’s fist, powered by the rotation of his hips and the spiral motion of his arms, hit my stomach, releasing a shock.
Thud.
”Ugh…”
I momentarily lost my breath from the punch to my stomach.
Even through the leather armor, I could feel the power of the hit, and the pain made me drop to my knees.
”Well, that’s about it. Trainee Kent, I spared your face this time. The key is to put the twist of your hips and arms into your punch. Got it? Now, let’s actually do it together.”
The other trainees looked like they only understood about half of the instructor’s explanation, but they started pairing up to prepare for the striking practice.
”Ah, I forgot, but if you wear leather mitts, beginners are more likely to hurt their fists. Plus, if you wear mitts, you shouldn’t feel much pain even if you get hit.”
The instructor casually states something important.
W-What did you say?! You idiot, put them on me properly before hitting me! This is already beyond just a little roughhousing.
I stand up, rubbing my aching stomach.
”Alright, we’ll stick with the same pairs as yesterday, right? I’ll personally train Trainee Kent without mitts.”
The instructor, with his beard shaking, has chosen me as his sparring partner.
”Y-Yes. Thank you. Please go easy on me.”
Today, I’m determined to get a hit, or at least a hair, from this bearded instructor.
Even if I end up battered, if I can pull out one of his beard hairs, I’ll be satisfied.
I’m going to do it! I’m going to do it!
I’ve been fired up with competitive spirit against the instructor’s roughhousing since yesterday.
”Alright, since Trainee Kent is a practical fighter, we’ll do some sparring. You can strike from anywhere, but I’ll be aiming for counters, so be careful.”
The instructor says this and gets into a fighting stance.
I also get into my stance and measure the distance between us.
* * *
We’re about 2 meters (6ft) apart, and from my current position, I can’t reach him with my punches.
I need to close the distance by one or 2 more steps to reach him.
The instructor has declared he’ll counter, but if I carelessly step into range, it’s clear from his actions since yesterday that he’ll attack under the guise of a counter.
So, timing my entry into range feels crucial.
Scrape, scrape.
I approach the instructor’s range at a speed comparable to a turtle’s.
”Trainee Kent, are you still not ready? It’s just a matter of throwing a punch, hurry up!”
The instructor urges me, but I won’t fall for it.
If I rush in and attack out of panic, I’ll definitely end up on the ground making friends with it.
Scrape, scrape.
I get as close as I can to the danger zone.
The moment I slightly step into range, the instructor quickly closes the distance.
W-What, he’s already closed in!
Then, from the left, the instructor’s fist comes flying toward my temple.
Tch, he’s really aiming for me!
I successfully dodged the instructor’s punch by bending my body forward.
Right in front of me was the instructor’s unprotected abdomen.
Alright, I can do this!
As I tried to throw a punch, he swiftly dodged and closed the distance, getting right up close to me.
He grabbed my neck, immobilizing me, and his knee struck my abdomen.
Thud!
”Ugh, a knee strike… cough.”
His knee, now a sharp weapon, hit me with an even more intense impact than the punch I took earlier, and I found myself making friends with the ground again.
Damn, I didn’t expect a knee to come flying at me.
The instructor is seriously out for blood.
So, the counterattack means from the moment I step into range, huh?
”Hey, Trainee Kent. Make it more fun for me, will ya? Or has the loser made friends with the ground? Or are you too tired from practicing night grappling with the Maid?”
The instructor’s words ignited my competitive spirit even more.
Of course, I’d rather practice with a beautiful Maid at night than with some scruffy old man.
But right now, I’m starting to think about how to rip out that beard of yours (instructor).
”One more time, please.”
I said that and got back up, ready to go again.
”If you’re aiming for a counter, Trainee Kent won’t step in, so this time I’m attacking. Make sure to defend against my strikes to the vital points.”
As soon as the instructor got into position, he stepped into range.
His left hook was aimed at my jaw.
I raised my right hand to block his punch.
Ouch! Even with the guard, that impact is insane! How heavy is this guy’s punch to make my arm go numb like that?
I cursed in my mind; the instructor’s strike was that heavy.
The instructor continued his assault, this time throwing a right punch aimed at my temple, so I guarded my temple with my left hand.
Crap! My abdomen is wide open!
I realized that by guarding my head, my abdomen was left exposed.
I felt like the instructor smirked for a moment.
His hand grabbed my neck, bending me forward and restraining my movement.
Here comes the knee.
The instructor’s knee was coming toward my abdomen.
Thud!
The sound of bone hitting bone echoed.
I thrust my leg out, taking the instructor’s knee strike with my knee.
Ah, that helped. But it hurts. Each hit has way too much power.
”Oh, you blocked it, huh? You’re surprisingly tough, Trainee Kent. But there won’t be a next time.”
Saying that, the instructor stepped back to create distance.
I moved forward to get closer to the instructor, who was now out of my attack range.
Whoosh.
I heard a slicing sound.
Suddenly, I saw the instructor’s foot appear at the edge of my vision.
It was aiming for my chin, so I quickly raised my arm to protect it.
Thud.
However, the impact didn’t come where I expected.
That’s because the instructor changed the trajectory of the kick midway and hit me perfectly in my completely open side.
”Ugh… cough cough…”
With the pain and the struggle to breathe, my knees buckled, and I put my hands on the ground.
Changing the trajectory like that, seriously, is that guy (the instructor) a monster?
Damn it, I want to at least get one hit in. Just one punch would be enough.
What should I do…
I noticed the sand on the ground.
A flashback to yesterday’s training when the instructor used it for a distraction.
No matter what it takes, I’m going to land a hit.
I clenched the sand tightly.
”What’s wrong? Trainee Kent, you can still go, right? Get up.”
The instructor swayed side to side, teasing me with one hand.
I readied my hand, still holding the sand.
”I can do it.”
As soon as I said that, the instructor approached without hesitation.
When he got into range, I aimed my right fist at his face to strike first.
Before the instructor’s guard could fully come up, I opened my hand and released the sand I was holding.
The sand hit the instructor’s face.
However, he showed no sign of flinching.
That’s because his eyes were closed.
What! He knew!
But if his eyes are closed, the blinding effect should still work.
If I attack again, I can hit him.
However, the instructor grabbed my fist that had thrown the sand and, with incredible force, pulled me in and drove his left elbow into my side.
Thud
”Trainee Kent! What do you think you’re doing throwing sand at your instructor? You’ve been slacking off yesterday and today. I might have to rethink our pairing for the joint locks this afternoon since it seems dangerous to do it with you.”
”Cough… seriously a monster.”
I collapsed heavily onto the ground.
I’m sorry, but I want to be good friends with you (the ground).
I have a girlfriend and a cute maid, so it’s impossible for us to date…
With that, I was talking to the ground in my heart, giving some kind of unclear explanation.
This is Kent’s martial arts training.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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