Chapter 30: Training in the Woods

Crash! Glynne slammed himself to a nearby tree.

Since the Valkyrie Promotion Exam is near, the school has given a plenty of free time for the students to improve on what they are lacking.

Glynne was, as expected, training with his battlesuit. However he still can't seem to put the right power as he throw himself multiple times. So many, in fact, that he was banned from the training area as he was putting some of the students in danger.

Right now, he is training in a clearing inside the forest near the school. Except for the insects and birds, there is almost no life in the perimeter. Glynne can train to his heart content, well, at least until he suffered enough injuries.

Glynne stood up again, patting his clothes for the dirt that got stuck. He prepared his stance as he eyed for the tree, a hundred meter from his current position. His goal is to get there in a blink of an eye.

He took a deep breath as a preparation. His eyes sharpened and took the first step. However on the next second, he was sent flying again and slammed into the the tree.

Glynne fell down on the ground again. He turned around to face the skies as he was panting heavily.

"Are you alright?" he was startled when he suddenly heard a voice. He opened his eyes to see Fu Hua looking down on him, a worried expression was plastered on her face.

"... Fu Hua... " Glynne said as he struggled to get up. "What are you doing here?"

"I was worried about you." Fu Hua said as she examines Glynne's injuries. "Seems like you've been training for a while now."

"Yeah, I still can't seem to grab how this thing work." Glynne scratched the back of his head.

"Is that so," Fu Hua was silent for a while as she was thinking about something. "Say Glynne, what about I'll help you?"

"You sure?" Glynne asked, earning a nod from the girl. "Then I would really appreciate it!" Glynne flashed a smile.

Fu Hua's lips curved a bit as she help Glynne get up from the ground. She took her distance and begun explaining what they will gonna do. "Glynne, since you are still having trouble in moving with your legs, how about we should try on your arms first. Try to block my attacks while planting your feet on the ground."

Glynne felt reluctant, he wasn't the type of fighter that like being on defensive, if possible he would like to overwhelm his opponent with numerous attacks. However knowing that he didn't have any choice, he just nodded his head as he lowered his body into a fighting stance.

There was silence for a while. The sound of the branches being rustled by the wind can be heard. There was no person to signal the start, nor any objects that was thrown to became an indicator for it. Both of their eyes sharpened as they tried to read each others mind.

Fu Hua quickly charges in and opened with an axe kick. Glynne used his right arm to redirect to attack to his side.

Perhaps it was force of habit, despite being instructed to only defend, he uses a left jab to counterattack. Fu Hua dodges to the side and do a punch of her own.

Block, counter, dodge, counter, block; the process repeated for about half an hour.

Fu Hua regain some distance as both of them pant from the intense workout. "Not bad, I'm genuinely surprised you were able to kept up."

"Thanks, you're also not bad yourself." Glynne said with a smirk.

The exercise was still manageable for him. Though he was instructed to stand on his ground, this does not limit him at all, on the contrary it was Fu Hua who limited herself. Moves such was leg-sweep, side kick, palm push, and other moves that might disrupt his stance are sealed. Glynne was able to predict her next moves as it was already been narrowed down.

"By the way Glynne, I noticed something when we are sparring." Fu hua said as Glynne raise his eyebrow in interest. She moved closer and raise he glasses. "You are too conscious on manipulating the honkai energy within you."

"It cannot be helped." Glynne shrugged his shoulders. "Due to my stigmata, I'm super sensitive to it."

"I think that's where the problem is sprouting from." Glynne was confused at Fu Hua words. "Battlesuits are like another part of a Valkyrie. Without it, it's harder to control and balance the honkai energy within us."

Glynne put a hand on his chin, seemingly understanding where she is going from.

"Since you are conscious of the energy, you seem to control and focus it on one part of the body. This will undoubtedly make it go out of control." Fu Hua exclaimed.

Glynne flinched as he felt the last sentence echoing within his core. He felt like he was completely read by the person in front of him. "So what I'm doing is wrong all this time?"

"Yes," Fu Hua said as she nodded. "As I said, the suit is used to maintain the balance of the Honkai energy all throughout the body. How about trying to fight like a normal person this time. "

Glynne raised an eyebrow, fighting like a normal person means that he shouldn't use any honkai energy to enhance his body. He is doubtful of it but still followed what Fu Hua instructed.

Glynne goes into a fighting stance, so did Fu Hua. Because the boy still feeling insecure, Fu Hua fired the first move. She got closer and did a quick jab.

Glynne was able to dodge by leaning on the side. However it seems like it was too much as he was sent flying to the nearby bushes.

"Seems like you still need some work." Fu Hua remarked.

"Yeah, I can see that" Glynne scratched the back of his head, irritated that he seems to really need to go back to the very basics.

We might need different kinds of approach. — Fu Hua thought.

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A few hours has passed, Fu Hua and Glynne tested a lot of training regime, ranging from simply doing sidesteps to doing an advance obstacle courses.

"Oh, seems like you already got the hang of it!" Fu Hua celebrated as Glynne demonstrate that he was able to move a hundred meters in a instant without the help of Mr. Tree.

"Yeah, but I think fast reactions activities are still out." Glynne said remembering the light spar they did before this. Seems like whenever he tries to move his feet as reaction for dodging a quick attack, he subconsciously put a lot of energy on them.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you will grasp it soon." Glynne smiled at Fu Hua's reassuring words.

"By the way, I can't help but notice something about you too." Glynne said, this time getting the attention of Fu Hua. "Without a doubt that you're strong.... But why am I only feeling small amounts of honkai energy within you?"

"Ah about that, actually I'm not very compatible with honkai energy. Fortunately I can manipulate Ki." Fu hua explained.

"Ki?" Glynne tilted his head, confuse at the new term.

Fu Hua smiled and gladly explained what is Ki in great detail. Glynne felt like she was quite enjoying it while doing so.

In summary, Ki is like an energy within the soul. It is basically like the life force of a person. As such manipulating this kind of power is difficult, not to mention the years needed to grasp it. However the payoff is great as it was believe to be stronger than honkai energy. Fu Hua demonstrated the power of Ki by firing a ball of orange energy.

"Hmm....."Glynne put a hand on his chin, he seems to be thinking hard about something. "Say Fu Hua, can you teach me how to use it?"

"Are you not properly listening to me earlier?" Fu Hua questions.

"Well you will never knew until you tried." Glynne said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Well if you insist." Fu Hua was still doubtful at Glynne's words. However since there is no side effects in learning it, she don't see any reason to refuse an eager learner.

Fu Hua got closer to Glynne and put her hand on his chest. "I will try to insert some Ki into you. Close your eyes and try grasp the feeling." She instructed.

Glynne followed and close his eyes. As soon as Fu Hua felt that he was ready, she begun inserting the Ki energy.

"What....?" Fu Hua was surprised. Injecting Ki into another person is like both person fusing their souls. Her hands starts shaking and cold sweats are running down her back. There is something very unnatural inside of the boy.

There are two maelstroms, each trying to overpower and devour the other. However that's only what it look like on the outside. Fu Hua noticed, the the red one are only keeping the the other one in place. It was such a violent looking force yet why does it felt so gentle. She decided to help it and begun directing the Ki energy to the red maelstrom to strengthen it. While doing so, she was surprised when she realized that this one was Glynne's stigmata all along.

What Glynne told them at the hospital was only the tip of the iceberg. He didn't tell them, or perhaps he just don't know about it yet. However one fact is for sure, something is slowly eating him in the inside.

Fu Hua felt a sense of obligation to teach Glynne how to control Ki in order to strengthen his inner body. And also to help his stigmata overcoming the threat inside.

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So yeah, I need to pick up the pace since I notice it took me 2-3 chapters to write what happened in a single day. So yeah, expect longer chapters from here on out... Update sched might get affected though.

Anyway, thank you for reaching the end of this chapter!!