Training Partner

Lake spent the next few days training his new evo style. The data he had on it mostly pertained to the usage of energy to create a barrier around his body.

Lake read through the instructions and began running his energy according to them. His energy slowly spread out over his body. At first it appeared as a mist, then forming into a more viscous substance.

At that moment the barrier shook violently before breaking apart. Lake watched it break apart in silence, closing his eyes he replayed what happened in his mind to pick out the flaws in his usage.

After a moment he opened his eyes again. Running his energy again the mist reappeared, slowly becoming the viscous form again.

Slowly it swirled around his body until it finally solidified completely around his body.

What formed next was a hard shell on his torso, arms and legs. Lake could feel the toughness of the shell on his body. He felt like he could take a hit from a sledgehammer without taking any damage.

Satisfied with the Shelled Armor he stopped running his energy and the armor dissipated.

[New skill registered. (Shelled Armor) Lvl 1.]

At that moment he heard a notification coming from the system. Opening the skills tab he saw that Shelled Armor had been registered in his active skills.

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Skills:

[Active Skills]

(Quick Feet) Lvl 5 - Description hidden

(Hardened Fist) Lvl 5 - Description hidden

(Ape's Might) Lvl 5 - Description hidden

*(Shelled Armor) Lvl 1 - Forms an energy barrier on the surface of the body to ward and repel attacks

[Passive Skills]

(None)

[Lifestyle Skills]

(Alchemy) Lvl 1

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With Shelled Armor added Lake now had four active skills and one lifestyle skill. He didn't have any passive skills yet but he didn't think it'd take long before he would receive one.

Lake spent the next few hours honing his usage on Shelled Armor but even with his huge energy reserves he wasn't able to use the skill consecutively without running out.

Even after a few hours he still wasn't able to level up the skill. Lake stopped as he had run out of energy again.

Before he could begin practicing again he heard his communicator rang. Looking at his communicator he saw that it was Lyra that was calling.

He answered even though he was surprised, "Lyra, was there something you needed?"

"Hi Lake, is it alright if we spoke in person?"

Lake was surprised at her request, seeing that they didn't know each other for more than a few days, but he suddenly remembered her asking him to talk after his fight with Gregory.

'This must be about that.'

Seeing as how he wouldn't be able to practice Shelled Armor for a while he agreed to meet up, Lyra asked him to meet her at the school.

Walking into the school he saw her waiting by the gates surrounded by a crowd of students zealously admiring her.

Lyra just stood there looking around as if she was waiting for someone. Upon seeing Lake she immediately went towards him and greeted him.

The students who saw this were slack jawed.

"Why is the Princess talking to Lake?!"

"Not again! What does he have to make her want to talk to him?"

Ignoring the looks of envy cast at him Lake smiled faintly and greeted Lyra. "Looks like I've upset your fans."

Sighing she replied, "Upset them all you want, if you could get rid of them I'd be more than thankful. Just follow me for now."

After they greeted each other they started walking towards the school gym.

"Lyra what did you want to talk about with me?" Lake was genuinely curious since his first meeting, despite him rejecting her the first time he still wondered what her request had been.

"I wanted to spar with you, you're the only student I've seen with martial arts like yours." Lyra said sincerely.

Hearing her compliment him Lake was dazed for a second before rubbing his nose sheepishly.

"Why would you care about martial arts thought? I've heard your talent is top class in the school. Martial arts aren't really useful against someone's abilities." Lake was bewildered, he only used martial arts because there were other alternatives for him without abilities.

"No matter what, having martial arts is useful. It's always good having another trick up your sleeve."

As they entered the gym there was a crowd of students following them as well, excited at seeing the Princess sparring with someone.

But what faced them was disappointment when seeing Lyra rent out a training room for the two of them.

When the two entered the crowd dispersed dejectedly.

The inside of the room looked similar to the training room that Lake used previously with the Combat Training Doll. With white walls on all sides and white floor and ceiling.

It's only feature being that it was sturdy and could withstand students using their abilities.

Lake and Lyra stood facing each other a few meters apart.

"Please take care of me." Lyra said with a serious face, she got into a fighting stance, preparing to pounce on him.

Lake nodded simply, he just stood there while making no preparations at all.

Lyra suddenly rushed straight at him with her arms outstretched before swinging her leg out at Lake's head. But she was surprised seeing Lake making no attempt to dodge, he just stood there preparing to take the hit at full power.

With her strength at the first copper esper stage she'd be able to smash large stone into pieces. Afraid she might hurt him she pulled back her leg.

"What are you doing?!" Lake yelled furiously.

Startled Lyra said meekly, "I didn't see you defending at all, I didn't want to hurt you. I forgot to say that I was a copper esper."

"In a fight you can never pull back. If you do then your opponent will just take the opportunity to take you down... Just like this!!"

Suddenly Lake disappeared from where he stood. He appeared directly in front of Lyra whose pupils dilated suddenly, she quickly jumped back but she was too slow in front of Lake.

A fist appeared in her vision that was rapidly expanding in size, she closed her eyes awaiting the pain that would come but all she felt was a gust of wind.

Opening her eyes she saw Lake's fist hovering in front of her with Lake behind it smirking at her.

"Don't let your guard down in a fight, Princess."