Chapter 28: Quality Time

"Where do you think we're going?" Feng Biao asked Liu Wei as they ate their lunch together.

"I don't know," Liu Wei answered curtly.

"I could probably find out," Song Zhilan chimed in, "but that would ruin the fun."

"You're coming with us?" Feng Biao asked.

"Mmm, probably. Although they might send me to a Marble by myself."

"Isn't that dangerous?" Liu Wei asked shocked.

"Kind of? I mean, anything below a Fragment in an F Grade Marble can't harm me. Which is why I have an idea..." Song Zhilan said spinning her fingers in a circle.

"I think they're gonna send me to the Giant's Corpse. No risk of me dying there."

"Meaning we probably won't get sent there." Feng Biao said nodding his head.

"Bingo, I mean with me around the difficulty of the exam would plummet, or skyrocket. Depends what the goal is this time."

The goal of the exam. Feng Biao had read that the exam not only took place in different Marbles, but each time would try and bring different goals. Sometimes the goal was merely to survive, sometimes it was to see who could gather the most Shards. Anything new to keep those who entered on their toes.

"I hope you'll be safe," Liu Wei said to Song Zhilan who smirked in response.

"What do you even mean? Unless I did something absolutely idiotic like going into the caves I'll be fine," Song Zhilan said while shaking her head, "Liu Wei are you really sure you don't want to take the exam?"

"He's not taking the exam?" Feng Biao asked.

"My Divinity isn't suited for combat," Liu Wei said in an embarrassed tone.

"You say that a lot," Song Zhilan said rolling her eyes.

"It's true!" Liu Wei protested.

"Oh look at the time," said a voice interrupting the group's conversation.

"Hey Hunter," Song Zhilan said warmly.

"Come on Biao, let's go," Hunter said staring straight at Feng Biao.

"Yeah, uh, sorry guys, catch up next time?" Feng Biao said as he got up from his seat.

Song Zhilan waved goodbye with a smile while Liu Wei gave Hunter a dirty look.

"Do you really have to act like that all the time?" Feng Biao asked as he walked with Hunter to their usual sparring session.

"Like I said, dude, you can play with fire, I'm good," Hunter said with his arms behind his head.

"Yeah, yeah," Feng Biao said as he rolled his eyes.

"So got any ideas about where the exam is gonna take place?" Hunter asked Feng Biao.

"Song Zhilan brought up a pretty good theory. Sounds like it won't be taking place for us at The Giant's Corpse."

"Sweet, that place gives me the creeps."

"You've been there?"

"No," Hunter said shaking his head, "but I've seen images of the Fomorians. Creepy fucks, fishes that can smile are a no-go for me."

"I'd prefer somewhere like The Labyrinth," Hunter added.

"I read about that place. Seems a bit too dangerous," Feng Biao replied.

"What do you even mean? It's like the easiest Mythological Marble to reset. The Minotaur is a joke."

"Easy for you since you essentially have flight, but The Labyrinth itself is a deadly constantly shifting maze filled with traps that can take out a Divine Mortal in a second."

"So?" Hunter asked.

"So I'm not great at dealing with traps. The idea of them sounds annoying and scary," said Feng Biao with a shrug.

"I suppose you'd rather deal with oni who can club you to death in a single strike than just having to watch where you step?"

"Yes actually. I'd rather know what's going to kill me than having to worry about the unknown."

Their conversation abruptly ended as they reached their sparring grounds. The in-door gym. Hunter typically won in their sparring sessions, sometimes Feng Biao won if he took advantage of the superior amount of Divinity he possessed and played a stalling game.

However, Feng Biao learned that only worked in friendly spars. When the Divine Tool that allowed death was used Feng Biao lost in seconds. While Hunter had less Divinity his Divine Abilities were superior to Feng Biao's and if he really meant to kill him using the full might of [The Legs of Sleipnir] he could.

When Hunter explained his Divine Passive [Seiðr Might] Feng Biao realized not only was Hunter normally stronger than Feng Biao he also had a trump card of sorts. Feng Biao was not worried, overall he had created strategies for each F Grade Marble he could possibly visit. Comparing himself to Hunter negatively was foolish, it was better to focus on what he could improve.

Which were his combat skills. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so, Hunter was well trained in all manner of combat arts. Although he didn't like using them referring to them as "lame".

To Feng Biao it was different, a punch with Divinity was one thing, but a punch with Divinity that allowed him to maintain optimal balance was even better. Indeed Feng Biao learned that multiple martial arts had been developed solely around Divinity.

Hunter had coached Feng Biao on how to maintain his balance, how to optimally shift his weight, how to quickly dodge and weave. Basic fundamentals, that was all Feng Biao wished to improve. He would worry about the fancy maneuvers when his mind could absorb them properly.

That became the basis of their spars, martial combat using Divinity. For Feng Biao who lacked a Divine Active that he could rely on for combat itself, this was the best choice. It helped that [Indra's Tricks] benefited from Feng Biao learning to fight.

As it turned out Feng Biao had picked up many "bad habits" Hunter identified in his posture when fighting and swinging his fist. By sparring Feng Biao's form became more and more optimal.

"Remember Biao, a jab can carry more power than a straight when Divinity comes into play. There's no reason to leave yourself open when you don't need to."

Advice like that built Feng Biao anew and the month of training and sparring remodeled Feng Biao.

Today was the final day of their sparring. Tomorrow was the day they would be informed which Marble they would be visiting. Feng Biao, who had been ceaselessly looking for an opening, spotted one on Hunter's calf and struck.

Though, Hunter had predicted this and laughed, "did you forget about [The Legs of Sleipnir]?"

"Nope," Feng Biao said as his kick shifted its trajectory. With a moderate amount of Divinity in his leg, Feng Biao's kick landed squarely on Hunter's ass.

Hunter, who had activated [The Legs of Sleipnir] expecting to check Feng Biao's kick was promptly stunned as an unfamiliar pain swelled through his body.

"Dude, not cool!" Hunter said as he jumped up and down indicating the pain he went through was too much.

Feng Biao could only chuckle at the sight. It was a clear victory for him. Although when Hunter began running at him full speed he decided to halt plans of basking in it.