Chapter 46 - End of training

Days of practice went by, Noah was now able to hit Stick in the exchange because he doesn't have a pattern anymore. He was now playing with his wooden blade while incorporating the basic principles of kenjutsu and thought of peculiar ways to attack Stick in his blind spot. The wooden blade was sometimes tossed in the air, spinning it with his body and it surprisingly worked. He now have his own style.

A few minutes later, they are both panting heavily sitting opposite to each other.

"I have not enjoyed fighting in a long time until now. However, you need to hone that style. There are still a lot of holes to fill in."

"Thank you Stick, huff huff."

Stick looked so calm outside but inside, he was in a turmoil, 'This guy is really a freak. I can't believe I struggled with the sparring. He just master hand to hand combat and ninjutsu for just a couple of months ago. Plus, he mastered weapon mastery in only a month and created his own style. Those arts can only normally be mastered for years or even decades yet this kid did it in less than a year. If those old fogies were to know about this, they will do anything to get him.'

"Your weapon mastery training ends here, kid. The last lesson I'm going to teach you is throwing weapons. This will be easier for you since we have already played that tag game from the beginning. This time instead of stones, we are going to use throwing weapons."

"Oh? Why end our weapon mastery now?"

"Because I don't have anything to teach you anymore with blades. You have your own style and only you can fill the gap."

"Then when can we start?"

"I need to prepare and change our location. I'll tell you when."

Noah nodded in understanding.

--

Three days later, Stick and Noah was in the entrance of the forest going to the mountains. Stick was holding a duffle bag full of short knives. They trek for a few hours and til they saw a clearing with wooden dummies. Stick dropped the duffle bag and started taking out the knives.

"Let's start kiddo, this is the last lesson I'll give and I have a feeling that you will grasp this quickly."

"Tell me Kid, if you meet an enemy archer, what's his advantage over you in this terrain?"

"Uhh distance and first move?" Noah answered unsure.

"Correct! Distance! If somehow an archer shoots you with an arrow, can you block it?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"You can but who's in passive position?" Stick nodded but then he smirked.

"Err me.."

"You are indeed. You are a melee fighter, kid. However, you can shorten that disadvantage by using throwing weapons. Darts, Kunai, Shuriken, Knives. You can use them to fight an enemy in range."

Stick took some knives and hurl it to the training dummy.

Thud thud thud thud

All the knives pierce the head. Noah was impressed of how exquisite it look. It doesn't look that cool when they were throwing stones.

"Here give it a try and put that damn blindfold on."

After Noah put on his blindfold he took some knives from the bag. He stood there ready and hurl the knives to the training dummy. All knives pierce through the head as well. However in his second try, Stick suddenly stood in the way. If he fling the dagger in a straight line, he will surely hit Stick.

"Come on kid! Hit the target behind me, don't be such a worrywart."

Noah then tried to fling the knives so it will fly in a curve but it was not much. As the knives was about to pierce Stick, he swung his walking stick to deflect the projectiles.

When Jack heard it was blocked, he calmed down and continue to perfect his throw making it fly in arc hitting the dummy behind Stick.

Whoooooosh thud!

"Good but not well enough. Continue! You've just hit the dummy but it wasn't in the head."

Then Noah continued his practice while Stick deflect the knives whenever he made an error.

--

Next day, still in the depths of the forest.

"Let's change the rules a bit kid and make it more interesting. This time, the target will be smaller and I'll stand in front of it like covering it from you completely. What you'll need to do is make the knives rebound to any surface so it could hit the target, are we clear?"

"You mean the knives must bounce and ricochet to hit the target right?"

"That's right! To make it more interesting, let's make a bet. If you managed to land a hit on the target three times with the said condition before the sun goes down, I'll give you a set of throwing knives."

"What if I didn't hit it at all?"

"Hmmm let's see, how about running down the mountain naked with blindfold on? He he he that would be interesting story to tell, specially Elektra hehehe."

'Shit, this old thing is sinister' Noah thought to himself.

Gritting his teeth while thinking about the set of knives. His greed won over.

"Let's get started shall we?"

As expected, Noah's first attempt was a failure. He didn't even manage to bounce it off the tree. Despite this, he still keep trying since it's his dignity that was on the stake. He kept throwing and experimenting while learning from them.

"Looks like someone's going to run naked..." Stick teased.

"I still have a lot of time old man, I can do it!!"

"Ohhh quite feisty are we?"

"Hmph I still have a few hours."

With Stick goading him, he was able to improve faster. He can now bounce off the knives but he didn't know which angle to throw in order to hit the target. Bit by bit, he was able to adjust the angle.

A few hours later, he manage to land his third hit on the dummy by bouncing it off a stone.

Wooooosh thud thud thud

"Yes! Hahaha I did it wohoooo! What's that old man? Can't hear what your saying?" Noah sneered at him.

"It seems like no one's going to run naked anymore huh and you earn a set of knives from me. Tsk what a pity." Stick said in disappointment.

"I told you I can do it hahahaha."

"Don't get smug yet. You can only hit it since the target is not moving. Let's step up the game shall we?"

"What now?"

"Same position, but this time I'm gonna stop your knives. Try to hit the target past me. I'll defend the target, you attack, got it? You can run around, spot some angle or ricochet it as long as it hit, you win. We are going to do this regularly from now on."

"Okay, are you sure I can move around?"

"Yes, fire it away kid. Hurry up!"

Then the two of them started another round throwing and defending the target.

Whooosh Ting Wooosh ting ting ting!

'I got this. I'm gonna sharpen my claws for revenge'. Noah encourage himself while flinging the knives to the target.

A few hours later, Stick said "Let's stop here, we'll continue tomorrow."

"What? Wait.. Damn I didn't realize it was already evening."

"Brace yourself kid, I'm gonna add another difficulty tomorrow." Stick smiled in sinister.

--

It was the third day since Stick started to teach Noah the throwing weapons. It was more difficult to hit the target this time since Stick was defending it. However, he managed to do it successfully. At this moment, Noah was already panting heavily.

"Let's take a break. You need to work out your stamina."

Noah just sat there trying to catch his breath.

Little did he know, Stick was shocked himself.

'I can't be bothered to be amazed anymore. This kid...if he showed himself on a higher stage one day, he will shock the world.'.

--

Meanwhile, Noah was thinking if he could incorporate geometry with his training. After mulling about it, he decided to give it a try.

After their little rest, they resume once again. Noah threw some knives to Stick as a distraction while he calculated the angle of his main attack. What happens next is incredible. When the knife of the main attack bounce from a tree, it came flying through the knives deflected by Stick. Then it hit the knives which made it change direction again hurling to the target.

Thud!

The main attacking knife was inserted to the back of the dummy's head.

"Oh It looks like you've gain something." Stick was curious about the sudden change of technique.

"Well, I just used what I learned from school. I applied some geometry and was able to calculate the angle where knife will hit, with the right timing, I used it to my advantage." Noah explained.

"I see, it appears that you've made another technique on your own once again. Since that's the case then we can proceed to the final step." Stick took a deep breath and seriously stared at him.

"Which is?" Noah was bewildered.

"Fighting with throwing knives. Just like old times when we play the game at the old warehouse."

"But, would that hurt us if we made some error?"

"Then don't make mistakes. Don't worry, I'll try not to kill you. I won't target your vitals." There's a hint of excitement in his tone that made Noah shiver.

"That's not reassuring!" Noah nervously complained.

"No, I'm not here to reassure you but to give you an opportunity to experience real battle without getting yourself killed."

Noah can only accept the reasoning of this shitty old man.

"Imagine that we are really enemies. You can hide, run, ambush and chase. You have to enter the woods, I'll find and sneak up on you so be alert from any attacks. Got it? Here are your set of knives. Tie them up to your waist or something. Just don't lose them. It's hard to win a bet from me after all."

"Got it, I'll be going first." Noah nodded and left hurriedly.

Noah unhesitatingly entered the woods with his blindfold on. What he needed to do is plan a set of attack. He decided to apply all the things he learned from the camp.

The two proceeded with their tactics of hide and seek. No noise can be heard in the woods aside from the occasional clashing of steel knives.

Ting Ting Ting

Wooooooooooosh chuk

"Argh! Goddamit. It hurts!!" Noah winced in pain when a flash of silver graze his shoulder. Then another set of flying knives was hurled towards him.

"Never produce a noise when you are in battle under any circumstances. See, I spotted your location just because you scream like a little girl. If you are hit, endure it and grit your teeth or it'll be your end."

"I'm pretty sure I didn't squeal like a pig. Hmph! You are just teasing me."

--

Stick and Noah spend their entire week like this. They practically stayed in this part of the forest with Stick to hone his battle experience.

Noah's throwing skills incredibly improved that week. The trajectory of this throws becomes tricky that Stick was almost hit in the face one time.

While they were fighting, Noah perform some parkour moves and spin in the air in weird angles like an acrobat.

After a few hours of their spar. They decided to rest.

"Your lesson with me ends here, Kid."

"Huh? Why all of a sudden?"

"It means your training is over and I can confirm that you'll do hell on your enemies with your current set of skills . As long as they are normal people, you can deal with them with ease. My deal with Sebastian has been completed."

Noah suddenly turned sad and quiet.

"What? Can't bear to part with me? Hehe. You can leave anytime tomorrow since I'm going to leave this country. Don't worry, Kid. I'm sure that with your ability, we will meet again someday."

"Cheer up kid, I'll treat you some ice cream. By the way, since I'm already leaving, let me give you some piece of advise. Keep a low profile and pretend to be an ordinary citizen until you are a hundred percent sure you can deal with your enemies. Even if you can, don't show any of your skills to the public under any circumstances. Trust me it'll save you a lot of trouble. Lastly, don't underestimate The Hand and Hydra."