Ch 26 : Sparring with Sir Baldwin

While waiting for Instructor Baldwin to arrive, Auron reviewed the Silent Kick Technique: Shadow Step. This form emphasized speed and surprise, making it deadly when executed correctly. A lightning-fast front kick delivered without warning, meant to strike and disappear like a shadow. The challenge was mastering the art of stealth—delivering a blow that the enemy wouldn't see coming until it was too late.

Moments later, Sir Baldwin arrived at the training grounds, carrying a heavy load of bracelets and anklets. When he dropped them, the ground beneath him dented from the impact.

"Weighted bracelets and anklets, huh? This could help me push my limits," thought Auron, eyeing the weights with interest.

Sir Baldwin smirked. "Today, we're focusing on strengthening your body and refining your combat arts. I trust most of you have purchased the necessary techniques from the Trading Hall. If not..." His smile widened mischievously, "let's just say you might regret it later."

"Line up!" he ordered. "I'll assign you all the appropriate weights based on your strength. Trust me, this is the fastest way to toughen you up, short of dumping you in the wilderness for a few days."

When it was Auron's turn, Sir Baldwin raised an eyebrow in surprise as he assessed his physique. Auron's body was as strong as a tier 2 augmenter magus.

"You're stronger than I expected. Impressive. I don't have the right weights for you at the moment, but here, take this." He handed Auron a weighted belt, noticeably heavier than the bracelets and anklets given to the other students.

Auron almost dropped it when he received it, the weight catching him off guard. Realizing it might pull his pants down if worn around his waist, he slung the belt over his shoulder like a sling bag.

"Alright, now that you've all got your weights, start practicing your combat arts!" barked Sir Baldwin.

Auron moved to an open area to begin practicing the Shadow Step. He stood in the yard, frowning in concentration. With each attempt, his front kick was too heavy, too loud—betraying the core principle of the technique, which was meant to be silent and undetectable. The sharp sound of his foot cutting through the air irritated him.

"Why can't I keep it quiet?" he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

The description of the technique replayed in his mind—it was supposed to be like a breeze, a strike that landed before anyone even realized it was coming. But no matter how many times he tried, his movements felt too rigid, his kick too forceful.

Taking a deep breath, Auron reset his stance, this time focusing on flow rather than power. He visualized the kick as a gentle gust of wind, smooth and undisturbed. He raised his leg again and delivered the kick—this time, it was quieter, smoother. It wasn't perfect, but the improvement was clear.

"That's it," he thought. "It's not just about power. It's about rhythm, subtlety."

He repeated the motion again, this time focusing on making the front kick sharper and quieter with each repetition. Slowly but surely, he began to capture the essence of the technique. Shadow Step wasn't about force; it was about delivering a strike before anyone noticed.

As he trained, Auron remained unaware that Sir Baldwin was observing him from a distance, his eyes wide in amazement.

"What a terrifying lad," thought Baldwin. "That kick may seem ordinary, but it's not. Even though it's still rough, the potential is staggering. If I were his opponent, I probably wouldn't notice the attack until it was too late."

Auron, meanwhile, was lost in thought, feeling the effects of the weighted belt. "This belt is restricting my body, but it's helping me refine my movements. I can feel every muscle in my body working, forcing me to polish the rough edges of the Shadow Step."

With each step, each kick, he was beginning to uncover the true nature of the Silent Kick Technique.

Suddenly, a muscular kid approached Auron, his expression less than friendly. Auron blinked in confusion—he hadn't really interacted with anyone in the class yet, so he had no idea why this kid looked so displeased.

"Hey, I'm Walter," the kid said, his voice gruff but with a hint of curiosity. "Nice to meet you. But, uh… why are you wearing a belt instead of the bracelets and anklets like the rest of us? It's not fair if you get something lighter than what we have," he complained.

Auron, a bit surprised but amused, smiled. "Hi, I'm Auron. As for the belt, well, Sir Baldwin didn't have anything suitable for me since… I'm stronger than most of you." He grinned and added, "Wanna give it a try?"

Without waiting for a response, Auron handed the belt over. The moment Walter took it, his knees buckled, and he nearly collapsed to the ground, barely avoiding being crushed by the belt's sheer weight. Auron quickly snatched it back before Walter could injure himself.

"I… I'm sorry for doubting you earlier," Walter muttered, clearly humbled.

Auron chuckled, deciding to let it go. From that moment, the tension between them evaporated, and eventually, they'd become sparring partners and good friends, but that was a story for the future.

As Auron continued his training, struggling to master the nuances of the Shadow Step technique, Sir Baldwin, who had been observing from afar, finally stepped forward.

"Auron, right? I can help you improve faster," Sir Baldwin said with a challenging grin. "But be warned, it's going to involve a lot of pain. Think you can handle it?"

"If it'll help me get better, I'm all in," Auron replied confidently.

The rest of the class had stopped their own training by now, forming a circle around the two. Most were expecting to see Auron get completely overwhelmed by Sir Baldwin. Little did they know, Auron had a secret weapon: Xiao Yu.

The spar began with Auron focusing solely on the Shadow Step, moving with speed but still falling short of the technique's full potential. He reached a bottleneck quickly, unable to push through with just that one move. So, he began adding in the Void Shatter and Ripple Palm techniques, his movements becoming more reckless and daring as the fight went on.

Sir Baldwin raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "What's up with this brat's combat arts? They're so refined—especially that palm technique. It's slipping past my defenses. It doesn't hurt much, but it's irritating. Annoying, even." He smirked, acknowledging Auron's tenacity. "But I think it's time to end this."

With that, Sir Baldwin stopped holding back. In a swift motion, he overwhelmed Auron, throwing him to the ground with a decisive move. But the boy's performance had impressed him, and it showed.

"That was a good fight, lad. Who on earth has been training you?" Sir Baldwin asked, looking at Auron with genuine admiration. "You're only five years old, yet your combat skills are terrifying. The rest of you, take note—this is how a real augmenter fights!"

Auron grinned as he stood up, despite the soreness in his muscles. "Thank you, sir, for the sparring. I've learned a lot, and now I know where my limits are."

With that, he found a spot to rest, settling down as he operated the Genetic Ascension Art to its maximum, pushing his body to recover faster, refining his muscles and mending his fatigue.

As his energy gradually replenished, Auron couldn't help but reflect on the day's progress. He was getting stronger, and the path ahead was clearer than ever. Little that he know, he already broke his creed of not want to be in the spotlight