Journey to power - 16

Two days had passed, and Kaiser had spent them teaching Sentry only about the periodic table, physics laws, and other scientific concepts. On the morning of the third day, Sentry, feeling impatient, asked, "Kaiser, when will you teach me real sorcery?"

Kaiser explained, "I am teaching you real sorcery, but sorcery can't be learned without understanding concepts. Unlike magic, one needs knowledge to use sorcery."

Sentry sighed in frustration. "But I've been learning all these concepts for the last two days. Tomorrow is our group match!"

"Fine," Kaiser conceded. "Then how about I teach you the simplest spell?"

"Yes! Even the simplest spell will do!" Sentry exclaimed, his eyes lighting up.

Kaiser thought hard, trying to recall a truly simple spell. His mind immediately went to 'Wind Bomb,' but that was far too complex. He searched for something easier. Earth spells required understanding seismic waves, water spells needed efficient wind control, air spells demanded knowledge of force, wood spells involved biological activities, and fire spells required using wind to create a fire piston. All of them seemed too intricate for a beginner.

Finally, Kaiser decided on the weakest technique: controlling the wind around oneself to flow in one direction. "You will learn this spell," Kaiser told Sentry. He then demonstrated, throwing a stone and creating a strong gust of wind that pushed the falling stone in the direction of the wind. Kaiser said, "Since this spell has no name for now, let's call it 'Wind Gust.' If you learn this, you could at least use a bow effectively." Sentry thought the spell seemed too basic, nothing like Kaiser's flashy techniques, but he agreed since there wasn't enough time to learn anything more complex.

"Now, focus," Kaiser instructed. "Do as I say: use Newton's second formula to change the forward force of each particle of wind. Do not focus on moving the air with complete force; focus on moving each particle."

Sentry asked, "What difference will that create?"

Kaiser elaborated, "It's similar to moving a 100-ton object in one go versus moving 1 gram in each packet in one direction; we'll be sharing the effort. Moreover, each individual air molecule within that wind is constantly in motion, colliding with other molecules and surfaces. So, we just have to give each one a little push."

Sentry understood the concept and began to try. Soon, he felt a faint wind current. Though it was weaker than Kaiser's, he knew that with practice, he could improve it. Sentry continued practicing, but as time passed, he found himself unable to increase the wind's strength. He remembered Kaiser saying that one needs knowledge to use sorcery. So, he decided to change his approach, thinking about more particles, shifting the force on each one. As he continued this throughout the day, he managed to double the speed of the wind around him.

"You are doing great!" Kaiser praised him. Sentry now understood what Kaiser truly meant: sorcery was about control at its finest, requiring proper knowledge.

"Yes," Sentry agreed, a new confidence in his voice. "Now, tomorrow is the fight."

The next day arrived. Their opponents were Team Mac, a strong group but still weaker than Joshua's or Clara's team, and they didn't even have a nickname. The field selected for their battle was their home ground: the dunes. Even though Nandaka was in a forest, some sand had been brought in to create a dune field for matches.

The elder announced, "Coming first is Team Mac!" Their leader, Mac, entered with his teammates Deff, Ness, and Jos. There were some scattered cheers, but mostly, the crowd remained silent, having little interest in an ordinary team.

"Coming next are the Abominations!" the elder then declared. Kaiser, Adriel, Hella, and Sentry walked out. Sentry, unusually, had a sword attached to a ribbon over 20 meters long, tied to its hilt. Two elders guided each team to their respective crystals, and the match began.

Kaiser, Adriel, Hella, and Sentry saw Mac, Deff, and Jos advancing together. "We don't know the terrain well, team," Kaiser warned. "We have to be careful."

Adriel, impatient, asked, "So, should we just stay here?"

"I didn't say that," Kaiser replied. He quickly explained his plan. Then, Kaiser, Hella, and Adriel started walking slowly towards the opposing group. Hella asked, "Do you think this plan would work?"

"I am 100 percent sure," Kaiser answered confidently. As they walked slowly on the treacherous sand to avoid slipping, they soon came face-to-face with Mac, Deff, and Jos, who stopped their advance.

"Do you really think you could defeat us in sand?" Mac sneered.

"Surrender now, and we'll let you go," Deff added, his voice condescending.

Kaiser smirked. "What a coincidence, I came to say the same thing." Adriel let out a loud, menacing laugh.

Deff scowled. "Don't cast pearls in front of swine, guys. Let's attack!"

Before they could fully charge, Kaiser swiftly began throwing sand with his feet, creating a blinding cloud. Then, he used his Verse 1 of the Sword Saint technique, "Wind Slices the Sword." A wind slice tore through the sand, turning the dust cloud into a thick, choking fog. Mac, Jos, and Deff all began coughing, their vision obscured. Kaiser, Adriel, and Hella, already prepared, moved out of the dust cloud, but kept their swords within it.

Adriel and Hella then brought their swords together, causing a loud clash and a sudden spark. The spark ignited the finely dispersed dust, creating a small dust explosion. As the dust cloud exploded outwards, Mac, Deff, and Jos were thrown backward, disoriented and winded.

"Wow, that was amazing!" Hella exclaimed, a rare grin spreading across her face. "I felt like I became a mage!"

Before Kaiser could respond, he felt a sudden, sharp pain as a sword pierced his stomach. Mac, Deff, Jos, Hella, and Adriel all felt a similar agonizing sensation as swords pierced their stomachs. Suddenly, a few men, their faces hidden by masks, became visible, having appeared silently from within the dust.