by Unknown
“How long was I able to hold out?” Mathias opened his eyes wide, looking around him.
All of the six year olds had collapsed. Even half the ten year olds had collapsed as well. All of the fourteen year olds, however, held on. Davis’s face remained as cold as ever.
“All of you must remember. Your body is like a vessel, like a wineglass. Battle energy is like the wine! The amount of wine a vessel can hold is dependent on the size of the vessel. Same goes for the body; a person’s ability to practice battle energy is based on the extent of his training. If his body is too weak, even if he gains access to powerful battle energy books, his body won’t be able to hold much battle energy, and he still won’t become a powerful warrior.” Davis imparted many important bits of advice to the youngsters.
Many warriors, due to not having received proper guidance in their youth, only understood the connection between battle energy and body strength much later in life. But by that age, there wouldn’t be much progress when they trained.
Many forefathers had gone on many wrong paths and gained much experience. Davis continued to impart these experiences, like the spring wind imparting life-giving rain, deeply etching these important experiences in the minds of these youngsters. Davis didn’t want these youngsters to go on wrong paths as well.
After practicing the ‘Energy Building Pose’, the waist, back, thighs, shoulders, and other parts of the body would be harmonized. Now, almost all of the youngsters were sitting, relaxed, on the ground. Davis’s training program was nearly perfect in the difficulty levels he assessed on each age group.
“Today’s training ends now,” Davis announced.
Lakeshore town’s training regimes were regulated. Every day, it happened twice, once at dawn, and once at dusk.
“Uncle Davis, tell us some stories!” As training ended, the youngsters immediately began to call out. Every day, after the dawn lessons, Davis would tell them stories of his army days, or some events which had happened on the continent.
The youngsters, all of whom had lived in the town their entire lives, thirsted for stories about the military.
Davis smiled. He enjoyed telling stories to the youngsters. This was a way to make the kids eager to train. Davis had always felt that only by making the youngsters voluntarily train would the youngsters have great results.
“Today, I will tell you about the legendary Four Supreme Warrior bloodlines which everyone in the continent knows about.” A look of awe appeared on Davis’s face.
The youngster’s ears immediately perked up, and their eyes brightened. Mathias, sitting on the ground, felt his heart thump furiously. “The legendary Four Supreme Warriors?” Mathias’s ears couldn’t help but perk up as well, as he stared unblinkingly at Davis.
In Davis’s eyes appeared a hint of excitement. His voice, however, remained calm. “On our continent, thousands of years ago, there appeared four powerful Supreme Warriors. All four of these Supreme Warriors possessed power comparable to an enormous demon. They could wander amidst an army of millions at leisure, and easily take the head of any general! These Supreme Warriors were known as the Demon Blood Warrior, the Purple Flame Warrior, the Tiger Striped Warrior, and the Undying Warrior!”
“Warriors are divided into nine grades. I, a mere warrior of the sixth grade, can easily shatter boulders and kick down a large tree! But a ninth grade warrior, even within our country of Silver moon, would be considered a top level expert. But above the ninth grade warriors are the Four Supreme Warriors. They have surpassed the ninth grade warriors and can be considered the pinnacle of warriors. They belong to the level of legendary Guru-level warriors!” Davis’s eyes were filled with excitement. “The legendary Guru-level warriors can melt giant icebergs, make the boundless sea roar with angry waves, make tall Cliffs crumble, make cities with millions of people collapse, and make meteors fall from the sky! They are absolutely undefeatable, the highest possible power.”
Silence. All of the youngsters were stunned.
Davis pointed at a Cliff to the northeast.
“Look at Lakeshore. Isn’t it huge?” Davis smiled.
After hearing Davis’s words, many of the kids had been scared silly. They all immediately nodded. Lakeshore was over a thousand meters high, and thousands of meters in circumference. In the eyes of men, it would definitely be considered a huge Cliff.
“But Guru-level combatants can destroy Lakeshore in the blink of an eye.” Davis said firmly.
A sixth-graded warrior can only smash a boulder. But a Guru-level warrior can smash an entire Cliff! All of the youngsters’ mouths dropped, and their eyes widened. All of them were shocked, and their hearts were suddenly filled with an unspeakable dread towards these Guru-level combatants. But, their hearts were also filled with longing.
“Destroy a Cliff?” Davis’s words had a huge impact on Mathias.
After a short period of time, the stunned youngsters returned to their homes. Davis, Roger, and Tina were the last to leave. Watching the youngsters depart in clusters of three or five, a smile appeared on Davis’s face.
“These youngsters are the hope and future of Lakeshore,” Davis said with a smile.
Roger and Tina also gazed at the group of youngsters. On the continent, virtually all of the youngsters of commoners had to train hard from an early age. Seeing the kids, Roger and Tina reminisced back to their own youth.
“Captain Davis, you are definitely much more formidable than ole Potter of bygone years. Under your guidance, I believe that Lakeshore town will become the strongest town in our region, surpassing the other ten or so towns,” Tina said with a smile.
The strength of a teacher determined a place’s future.
“Oh, Captain, how do you know about the power of Guru-level warriors, or the Four Supreme Warriors?” Tina suddenly remembered to ask.
Slightly embarrassed, Davis grinned, “Well, um, actually, I’m not too clear about exactly how powerful the Four Supreme Warriors are. After all, they are the stuff of legends. It’s been years since any were seen.”
Tina and Roger were astonished. “You don’t have any idea, and yet you lied to the kids?”
Davis smiled slightly. “Although I’m not clear about the exact strength of the Four Supreme Warriors, I know this – a Guru-level mage maestro, which is to say a mage which has attained the Guru-level, can execute forbidden magical techniques and eradicate an entire army of tens of thousands, or an entire city. Since Guru-level mages are so powerful, I expect that Guru-level warriors can’t be that much weaker.”
“More importantly, the reason I told the youngsters these stories were to make them work harder. Couldn’t you tell how amazed those youngsters were after hearing the stories?” Davis smiled delightedly.
Tina and Roger were both speechless.
…..
“See ya later, ‘Mat!”
“See ya, Howard!”
Bidding farewell to his good friend Howard, Mathias went back, alone, to his home. After walking for a while, he saw the Tulare estates.
The amount of land the Tulare manor was built upon was actually quite large. Moss was growing on the walls, and all sorts of ivy creepers twined up the walls as well. The scars of time were very apparent on the walls. The Tulare manor located in Lakeshore town was the ancestral home of the Tulare clan. An ancestral home which had existed for over five thousand years and endured countless renovations continued to stand here.
But, with the decline in the clan’s fortunes, the Tulare clan’s finances had taken a turn for the worse as well. Towards the end, it could only consume its previous gains. Over a hundred years ago, the then-leader of the Tulare clan determined that all the members of the clan would live in the front courtyard, which took up a third of the space of the manor. The rest of the manor would no longer be maintained. That way, a great deal of money could be saved.
But despite these measures, by this period in time, Mathias’s father, Alistair Tulare, still needed to sell off family possessions in order t
o keep the family afloat.
The towering doors to the manor were open.
“Guru-level warriors?” While walking, Mathias was still thinking about that. “In the future, will I be able to become a Guru-level warrior?”
“Mathias.” Davis’s voice sounded from behind him. Davis, Roger, and Tina had finally caught up to him.
Mathias turned around and immediately said happily, “Uncle Davis!”
Following this, Mathias sucked in a deep breath. Raising his head to look at Davis, his voice filled with eagerness, he said, “Uncle Davis, are Guru-level warriors really that powerful? Then what about me? Is it possible that I will become a Guru-level warrior?” In Mathias’s heart, there was a desire which all youngsters possess.
Davis was stunned. Besides him, Roger and Tina were also speechless.
A Guru-level warrior?
“This kid really has the daring to dream big. The country of Silver moon has millions of citizens, but even so, after countless centuries, it hasn’t produced a single Guru-level warrior. To want to become a Guru-level warrior…” In Davis’s mind, he fully understood how difficult it was to become a Guru-level warrior.
It required someone to work extremely hard from a young age, the support of a noble clan, and also a high amount of natural talent. It also required luck. How could it be easy to become a Guru-level warrior?
Davis knew quite well how much he himself had to suffer in order to become a sixth-graded warrior, and how many life-and-death battles he had to experience. Even a warrior of the sixth grade was very difficult to become. A seventh, eighth, and ninth graded warrior was of course only harder. As for a Guru-level warrior? Even in his dreams, Davis didn’t dare imagine himself as one.
But he was facing Mathias’s earnest gaze.
“Mathias, Uncle Davis has faith in you. I’m sure you’ll become a Guru-level warrior.” Staring at Mathias, Davis spoke firmly. These words of encouragement caused Mathias’s eyes to shine. In Mathias’s heart, as well, a desire arose.
A desire which had never been so ardent!
“Uncle Davis, from tomorrow onwards, can I participate in the training sessions with the ten year olds?” Mathias suddenly asked.
Davis, Roger, and Tina all stared at Mathias in surprise.
“My lord father always told me, if you want to become a man without peer, then you must work harder than other men.” Mathias unconsciously mimicked his father’s manner of speech.
Davis suddenly smiled. He had seen the results of Mathias’s training today. Although Mathias was only six, his body conditioning could compare with nine year olds. He immediately nodded, smiling. “Fine. However, you’d best not slack off. You’d best realize that this isn’t a one day or two-day commitment. This will be a long-term regime.”
Mathias raised his small head proudly. Self-confidently, he smiled. “Uncle Davis, you just wait and see.”
This was a very normal morning for Lakeshore town. Afterwards, every morning was the same as this one. The group of Lakeshore youths would follow Davis, warrior of the sixth grade, and train hard under his guidance. The only difference was; the six-year-old Mathias was placed in the central squad of ten year olds.
Chapter 2 – The Demon blood Warrior Clan (part one)
In the blink of an eye, another half year had passed. Training hard and strengthening his body, Mathias passed through the gentle, warm spring, the blazing summer, and the chilly autumn. The white poplar tree next to the empty training field of Comox would always scatter some dried leaves onto the ground whenever the wind blew. The leaves slowly whirled down, covering the entire training ground.
The sky had slowly grown dark.
Today, there was an exceptionally large number of people on the training grounds, nearly three hundred.
“Today’s evening training session ends now.” Davis smiled. “Before leaving, however, everyone needs to first congratulate this next crop of youngsters who are about to leave Comox and join the army.”
With autumn’s end came the season of military recruitment. With the entire continent engaged in an age of warfare, every youngster viewed becoming a mighty warrior as a badge of honor. Naturally, there were also those who wished to become mages, but becoming a mage is an extremely difficult task. Perhaps only one person in ten thousand had the necessary qualifications to become a mage. With such a low probability, the average person wouldn’t even consider it.
Becoming a warrior was much easier. Upon turning sixteen, as long as they were at least warriors of the first grade, they could easily enter the army.
“Uncle Davis, thank you!”
A hundred and twenty-six youngsters, all age seventeen, respectfully bowed towards Davis. These youngsters normally did not attend training. They had all become adults, and had their own jobs to do. But since they had all been trained by Davis since they were toddlers, they all considered Davis to have been their benevolent master.
Before joining the army, they all came here to say farewell to Davis.
Staring at this group of energetic, eager seventeen year olds, Davis was filled with countless mixed feelings. This was because Davis knew that all of these youngsters were eager to join the army, but after ten years of military service, how many of them would come back alive?
“I hope at least half of these hundred and twenty-six will be able to return alive,” Davis prayed silently.
Davis stared at the youngsters, and said in a clear voice, “Brats, listen up! You are all men of Comox town. The men of Comox town must straighten their chests and welcome any challenges, and accept no fear. Am I understood?”
All of those seventeen-year-old youths straightened their chest, their bodies ramrod straight. Their eyes filled with a hot ardor for military life, they all responded in loud unison, “Understood!”
“Good!” Davis stood ramrod straight as well. His cold gaze was filled with a military aura.
“Tomorrow, all of you will depart. Tonight, prepare well. I know how strong all of you are. All of you will be able to easily enter the army! I, Davis, will wait here for all of you to make your glorious return to Comox town!” Davis said in a bright voice.
The eyes of those youths shone bright.
Returning home with honor. This was the dream of every youth.
“Now, I order all of you, go home immediately and begin your preparations. Disperse!” Davis said in a cold, fierce voice.
“Yes sir!”
A hundred and twenty-six youths respectfully saluted, and then departed. They were followed by the worshipful gazes of the nearly two hundred youths that remained. Tomorrow, they would begin a brand new journey.
“I have two more years. When I become of age, I also want to join the army.”
“I really want to live the exciting, heart-throbbing life of a soldier. If I had to live here for my entire life, in Comox town, even if I lived forever, it would be pointless.”
…..
A group of thirteen year olds chatted amongst each other. All of them longed for that exciting life, a life filled with vigor. All of them wanted to accumulate merits and establish a reputation. They wanted to be adored by the girls and the esteem of their relatives.
This was their dream!
“Mathias, your father, Lord Alistair, has some extremely important business with you. Don’t go off playing with the other kids. Come home with me.” Davis walked to Mathias’s side. Gazing at him, Davis felt very proud.
Mathias was exceedingly smart. Under the tutelage of his father, Alistair, since a young age, he had learned many words and could read most books.
Reading was a very luxurious thing. Usually, only the scions of noble houses could read. The Tulare clan was an extremely old clan, and it held a large number of books.
“Uncle Davis, I know already. My lord father already reminded me three times. My lord father has never been so insistent about anything. I won’t go off and play.” Mathias grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth, perfect but for the fact that one
was missing.
Mathias was already beginning to grow permanent teeth.
“That’s enough. You are missing one of your front teeth. When you smile, you let the wind in.” Davis laughed. “Go, go home.”
…..
In the ancient front courtyard of the Tulare manor, after the family finished dinner, Mathias was playing around with his younger brother.
“Big brother, hug, hug!”
Little Gabe was staring at Mathias with a look of pure, simple love. Walking unsteadily, he extended a small, pudgy hand towards Mathias, trying to hug him. Mathias stood not too far away, quietly waiting for little Gabe to reach him.
“Gabe, you can do it!” Mathias encouraged him.
Little Gabe’s wobbly footsteps made people fear he would fall with each step. But in the end, little Gabe managed to rush into his big brother’s embrace. His smooth skin, as soft as water, was slightly pink. His big round eyes stared at his elder brother, and in a baby voice, he said, “Big brother, big brother.”
Looking at his baby brother, Mathias’s heart was filled with a boundless warmth and love.
No mother, no grandparents. Although he had his father and the family caretaker to take care of him, Mathias, who had matured early, was extremely loving and protective towards his little brother. In Mathias’s eyes, as the big brother, it was his job to take care of his little brother.
“Gabe, what did you learn today?” Mathias asked, smiling.
Gabe frowned, an extremely cute expression. After pondering, he excitedly said, “Today I learned about using rags!”
“Rags?” Mathias’s face revealed an uncontrollable smile. “What did you wipe?”
Counting on his fingers, little Gabe said, “First I used the rags to wipe the floors, then the toilet chamber pots, and lastly I wiped…. wiped…. right, I wiped the plates!” He looked excitedly at Mathias, awaiting Mathias’s praise.
“You wiped the chamber pots, and then wiped the plates?” Mathias’s eyes were huge.
“What, did I do it wrong? I really wiped them clean.” In little Gabe’s tiny head, his eyes were filled with an uncomprehending look as he stared at his big brother.