Heaven Breaker: SSS Rank Tiger Evolution-Chapter 50: Exhaustion

"So, let’s start over," Raiden said. "What do you think you did wrong and could improve? I hope you caught a glimpse of your own weaknesses, considering the intensity of the fight."

I nodded before speaking.

"My elemental powers are strong, but they certainly consume a lot of energy," I sighed. "Besides, not being able to do more than simple punches and kicks was quite limiting."

Raiden nodded and then focused on Laxus.

"I underestimated the demons’ tenacity. I expected a single blow to be enough, as it usually is with cultivators and mortals," Laxus sighed. "However, landing a hit was almost a trap—it left me exposed to a finishing blow that would have killed me."

Raiden nodded, satisfied.

"And what are you going to do to change that?" he asked with a calm, curious look.

"I think it makes sense to diversify my abilities," I said. "Create techniques that consume less energy, neutral-element ones, so I can move and attack efficiently, while saving energy for more decisive elemental attacks."

"I think the same applies to me, with the addition of being more cautious with demons," Laxus added.

"Good, good, very good," Raiden nodded approvingly. "That being the case, your routine will be simple from now on, considering that Laxus will be Kai’s partner. In the morning, I want you to focus on learning neutral-element movement, attack, and defense skills, along with physical training under my supervision. At noon, I want you to duel to solidify whatever you learned in the morning. In the afternoon, train on your own—focus on developing your own techniques. No complaints, right, Kai? Laxus?"

"..."

"Actually, I have several complaints and would love to talk about each one individually..." Laxus complained—the tutor and supervisor who supposedly shouldn’t be training. "But since it’s a request from the Grand Master, I’ll tolerate being Kai’s training partner for some time. I only ask that you consider my position more carefully next time."

"Of course, of course," Raiden nodded once more before turning to Gravis and Euphy beside him.

"And you two... what should I do?" he pondered, rubbing his chin. "Should I put the two of you to duel...?"

Euphy blushed slightly, embarrassed, and looked away, knowing she was the problem in that equation.

She was too weak to fight him, and nothing seemed good enough to overcome that gap in raw power.

"I don’t think there’s any problem doing it that way," I said, drawing attention. "Euphy can handle fighting him."

"..."

Raiden and the others remained silent.

"I appreciate the vote of confidence," she said. "But can I really do it?" She scratched the back of her neck.

I laughed and stepped closer, placing both hands on her shoulders, snapping her to attention.

"Look at me, Euphy," I said, and with a low grumble she did. "Into my eyes."

"I’m looking..." she said shyly. "What am I supposed to see?"

I laughed and then invoked my aura like an arrow, lightly striking Euphy and making her frown.

"My eyes—what do they tell you?" I asked again.

"Your eyes... they give away where you’re going to attack... right?" she said uncertainly. "I already knew that—it’s nothing new. My father taught me to always pay attention to my opponent’s body language."

"If you know that, then why not use it to your advantage?" I looked at Gravis. "His aim is terrible, and every attack is predictable. Just watch where his eyes and fingers point, and you’ll be able to dodge."

"I can’t keep up," she said with a dark expression. "His attacks are too fast, and at point-blank range they’re nothing more than a blur. It’s impossible to dodge—no Wild could do it, and—"

"..."

She fell silent, remembering that I was also a Wild, just like her.

Throughout our journey so far, the two of us had been on equal footing. Only now had a difference in combat power appeared.

"I can’t close the distance to attack him... I can’t do it like you..." she said gloomily.

I took a deep breath and patted her shoulders again.

"Do this: use aura to negate the spells, keep your distance, predict the attacks based on body language, and just hold out for long enough... that is it."

"What are you..."

Suddenly, Euphy’s eyes lit up as she understood what I meant. Surprise filled her voice. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Oh... so that’s possible... I hadn’t thought about it that way... but it makes sense!"

She took a deep breath, swallowed hard, and ran to her side of the ring.

"So?" Raiden asked, and I replied.

"You can start," I said with a smile. "Just don’t cry when your disciple loses."

"We’ll see," Raiden nodded, and Gravis soon moved to his side of the ring.

"Ready? Begin!"

He shouted, starting the fight, which began more cautiously than the previous ones.

BZZ BZZ BZZ

"Both times, Kai only won in close combat—the demons’ favorite! This time will be different!"

A cage of lightning was summoned by Gravis, his body positioned safely inside.

"Get ready!" he shouted.

BZZ BZZ BZZ

Lightning gathered at his fingertips.

BOOOM

Then it exploded, raising a cloud of snow and dust that quickly covered Euphy, making her harder to see and disrupting Gravis’s aim.

"Tsk! I should have hit that boy on the head more," Raiden grumbled as he watched Gravis miss by a wide margin.

"Well, that was just the first one... maybe he’ll hit at least one... hahaha..." I said, trying to hold back a laugh.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

The snowy landscape grew whiter and whiter as the clouds formed, Euphy’s figure becoming little more than a shadow darting back and forth.

WOOSH WOOSH WOOSH

Aura and iron arrows rained down on Gravis, who merely snorted as his aura shifted to counter the opposing aura.

SHING SHING SHING

Sparks of aura exploded against the cage while the metal arrows burned and melted upon the lightning barrier.

"You’ll need more than that," he said flatly as molten metal dripped down in front of him.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

More and more lightning rained down on Euphy.

WOOSH WOOSH WOOSH

More and more arrows fell upon Gravis.

"ARGH! This hurts my soul!" Raiden grumbled with a sour expression. "Why, heavens, why?! What did I do to deserve this?!" he shouted, clutching his own head like a madman.

"Hehehe, you noticed, didn’t you?" I said with a sly look. "You’re lucky I didn’t make a bet on who would win."

"Don’t talk to me about luck! This bitter life brings me nothing but misfortune!" he said, pulling a leather pouch from inside his robe. "Take this and never speak of it again, or I’ll never be able to show my face. This shame must be forgotten forever."

"Of course, hehehe," I said, accepting the bribe as I watched the fight approach its final outcome.

The battle had been tedious, with movements going back and forth.

However...

While for some a long battle was just that, for others it was a brilliant strategy.

BZZZZ BZZ bz

Gravis’s lightning cage suddenly dissipated as the boy dropped to his knees—his energy completely spent.

"Out of gas, huh?"

At the same time, Euphy appeared behind him, cutting through the dust cloud with a knife that was quickly pressed to his neck.

"Surrender," she ordered, and he lowered his head with a sigh.

"I give up."

I laughed, amused.

Euphy had barely used Primordial Force. Her strength was still at its peak.

"End of the battle," Raiden said, unmotivated. "Winner: Euphy—and that cunning bastard on my side."

"Hehehe, thanks for the money!" I laughed, holding the bag of coins in my hand.

"Kai! Kai! I won!" She ran over to my side, both hands raised for a high-five.

SMACK

"Hey~"

I returned it, and she threw herself into my arms, knocking me to the ground and hugging me, laughing like a child on top of me.

"I won! Did you see?!" she kept laughing on my chest.

"Yes, I saw."

I saw Gravis approaching from afar. His calm face turned toward me, and he smiled and waved in a friendly manner.

I waved back, thinking I should take some time to get to know him better.

"The next few days are going to be exhausting," I said, looking up at the sky. "But I think it’ll be good."

"Definitely! They’ll be great days... and nights..." Euphy said with a mischievous smile.

"Yeah... and nights."