Chapter 49: Copycat

"This is not an exclusive skill for my weapon, but I developed this technique through my years of practice," Bernard said. "You have to hold your hammer to the heaviest angle, and swing it around like this."

He repositioned his hand on his warhammer's shaft. He was holding a third to the head of the hammer while the rest of the shaft rested behind his arm.

Bernard took one step back with his right foot, then bringing it forward. His body started spinning. He took a couple more steps, still turning around until he slammed his foot on the ground, his hammer slamming into the air that made the air itself shake.

It created a force that like a storm, making the flowers dance and the fence to rattle ever so slightly.

"That was one," Bernard said. "That move has one of the highest damage outputs from my techniques, but it was hard to charge since you'd be in a vulnerable state for a couple of seconds."

Allen nodded, "Yeah. I could see how you would lose all your defense when you're turning."

"Exactly. I don't often use this technique unless I am sure that my opponent is immobile. This is like a finishing blow rather than a normal attack," Bernard said. "Now, let's move on to the next technique. This one is rather handy."

Allen watched Bernard hold the shaft of his hammer into the upper middle part. He said that this was the area that makes his weapon the lightest since it was balancing both ends.

"This technique is one I stole from assassins," Bernard chuckled. "They call it Flash Step, and it basically what they use to disappear and reappear. Like so."

In a blink of an eye, Bernard was gone from where he stood and appeared right in front of Allen. The former was grinning after seeing the surprised expression of the younger man.

"Flash Steps," Bernard chuckled. He disappeared again and continued doing so until he was far away, disappearing and reappearing in all places.

The man was filled with fiery passion with whatever he does. He puts a lot of effort into his every move and that what made him the Hunter that he is today.

Allen could see that clearly too. The way Bernard would train him with his endurance and how he teaches him the techniques, Bernard excelled in it in every aspect.

If all the people in Paradise was as good as him, it wouldn't be a wonder why they could survive such a place. Rare grade dens in the forests was already hard to survive three days in, imagine all of those beasts and even stronger ones were at your midst.

How the lion overwhelmed Allen and even the Rare grade swamp monster before. It was just horrifying if you would be in a world filled with those beasts.

"You're spacing out again," Bernard said, swinging his warhammer.

Allen's eyes widened, but his reflexes were much better. He rolled to the side and used his hammer to stop the momentum by slamming it on the ground. "Oh, crap."

The boy cursed after he smashed one of the flowers from Bernard's field. They have decided to train in the garden since it was much more spacious than the forest.

Bernard hummed from behind him, making Allen shiver in fear. "You seemed to have made a mistake."

Allen turned and grinned, trying to hide the smushed flower, "I-I didn't do anything. No problem here."

"You smashed a flower, didn't you?" Bernard chuckled. "Don't worry about that. I decided for us to train here because it's much more spacious and everything is clearer. By doing so, I have already accepted that some of my plants are going to die."

Allen didn't want to make a fuss about this. After all, these are just flowers and they can be easily replaced.

What made him very guilty was when he saw Bernard talk to some of them like they were actual people. He took care of them slowly, gently trimming all the dead parts.

"I think we should train somewhere else," Allen said. "I think if we could–"

Slam. Spark. Spark.

Their heads snapped to the direction of the sound. The north side of the fence was dented by a beast. The culprit was a large wolf and it was angry. It looked very angry.

"W-What is that?" Allen asked. "I know it's a wolf, but that's gigantic!"

His reaction was acceptable. The wolf was large indeed. It was the size of a bus, and was almost reaching the top of the fence.

"That fence has very high voltage," Bernard said. He took a rock and threw it to the fence, the rock stopping before it could reach the fence and was covered entirely with the blue electric sparks.

"Woah," Allen gasped in amazement. If he had tried to touch the fence, he would be charred before his hand could even get to the metal fences. "How come this beast can survive after that?"

"It's almost at its Ascension," Bernard muttered. "Stay here."

"No," Allen said. "I'll watch you. I want to learn how you deal with the beasts like a fighter."

The man hummed. "Okay, then. But you must keep a distance from me or else you'll be killed in an instant."

Allen nodded at this. He knew that this wolf was very dangerous, but he wanted to see Bernard in action. When he was saved by the man when he was attacked by the wolves, he passed out and couldn't see the action.

But this is an opportunity for him to see Bernard fight. The man was teaching him the techniques, but it was very different when he was fighting with an actual opponent.

The damage output, the speed, and the will to hunt were too different from just sparring. Everything was so immersed when he watches, even when the man hunted the beast they just had for a meal.

Before Allen knew it, a notification had rang.

'Exclusive skill unlocked.'

< Copycat >