Chapter 678 - The First Phase of Training

After that, Alex and Ryuu began their hellish training. 

Alex taught Ryuu about the sword patiently, considering he used a new sword.

Ryuu was awful when he just changed his sword as Alex was able to easily defeat him in a practice match while leisurely lecturing him. However, Ryuu improved by leaps and bounds as if there was nothing hindering him anymore. 

As soon as he got accustomed to the new sword, he became trouble even for Alex like their first match. And after a couple of months, he finally mastered the sword and became a formidable opponent for Alex. Of course, Alex only used his sword this whole time, so his real ability was still unknown to Ryuu.

On the other hand, Maya also started having her own training session on the sideline. She sometimes asked Ryuu a couple of questions when he took a break between practice. 

Ryuu also taught Alex back with Space Element's lesson, starting from the basic to the Spatial Gate and Space Plate technique. Alex's comprehension speed was insane as he managed to learn it in almost four months. After that, he started learning Space Cut under Ryuu's guidance. 

Of course, he wasn't slacking on his Cultivation aspect. Although he didn't manage to break through to 7-Star, he was only one step away. Besides, he could settle everything in the last seven months out of his eighteen months here or one and a half years. 

Aileen also helped him in the process, increasing his progress speed even further. Unlike Ryuu, Aileen was an experienced teacher, she knew what words could comprehend easily and what not or when Alex needed the explanation or when he needed to taunt Alex to stimulate his potential for a moment.

Alex was thankful to them for helping him, even though it was only a transaction.

Although he still couldn't seal someone's strength with his Realm Seal Technique, the technique he used to lock his soul and cultivation inside a special realm created in his heart, he was satisfied with the result because he could see the chance of him doing it.

Of course, he still didn't forget about the matter on the surface. He kept asking Anna to inform him what happened every month, albeit nothing happened in particular. The Ancient Blue Family had yet to accept the alliance, the frustrated Fire God Clan, the waiting Blackwade Clan, and so on. 

Alex thanked her for the information as he could be rest assured, especially when she heard Firia was one step away to reach Martial Saint along with Stina. Sherry and Kyle were struggling on the 9-Star Martial Monarch. 

The competitive nature in his heart woke up as he wanted to finish this training as soon as possible.

…

Six months later…

"Space Cut!" Alex slashed the air with his sword, releasing a powerful Space Cut.

Ryuu only smiled and released the same move as their moves collided. An explosion occurred inside the Blue Layered Realm and somehow affected the reality as a crack appeared between Ryuu and Alex. If they created another crack, a small hole leading to the Blue Layered Realm might open.

"That is really good, Alex. You have mastered the Space Cut!" Ryuu praised him from the bottom of his heart. He never expected that Alex could master this move within two months.

"Haha… You are good too, Ryuu. Your Sword Intent is very intense right now. I think it won't be long before you reach Sword Saint Stage. I should congratulate you in advance." Alex chuckled. The relationship with Ryuu wasn't awkward and formal as they used to be after knowing each other for six months.

Ryuu had recognized Alex and admired him because Alex still worked hard and worked smart even though he had all the talent he needed. Not only his training was more brutal than him, but his method was also very efficient. As expected from the master of the sword, Ryuu thought.

In contrast, Alex felt that Ryuu was really a talented man. Aileen didn't pour so many resources into Ryuu because she wanted him to be independent. Yet, Ryuu managed to surpass her expectation every time. He managed to reach 1-Star Martial Saint within a few hundred years, despite having no cultivation resources from his master, only Space Technique and Sword Art.

Alex could see that his Space Element also became more refined after changing to the new sword. He could somehow picture what kind of original sword path Ryuu would have in the future. He didn't tell him though, to avoid confusing his mind.

"Then, how about this?" Ryuu waved his sword, sending two Space Cuts at the same time.

"Twin Worlds Slash!" 

Alex furrowed his eyebrows. Ryuu had never used this technique every time they fought. It seemed that the Real World Slash and The Space World Slash produced one Space Cut each, making it more powerful. 

"I can't use this technique because I'm not fast enough to gather the Space Element for my second Space Cut. Only after you teach me about the sword and have me use this sword can I finally break past my limit," Ryuu shouted excitedly. "This is why you are the first one who sees this technique!" 

Alex only smiled upon seeing this attack and swung his sword.

"Triple Draws."

"Space Cut!" 

Ryuu could make two, but it was still useless in front of him. Alex could simply make three Space Cuts so the other two could destroy his attack while one struck Ryuu. 

However, the plan didn't go smoothly. Right before the two strikes collided, Ryuu detonated his Space Cuts.

*Boom!*

The explosion caused another crack in the air, and Ryuu laughed again. "As expected… I am still no match against your Original Sword Skill. Triple Draws, is it? That technique is insane as if you are altering the reality itself. Normally, people can only slash one time in a single point of the timeline. Master swordsman who has been mastering a drawing technique might go beyond it, but two is the limit. However, you take it to an unprecedented level."

"I am just lucky." Alex shook his head, and humbly said while adding inwardly. 'Really lucky. If I don't have Sword Mastery, I won't know that I can do this."

"Haha… Luck is a strength. I wish I had absolute luck, so maybe my enemy will have diarrhea before we even fight."

"Isn't it more like a curse?" Alex rolled his eyes away. 

"True enough. Then maybe a meteor will fall and obliterate them to smithereens."

"You will also die if a meteor really comes…" Alex sighed. 'Scientifically!'

"Why don't you back me up a little bit?" Ryuu sighed. "Anyway, I just wanted to show that technique to you because you have helped me greatly."

Alex nodded with a smile before raising his sword. "It's my turn."

"Triple Draws."

"Blade of Conquest."

"Space Cut."

Combining these three techniques, Alex released six Sword Waves toward Ryuu. 

"I have seen this already!" Ryuu smirked as he was going to intercept all of the Sword Waves. 

However, Alex suddenly raised his hand and twitched his finger. "How about this?"

A Spatial Gate appeared right in front of these six Sword Waves before thirty Spatial Gates appeared around Ryuu. 

"Oi! You are insane like Master!" Ryuu screamed in panic as he tried to calculate where they would appear. On the other hand, Aileen, who was watching them from the sideline while teaching Maya, shouted happily. "Ryuu. It's not good to curse your Master! But I will take it as a compliment of my element control."

Ryuu twitched his eyebrows as he got teased by his teacher and couldn't find the attacks this whole time. In the end, he gave up and created a barrier around him. 

If Alex observed him carefully, he could see that the barrier looked like a half-sphere, facing the Spatial Gates. It would quickly expand and trap his attack the moment it came. 

Unfortunately, Alex's Spirit Eyes could see everything. He leaped toward Ryuu instead of using the attack from earlier.

"Kh!" Not expecting Alex to make such a move, he quickly made a Spatial Gate and escaped from this place.

"!!!" Alex furrowed his eyebrows and scanned the area with his Spirit Eyes before slashing his sword to his left. 

"Blade of Conquest!"

"This time… It's my turn!" Ryuu smiled as he created a Spatial Gate and attached a wisp of his soul to Alex's Sword Wave. The moment it came inside the Blue Layered Realm, his soul could sense the locations of Alex's earlier attacks.

"Explode!" Ryuu smiled as he tried to control Alex's Sword Wave and detonate it. Luckily, Alex didn't attach his Soul in that attack, so he managed to do it.

Suddenly, six cracks appeared around him as he smiled. "You don't easily attach your soul to attack, right? Why?"

Alex thought for a moment before answering. "It's simple. I use too much Mental Power in my attack, so I'm not planning to waste it unless necessary."

"Oh! I can see that. That's why your control is really crazy." Ryuu nodded in understanding. "Anyway, we have fought too much these few months. I think it's better to end this never-ending battle and see who is the winner?"

"I am just a 6-Star Martial Monarch while you are 1-Star Martial Saint. You are shameless here, Ryuu." Alex smirked, teasing him.

"Shut up!" Ryuu snorted jokingly while leaping toward Alex. 

Alex also leaped toward Ryuu with his sword.

Both of them swung their swords at the same time before passing each other.

*Clang!* 

A loud clashing sound filled the room as a shockwave appeared, blowing everything around them away. Maya was annoyed when her books flipped because of this base while Aileen simply held her skirt without erecting a barrier as she wanted to enjoy the breeze. 

"It's a draw, I guess…" She felt the clash and rose from the ground before teleporting between them and announcing the result. "It's a draw. I am happy to see both of you make astonishing progress in the past few months. Of course, I am happy that my Maya can finally put some effort into her own training because of you two.

"Anyway, both of you don't really use your real strength, so I'm sure you don't care about the match itself… Only that last blow contained all of your power… Except, Alex, May I ask why you don't use your Original Path?"

"It's linked to my fire and spear, so it's better to not use it." Alex shrugged.

"Fair enough." Aileen nodded before glancing at Ryuu. "Although you have gotten accustomed to your sword, keep practicing with it since I can still see some awkward movements in your swordplay. I am sure Alexander notices it too."

"I know." Ryuu turned around and walked toward Aileen and Alex before stretching his hand, asking for a handshake with Alex. 

Alex was more than happy to shake his hand, but…

Their hand wasn't shaking as suddenly the ground was the one that started shaking… 

*Rumble Rumble!*