Chapter 10: Martial Art Techniques

"Follow me."

Akash beckoned Haji Tea as he left the store.

Both went to the Hall which was very spacious and tastefully decorated. Akash Tagar stopped at the center and asked.

"Do you use a weapon, Mr. Haji?"

Haji Tea replied in a respectful manner.

"Yes, My Liege, I use a spear."

"Take out your spear and give me a sword if you have one in your spatial ring."

Haji Tea poured his cosmic powers into his spatial ring and two weapons came out in an instant.

One was a lower High-Grade spear and the other was an upper Common-Grade sabre. The Spear was his main weapon while the sabre was his secondary weapon, mostly used for surprise attacks. Haji Tea gave the latter to Akash Tagar

"Mr. Haji, do you know any spear techniques?"

"No, My Liege. Martial arts techniques are for those who only have the Martial attribute. Whereas I have 2 more attributes on top of my Martial attribute which are the poison and the life attributes along with the 5 cosmic beasts I have tamed. It's shameful for tamers to learn martial arts techniques when they're not limited by just their Martial attribute.

The words of Haji Tea shocked Akash Tagar. He couldn't wrap his head around this backwards logic. The top races of other planets fight each other just so they can get their hands on a new martial arts technique as the Martial attribute is the only one that can be merged with other attributes. No wonder humans are the weakest of all civilizations.

"Alright then, what if I proved you wrong?"

Haji Tea looked at Akash confused

"What do you mean, My Liege?"

"Attack me with your spear and don't hold back. I will use a martial arts technique to block it."

"You must be joking, My Liege, that'd be suicide."

"Indeed, in normal conditions, if a 1st Star realm tamer faces an attack of Star Captain realm tamer's physical attack, the 1st Star tamer will die even if he used his cosmic powers to block the attack. That's how big of a gap in power realms can give, however, a martial arts technique is the only thing that can disrupt this natural hierarchy. Now attack me and you'll be able to see for yourself."

"If you say so."

Haji Tea replied hesitatingly as a drop of sweat rolled down from his brows to his chin.

"Here I come, My Liege!"

Haji Tea took a long step, thrust his spear towards Akash's chest who was standing carefree while holding the sabre in his right hand.

*CLANG*

*WOOOOSH*

Haji Tea's hands were vibrating, he was flabbergasted. Everything happened so quickly that he wasn't able to catch what transpired. He suddenly felt a slight burning sensation in his hand and when he looked at it, there was a small cut from which blood was dripping.

Following this, he looked at Akash Tagar who was standing in the same carefree manner as earlier. Even though Haji didn't have any killing intent in his attack and held back, he was still trying to cut Akash. His attempt to prove the uselessness of martial arts techniques failed. Yet, he wasn't willing to give up so soon.

"Let me try again, My Liege."

"Sure, but this time, try to grasp the power of a martial arts technique."

Haji Tea grabbed a cigar from his pocket, lit it and took a big puff. It was a habit of his to do this. Whenever he became emotional he smoked, and the amount increased, the higher his emotions rose. All of which, gave rise to his title as "The Smoking Spear".

"Show me again, My Liege. I won't hold back this time."

Yet again, he took a big step while saying those lines and thrust his spear at the shoulder of Akash, but this time, the spear was coming with the intent to kill and at the speed of a bullet, unfortunately, the result remained the same as the clash between them resounded.

*CLANG*

*WHOOSH*

The spear was flung away hundred feet away and the sabre was resting at the neck of Haji Tea. A single swing and Haji's head would fall on the ground. Akash moves his saber away.

"Did you understand the power of martial arts techniques? The technique I used is a lower High-Grade sword technique called 'Two Swords of Heaven'. The 1st sword is called Parry The Heaven and the 2nd sword is called Slash The Heaven.

Now tell me, have you ever thought it possible that a 1st Moon 1st Star Tamer could kill a 2nd Moon Star Captain Tamer?"

Haji Tea was questioningly looking at Akash Tagar, wondering if he really was only at the 1st Star realm. After a moment of silence, Haji Tea lowered his head and replied.

"I apologize, My Liege. I was wrong."

"It's alright, this technique was made by me and takes hundreds of years of continuous practice to master it. My sword technique is focused on counters so it's useless if your opponent isn't attacking. Which is why it's only a lower high-grade technique.

When you attacked, my eyes were not looking at your spear but, rather, at your feet. One can judge an attack before it's even executed by its first movements. The way you stepped forward and your body language betrayed the trajectory of your attack. The difference in speed and power between our both realms is like Heaven and Earth, yet I was still able to parry it twice and cut you. That is the main point of martial arts techniques. It multiplies your attack's power and makes it hard to predict.

Haji Tea was at a loss for words.

Akash tapped the shoulder of Haji Tea and spoke.

"I am very happy that you use a spear."

Haji Tea quickly replied.

"Why so, My Liege? Do you perhaps possess any spear technique for me?"

"Indeed, I do, and it's called 'Seven Ways of the Death Spear'. I can give you the scroll if you want."

"Yes, yes. I want to learn it!"

"You have to fully dedicate yourself to it. This technique is much more powerful than my own technique as it's an upper Legendary-Grade technique."

Haji Tea was looking at Akash Tagar with his mouth agape for the umpteenth time. A lower High-Grade technique could fend off an attack of a Star Captain cultivator. Then what would be the effects of an upper Legendary-Grade technique?

"I will put my life on the line to learn it, My Liege! Believe in me."

"I do believe in you, Mr. Haji, you are my first friend and companion in this journey. Let me give you a glimpse of this technique.

The Seven Ways of the Death Spear was made by a Fairy Man named Daas Mamri.

There are a total of 6 ways or 6 powerful moves while the seventh is the combination of them capable of unleashing even higher power.

Daas Mamri spent all his life mastering the spear and this is the result of it all which you will be learning from now on."

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed, the excitement in Haji's heart turned into worry as he saw a few teardrops roll down Akash's cheeks.

"On a fateful day, the God race attacked the planet of the Fairy Race to conquer it. In that war, Daas Mamri fought as no one had ever fought in history. At that time, he had reached the realm of a Star Emperor and using the Seven Ways of the Death Spear, he slew 8 other Star Emperor tamers.

In that fight, all his cosmic beasts lost their lives and when he was finally too exhausted to move and alone, a Star God realm tamer of the God race came and killed him. There wasn't any chance for him to beat someone from a higher realm much less with his exhausted state without any help."

As he finished the story, he looked at Haji Tea who was clenching his fists, he was shocked and inspired by the bravery of that man.

"I can't believe I will inherit the legacy of such a brave Star Emperor tamer."

"You have to work hard Mr. Haji, I will give you the scroll tomorrow so you can leave now."

Haji Tea didn't think anything of it and left after bidding farewell. He was too happy to think of anything else.

As Haji Tea left, tears fell like raindrops from Akash Tagar's eyes as he closed his eyes and murmured.

"Daas, my beloved friend! I've found someone who will carry on your legacy. We shall meet again one day after I've avenged you all! Perhaps, then I'll be as brave as you were.