Chapter 68 The Colour Red - Part 9

Chapter 68 The Colour Red - Part 9

He saw a weak boy, for sure. He saw someone without experience. What was he looking for? He was looking for a chance to exploit Beam's hyper-focus and hit him from the back, in a lesson that had been going on for a week, one intent on making him more aware of his surroundings.

Beam smiled as an idea began to form and he darted in a circle around Dominus.

There was a stick that Dominus had tossed up a few moments before, spinning to the back of Beam's head like a boomerang. Dominus was even more focused on that stick than Beam was, likely.

Beam stepped in front of the path of the boomeranging stick, pretending he hadn't seen it, and then he began his assault on Dominus, starting with an attempt at a calf kick.

Of course, the old knight dodged easily, with the barest of movements, just as he always did. But Beam didn't let up. He lunged forward into a front kick, then spun into a back fist. Then, just before the boomeranging stick hit him, Beam ducked, shifting his weight to prepare an uppercut.

Dominus' eyes twitched in momentary surprise, as the boomerang came spinning towards him and Beam prepared to launch himself forward at the same time.

Beam bounded off his back foot, aiming to get behind Dominus as he let the stick take care of the front. He threatened the knight from two different angles, pushing him further than he had before.

The aura of darkness about him grew, if only for a moment.

But with a single sweeping kick, Dominus knocked both the spinning stick out of the air and he sent Beam sprawling against a tree.

This was his chance to end the day well, after doing well in both his martial training and his speed. There was a nervous knot in the pit of his stomach as he ran his hands around the cold stone.

It felt so big even before he began to lift it. He could hardly get his hands round it. This one was only a little less than the weight of a man, and it had the size to back it.

He sucked in a deep breath and lifted it up as fast as he was able.

Shockingly, to him, it made it to his knees with hardly any effort at all. And then to his chest with the same amount of inhuman ease.

He shared an excited look with his master, who gave him the nod that it was fine to drop it.

Then, after that. Beam lifted it again and again and again. By the ninth lift, his legs were shaking and his face was bright red, with his eyes looking as though they were fit to burst from his skull. But he didn't want to stop so close to ten.

He summoned the last of his effort and, in a valiant attempt, he somehow managed to scrape the stone up his shins and onto his thighs to complete the first step. And then, with one final push, he lifted it up to his chest and held it until Dominus gave the nod.

"Gods!" Beam gasped as he collapsed to the floor. "I've gotten so strong! At this rate, I'll pass the strength test before the end of next week! This is crazy!"

Dominus nodded with a smile. "You've done well," he said, but his look darkened for a moment. "I have learned to fear moments of growth so rapid," he said quietly. "And there's that smell in the air from recent days too... You had best be careful, boy. What the Goddess of progress gives with one hand, she snatches away with the other."