Chapter 29 - 27 - Butler Frank

Chapter 29: Chapter 27 - Butler Frank

-Skiddd! n()o(/V-/e()l-)B./I-)n

Flynn could be seen skidding back in an unstable manner on the grassy field while struggling to maintain his balance.

He struggled to regain control and as he did so, he raised his head, only to meet Aiden's flying back as the latter crashed into him, resulting in both of them landing on the field with a roll.

-Thwam!

They both groaned at the heavy collision as they lay sprawled on the ground, especially Aiden.

He had just been sent flying with a brutal palm strike from Frank and although he had tried to slow down his momentum mid-air by adjusting himself, the force from Frank's palm strike was far stronger than he had anticipated, causing him to fly back in an instant and crash into Flynn who was struggling to regain his balance.

'S-rankers are no joke!' Aiden thought to himself even as he was groaning on the floor.

Frank wasn't in his butler attire today but instead, he wore a black T-shirt which hugged his body and revealed all of the muscles he had been hiding under his tailored suit along with black pants.

He also had his hair in a less styled manner and even though he was in his early fifties, he very much looked like he was in his early forties.

"You don't have the luxury for that young masters" Frank said as he appeared in their field of view while raising his foot in a stomping motion.

'Shit!' Flynn cursed as he saw the foot coming close to his face and in a split second, narrowly avoided it by rolling away.

He then attempted to leg lock Frank in one swift motion while grabbing onto his sword which had left his hand from his collision with Aiden but the butler was prepared.

"First rule of a swordfight young master Flynn" Frank said as he swung his leg and delivered a swift kick to Flynn's gut, a move that was very effective as Flynn felt his stomach churn and twist, soliciting another painful sound to release from his mouth.

-Kah!

"Never ever loosen your grip on your weapon. The moment you do so, you're at a severe disadvantage" Frank concluded.

Frank's kick sent him flying back again a few meters, but this time, he twisted his body in an unnatural manner at mid-air and regained his footing while skidding backwards, a tree halting his momentum as he dropped on one knee while holding his stomach with a painful grimace. This all happened in a matter of seconds.

'Those acrobatic skills are really coming in handy' Flynn inwardly thought while strengthening his grip on his katana.

"Noted Frank!" Flynn then responded with a groan as he took Frank's advice to heart.

Aiden during those seconds, had immediately gotten up with a no-hand Chinese kip-up and had reached for his greatsword which he then grabbed onto very firmly while also taking Frank's advice very seriously.

Like a bolt of lightning, he dashed at an immense speed towards Frank who had his back turned to him but he knew that Frank could still very much react to his speed. Frank was an S-ranker after all.

Frank who had been keeping his eyes all along on Aiden with his mana sense, swiftly turned towards him and had expected a downward swing from Aiden's greatsword but instead, he watched as Aiden immediately stopped a few meters in front of him and in double-quick motion, changed his stance into the first form of the {Berserker Art}. It was very sloppy but it was still commendable.

The butler watched this while inwardly thinking about how it had only been a day since the weapon art scroll had been given to him but he already had the concepts down.

'He really is a genius...' Frank thought to himself.

'But...'

"{Berserker Art - First Form: Whir-}"

Frank immediately disappeared from his spot and appeared directly behind Aiden, almost like he was jumping through space but it was actually because he was that fast.

Aiden and Flynn were still not at a level where they could see such ridiculously fast movements so it appeared to them that way.

"Second rule of a swordfight..." Frank said while delivering another powerful palm strike to Aiden's back.

"Do not use a move that will put you at a disadvantage, especially if your opponent is stronger or faster than you" he concluded.

"Kaaahhh!!!"

Aiden let out a pained cry due to the powerful attack that he had to endure from Frank and he watched himself fly through the air and heading towards Flynn again.

Flynn however was prepared this time and he immediately casted his force field spell.

"[Telekinetic Series: Force Field]"

-Bwump!

Aiden smashed onto the green aquamarine transparent-like small dome that surrounded Flynn and bounced of off it while falling to the ground.

"Thanks..." he said gratefully, his voice laced with pain as landed with a little less force on the ground.

"Don't mention it. Now get up! Another attack will be coming any mi-"

-Fwoosh!

Flynn was not even able to complete his statement before Frank once again disappeared and appeared at their sides in a flash.

As he did so, he spoke up once again.

"Third rule in a swordfight, or any other fight for that matter..."

This time, Aiden and Flynn immediately jumped backwards but Frank once again appeared in their field of view while stretching out his two arms towards their heads.

"Your eyes will deceive you more often than not so always have your mana sensitivity at its maximum" Frank concluded as he flicked his fingers against the head of the two brothers.

The force from the impact of that single flick sent them flying once again as they both collided with the ground while rolling and spinning until their momentum came to a halt.

The attack seemed to have been very painful as both brothers looked to be in a lot of pain, especially considering how they clutched their heads tightly while rolling around on the field.

Throughout all of these, Frank still had the same amiable smile across his face.

Ivar who had been watching all of these from afar had a chill run down his spine when he saw Frank's amiable and gentle smile.

"Mister Ivar, would you like to join us?" Frank asked Ivar with the same amiable smile he had been carrying all along.

Ivar vehemently and rigorously shook his in refusal, so much that it seemed like he was trying to snap his own neck off.

He had decided. He would only train with them once he broke into C-rank.

Until then, he would focus on their dad's research with his sister. Unless, there was no point in joining them as he could barely even keep up with their movements right now.

"Very well then. Do feel free to join us whenever you'd like" Frank spoke once again with a smile.

He then turned his gaze to look at the two teenagers who were struggling to get up on their feet.

Aiden seemed to be in a much worse state, especially since he received more heavy attacks from him but even with that, Frank could see the resolution in their eyes.

They stared at him with a powerful intensity. Like a wall they were going to climb and even surpass. Flynn especially, had an even more intense gaze and Frank couldn't help but feel happy about this.

He had known these kids since the day they had been born and he had seen them go through their highs and their lows. The fact that they could have this much resolution to get stronger meant that they had left the past in the past and were looking forward to the future.

"I don't even know if he's happy or just being a sadist at this point" Aiden said in a hushed voice to Flynn while watching Frank, a pained wince present on his face even as he spoke.

"And I thought you were a devil for always beating the crap out of me in our spars. I think I just found a new contender for that title" Flynn replied in a similar hushed tone with a slight groan.

"Young masters, forgive my next few words but it needs to be said" Frank spoke up.

This caused the brothers to stop their conversation and pay attention to Frank's words.

"Your fight with the members of the dark guild. The Duke told me all about it and I also watched the video feed myself. Although what you achieved was very commendable, I'd like you to understand that you were also very lucky. If you had encountered even just one more high-tier C-ranker or in the worst case, a B-ranker, you both may have very well lost your lives. This brings me to my next advice to both of you"

"Never ever depend on luck in a battle with your life on the line" Frank concluded

Aiden and Flynn responded in unison after taking in Frank's word.

"We understand!"

"Very good. Now then, let's continue"

The moment Frank said those words, his expression morphed into an icy cold one and he released an insanely high intensity of bloodlust and pressure solely towards the two brothers.

"Urk! This... isn't... anything like... the one... from that bodyguard!" Aiden immediately said while taking a step back, barely struggling to utter the words and also maintain his stance as he did.

"You think!" Flynn responded in annoyance, barely forcing the words out of his mouth.

He felt like his life was going to be snuffed out if he so much as moved an inch from where he was. Added to that was the mana pressure that felt like a few truck tons were placed onto his whole body.

He was currently standing on one foot with his other knee on the ground while gripping onto the katana that he had etched onto the grassy field as a way to support himself from the pressure that bore down on him.

"Another useful advice. Intimidation in battle is a powerful weapon when used correctly" Frank spoke coldly, after which he then continued.

"I will be training both of you like this with this same pressure and bloodlust every day from now on so you'll need to get used to it young masters"

"Now then, let's start your training for real" Frank said ominously, his previously amiable smile completely gone and replaced with an icy, dangerous gaze, along with an even more dangerous glint in his eyes.