20 Taking advantage

Shen was floored!

\" was upgraded!? Just like that??\" Shen was only hit once by Aceton but with just that the skill was upgraded!

\"How did it upgrade so quickly??\"

The system responded to answer his question [The Iron body skill is upgraded when the one using it is hit enough times or with enough power. is now level two.]

Shen was fascinated by this message and asked a question and checked his stats.

[Energy 80/80]

[Health 100/160 healing in effect time to full healing 00:10:00]

\"Only ten points?\" Shen was underwhelmed \"Seems like I need to upgrade this skill a lot before it can make a difference.\"

\"How much do I have to be hit before it gets another upgrade?: Shen asked with his hand on his chin.

[Would you like to have system reminders to see skills as they get better? Yes/No]

Shen said yes and a screen appeared that showed the amount of times he had to be hit.

[ Hits from a mortal lower class or higher needed to upgrade.]

Shen saw this and began to think about how he could take advantage of this skill.

He scanned the area to see if he could find anyone he could spar with but he found no one near him.

Shen was walking back into the palace when he had a sinister idea.

\"This is gonna be fun,\" He said with a smile from ear to ear.

*****

Cain had just finished his study for the day and was exiting the library with his daily haul of books and thinking about the time that Shen had insulted him in the library and he was forced to apologize to him just thinking about it made his blood boil.

\"Hello Prince short stack.\"

Cain whipped around to see who had insulted him with reddened eyes and saw Shen down the hall. He just ignored him and walked away.

Shen called out \"Can you not hear me down there?\" Shen began to laugh and continued to insult him \"I guess the Prince truly thinks he is above me just because his power is high\" he joked.

Prince continued to walk away silently

\"Or maybe he knows that if we were equal in power he couldn't beat me\" As soon Shen said this Cain stopped walking and asked

\"What did you say?\" Cain asked through gritted teeth. He felt the rage bubble up from his stomach at this point. he wanted to destroy this man and be done with it

\"I said that without your power and magic you couldn't beat me in fact I'll even let you hit me first and you would be able to take me down\" Shen taunted him by putting his face forward and tapping on his cheek.

\"How dare you?!?!\" Cain exclaimed. \"You are nothing but an ant to me and you think you can beat me?!\" He was breathing smoke at this point from anger. \"Fine! If you believe you are so damn tough then let's go to the training grounds and find out shall we?\"

\"Fine by me, munchkin if you can handle it!\" Shen was holding back his laughter at this point

'This is too damn easy' He thought 'It's like tempting a bull with a red cape.

\"Come on then!\"Cain said walking in the direction of the training grounds. Shen followed close behind him.

****

Cain and Shen were standing across from each other in the square.

Shen checked his health.

[Health 160/160]

\" Go ahead and drop to lower mortal and let's see if you can put your money where your mouth is\" Shen was going all-in he needed to get stronger and this was the quickest way.

\"Fine! Let's begin\" Cain lowered his rank to lower mortal.

\"Alright then I'll give you the first hit than\" Shen put his face forward.

\"Don't be so damn cocky!\" Cain said while rushing at shen.

Shen got a system message.

[attack imminent.]

Shen didn't move an inch. And let him get close.

Cain began to throw a flurry of punches and kicks directed at shens body each one connecting with his chest and face.

Shen started to get system messages.

[Health -5.]

[Health -6.]

Shen health started dropping fast and he was getting worried 'Hurry up and upgrade already' he thought.

Cain looked at shens face and saw the disappointment in his eyes and thought 'Is he looking down on me??? He is not even fighting back!' Cain started hitting harder and faster to destroy this punk.

Shen continued to look at his health and it kept dropping faster when he got the message.

[ upgraded.]

Shen smiled 'finally I gotta tell the prince to stop' but before he could Cain stopped attacking and drop to the floor on his knees in tears he began to punch the floor even cracking tiles from the force.

\"I can't do even this?!?!? How weak am I!?!?\" Cain began to sob with his hands on his eyes like a boy his age would if they were throwing a temper tantrum \" All I ever wanted to be was strong to protect the Kingdom.\"

Shen felt a knot form in his stomach and felt sympathy for Cain.

\"Listen kid it's ok-\"

\"No! It's not! What kind of prince can't even beat a mortal rank?\" Cain said trying to stop the flow of tears

Shen knelt down next to him \"Listen, Cain, you are strong in your own way!\" He said trying to console the child.

\"Not many people your age could have made it as far as you have in cultivation, I mean you're already a prodigy in your own right!\" Shen put his hand on Cain's shoulder.

\"Yes but only in spells. My combat skills were never as good as Leo's\" He said sniffling and wiping his tears with his knees to his chest.

Shen thought about it and came up with a plan so they could both get what they want and smiled sinisterly.

\"Cain how about we spar every week, That way I can teach you how to do combat.\"

\"Why would you do that for me? I've done nothing but be mean to you since we met! What would you get from training me?\" Cain responded.

\"I don't need anything from it just knowing you will get stronger is enough for me!\" Shen lied through his teeth, in reality, this arrangement meant that he could level iron body even more from this point forward and improve his relationship with Cain as a result.

\"Really? That's all you want?\" Cain said looking into shens eyes.

\"Yes. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm weaker though\" He responded.

Cain wiped his tears away with his sleeve And chuckled \"Yea i know that much is true\"

Shen felt a bit offended by that comment but let it go for now and extended his hand to cain

Cain took his hand and got up \"Fine but don't tell anyone what you saw here today or else I won't lower my rank next time\" He pointed a finger at Shen.

\"Of course my Prince not a word\" Shen made a motion of locking his lips with a key.

\"Alright then! I'll be taking my leave then!\" Cain said in his familiar prideful manner and walked into the palace.

\"That kid reminds me of someone I just can't put my finger on!\" Shen shrugged his shoulders and walked into the palace.