Chapter 145 145 - Flash Step



Lilia hearing the impatience in Aiden's voice didn't wait any longer and started to explain to Aiden how Lucius had been able to move at such a speed and slash Emma without her even noticing it.

"Well, first of all, before I explain it to you. I need you to promise me that you won't reveal this information to anyone or else I will be in a lot of problems with my family," she said, warning Aiden that he shouldn't go rambling about the information which she was about to give.

Aiden obviously nodded as he didn't have anyone to tell this to, apart from Emma but well... she wasn't here right now as she had been eliminated.

"Alright, so the move that you saw Lucius perform is called Flash Step. It isn't a skill like you probably thought, but a technique that's a part of my family," explained Lilia as she stopped speaking wanting to see if Aiden had grasped all of that information.

Seeing him listening attentively, she continued her little speech.

"As you probably know, the Nightshade Family is in general composed of assassins which is why a movement technique like that is ridiculously strong in our hands."

'The Nightshade Family is full of assassins?' thought Aiden, learning more and more information just by listening to her ramble on random things.

"The Flash Step, is one of the hardest techniques we possess and not many have been able to learn it. In fact, I haven't been able to, even if I have tried ever since that I was little," she said, clearly a little sad about that fact.

However, she had revealed that information to tell Aiden or rather the Reaper that such a technique really wasn't child's play at all.

Aiden, however, already knew that such an incredible technique would be hard to learn. Based on his experience as an assassin, movement techniques like the one he was using, are the hardest thing to learn.

That's why it took Aiden years of training to learn about [Shadow Steps].

But then as he continued thinking about useless things, Lilia had already continued her explanation about Flash Step.

"I won't give you the technique, but I will tell you some cues that you can notice whenever Lucius is about to use Flash Step. Personally, that's how I'm able to react to Lucius when we spar together."

'Even if I can barely react to it,' she thought as she knew that the spars between her and Lucius could be counted on a single hand.

"What are those cues?" asked Aiden as he noticed that Lilia had stopped talking.

"Oh, right, sorry about that. There are two things which you can notice whenever Lucius is about to use Flash Step. Please consider that I'm only talking about Lucius and that you may not be able to find such cues when others use it," she said, emphasizing the fact that she was especially talking about Lucius.

Aiden nodded in understanding as he knew that habits when regarding techniques could change depending on the person using them.

That was probably why Lilia had said such a thing.

"Alright, so the first and most obvious clue, is that he will move at quite a slow pace without accelerating or slowing down. He would keep the same pace in his movement for at least five seconds, at least, that's what I noticed," she said, clearly indicating that she didn't know everything.

Aiden nodded as he noticed that he had been moving at the same pace for a while before performing his move.

Though Aiden wasn't sure if it would help in a fight as even Lilia didn't seem so sure of that information, however, he still noted it inside his mind.

Because who knew when he would be able to use that information?

Then, Lilia once again her mouth as she was about to talk about the second cue which she had noticed in her spars against Lucius.

"The second cue is much more difficult to see, however, I'm sure that he would do it before performing it," said Lilia, sounding quite confident about this cue.

There was a clear contrast between her telling this cue and the one before that. She seemed to be a lot more confident in herself when talking about this one.

Aiden wondered what it was going to be as he wasn't sure if he would have noticed it when he fought Emma.

He tried to think of something, but no matter how hard he tried, he wasn't able to.

"Maybe you noticed it, or maybe you didn't but when he did his Flash Step, he will always clench one of his fists. I don't know why he does that, but all I know is that he does it."

'He clenches one of his fists?' thought Aiden, not understanding why he would do something like that.

Was it part of the technique?

Well, it didn't seem so as even Lilia was confused as to why he would do such a thing.

Aiden nodded, taking note of it, as he continued asking about something else.

"And how do we counter this Flash Step of his, do we just run away when he clenches one of his fists?" asked Aiden, wondering if it was possible to counterattack when Lucius would be executing such a move.

However, looking at Lilia's face, he could already kind of guess the answer that she was about to muster.

"Well, in my personal experience, just reacting to it is already considered quite an achievement, so counterattacking sounds impossible."

But then, when looking at the look on Aiden's face she quickly corrected her statement.

"Well, in my opinion, maybe you could pull it off," she said trying to raise Aiden's morale.

Aiden was obviously unhappy with the answer that she had given him because that would mean that Lucius would be able to have a technique with absolutely no counter.

He knew that the only way for him to counter him was to always attack without giving a single moment to prepare his Flash Step.

It wasn't a bad solution but he had hoped for something more, like some sort of secret strategy to completely counter the skill, however, it seemed that such things didn't exist.

"Um, thanks if there anything else I should know about that technique?" asked Aiden, who was about to end this conversation for good wanting to concentrate on the fight's next round.n0veLusB.C0M

He didn't know who he was going to face, but he would make it to win.

Well, that's what he would be hoping for at least.

He had made quite a deep impression with his death aura, and he hoped to do the same thing again, especially now that he was in the top 25 of the tournament.

Aiden was also excited to hear about the rewards for those who had reached this stage of the Inter Family Tournament.

But, well that would be in a couple of minutes as there were still people fighting themselves over a spot in the top 25.

"Something else that you would need to know?" she questioned herself, seemingly thinking about whether or not she had said everything.

"Um, I think I said everything. What matters now is whether or not you'll be able to dodge his Flash Step," said Lilia with a smile on her face, as if encouraging him.

She knew very well how hard it was to dodge, so she could only hope that he would be able to do so with the little tips that she had given him.

"Oh, and remember, don't tell anyone about the Flash Step. Am I clear? Or else people from my family will probably come after you," she said, kind of, threatening him but not so much at the same time.

Aiden had to admit that she didn't seem to be a bad person at all, maybe that was why he hadn't felt hatred when he had first seen her.

Well, whatever it might have been, Aiden had to admit that if he faced Lucius in the next round that it would be really hard for him to win.

But, he dismissed those thoughts as Lilia was still in front of him, waiting for him to confirm that he wouldn't talk about this to anyone.

"Don't worry, I won't tell a soul. I'll hold my word about showing you my face," said Aiden, as he said his goodbyes to Lilia.

He had a lot of stuff to go over and he couldn't help but glance at Lucius who was still looking at the ground not too far from him.

Seeing Lucius's fight, Aiden knew that his biggest threat was Lucius and that he had to pay special attention to whatever he would try to do when fighting him.

Then, after having a quick look at Lucius, he looked toward the stage wanting to know whether or not they could pass this whole round of fighting as Aiden was honestly eager to fight once again.

He wanted to prove that he wouldn't lose against anyone. He wanted to prove that it didn't matter from which family you would come from.