Woah...
I'm flying in the heavens!
This is the best!
I can see Mala and the others riding on cloud animals.
That's kind of funny.
The Lord of Clouds gave me an endless stretch of land as a reward for my service on Earth.
I've become filthy rich!
Hahaha!
Now I can bring all the good people here and make sure they live happily!
No sorrow shall ever fill my kingdom.
Everyone will live happily and peacefully!
This is the best—
SPLASH!
Water splashed across my face.
My heavenly dream instantly disappeared.
I opened my eyes.
It was Master Krishna.
This is the worst.
[Krishna]: Congratulations. The personal points you earned from the Dragon Empire quest have been added to your account. You're now eligible to begin my training.
He said it in his usual cold voice.
[Pratik]: Well... is waking up this early really necessary? I think it's still five in the morning.
[Krishna]: It's two in the morning.
Woah?!
2 A.M.?
What is happening?
I glanced at the clock.
2:00 a.m.
Exactly.
[Krishna]: Your perception has been altered. Your base speed has increased several times compared to what it used to be. Therefore, even without tapping into your peak speed, your perception of time and movement will remain altered. It's becoming closer to the instincts of an Awakened Sorcerer.
[Pratik]: I see.
That explained a lot.
I thought for a moment.
[Pratik]: So, if I launch an attack at a certain speed, is that speed relative to my frame of reference, or is it absolute regardless of the frame?
I asked, hoping the question would make me sound smart.
Krishna stared at me.
[Krishna]: That depends. Suppose you launch a water attack at relativistic speed in an absolute frame. The water would turn into plasma. However, if you accelerate the water relative to your own frame while your frame itself is moving relativistically, the situation is different. The water wouldn't necessarily turn into plasma merely because its velocity relative to an ordinary human frame is relativistic.
...
I didn't understand everything.
But I think I got the important part.
That probably explained how Griho could fire water beams at relativistic speeds without instantly turning them into plasma.
I see.
That's how it works.
[Krishna]: Stop thinking and start working already!
He grabbed my blanket and pulled it away.
I fell straight onto the floor.
Ouch.
It didn't actually hurt.
But it hurt my feelings.
[Pratik]: I care about you so much, and you still don't respect my personal space?
[Krishna]: I care about myself more. That makes me slightly less concerned about other people's personal space.
...
I have no defense against this man.
I can never win an argument with him.
Before I could react, he threw me out of my apartment through the window.
[Pratik]: You could've at least let me get changed first!
My voice faded as I flew through the air.
Training Sector
I crashed into the training sector.
A few burn marks appeared across my skin, but I healed them immediately using Range Shiftling: Shadow Lord's Garden, with a range of two metres.
I was actually surprised that the throw hadn't produced any sonic booms.
Then again...
Not my concern.
There was a bigger problem.
I was still wearing nothing but shorts and briefs.
This was not exactly ideal.
I wondered what my first lesson would be.
Before I could think any further, Master Krishna appeared directly in front of me.
[Krishna]: Your first lesson is simple. Land any kind of attack on me.
...
Talk about absurdity.
[Pratik]: Tell me something that's actually possible for me. Don't give me some impossible task just to—
BONK!
A bump appeared on my head.
Okay.
Now that actually hurt.
I had already been hit on the head once today.
[Krishna]: I'm the one training you. You will follow my instructions. If you fail to do so, the training ends.
I froze.
I couldn't afford that.
I slapped myself lightly and forced myself back to reality.
Remember why I'm doing this.
To become stronger.
To save everyone.
To save people like him, too.
I took a deep breath.
[Pratik]: At least give me some clues and privileges.
I asked with a cartoonish expression.
[Krishna]: Of course. You have privileges. I will neither use my absolute defensive technique nor my strongest offensive technique. In fact, I won't attack you at all. You may use whatever you want. Whatever abilities you possess.
...
I only have my shorts and briefs.
And I'm definitely not using them.
[Pratik]: Very well. Sounds fun. Promise me you won't use Range Shiftling: Speed.
This was my chance.
If he didn't use Range Shiftling: Speed, his movement speed would be limited to roughly the hundred-Mach range.
I could activate my Fourth Trigger and speed-blitz him.
Land one attack.
Win.
Easy.
Well...
Only if he agreed.
[Krishna]: Very well. I accept.
Haha!
Victory shall be mine!
...
Wait.
I'm wearing shorts and briefs.
They aren't specialized clothing that can regenerate themselves.
The moment I activate my Fourth Trigger, they'll probably vaporize.
Even if I win, I'd have to return to my apartment completely naked.
And if someone sees me...
That's mortifying.
So this cunning man calculated everything?
He dragged me here knowing I'd place several handicaps on him.
Then he threw me here wearing practically nothing.
And at this hour, the guards are probably the most active.
I already lost this game.
There's nothing I can do.
Still...
Before admitting defeat, I'll give it one lucky shot.
[Pratik]: Trigger 1... Acceleration!
I launched myself toward him at full speed, coating my body with Dark Energy Reserves.
As soon as I entered a certain range, I would release the Dark Energy sphere surrounding me.
This would surely work.
But before I could even get close...
A voice whispered beside my ear.
[Krishna]: You certainly have grown faster.
My eyes widened.
He was already behind me.
He wasn't even in front of me anymore.
And my Dark Energy sphere...
It was gone.
I turned around.
Krishna was holding it in his hand.
He casually tossed the sphere into the air like a ball.
Then he shaped it into an arrow.
[Krishna]: Our first lesson ends with one important point.
He looked at me.
[Krishna]: The greatest strength one can possess is the ability to determine the difference in power between yourself and your opponent. You must also understand your enemy's thought process.
I gulped.
[Krishna]: You failed to determine either. I had already set up a trap around you before you even began your attack.
He raised the Dark Energy arrow.
[Krishna]: You should always keep a backup plan, even when the odds seem impossible.
He fired.
The arrow struck a nearby mountain.
BOOM!
The mountain was partially destroyed.
Krishna didn't even look impressed.
[Krishna]: Your destructive output is far too low to even scratch me. Against someone like me, attacks like that can simply be manipulated or redirected.
He's right.
Despite everything I have...
I'm nowhere near this man's level.
This is the same man who can match multiple Leaders without even using a transformation.
And yet...
That only makes me more excited.
I'll beat him someday.
If that's even possible.
[Krishna]: Day one of your training is complete. Next time, you must land an attack on me. Otherwise, your training will be dismissed.
He turned around.
[Krishna]: You're a strategist-type. Spend the entire day thinking of a strategy. I will continue to follow the same restrictions.
He began walking away.
So...
Now I have to come up with a strategy capable of hitting Master Krishna.
I'm ready.
I stood alone on the training field.
Wearing nothing but shorts and briefs.
...
Okay.
This is getting embarrassing.
I clenched my fists.
[Pratik]: That damn man...
To be continued...