Chapter 212 Shura Field  

"So what do you want?" Rio said, as he shrugged off his thoughts for the time being. Katherine's character setting was like this, even in the , so he couldn't change it now, just cause he didn't like the look she gave him.

Even Leon had a hard time going through her defenses and melting that iceberg heart, let alone him, who just met her twice till now.

"I want to train." Katherine said resolutely.

"Okay, that's good." Rio said confused about what it had to with him. If you wanna go train then go train. What ya doing here, wasting his time.

"No, I mean I want to train with you. After the spar I know your fighting abilities are way better than mine, so can you help me." Katherine tried to explain herself seeing that he misunderstood before.

Rio thought for a second after hearing her request, but then he shook his head and replied "I'm sorry, but I can't help you."

"Transformation magic is still okay, and I can teach you that. But I usually like to train alone, I prefer it that way." Rio finished his words.

Katherine, who already expected this answer, didn't try to persuade him much and nodded her head, though feeling a little disappointed.

"It's okay. Thank you for the time." Katherine said, and decided to leave.

Looking at her leaving back, with half bent shoulders, Rio thought for a moment and then shouted behind her, just loud enough so she could hear him "I can't train you, but I can give you some pointers if you want."

Katherine turned around and even though her face still had that dumb cold expression, her black eyes were shining a bit. Clearly happy with what she heard. "Sure."

"Your attacks are good. Deadly, decisive and cruel. But they lack the most important thing - they aren't creative. You follow rules and techniques to a T, and I could read them like an open book. I wouldn't even need to look at you, to see what your next move would be. It's too easy, too predictable. So try being a little creative in your attacks." Rio finished his advice, pointing out the fault he noticed.

Maybe it was because of him daily beating up zombies of different kinds in that dungeon. They always followed same kind of attack patterns. It's always swing, slash, grab and bite - he had seen all those patterns too much by too many of them, and after battling them for so long his observation while fighting was much higher compared to others his age. Same was the case for Katherine's fighting style. She followed techniques and battle patterns passed down to her by a T, every sword move or spell use she does - it always followed the rules written in books or taught in theory classes. It looks good and pleasing to the eyes from the outside, but in a real battle, against someone who has experience, this kind of shitshow is just a ticket to hell, waiting to be punched out.

Katherine, who was happy at first hearing he'd help, but after hearing his suggestion she furrowed her brows and started thinking back on her moves.

"You can add feints, learn other techniques that gives you more freedom in your attacks, or better, create a fighting style for yourself which suits you." Rio finished his words in a nonchalant way.

Katherine feeling a little annoyed with herself, said "Not everyone's a genius who can create their own sword styles easily." She pointed out about how Rio who made his own sword style suitable for him when he first joined the academy. "Creating a new technique takes time and practice, and years of experience and understanding."

Rio smiled and started explaining "Then don't. Who said I created something new? I just added, removed, upgraded and perfected the things that I liked and suited me. They weren't from a single technique, it was all chosen from several techniques. Whatever flaw I found in myself, I just learned a new art which complimented that part, and then when I understood that point, I just merged that into my own style and created something new."

"How much time did that take? No, wait, how many techniques did you had to master to create your own art?" Katherine asked, a little surprised by what he said.

"4 years and 6 separate techniques." Rio said shaking his head. Like he was disappointed in himself with that result.

And it was true too. He didn't do anything extraordinary or unique. He just did what the Rio in did too. He already had an understanding of what he wanted and what suited his body the most. So the groundwork for him was already there, he just needed to follow the pattern himself.

Yet since the original Rio in the , learned and created his own technique, because of the threat on his life due to constant attacks from the followers of Cassandra, and assassins from other Noble and Elite families, who wanted Blake family to suffer a loss – he on the other hand, just tried to learn and recreate that technique at the comfort of his home, so he wouldn't have to go through all that pain and progress.

Though the threat of followers from Cassandra's church was dealt with the death of Noah, but there was no way to be sure that other families who were plotting against Blake family wouldn't come after him, the future heir and Nyx's follower.

It was better to be safe than sorry. magic

While Rio was busy in his stupid monologue (cause the author had to explain some shit) Katherine was surprised hearing his words and started thinking in her head.

The fact that Rio created his own technique was known during the first year tournament of the academy two years ago. He was only 16 years old at that time. So the 4 years it took to create that technique, doesn't that mean he started learning and making his own fighting style when he was still around 10 or 11 years old.

-hiss- Katherine took a breath of cold air as she tried to suppress the shock.

'He really is a monster.' She thought.

She didn't think he was lying to her, or just trying to show off, because there was no need for him to do that in her eyes. What did he like me and was trying to impress me - come on, he's someone who's supposed to be engaged with the princess. Isn't she more pretty and talented than herself.

"Thanks for the advice, I'll see what I can do." Katherine said, hoping to end this conversation, lest this guy says something else and she loses her confidence after comparing herself with him.

"You should also learn to use your element and aura better. Ice can be a very good offense and defense. And aura can help you, if you're stuck in a situation where you can't use mana." Rio said again in a hurry, before she left, as he remembered the big event at the first semester exams, and the chance of Katherine almost getting killed.

"I'll remember that." Katherine said and nodded her head. "Thanks for the help."

After saying goodbye to Rio, Katherine turned around and started moving towards her dorms. Rio kept looking at her leaving back and kept thinking about the plot and her role in it. While clearing the details for the exchange he will propose to her. After all, his help isn't for free just cause she's a heroine.

[Stop staring at her ass.]

-cough cough- Rio who had just started walking, almost stumbled and fell down, when he heard this bastard system's snarky remark. He was so angry that he directly muted the system, instead of replying or explaining himself.

'This robotic bitch can read my mind, and yet it still makes jokes like that.' You deserve to be muted you dumb AI.

Rio cursed the system and turned back to walk towards his room, when he bumped into someone on the very first step. He subconsciously moved his hand and held the shoulders of the one he collided with, to stabilize himself.

Once that was done, and he looked up towards that someone's face, and he instantly got surprised. He removed his hands from her shoulders and backed a step away from her.

Saisha was standing there with hands crossing over her chest, with a serious expression. She looked at his flustered face, like he didn't expect to see her here, and the way he backed away, like he just wanted to avoid her like a plague.

"I'm sorry. It was my bad." Rio said and turned to leave. Only until he heard Saisha's voice behind him

"Stop" Saisha said, as she looked at his face, that just oozed that eerily familiar feeling that she couldn't remember from anywhere. She wanted to ask him about that, but after seeing him chatting with that other girl for so long, she forgot about that and unconsciously spoke up "What were you talking with that girl?"

"...." Rio, who was still surprised to see her, and was trying to rein in his emotions that just started crashing around his brain, got stupified hearing her question. And a black line formed over his forehead.

'Why does scene feels so familiar?' He thought, seeing Saisha glaring at him and then at the way Katherine left.

System, who was feeling down and silently cursing the host for muting it for speaking the truth. Suddenly came back in high spirits, as it smelled a new drama happening outside.

(Is the legendary shura field battle about to start this early?) System thought, and brought out popcorns from Rio's inventory to eat and watch drama.

There's no need to ask why Rio had popcorns in his inventory. After all, there's so much drama in plot, and he gets to see it firsthand live, so he needs some extra chips to enjoy it.

He even had a few eggs and tomatoes to throw at someone if chance ever permits.