Chapter 24: Voidpulse Martial Art.

A day passed without much trouble… and here I was again, back in the training grounds, grinding through the Ashborn family’s martial arts.

Well, grinding was a strong word. I couldn’t even get past step one: reading comprehension.

I didn’t understand a single damn thing in this cursed manual.

Not that I was alone in my suffering. My father had even assigned the leader of the Ashborn Knights to teach me.

I had just been training with him a few hours ago. That bastard did nothing but make me run laps around the training hall like I was some damned animal being hunted.

Which, to be fair, I technically was.

He released seven wolves. I had no idea about the breed but they all looked like they ate steel for breakfast.

Apparently, my father had given him strict instructions: “Make him strong. No matter what.”

So now I was living in a survival training arc written by a sadist.

Thankfully, I was free from that hell for now as the training for the day was finally over.

Then there was this gentleman—my friendly neighborhood Cloak—wiping sweat off my forehead like it was auditioning for Best Wife of the Year or something.

I don’t know why it thinks wiping my sweat is its divine mission but the moment a single drop forms, it’s already on cleanup duty

Does it have OCD or something?

Worse, it barely left me alone. I had to walk around with this edgy cloak clinging to me like it was in love.

I was pretty sure the servants were placing bets on whatever weird kink I’d awakened.

At least it didn’t act out in front of others, so I could just cover it up as an ordinary artifact.

Not like Sentient Artifacts gave off a specific mana signature or some bullshit.

So yeah. To everyone else, it’s just me flexing some edgy mystery artifact.

Tsk.

I just ignored the cloak and focused on the manual in my hand.

It was [Voidpulse Martial Art], one of the many combat arts passed down through the Ashborn family.

My father had offered me dozens of options. Weapon Arts. Mana Arts. And Martial Arts.

Still, I chose this particular martial art.

Why?

Because let’s be honest, I could have tried to learn some sword or spear in a month, sure. But even with my uncanny genius prodigy mind, I doubt I could manage anything beyond waving it like a stick.

And once I lose the weapon?

Boom. Sitting duck.

So instead, I picked the martial art that used just one thing: my body.

I could always pick up some weapon arts later on if I need one. But for now my first goal was to survive and I needed to be realistic for that.

And honestly, normal weapons, without mana enhancement, probably wouldn’t even scratch the outer shell of the monster in [Forest of Unmasked]

And between the two?

It was way easier to learn how to enhance my own body with mana than to figure out how to channel it into some external object.

Now, that wouldn’t have been such a pain if the previous Rael—my predecessor—had learned literally anything useful.

Noble kids in this world grow up with Swordsmanship and Combat Arts drilled into them from childhood.

So when they Awaken Mana, they’re already halfway to being killing machines. They just need to learn how to channel it.

But this dumb fucker?

He barely studied. He just spent his time simping over Seles or doing god-knows-what.

Like… learning piano. And dancing.

Dancing.

What was he? A Gorilla Ballerina?

Was he planning to dodge attacks with twirls or something?

If only he had learned something useful… even the basics of some weapon… I could have used it to make something useful out of it.

But nope… he had to be useless.

I slapped my cheeks.

“Focus, damn it.”

I looked back at the manual in front of me again, the one filled with spaghetti-like diagrams that were supposed to represent energy flow.

The [VoidPulse Martial Art] focused more on fast reflexes and sudden explosive attacks.

According to the diagrams, I needed to channel my energy in a specific path to use it properly.

There was a reason I picked this particular martial art.

It had one simple yet deadly utility.

By tapping or striking something, I could send a focused pulse of mana, amplifying the force behind the hit.

If that “something” happened to be a person? The damage would easily triple compared to anything I could muster with brute strength alone.

At a higher level of mastery, even a flick could deal as much damage as a full blown punch.

And it wasn’t just offensive.

By sending a pulse through my feet instead, I could create a rebound that could launch me forward with a quick burst of speed.

It was perfect for making a dramatic escape when things inevitably went to shit.

So yeah, overall it was very useful.

I stood up, stretching my sore back and rolling my shoulders like I actually knew what I was doing.

My cloak fluttered slightly, probably trying to make the moment dramatic.

“Yeah yeah, relax,” I muttered. “No one’s watching.”

I tried to mimic the mana flow shown in the manual.

Slowly and deliberately, I tapped my palm against the ground.

Nothing happened.

… Okay. Cool. Totally expected that.

I closed my eyes and tried once more, imagining the mana moving exactly like the diagram.

From my aether core to the arm while following a specific internal rotation.

I gathered it into my palm.

Let it settle.

Then—

Burst.

I released it all at once.

I opened my eyes… hoping to see a crack in the floor or something.

But nope. Nothing. Not even a twitch.

I tried again. And again. And again.

Same result.

Tsk.

After another glorious failure, my mana was nearly empty now. One more attempt and I’d probably pass out.

Great. Just great.

I dropped onto the ground. I just wanted to rest for now.

But unfortunately fate had other plans.

I heard the door to the training hall open after a soft and respectful knock. Turning around, I found Stella standing there with her head slightly bowed.

“Young Miss Seles has requested to meet you, Young Master,” she said, though her voice had a trace of hesitation.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “And?”

Her lips pressed together for a brief moment. “Chief Elder Samuel Valenthrone is here with her.”

“I see.” I exhaled slowly. “Tell them I’ll be there in five minutes.”

Stella gave a quiet bow and left without another word.

As soon as she left, a smile appeared on my lips.

Poor Seles.

So, the cat’s out of the bag, huh?

But I wasn’t worried in the slightest. I mean, why would I be?

I had already accounted for something like this the moment I saw how amateur she was at hiding her emotions. I knew it was only a matter of time before things blew up.

And honestly I had been even expecting it. I had a plan after all.

I walked towards the exit of the training hall as I couldn’t help but grin.

Well then… let’s see how much more I can rip off from them.

__

Author’s Note:

Rael may not have cracked the floor, but he is cracking people’s patience soon.

If you enjoyed the Chapter, show some love! Gifts, Power Stones, or Golden Tickets — Rael accepts all forms of bribes.

He’s broke and traumatized. Help a jester out.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep